Our Team
Between us, we have decades of experience in light technologies.
“We’re a small team with big ideas, ready to help you bring your optical technology to life.”
Our History
LumOptica Limited was founded by Dr Craig Stacey, Dr Roy Clarke and Dr Chris Stace. All three founders previously worked at BAE Systems Advanced Technology Centre in Filton, UK. Following its closure in 2015, we seized the opportunity to continue doing the thing we’re passionate about: putting light to use, as the most powerful tool in the world!
That motivation has never waned. Through our business offerings, it’s our mission to use light to make the world a better and safer place.
Our Team
Meet the team, get to know our key skills and find out how we can help you research and develop your optical and laser projects.
Dr Craig Stacey, CEO
My key skills:
- Subject matter expert in laser directed energy systems and technology. This covers the whole spectrum of power and effects
- Applying emerging technologies and repurposing existing ones, to innovatively solve important problems
- PhD in high-power fibre lasers
- Laser beam combining
- Answering the question: ‘can this problem be solved using light?’ …and, if so, ‘how can it be done practically?’
My experience
After graduating from Southampton University in Physics with Space Science in 1999, I joined DERA (latterly QinetiQ), an agency of the UK MOD. During this time, I undertook a PhD in optical fibre amplifiers and undertook experimental research on hollow optical waveguides, FTIR spectroscopy and coherent fibre laser combining.
I moved to BAE Systems in 2006. As a principal research scientist in an engineering environment, I led research in the fields of laser dazzle, LDEW, high-power photonics, novel visible fibre lasers and optically pumped semiconductor laser sources.
I have a track record of innovation and invention. I also have over 20 years’ practical experience in taking a seed of an idea and developing it through feasibility assessments, modelling and practical demonstration in real-world environments – while, crucially, having an end-user perspective.
How I help our customers
I have an invaluable combination of technical experience, expertise and domain knowledge. This leads to timely and effective solutions, avoiding many of the pitfalls learnt from experience!
Natalie Rees, Project Manager
My key skills:
- Project management
- Project governance
- Line management
- Finance
- Social media
- Policy and quality management
- Health and safety
- Communication
- Office administration
My experience
Prior to joining LumOptica, most of my experience has been in the IT domain, managing a range of different projects of varying sizes and complexities. These projects include large-scale API system integrations, implementation of company-wide upgraded telephony systems and the implementation of SaaS solutions.
How I help our customers
My vast experience in project management, coupled with my strong communication skills, allow me to successfully manage LumOptica projects, resulting in confident, informed and returning customers.
I’m fortunate to be involved in many parts of the LumOptica machine, including finance, social media and managing our quality management system. This puts me in the excellent position of continuing to learn and improve the way in which we do things.
Dr George Chappell, Senior Optical Research Engineer
My key skills:
- Construction and characterisation of breadboard and prototype laser systems
- Development and completion of proof-of-concept optical experiments
- Semiconductor heterostructure design, characterisation and microfabrication
My experience
Having graduated with a First Class, MPhys degree from the University of Bath, I progressed onto working as a PhD student within the Advanced Lasers Group at the Institute of Photonics, University of Strathclyde. I worked on the development of novel II-VI semiconductor Vertical-External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VECSELs), which included building novel diode-pumping schemes, designing semiconductor gain structures and processing gain structures with microfabrication techniques.
Following my PhD I worked as a Research Associate, on a UK Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Timing funded project within the Advanced Lasers Group, on narrow-linewidth VECSELs for the cooling of neutral strontium, for cold-atom-based applications.
How I help our customers
Developing breadboard-based tests of optical phenomena and advanced laser systems is crucial to helping our customers implement novel photonic technologies. My hands-on lab experience, motivation and ability to clearly explain results enables me to contribute to LumOptica’s value-adding services.
Dr Andrew Sutherland, Senior Optical Research Engineer
My key skills:
- Laser-plasma interactions and diagnostics
- Opto-mechanical prototyping
- Data acquisition and processing
- Applications of ultrashort laser pulses
- Curiosity of how things work
My experience
Following my undergraduate in physics, I joined Stanford University as a visiting researcher investigating compact plasma-based particle acceleration. During my time there, I designed and led user-based experiments at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory integrating laser systems, plasma physics, and novel optical diagnostics. This work formed the basis of my PhD in Physics, awarded by the University of Strathclyde in partnership with the Cockcroft Institute.
Before joining LumOptica, I held post-doctoral research roles at both the University of Strathclyde and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, continuing hands-on experimental work at world-leading research facilities and collaborating with multi-disciplinary research teams.
How I help our customers
I joined LumOptica in December 2025 and have provided my expertise on laser-based accelerators and other technically diverse or user-focused research projects.
I have a decade of experience across the full research lifecycle to help our customers at any stage of their project – from proposal and early feasibility through to experimental validation and performance assessment.
I prioritise ensuring our solutions are cutting-edge, communicated befittingly and honestly, and demonstrated to perform in relevant settings.
Dr Chris Stace, Optical Design Engineer
My key skills:
- Optical design and simulation
- Zemax
- Design review and general adviser on projects mainly concerned with experimentation
My experience
I left in 1986 to study a PhD in nonlinear optics at Kings College, London, for three years and rejoined the optics research group at BAE Systems in 1989. I was involved in a wide range of projects including optical image processing, fibre optics for aircraft, optical switching and laser DEW. I remained in the group until its closure in 2015.
I was a director of LumOptica from 2015 until my retirement in 2022.
How I help our customers
Got a project you’d like to discuss?
Get in touch with us to book a meeting with the team.
Our Values
Our values are the foundation stones on which the business has been built.
They sit at the core of our ongoing relationships with you, our customers.
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