Meet the Team - Aurora AI

Dr Tom Heseltine

CEO

Dr Tom Heseltine
CEO

Tom has been with Aurora for over 15 years, becoming CEO in 2016 and guiding Aurora’s transition from a face-rec centric company to a successful AI specialist. With a deeply technical background, he mentors and tutors Aurora’s Core Technology team of PhDs, assisting on the most difficult challenges, training new staff and drawing on his network of academic contacts.

Tom introduced Deep Learning and AI to Aurora’s technology portfolio, establishing Aurora’s AI Framework and instigating a step-change in face recognition accuracy. Despite his role in company management, his ongoing interest in the field means he maintains a critical role with customer liaison, acting as the lead AI consultant to ensure the optimal application of the technology.

Key Qualifications

PhD in Biometric Face Recognition, University of York, UK. 2001-2004.
Thesis: “Face Recognition: 3D and 2D Techniques” BSc in Computer Science, 1st Class with Honours, University of York, UK. 1997-2001

Dr Nick Whitehead

Executive Head of Business Development

Dr Nick Whitehead
Executive Head of Business Development

Nick joined in May 2017, following more than 10 years’ engagement with Aurora Face Recognition whilst at W.S. Atkins, the integrator of the passenger processing system (PASS2) at Heathrow.

Since becoming part of the Aurora team, Nick has supported the continued efforts to diversify the product base, including helping to secure the single source supply of infrared face recognition to Heathrow for the largest biometrics roll out in the world.

Nick’s professional experience spans more than 30 years, predominantly on IT projects. His skills include development, project management, business management and consultation, and these have been deployed for clients both in private and public sectors.

Key Qualifications

PhD in Semiconductor Physics, University of Guildford.
BTech Hons First Degree in Applied Physics, University of Bradford.
Member – Cranfield School of Management.

Dr Przemyslaw (Shamek) Szeptycki

Executive Head of Research & Development

Dr Przemyslaw (Shamek) Szeptycki
Executive Head of Research & Development

Shamek joined Aurora in 2012 and has been leading the AI research team since 2016. Shamek has over 14 years of experience in both Machine Learning and programming. His extensive software engineering skills and an in-depth understanding of the Deep Neural Network technology play a key role from the beginning of the conceptual design, right through to the deployment. As the Head of R&D, he oversees team efforts in the development of the state-of-the-art artificial intelligence systems used to solve complex, challenging tasks. His current focus is on the novel application of Reinforcement Learning, replicating the way that humans learn to automate decision processes.

Key Qualifications

PhD in Face Recognition, University of Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, France. 2007-2011. Thesis: “Processing and analysis of 2.5D face models for non-rigid mapping based face recognition using differential geometry tools”.
MSc in Computer Science (programming techniques), Technical University of Szczecin, Poland. 2005 – 2007.
Engineer Degree in Computer Science (programming techniques), Technical University of Szczecin, Poland. 2001 – 2005.

Richard McLaughlin

Executive Head of IT & Operations

Richard McLaughlin
Executive Head of IT & Operations

Ahmed Amer

AI Research and Software Engineer

Ahmed Amer
AI Research and Software Engineer

Key Qualifications

BEng (Card.), MSc (Sheff.), MIET

Dr Panagiota Antonakaki

Senior AI Research Engineer

Dr Panagiota Antonakaki
Senior AI Research Engineer

Chris Butler

Senior Software Engineer

Chris Butler
Senior Software Engineer

Key Qualifications

BCompSci Hons (Oxon.)

Jenny Edwards

Office Manager

Jenny Edwards
Office Manager

Dr Jan Girovsky

AI Research Engineer

Dr Jan Girovsky
AI Software Engineer

Andy Harmer

Senior Developer

Andy Harmer
Senior Developer

Key Qualifications

MCSA/MCTS: Web Applications

George Akerman

Junior Software Engineer

George Akerman
Junior Software Engineer

Key Qualifications

BSc Hons (York)

Gary James

Head of Sales & Marketing

Gary James
Head of Sales & Marketing

Dr Conny Ruiz

Senior AI Research Engineer

Dr Conny Ruiz
Senior AI Research Engineer

Dr Catriona Yeoh

Research Engineer

Dr Catriona Yeoh
Research Engineer

Dr John Tracey

Research Engineer

Dr John Tracey
Research Engineer

Xiaowan Yi

AI Data Scientist

Xiaowan Yi
AI Data Scientist

Key Qualifications

BSc (Man.), MSc (UCL)