Francesca is leading the Surface Technology Group at the National Physical Laboratory.

She has worked in R&D for over 25 years with a wide range of organizations, including Dana, IHS, Ford and Innovate UK. Before joining NPL, Francesca worked as Head of Engineering at Aeristech and Group Manager at Ceres Power, on the development of e-compressors for fuel cell installations, and hydrogen fuel cells and electrolysers, respectively.

As Programme Manager for Zero Emission Vehicles at Innovate UK, Francesca led the on-vehicle technology programmes (including the IDP Programme) on a  significant number of highly-innovative R&D projects that use hydrogen to propel low/zero emission vehicles, whether by means of hydrogen fuel cells or internal combustion engines.