Tim Durrant

Current Employer/Organisation Name

EFFECT Photonics Ltd

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

40 years in the fibre optics and photonics industry, with 2 years teaching physics 11-18yr olds. Mostly telecommunications applications of light, but also industrial, sensors, medical and aeronautic applications. Transatlantic (high reliability, avionic robustness and telestrial cost effective speed. Constant evolution of the technology. Now working with Photonic Integrated Circuit based product. This technology revolution is analogous to what ICs did to printed circuit boards.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

Constant change, constant challenge, right on the bleeding edge of what is possible. I have been expert in a field, and also a generalist managing experts in their field pulling teams and projects together.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

The change.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

The challenge of change.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

The location.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Flexibility, embracing change, taking calculated risks, being able to communicate, being able to say ‘I don’t know but I’ll find out’.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Go for it.

What are your plans for the future?

Keep creating high quality high technology jobs in south Devon, and mentoring future generations of engineers and scientists.