He gained his Bachelor of Science in 1972 at University College London, a Doctor of Philosophy from University College in 1975 in Biological Chemistry and a Doctor of Science from the University of London in 2002 for his work on Heterogeneous Catalysis.
His scientific career has included being Scientific Officer (1975-1979) and Research and Production Manager (1979-1981) at Imperial Chemical Industries Petrochemicals and Chief Scientific Officer at AE & CI (African Explosives and Chemical Industries), Modderfontein, South Africa (1981-1984). He was then in turn Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Professor in the Department of Chemistry, University of Witwatersrand (1984-1987) followed by Assistant Director (1984-1994) and Professor and Deputy Director (1994-1997) at the Leverhulme Centre for Innovative Catalysis, University of Liverpool. He was then Professor of Physical Chemistry, Cardiff University (1997) and Head of School for Chemistry (1997–2006) and Professor of Physical Chemistry and Director of the Cardiff Catalysis Institute (2008).
Since 2010 he has been chairman of Service Corps of Retired Executives, the Science Community Representing Education.
Director United Kingdom Catalysis Hub, 2012, President Faraday Division Royal Society of Chemistry 2012-2015. 2009 Fellow of the Royal Society.
Royal Society.
