Sustainable aviation expert joins TTPi Advisory Board

The Thinking Pod innovations (TTPi) has finalised the membership of its Advisory Board with the appointment of sustainable aviation expert, Riona Armesmith.

Riona is a leader in aviation technology, who is the Chief Technology Officer at magniX, a pioneering electric propulsion system manufacturer for electrified aircraft.

As part of the TTPi Advisory Board, she brings expertise in electromagnetic design and engineering, electric propulsion systems, as well as product development.

In addition, Riona has a wealth of experience in program management, organisational development and the commercialisation of pioneering technology, taking products from research and development to certification.

TTPi co-founder and director, Dr Liliana de Lillo said: “We are delighted to welcome Riona to our Advisory Board.

“I saw Riona present at the Energy Conversion Congress Expo keynote speech in 2023 and found her truly inspirational

“She not only thinks in terms of the development of new technology, but also the products it will allow us to create, how they will reach the market, how they will be used and the impact they will have.”

The latest appointment to the TTPi Advisory Board comes as the company prepares for further investment and expansion to support the development of its ground-breaking compact power converter solutions, which have applications in all transport and industrial sectors – including electric vehicles and aircraft.

TTPi, which was incorporated in 2017 and spun out of the University of Nottingham in 2020, has developed innovative technologies, which have been applied in high power, yet small, light ultra efficient motor drive systems and power converters.

These proven technologies will be vital in the transition to NetZero carbon emissions. They create much more compact solutions compared to current ‘best-in-class’ devices, and they can yield significant savings in terms of raw material usage, energy and cost.

The next application for these products will be in electric vehicles (EVs), which will benefit from reduced running costs and increased range.

Since 2021, Riona has been the CTO at magniX, a company that has developed  full electric powertrains to provide an integrated system for electrifying aircraft. A test flight of Eviation’s electric aircraft, which is powered by magniX technology, was successful in 2022 and the model has already attracted $5 billion in orders.

At magniX, Riona is responsible for all commercial and business development activity including funding, customer partnerships, marketing and sales activities.

During her tenure, the company has won a $74 million contract from NASA to demonstrate electric propulsion technologies for aircraft.

“Riona’s technical background combined with her knowledge of developing engineering organisations, attracting funding and seeing projects through from the design stage to commercial sales gives her incredible experience and insights that will be invaluable to TTPi,” added Dr de Lillo.

Riona developed her expertise in electrical machines and power electronics at Rolls-Royce in Derby, where she started as Electrical Machines Engineer in 2013, before embarking on a meteoric rise to become Head of Programmes – Aviation Futures by 2021.

She has delivered three design and development projects all the way through to world-first flight tests.  She has built and developed engineering organisations and program managed a global company transformation program.

 “TTPi is a very exciting company, developing power dense and energy efficient power electronics technologies which the world needs as we move towards a sustainable future,” said Riona. “I’m thrilled to have been invited to join the Advisory Board and I look forward to working alongside such a talented team.”

Riona is the third expert to join the TTPi Advisory Board. She joins leading global authority on power electronics, Professor Jon Clare, Emeritus Professor at the University of Nottingham and tech entrepreneur and innovator Dr Simon Hart. Simon is an Honorary Associate Professor (Electrification of Transportation) and an Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Nottingham, who has held senior positions at several technology companies.