Norman Apsley joined the Northern Ireland Science Park Foundation in 2000, as its first Chief Executive, on returning from England where he was involved for some thirty years in applied research and the commercialisation of research.
By 1979, Norman joined RSRE (now Qinetiq), one of Europe's foremost applied physics laboratories. For ten years, he researched a wide variety of microwave and optical devices, publishing some 70 scientific papers and patents. He became a manager in 1990 and, through that decade, led various teams, ending as Director Electronics and Site Director.
Since 2000, Norman has steered the Northern Ireland Science Park from an initial concept to physical embodiment, headquartered on 25 acres of Queen’s Island, in its award winning Innovation Centre, surrounded by an ever increasing number of bespoke Science Park buildings.
Norman is also Vice President (Business and Innovation) of the Institute of Physics and a visiting Professor at the University of Ulster.