Matt Francis starts as chief executive for The Oxford Trust

Matt Francis has returned to The Oxford Trust as its new chief executive, succeeding Steve Burgess, who has retired after 13 years leading the charity.

Matt joins from Oxford Innovation Space, where he was head of science and technology. Prior to this, he spent almost a decade with the charity, including five years in senior leadership positions as director of operations and enterprise, and project director.

During his previous time with the Trust, Matt led the delivery of the £13 million Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington, creating a home for both the Trust’s work with start-up science and technology businesses and its Science Oxford Centre, the UK’s first indoor-outdoor hands-on science education centre and hub for its STEM education and engagement programmes.

Matt succeeds Steve Burgess, who led The Oxford Trust for 13 years and oversaw a significant transformation and growth of its work. During his tenure, The Oxford Trust expanded its innovation activities, developed the Wood Centre for Innovation and Science Oxford Centre, and opened the recently completed Aspen Building, expanding the space available for science and innovation in the heart of the Headington Science Cluster.

The recent opening of the Aspen Building at the Wood Centre for Innovation, together with the Oxford Centre for Innovation’s move to new city-centre premises in May 2025, gives the organisation greater capacity to increase its impact across innovation, science education and public engagement.

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John Boyle, chair of trustees at The Oxford Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome Matt back to The Oxford Trust as our new CEO. He brings a rare combination of leadership experience, a deep knowledge of the organisation and strong understanding of Oxford’s science and innovation community and ecosystem.

“With the Aspen Building now open, we can support even more science and technology startups and growing businesses at the Wood Centre for Innovation, while continuing to extend the reach of the Trust’s education and engagement programmes through Science Oxford, inspiring the next generation of scientists.

“We are confident Matt will help us build on the Trust’s remarkable legacy and strengthen our impact across the region.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank Steve once again for his outstanding leadership and dedication over the past 13 years. His vision and commitment have shaped the Trust as it is today, and we wish him every happiness in his retirement.”

Matt Francis, chief executive of The Oxford Trust, said: “It is a tremendous privilege to return to The Oxford Trust as CEO. For more than 40 years, the Trust has connected two vital ambitions: helping entrepreneurs turn new technologies into successful businesses and giving young people the chance to discover and engage with science.

“I know first-hand the passion and expertise of the trustees, team and partners who make the Trust’s work possible, which makes returning particularly meaningful. We have strong foundations on which to build, and I’m looking forward to working with colleagues and partners to define an ambitious and focused next chapter for the Trust.

“Oxford’s science and technology sector continues to thrive, with an impact that reaches far beyond the region, and the Trust has an important role to play in its continued success. I want us to help more science and technology companies develop and succeed, enabling their ideas and innovations to improve people’s lives, while showing more young people inspiring, hands-on experiences of science through Science Oxford.”

Image: Matt Francis with the trustees and directors of The Oxford Trust outside the Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington (credit: Roger Askew)