Photonics has long been one of the UK’s scientific strengths. Today, it is rapidly becoming one of its strategic assets.

Contributing more than £18.5 billion annually to the UK economy, photonics underpins many of the technologies shaping the country’s future prosperity – from artificial intelligence and quantum technologies to advanced manufacturing, healthcare, defence, and next-generation communications. As government develops the UK’s first National Photonics Roadmap and light-based technologies move up the national agenda, the need for a coordinated voice across the sector has never been greater.

For more than two decades, the PLG has brought together industry, academia, government, and the wider photonics innovation community to strengthen one of the UK’s most important enabling technologies. As the critical impact of photonics is increasingly recognised, the PLG’s role in coordinating, informing, and connecting the sector continues to grow. Against this backdrop, the PLG has appointed Dr Lewis Hill as General Manager, effective 1 September 2026. Lewis joins the PLG from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Germany, where he is currently a Senior Scientist, following an international research career spanning the UK, Germany, France, Canada and New Zealand

Working alongside the PLG Executive, Lewis will deepen engagement across the UK photonics community, support evidence-informed policy making, and champion the sector nationally and internationally, with a particular focus on strengthening collaboration across Europe while continuing to build relationships throughout the wider global photonics community.

Alongside his scientific career, Lewis has become widely recognised for building connections across the photonics community through leadership, mentoring, and conferences. He serves as Chair of the PLG’s Future Photonics Leaders Group, Chair of Optica’s Nonlinear Optics Technical Group and as an Optica Ambassador. Through these roles, together with his wider engagement with organisations including SPIE, he has worked with researchers, industry, professional societies, and early-career scientists and engineers to foster collaboration, develop future leaders and strengthen cross-sector relationships.

Taken together, Lewis brings a distinctive combination of scientific experience, cross-sector community leadership and recognised strategic capability. That breadth of experience will be particularly valuable as PLG expands its role across industry, academia, and government, and helps ensure the UK remains a trusted and influential partner within the global photonics community.

Lewis will begin representing the PLG immediately upon joining the organisation. Lewis will join industry representatives briefing parliamentarians on the impact of photonics on 8 September at a meeting of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, lead a panel discussion on the new National Photonics Roadmap at Microelectronics UK in London, 29 September and join the PLG AGM and annual dinner prior to Photonics Means on 1 October in Glasgow.  

Dr John Lincoln, Chief Executive of the Photonics Leadership Group, said:

“Photonics is becoming increasingly important to the UK’s economy and technological future. As the sector grows, so too does the importance of bringing together industry, academia, and government around shared priorities.

Lewis brings a proven ability to build connections across our community, convene and engage stakeholders and champion the impact of photonics. His appointment strengthens the PLG, bringing the energy of a new generation to support the long-term success of UK photonics.”

Dr Lewis Hill said:

“The UK photonics community possesses an extraordinary combination of world-class scientific talent, innovative companies, and entrepreneurial ambition. Our greatest opportunity now is to ensure those strengths work together even more effectively.

That’s why I’m honoured to be joining the Photonics Leadership Group at such an exciting moment for the sector. PLG has a unique role in bringing our community together, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the UK, Europe and the wider international community to build new partnerships, champion UK photonics and help shape its future.”

Notes to editors

About the Photonics Leadership Group

The Photonics Leadership Group is the strategic voice of the UK photonics sector, bringing together industry, academia, innovation organisations and government to strengthen one of the UK’s most important enabling technologies. Representing a sector contributing more than £18.5 billion annually to the UK economy, PLG works to foster collaboration, inform policy and enhance the international competitiveness of UK photonics.

About Dr Lewis Hill

Dr Lewis Hill is a Senior Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, where his research focuses on nonlinear photonics and Kerr resonators. Lewis completed his PhD through a partnership between the University of Strathclyde, the UK’s National Physical Laboratory and the Postgraduate Institute for Measurement Science. His career has included research appointments in the UK, Germany, France, Canada, and New Zealand. Alongside his research, he serves as Chair of the UK’s Future Photonics Leaders Group, Chair of Optica’s Nonlinear Optics Technical Group and as an Optica Ambassador.

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