Roy Sandbach

Professor David Roy Sandbach OBE FRSC (born 20 May 1954, Stockton-on-Tees) is the Immediate Past-President of the Industry and Technology Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)... In addition, he sits on the board of the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB). He chairs Northern Accelerator, the research commercialisation programme for the North East England universities, Newcastle University, Durham University, Northumbria University Sunderland University, and Teesside University. He sits on the board of the Technology Services Association (TSA), the trade association for technology-enabled care. He is vice-Chair of the Sunderland Ageing Well Board. Sandbach is currently chairing the Dunhill Medical Trust funded national inquiry into the use of technology in housing to better care for our ageing population (The TAPPI Inquiry, https://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/The-TAPPI-Inquiry-Report-Technology-for-our-Ageing-Population-Panel-for-Innovation-Phase-One/ ).

He is a Trustee with the Centre for Life, a public science centre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK and a Trustee with the Reece Foundation He is a Member with Wise Academies, a Multi-Academy Trust, & a governor with The Beacon of Light School, an alternative provision school, both in Sunderland. He is a member of the Board of Sunderland Culture. Sandbach is a Founding Member of MarketingKind, a community intending to use marketing for global social value. He lives near Kelso in the Scottish Borders.

Roy Sandbach was educated at St. Aidan's Grammar School (now St Aidan's Catholic Academy) in Sunderland, UK (1964–72). He read Chemistry at Imperial College, London (1972–75), graduating with a B.Sc. (1st class honours). He completed a Ph.D in Electrochemistry at Newcastle University (1975–78).

Sandbach worked initially for ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) Mond Division, as a research electrochemist (1978–81). He joined Procter & Gamble in 1981 and had a 31 year R&D management career with the P&G Company (1981-2012), located in Newcastle, Frankfurt, Rome and Brussels. He was recognised in 1994 as P&G Research Fellow, as one of the Company's most senior R&D scientists. His work crossed the boundaries of the major Company business sectors. He has nine patents, one of which is the basis for a $150 million business in the United States.
While at P&G, Sandbach was recognised with visiting Professorships at Central St. Martins (2007) and Cranfield University (2009), both in Innovation Management.
In 2010/11, Sandbach was part of the multi-disciplinary Manchester Developmental Panel, examining routes to strengthen Greater Manchester's economic base through science, innovation and R&D.
Sandbach retired from P&G in 2012.

In 2013, Sandbach became the 10th David Goldman visiting Professor at Newcastle University Business School (NUBS). This endowed appointment is awarded each year to a leading entrepreneur or business leader from within the region, to provide inspiration and motivation to budding entrepreneurs and business leaders. He maintained involvement with NUBS and currently sits on the International Advisory Board at the Business School. He also sits on the advisory board at Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University.
During 2013, Sandbach led, in a voluntary capacity, the development of regional innovation strategy for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP). This strategy was included in the 2014 North East Strategic Economic Plan. Subsequently, later in 2014, Sandbach was appointed Chair of the NELEP Innovation Board. He stayed in this role until 2017.
Currently, Sandbach chairs the Strategic Advisory Board for Northern Accelerator, a collaboration between five North East universities (Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Teesside). It has the objective to commercialise research and boost the region’s economy. It was funded with £8.5 million from Research England's Connecting Capabilities Fund

From 2015 to 2018, Sandbach was appointed Professor of Practice in Ageing Science & Innovation and first Director of the National Innovation Centre for Ageing at Newcastle University. It will deliver new products & services to meet the needs of an ageing demographic across the globe and leverages the outstanding ageing-relevant research base within the UK, and notably at Newcastle University.
Sandbach has remained involved with research and innovation in the ageing domain. He continues as a visiting professor at Newcastle University. In addition, he sits on the advisory board for the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Longevity. He is a board member for the Technology Services Association, the trade association for technology applications in the care sector, and is vice-chair of the Sunderland Ageing Well Board.

Honoured with the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to science, innovation & skills.
Recognised as Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in 2013 and elected as President of the Industry and Technology Division of the Society in 2017. His term ended in June 2020. He remains a member of the Industry Council and the RSC Awards Working Group. He is currently chairing an RSC-led Industry Task Force for the development of Sustainable Polymers.