Who we are
As a charity, The Thunderbird Project are uniquely placed to enable emergency services to operate drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
Why being a charity matters
We are neutral,
not-for-profit and
hold no IP
We are well respected across emergency services, tech providers, regulators and government
We are an independent party, trusted to deliver on behalf of our community and the public.
Our Community
Our community is made up of some of the most well respected and key organisations in the UK, ranging from emergency services to government organisations and regulatory bodies.
Our Trustees
Our team of experienced individuals bring a broad skillset to the project. They are all passionate about enabling change for the better, continuing the work of their friend and Thunderbird Project founder, John Bullough.
Mark Nishapati
Mark is the Managing Trustee of The Thunderbird Project. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers with over 30 years of extensive experience in high hazard industries such as oil and gas. He has been responsible for the emergency response and wider health, safety and environmental strategy and delivery at a corporate level with extensive experience of liaising with UK and other regulators.
MANAGING TRUSTEE
Charlie Gordon Lennox
Charlie is an entrepreneur and visionary. Since 1998 he has led The Keyholding Company (TKC), a tech-enabled physical security company, as CEO and founder. His unstoppable energy, critical thinking and belief in technology have ensured TKC's place at the vanguard of innovation within Security. TKC is a certified B Corp thanks to Charlie’s passion for environmental and charitable work.
TRUSTEE
James Du Boulay
James brings extensive financial and business expertise to the project having worked in Capital Markets for nearly 30 years, raising over £1.5bn. Most recently he has focussed on Series A+ funding for existing portfolio companies within Fuel Ventures (a Seed stage investor). He has worked at ABN AMRO, JO Hambro Inv Mgmt., Shore Capital and currently works for Fuel Ventures.
TRUSTEE
Rob Macaire CMG
Rob is a diplomat and government expert. He has extensive public sector experience in the Ministry of Defence and then HM Diplomatic Service, including as British Ambassador to Iran and High Commissioner to Kenya. His work in conflict management and commercial diplomacy place him well to engage our stakeholders and drive policy change.
TRUSTEEOur Consultants
Our consulting partners have supported us since the beginning, providing deep expertise in drone technology and regulatory compliance
Ajuno is an innovation consultancy creating meaningful change by enabling the adoption of drone capabilities that save lives and regenerate our planet. They unite those looking to maximise their benefits with the best solutions for their needs, drawing on leading technology, operations and regulatory expertise.
Frazer-Nash is a leading systems, engineering, and technology company, helping organisations deliver innovative engineering and technology solutions to make lives safe, secure, sustainable, and affordable. With over 1000 employees, they work from a network of nine UK and four Australian locations.