The Oxford Trust announces Matt Francis as its next chief executive officer

The Oxford Trust has appointed Matt Francis as its next chief executive officer. Matt will succeed Steve Burgess and join the Trust on 1^st September with a short transition to formally take-up the role on 25th September 2026. 

Matt will lead The Oxford Trust into its next phase of growth and impact as it continues to support innovation, education and engagement in science and technology across the Oxford region.

Matt Francis will join The Oxford Trust from Oxford Innovation Space, where he was head of science and technology. In this role, he leads business development for the science and technology portfolio, identifying new opportunities, building strategic partnerships and expanding laboratory space across the network.

Before this Matt spent nearly a decade at The Oxford Trust, the last five years in senior operational leadership roles which included project director and director of operations and enterprise. During that time, he led the delivery of the £13 million Wood Centre for Innovation and Science Oxford Centre development which opened in March 2019. He also helped to bring early-stage life science and high-tech R&D companies into the new facility, while overseeing operations across the organisation.

Matt is also co-chair of the charity Justice in Motion, which produces thought-provoking performances to raise awareness of social injustice.

John Boyle, chair of trustees, The Oxford Trust said: “We are delighted to welcome Matt Francis as the next CEO of The Oxford Trust. We are confident that Matt brings the vision, sector experience and passion needed to build on the Trust’s 40-year legacy. Steve will continue to lead the organisation until 25^th September, and we look forward to working with both Steve and Matt during this transition as we prepare to enter into a new exciting period further expanding its mission and impact.”

Matt Francis, incoming CEO, said: “The Oxford Trust has always sat at a distinctive intersection: education and engagement programmes that fire the imaginations of young scientists, alongside innovation centres that help those scientists become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Having spent recent years working across the UK’s science and technology innovation landscape, I return more convinced than ever that its role, independent, mission-driven, and with 40 years of trust built up in this community, has never mattered more.

“With the Aspen Building opening this summer and Oxford’s growing prominence on the national innovation stage, the timing feels significant. I look forward to working with the Trust’s brilliant team, trustees and partners to honour the vision of Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood and together play our part in what comes next.”

Steve Burgess, current CEO added: “It has been a privilege to the lead The Oxford Trust and work alongside such dedicated colleagues, trustees and partners. I am proud of what has been achieved over the last 13 years supporting hundreds of start-ups and scaleups and sparking the imaginations of our future scientists. I’m confident that Matt Francis will lead the organisation with vision and purpose in the years ahead.”

During Steve’s 13 years as chief executive, The Oxford Trust has purchased the 18-acre Headington site and created a thriving science and innovation campus which includes two innovation buildings: the Linden Building, which opened in 2019, and the Aspen Building, which is opening in July 2026 for science and tech start-ups. The site, with its extensive woodland and ponds, is also home to the Science Oxford Centre, which welcomes schools during the week and families at weekends. This location fully realises the vision set out by Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood and entrusted to Steve on taking up his role as CEO in 2013.

The Oxford Trust also runs the Oxford Centre for Innovation at Blue Boar Court in Oxford’s city centre.

The Board of Trustees would like to thank Steve for his outstanding contribution over the past 13 years. An official celebration of Steve’s tenure, retirement and the formal handover to Matt is planned for September.