London and South East Coast (UK)

Adam Barnes

Adam Barnes

  • Position Chair

Adam Barnes is the Head of Process Technology and Engineering at the global Paint and Coatings manufacturer, AkzoNobel, makers of globally known paint brands such as Dulux, International and Sikkens with manufacturing sites across the globe.

After studying Chemical Engineering obtaining an MEng from Cambridge, he started his career as a graduate trainee in the chemical company ICI on Teesside in process technology roles becoming chartered in 1998. He then moved to work at Tate and Lyle Sugars in site based roles as Operations Engineer and then Projects Manager at their large sugar refinery at Silvertown.

He then moved to ICI Paints in regional process technology and operations roles, including a operations secondment to France, and joined AkzoNobel when they purchased ICI. During his career at AkzoNobel, he and his team have been responsible for both setting the standards for established process technology across the companies 100 or so sites, as well as identifying and developing innovative process technologies, and integrating this into plants.

This has given him the possibility to experience the satisfaction of providing technology and design input to new factories, major upgrades as well as site improvement activities in the UK, Europe, Africa and also in China and Asia, working with a wide range of people at all experience levels, developing expertise in aspects of manufacturing as well as putting to use his direct chemical engineering knowledge. 

He has been a member of the for the past 5 years or so, taking the role of treasurer in 2023 and chair in 2024.


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