A career in optoelectronics with Sarah Jardine, CEO of epipole

Sarah Jardine is the CEO of epipole, aScottish medical technology company who have designed, developed, and manufacturedthe"epiCam" for high-definition retinal imaging. It utilises the latest in ultra-portable optics technology to provide eye care professionals with the ability to capture live, high-resolution video and still images of the retina.Having gained a BSc (Hons) in Laser Physics and Optoelectronics and an MSc in Laser Engineering from the University of Strathclyde and Heriot Watt University respectively, Sarah’s career in optoelectronics began as a Laser Engineer with Thales Optronics in 1993.Having now spent 30 years successfully transferring products from R&D to manufacturing, Sarah will share her experiences of how to overcome issues and objections to get through to the other side, why it pays to never be the smartest person in the room, and how to successfully resolve the productivity conundrum.

Sarah has a 30-year career in the optronics industry. In 2017, she was promoted to Senior Director of manufacturing at Optos, a position which she held until her move to the National Manufacturing Institute (NMIS) as Chief Operating Officer in early 2020.

As Senior Director of Manufacturing at Optos Sarah delivered an increase in capacity from 30 to 300 devices per month in a single shift with no increase in the production area and a one-third increase in headcount. Over the same period she led the team to deliver more than $8,000,000 in cost avoidance and an average of 14% year-on-year increase in productivity for the last 3 years.

During her tenure at NMIS Sarah was responsible for ensuring maximum, compliant draw down against all eligible capital and revenue grants, and led the delivery of the NMIS HQ facility.

Sarah was Invited to join the Board of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) in 2013, was appointed as Chair in 2015, and chaired the Board for almost 5 years. She was honoured to be awarded University of Strathclyde’s Alumna of the year in 2018, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.