Michael Pery was born in 1937. Following a National Service commission with the XII Lancers, he completed his education with an honours degree in Engineering Sciences from New College, Oxford in 1960.

After three years experience as a Production Engineer in the motor industry (Pressed Steel Co.) he joined the P-E Consulting Group where, as a Resident Consultant, he was assigned to various projects both in the UK and overseas, covering a wide range of management disciplines.

In 1966 he joined Alginate Industries Ltd. and became, successively, Production Director, Joint Managing Director (when the company was floated on the Stock Exchange) and Managing Director, following the acquisition by Merck and Co Inc. During this period Alginate Industries grew to be the largest producer of alginates in the world and established various Joint Ventures and Associate companies overseas.

In 1982 Michael Pery joined Sifam Ltd, an instrument company based in Devon. He was appointed Managing Director in 1983 and presided over a major programme of diversification into Fibre Optic components and sensors through programmes of technology transfer with various universities. Appointed Deputy Chairman in 1992 following the acquisition of the company, he left Sifam in 1993 to become the Chairman and a founding Director of Ecological Sciences Limited and OptoSci Limited.

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