This summer has marked a step-change for Applied Computing as we strengthen the leadership behind Orbital, our foundation model for energy operations. We’re pleased to welcome Stephen Fowler as Senior Advisor - Refining, Petrochemicals and Biofuels.

Stephen brings more than two decades of global energy and technology leadership from Shell, where he held senior positions covering technology, manufacturing and capital projects. 

He served as Vice President, Chemicals, Downstream Process & Bio Technology, advancing process innovation and low-carbon pathways within Shell’s chemicals, refining and low carbon fuels portfolio, derisking major capital investments and commercialising advanced technologies. 

Earlier roles included General Manager of Shell Jurong Island and Superintendent Shell Albian Sands, asset leadership positions with a focus on operational excellence and strategic transformation. As Vice President New Energies Technology his portfolio included hydrogen and energy-transition technologies. 

Having lived and worked across Europe, Asia and North America for the past two decades, Stephen brings a truly global perspective that aligns directly with Orbital’s deployment footprint.

“I’m proud to support Applied Computing at this inflection point,” said Stephen Fowler. “The team’s blend of deep industrial expertise and rigorous, physics-grounded AI is exactly what operators need to turn complexity into real-world performance gains. I’m excited to support the next phase of Orbital’s growth.”

Stephen’s appointment crowns a summer of significant senior hires. In July, Dan Jeavons joined as President, bringing over two decades of leadership from Shell where he drove AI and digital innovation across global operations. 

Alongside Stephen and Dan, new appointments include Hari Ramani (VP of Commercial Markets), Mike Macpherson (Director of Cyber & AI Security), Dr Tianhong Dai (Founding Principal AI Researcher) and Dr Harry Davies (Senior AI Research Scientist) - deepening Applied Computing’s expertise across go-to-market strategy, industrial security and cutting-edge research.

“It’s a privilege to build out such a high-calibre senior team with Sam and Callum,” added Dan Jeavons. “Together we’re scaling Orbital to transform the economics and climate performance of critical industrial infrastructure.”

These appointments build on the momentum of Applied Computing’s £9 million seed round, one of the largest ever for a UK AI company, as the company scales Orbital - bringing superintelligent, production-grade AI to the industries that power modern civilisation and enabling profitability and decarbonisation to advance hand in hand.