He first worked as a Metallurgist before moving into Manufacturing Management via the Cranfield hosted Fellowship in Manufacturing Management.

There then followed a fifteen year period progressing from Works Manager through to Operations and Managing Director in various Automotive component suppliers. The suppliers were respectively involved in foundry, pressing and safety critical assembly based components at levels varying from first to fourth Tier.

Apart from Lucas, Stefan has worked for Kennametal, Cosworth, Rockwell, Metal Castings and the Wagon group. He has extensive experience of implementing Quality, Cost and Delivery improvements at both strategic and a ‘hands-on’ level.

In June 1999 he joined SMMT Industry Forum, initially co-ordinating Marketing and the recruitment of Engineers. He quickly proceeded to manage a number of the Engineers and then take responsibility for Showcase 2000 and the highly successful 2002 Summit. Initiating the alignment of Industry Forum’s Common Approach with the NVQ in Business Improvement Techniques, this has enabled Industry Forum to play a pivotal role in co-ordinating the interface between Industry, Sector Skills Council (SEMTA) and the Learning and Skills Council (National and Regional). Alignment to the National Skills Strategy is a key strand of the future direction of SMMT Industry Forum.