Hugh is a veteran entrepreneur who began his career in London, UK before migrating with his family to Singapore. Over 30 years he co-founded and grew multiple businesses including: Narrateo, a media company whose broadcast work received a British Academy Award nomination and two Royal Television Society Awards while reaching audiences up to 45 million worldwide; Pembridge Partners, which directed US$50M into creative enterprises across Europe; and JFDI.Asia, Singapore’s first startup accelerator which grew a portfolio of 70+ technology startups now valued at S$450M+. 

As an entrepreneur and hands-on investor, Hugh has designed and delivered internal innovation programmes for enterprise clients including Google, Facebook, BOSCH and Munich Re, and guided 400+ independent startups and 2000+ entrepreneurs from idea to investment-readiness. He has organised 250+ events connecting innovators from 80+ countries to capital and customers, working across sectors from manufacturing to maritime, healthcare to entertainment, and geographies from Europe to Asia and the Middle East.

Hugh has taught at institutions including NUS, NTU, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and Duke-NUS Medical School. The practical curricula he has developed in deep technology commercialisation and health innovation guide students through building prototypes, validating clinical and customer needs, and pitching to investors. He is no stranger to RC4, having conducted seminars and workshops for RC4 students, and spoken at the Startup Carnival 2025.

Hugh received his bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Bath, his Masters in Leading Innovation and Change at York St John University and he is currently completing his PhD with the University of Canberra. His doctoral research applies Poststructuralist Discourse Theory to pivoting in new venture creation through interdisciplinary frameworks spanning narrative, politics and psychoanalysis.