Adrian Johnston joined Digital Catapult NI in December 2018 as the Director of operations, replacing Tom Gray who has returned to Kainos. Johnston has 20 years industrial experience previously working for Seagate Technology in their Springtown facility in Northern Ireland. His most recent role was as Principal Managing Engineer for Analytics with Seagate Technology. He led a team of engineers based in Springtown, Northern Ireland and Bloomington, Minnesota identifying and implementing Advanced Analytics business solutions.  With a PhD in Informatics and specifically integrating AI within high volume manufacturing, Johnston has continued to drive industrially led research in advanced manufacturing with both Ulster University and Queens University Belfast. He was a key contributor to design of CARL (cognitive analytics research Lab) at UU and was a board member of CSIT / ECIT’s industrial panel. Johnston has previously held the role of Chair of Londonderry YMCA from 2006 until 2014 and still remains on the Board as their Community representative.  Johnston also continues to advocate for strong community development, youth work and economic regeneration in areas of high social and economic deprivation across Northern Ireland.

Johnston was appointed to the International fund for Ireland on 1 March 2009 and served as a Board Member until February 2012.  Johnston assumed the position of Chair of the International fund for Ireland on 1 March 2012 and was reappointed for a second term on 1 March 2015.  Johnston’s position as Chair of the IFI was extended for a further 12 months by the British and Irish Governments on the 1 March 2018 and ended on the 28^th Feb 2019.

He lives in Derry/Londonderry with his wife of 17 years Diane and they have two sons, Alex (13) and Aaron (10).