Professor Williams is the Academic Leader for Material & Analytical Science and is Director of the Centre for Water Soluble Polymers. He is a graduate of the North East Wales Institute and was awarded a PhD from the University of Salford in 1982 and a DSc in 2009. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He has over 30 years of experience in the synthesis, physicochemical characterisation, solution and interfacial properties of polysaccharides and other water soluble polymers. He has published over 180 research papers and edited over 30 books. Professor Phillips is currently Chairman of Research Transfer Ltd, Phillips Hydocolloids Research Ltd, the Cellucon and Trusts and the Wrexham Gums and Stabilisers Conferences. He is a Professorial Fellow at the North East Wales Institute (University of Wales) and a Consultant to several industrial organisations, including to the Association for the International Promotion of Gums. Professor Phillips graduated from the University of Wales in Chemistry and holds the degrees of Batchelor of Science (B.Sc.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Doctor of Science (D.Sc)., from this University, and is a Chartered Chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. The University of Wales conferred upon him (in 1999) the degree of Doctor of Laws (LlD) Honoris Causa for "outstanding contributions to science and education". He has been awarded many other honours. Professor Phillips' research interests have centered upon carbohydrate and biomaterial systems, particularly on food hydrocolloids and medically-related biopolymers of connective tissue. He has published 56 books and (currently) 586 papers in leading scientific journals.