The Oxford Trust, Oxfordshire’s independent charitable trust dedicated to “encouraging the pursuit of science,” marked its 40th anniversary with a special evening at Rhodes House, Oxford, on 25 September 2025. The event brought together 200 guests from science, business, education, and the wider community.
Founded in 1985 by the late Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood, the Oxford entrepreneurs behind Oxford Instruments, the Trust has spent four decades inspiring young people in STEM, supporting innovation, and strengthening Oxfordshire’s science and enterprise ecosystem.
The evening opened with a welcome from chief executive Steve Burgess, followed by keynote addresses from John Boyle, chair of trustees, and Robin Buxton, son of Lady Audrey Wood. A celebratory toast was led by directors Nicki Campling and Francesca MacLennan, while magician Jon Allen added a light-hearted flourish.
Reflecting on the milestone, Steve Burgess said:
“For 40 years, The Oxford Trust has worked to support hundreds of businesses in our innovation centres shaping our future and hundreds of thousands of children through our Science Oxford programmes to inspire young people about the world of science.
“This anniversary is not just about looking back at our achievements but is a celebration of the people and partnerships that make Oxford such a vibrant place for science. It also gives us a chance to look forward at our future investments such as the Aspen Building at the Wood Centre for Innovation which has recently started construction.”
The evening also featured work from the Trust’s newly appointed Photographer in Residence, Jason Warner, who is capturing “a year in the life of The Oxford Trust.” A specially commissioned short film by Tom Lucus of Burst Design was also unveiled.
Read more: Construction begins on Aspen Building at Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington
The Trust’s charitable model has remained simple but effective: income from its innovation centres — the Oxford Centre for Innovation and the Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington — is reinvested into Science Oxford’s STEM education programmes.
Over 40 years, the Trust has helped dozens of Oxfordshire science and tech businesses to flourish, from Mirada Medical and Perspectum Diagnostics to recent successes such as Ultromics, Infleqtion and Quantum Dice.
As it looks ahead to the next chapter, The Oxford Trust remains committed to supporting start-ups, cultivating innovation, and inspiring the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs across Oxfordshire.
