The Marque The Marque

Carl Hunter OBE

Chairman

Coltraco Ultrasonics

London, UK


Carl Hunter
Steve Houghtaling
Belcan
Jimmy Iovine
USC Iovine and Young Academy

Carl’s Biography

Dr Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE is Chairman of Coltraco Ultrasonics, a highly specialised manufacturer of ultrasonic technology. In 2022 he was appointed as a Visiting Fellow at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre.

Carl is also Professor-in-Practice at Durham University Business School and Director-General of the Durham Institute of Research, Development & Invention. In 2016 Carl was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science by Durham University in recognition of his achievements. He recently received Durham’s highest award, the Dunelmensis Award, for his contribution to research and undergraduate development.

Using his extensive international business experience to support Britain’s exporters, Carl focuses his efforts on promoting the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He is Chairman of the British Exports Association (BExA); Chair of the Manufacturing Policy Unit at the Federation of Small Businesses; the 37th mentor for CommonwealthFirst; and Decision-Making Panel Member and Greater London Agent for the Bank of England. In 2019 he was awarded an OBE for services...
Dr Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE is Chairman of Coltraco Ultrasonics, a highly specialised manufacturer of ultrasonic technology. In 2022 he was appointed as a Visiting Fellow at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre.

Carl is also Professor-in-Practice at Durham University Business School and Director-General of the Durham Institute of Research, Development & Invention. In 2016 Carl was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science by Durham University in recognition of his achievements. He recently received Durham’s highest award, the Dunelmensis Award, for his contribution to research and undergraduate development.

Using his extensive international business experience to support Britain’s exporters, Carl focuses his efforts on promoting the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He is Chairman of the British Exports Association (BExA); Chair of the Manufacturing Policy Unit at the Federation of Small Businesses; the 37th mentor for CommonwealthFirst; and Decision-Making Panel Member and Greater London Agent for the Bank of England. In 2019 he was awarded an OBE for services to International Trade & Business.

As an adviser to Government across various departments, Carl is highly active in Westminster. He supports the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Maritime & Ports and has contributed to several Parliamentary Select Committees. Carl was a member of the Government’s Economic Recovery Taskforce in 2020.

Carl is a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering; an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute; a member of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners; a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers; and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Carl sits on the advisory board of The Council on Geostrategy, a non-profit organisation focused on geopolitics and environmental security.

Carl served in the British Army as an Officer in the Royal Green Jackets.
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Carl’s Newsfeed

Hatfield College's Most Iconic Alumni 2023

Dr Carl Hunter OBE has been named as one of Hatfield College's most iconic alumni in this report by Sainty, Hird & Partners.

Bristol Live
Ince trainee solicitor wins Junior Lawyer of the Year Award

Ellie Jones was nominated for the award for her work with Carl Hunter OBE, in helping to eradicate modern slavery at sea.

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Carl’s Background

Coltraco Ultrasonics
Chairman
1991 - Present
London, UK
Coltraco Ultrasonics is a world-renowned British designer and manufacturer of ultrasonic safety and monitoring equipment. Coltraco services the shipping, offshore oil and gas, power, renewables and safety engineering sectors.
 
Durham Institute of Research, Development & Invention
Director-General
2021 - Present
Durham, UK
The Durham Institute of Research, Development, and Invention (DIRDI) is a scientific research institute founded in collaboration with Durham University by Coltraco Ltd. It brings together academics and industry professionals from various disciplines, with a focus on physicists, engineers, mathematicians, and computer scientists.
 
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Carl’s Gallery

Current Board Positions

The British Exporters Association
Chairman
2022 - Present
London, UK
The British Exporters Association (BExA) is a non-profit trade association that supports the interests of exporters in the United Kingdom. A long-term member, since May 2022 Carl serves the association as Chairman.
 
Council on Geostrategy
Advisory Board Member
Feb 2021 - Present
London, UK
The Council on Geostrategy is a non-profit organisation that focuses on a global environment increasingly defined by geopolitical rivalries and environmental crises. Carl is Chairman of the Council on Geostrategy Forums.
 
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Current Advisory Roles

Media

Switch Your Money On Podcast
Podcast Panelist
Feb 2022
London, UK
Carl discusses the opportunity that China represents for trade in this podcast episode of Switch Your Money On – China in Your Plans.
 
Modern Slavery in the Maritime Sector
Oct 2021
Carl Hunter OBE, Chairman of Coltraco Ultrasonics, talked to Ince Group, a global maritime law firm about the Eradication of Modern Slavery at Sea.
 
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Interviews

How British Standards Play a Wider Role in Relation to the Integrated Review
May 2022
At the 2022 Fire Buyer Live Conference Carl Hunter OBE gave a video address on British Standards playing a wider role for fire safety worldwide, in relation to the Integrated Review.
 
Adam Boulton interviews Carl Hunter, CEO Coltraco Ultrasonics on Sky News
Feb 2019
Carl Hunter OBE is interviewed by Adam Boulton of Sky News about international trade following Brexit.
 
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Publications

The UK's "Global Force for Good"
Author
Jun 2023
Dr Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE, BExA Chairman and entrepreneur, wrote an article for The Exporter magazine outlining the UK's fundamental strengths.
 
The duty of UK business to support the Prime Minister and UK enterprise overall
Author
Nov 2022
This article by Dr Carl Hunter was included in Blueprint, a magazine containing news from the Cities of London & Westminster Conservatives.
 
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Memberships

The International Institute for Strategic Studies
Member
May 2022 - Present
London, UK
The IISS is an internationally recognised authority on political risk, global security and military conflict.
 
The British Exporters Association
Member
2018 - Present
London, UK
BExA is a British national trade association representing the interests of the exporting community. Carl joined the association's Council in May 2019 as Head of Government Relations and stepped into the role of Chairman in May 2022.
 
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Awards & Recognition

Top Durham Alumni Board Chairs
Nominee
Dec 2022
Carl Hunter was voted one of the top 50 University of Durham graduates in a Corporate Governance Chair role.
 
Queen's Award for Enterprise (International Trade)
Winner (Coltraco)
May 2022
London, UK
Three years after winning their first Queen’s Award for Enterprise, Coltraco Ultrasonics has joined the small group of businesses who have won a second.
 
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Public Service

Ministry of Defence
London Veterans Pension & Advisory Committee
Mar 2021 - Present
London, UK
 
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
SME Action Group
Feb 2021 - Present
London, UK
 
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Speaking Engagements

British Exporter’s Association Annual Lunch
Speaker
Oct 2022
London, UK
Carl Hunter gave a speech at the BExA Annual Lunch, held at the Mansion House in October 2022. Click on the BExA logo to view the speech in full.
 
Overseas expansion: How can businesses bring their firms overseas during this challenging time?
Keynote Speaker
Mar 2021
London, UK
Carl was the keynote speaker for the Overseas Expansion talk, "Is it necessary to have physical presence in the region you’re expanding to?", on the first day of Elite Business Live. He discusses how businesses can expand to international markets during this challenging time – and why implementing the strategy is critical before execution.
 

Charitable Interests

The Professor CSP Hunter Scholarships
Sponsor
Dec 2022 - Present
London, UK
Dr Carl Hunter OBE has generously funded 10 annual scholarships which are aimed at early career researchers, and pay for membership of the Heythrop Library.
 
St. George's Hanover Square Primary School logo St. George's Hanover Square Primary School logo
St. George's Hanover Square Primary School
Governor
London, UK
St George's Hanover Square Church of England Primary School provides a distinctively Christian education in a welcoming setting. The school strives to provide challenging learning opportunities while encouraging achievement in all areas and nurturing social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
 

Fellowships

Royal Aeronautical Society
Fellow (Member since 2012)
Aug 2022 - Present
London, UK
The Royal Aeronautical Society, founded in 1866, is a multidisciplinary professional organisation dedficated to the global aerospace community.
 
Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre
Visiting Fellow
2022 - Present
The Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre (RNSSC) serves as the Royal Navy’s ‘think tank’ and was established in December 2019 to strengthen the conceptual component of fighting power.
 
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Carl’s Education