Campus Community: Matthew Disley
York Biotech Campus (YBC) is home to pioneering organisations across all aspects of biotech, including Metir plc, a provider of advanced water testing solutions. One of the newest faces in our community is Matthew Disley, Head of Business Development at Modern Water, a Metir plc company.
In this edition of Campus Community, we sit down with Matthew to learn more about his background, his role, and the passions that shape life both inside and outside of work.
Can you tell us about Modern Water and the work it does?
“At Modern Water, we help organisations understand whether their water is safe by measuring toxicity directly, rather than just checking for individual chemicals. Our technology is based on the Microtox® method, which uses naturally bioluminescent bacteria. When the bacteria are healthy, they glow. If something harmful is present in the water, they become stressed and the light drops. The bigger the drop, the more toxic the water is.”
What does your role involve, and what are your key responsibilities?
“I’m Head of Business Development, which essentially means I’m responsible for driving the business forward through sales and marketing. I’m involved in setting our strategic direction, identifying the biggest opportunities, and then doing the practical work to turn those opportunities into real commercial outcomes.”
Can you tell us about your past career history?
“I actually come from a sports and leisure background. I’ve spent the last eight years in sales and marketing, with the last three working in football. I held commercial roles at Grimsby Town FC (my local team!) and Sutton United FC, where I was responsible for driving revenue and building partnerships.
“It’s very different to working in water technology, but the fundamentals of sales are the same, and all my skills in strategy, relationships and execution have transferred really well.
“I moved from football into water technology because I wanted a better work–life balance for my family – the football fixture schedule is relentless! However, the key reason was I wanted to use my skills for something with global impact. Our technology at Modern Water absolutely ticks that box.”
What do you enjoy most about being part of the YBC community?
“I’ve only been with Modern Water since the end of 2025, and even though YBC is a big campus, everyone is very friendly and approachable which makes it easier to find my feet. The Lakeside Restaurant is fantastic too!”
What would you say is your biggest professional achievement so far?
“I would say it’s the cumulative impact I’ve had on revenue over the course of my career. I’ve gone into four very different industries with no prior experience and been able to grow sales and increase revenue in each of them. For me, that shows huge adaptability and an ability to learn quickly, which I’m really proud of, and I’m excited to now do this for Modern Water.”
Modern Water has an exciting year ahead in 2026 – could you share any highlights from recent projects or anything exciting that’s on the horizon?
“The most exciting thing we’ve done so far this year is our trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the IFAT Tradeshow. I’ve never been to that part of the world before, so it was a great experience, and it was my first international tradeshow as well. It was a brilliant few days and I’m looking forward to working more closely with the Middle East and North Africa market.
“One of the things I’m most looking forward to is continuing to grow our global presence. A big part of my role is speaking with potential partners around the world who can help us take our products into new markets. I love working with people from different cultures and learning how things are done in different parts of the world.”
Outside of work, what are your passions or hobbies?
“I’m a big sports fan, I love ice hockey and I play it a little too. In the NHL, I’m a Toronto Maple Leaf’s fan, and more locally I support the Sheffield Steelers, although I only get to a couple of games a year if I’m lucky.
“I’ve also got three kids, so I’m big on family time and getting the kids outdoors – they usually behave better when they’ve had some fresh air! I enjoy weightlifting, and when time allows, I like long hikes as well.”
Thanks to Matthew for taking part in our Campus Community series. Read our previous Campus Community with Mickey Garrod, Facilities and Workplace Services Lead at Defra Group Property here.
If you’d like to nominate yourself for the next Campus Community edition, please contact [email protected].