Last Updated on: 27th September 2025, 06:33 am
Talent Leader Joins to Build Next-Generation Semiconductor Talent Pipeline as Skills Crisis Deepens
Semiconductor design company Novomorphic, backed by Cadence Design Systems together with the Welsh Government and the CSA Catapult, has confirmed the appointment of Catherine Lundie as Director of People & Resources. In this new role, she will steer the company’s talent strategy as it expands expertise in critical areas such as edge AI, advanced communications and power electronics.
The hire addresses a pressing challenge for the UK’s semiconductor sector: the need to grow specialist skills to meet the demands of complex chip and system-level design. Lundie, with more than 20 years’ experience in talent development, previously spent seven years at CSA Catapult, progressing from HR and Resourcing Adviser to Interim Director of People & Resources and leading initiatives that built highly effective pipelines for engineering talent.
Shaping the Future Semiconductor Workforce
Novomorphic’s emphasis on integrating digital, mixed-signal and compound semiconductor technologies requires highly versatile engineers who can work across traditional specialisms – a capability still limited in the industry. Lundie’s work will focus on cultivating these abilities locally and supporting the broader UK semiconductor skills base.
“The semiconductor industry needs people who can work across traditional boundaries,” said Lundie, who has already begun implementing Novomorphic’s people strategy. “We will be building pathways that take talented individuals from apprenticeship and graduate programmes through to senior engineering roles, ensuring they develop both deep technical expertise and the systems thinking needed for complex design challenges.”
Her remit spans recruitment of seasoned professionals alongside the development of robust graduate and apprenticeship schemes that create transparent progression routes in semiconductor design.
Record of Success in Technology Talent Development
At CSA Catapult, Lundie was instrumental in supporting engineering teams in one of the country’s most dynamic technology clusters. She established career frameworks that enabled engineers to acquire the skills required for success in the compound semiconductor market, now essential to technologies from 5G infrastructure to electric mobility solutions.
“Lundie’s experience at CSA Catapult gives her unique insight into what makes technology talent thrive,” said Amar Abid-Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Novomorphic. “She understands both the technical challenges our engineers face and the career development they need to solve increasingly complex problems. Her appointment ensures we’re building not just technical capability, but the organisational culture that will attract and retain the best people.”
Driving Skills for Critical Technologies
The UK’s requirement for skilled semiconductor designers is accelerating across key sectors including automotive electronics, communication networks, AI and defence applications. Novomorphic’s model – uniting digital, mixed-signal and compound technologies – calls for cross-disciplinary expertise, which Lundie’s programmes aim to develop while strengthening engineers’ core technical foundations.
Culture-First Growth Philosophy
The appointment underscores Novomorphic’s focus on creating the right organisational culture to foster technical excellence. Lundie’s strategy centres on building an environment where engineers can address complex challenges while growing their careers in emerging fields.
“Great semiconductor companies are built by great teams,” noted Lundie. “My role is ensuring we have the culture, systems, and opportunities that allow talented people to do their best work whilst developing the interdisciplinary skills that tomorrow’s applications will demand.”
Her initiatives will include mentorship schemes, technical development tracks and academic partnerships to ensure a robust talent pipeline that benefits the Welsh semiconductor ecosystem.
Catherine Lundie, Director of People & Resources, Novomorphic: “What excites me most about Novomorphic is the opportunity to build a company with people at its heart – where engineers and innovators can thrive, grow, and feel proud of the impact they’re making. By focusing on the talent pipeline, from apprentices and graduates to experienced engineers, we’re laying foundations for long-term capability in edge AI, communications, energy systems, and beyond. This is about giving people the skills and opportunities to shape technologies that matter.”
Amar Abid-Ali, Chief Executive Officer, Novomorphic: “Catherine has already made a significant impact at Novomorphic. Her passion for people development and her ability to translate strategy into practical programmes are helping us build the culture and capabilities we need from day one. She ensures that Novomorphic is not only about technical leadership, but also about developing sovereign capability through sustained investment in people and talent.”
