Prof Stefan Maier is the Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy at Monash University, and the Lee-Lucas Chair in Physics at Imperial College London. He was recently awarded the ACS Nano Lectureship for contributions to nanoscience. Within FLEET, Stefan provided valuable expertise in nanophotonics/plasmonics/metamaterials and helped to explore new opportunities for shaping the research portfolio. This work fitted within FLEET’s Research theme 1, Topological materials and Research theme 2, Exciton superfluids.