Nick Wright

Nick’s first job following graduation was for the Cookson Group at its research centre near Oxford, where he carried out materials development and testing work. Following this, Nick returned to the University of Birmingham where he gained a PhD developing polymer matrix composite engineering components. Nick joined Cosworth Ltd in 1999 as a Materials Engineer, developing materials and processing technologies for Formula 1 Engine applications. This work included a large number of failure investigations on race and road vehicle components. In 2006 Nick joined ERA Technology Ltd, working initially in the Gas Turbine group on failure investigations and remaining lifetime assessment. He became increasingly involved in failure investigations in a wide variety of applications including power generation, petrochemical process plants, electrical distribution, general industrial and road vehicles. This led to his appointment as head of the Forensic Engineering service line at ERA, where he led a team of engineers supporting loss adjusters, insurers, manufacturers and owners/operators. Nick joined Hawkins in 2013, where he works as a Principal Associate based at our London office.

David Rose

David’s career started in the Technical Services and Development Laboratory at the BP facility in Hythe. He then moved on to study anti-oxidant behaviour in lubricating oils for his PhD at the School of Chemistry at Leeds University. After graduation he studied hydrocarbon combustion as a research fellow. In 1993 David joined the Defence Research Agency (latterly known as DERA) working for the Fuels & Lubricants Centre in Farnborough, running the Fluids Handling and Flammability Hazards laboratories. His research varied from developing methods of preventing gearbox explosions, self-cleaning filtration systems, the compression ignition of hydraulic fluids to fuel reformation for fuel cells. He acted as a consultant to the Armed Forces concerning fire hazards associated with fuels and lubricants. David became interested in forensic investigation while working as part of the DERA TWA 800 air accident investigation team, investigating the destruction of a Boeing 747 that was caused by the ignition of a fuel-air mixture in the centre wing tank. Since joining Hawkins in 2001, David has carried out over 1,000 forensic investigations involving petrochemicals, confined space entry, fire and explosion incidents both in the United Kingdom and overseas. These cases have included small scale incidents to multi-million pound losses […]

Paul Moody

Paul completed his undergraduate degree in Metallurgy at the University of Birmingham in 1990. During this time, he was sponsored by British Steel and gained work experience at Swinden Labs in Rotherham. Paul later completed his Doctorate at the University of Birmingham, researching the fracture properties of welded structural steels in relation to the oxygen content of weld metals. The work was sponsored by ESAB, headquartered in Waltham Cross in London. After completing his studies in 1995, Paul began his career at the Defence Research Agency as a Research Scientist, working on welding of high strength naval steels and investigations of failed components. Following this, Paul worked as a Metallurgist at a number of firms including Bodycote Materials Testing Ltd, Ingenco Ltd (formerly Scottish Power Technology), and Doosan Babcock Ltd. Paul’s experience includes facilitating contract materials testing for the offshore oil and gas services industry, performing remanent life assessment on boilers for power plants and petrochemical sites, investigating failed components, and providing support on materials related issues. Since joining Hawkins in 2017, Paul has worked on cases involving escapes of water, personal injuries, petrochemical sites and boilers for power generation. Paul’s boiler and petrochemical site investigations have taken place in […]

Clara Coombes

Clara is originally from Canada and graduated from the University of Toronto with a 1st class undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering. Her academic interests include energy systems and different methods of power generation, as well as their wider impacts such as safety, environmental risks, and economic issues. After her undergraduate degree, Clara moved to the UK to begin a MPhil in Advanced Chemical Engineering at Cambridge University. She continued to pursue her interest in energy generation and policy, completing her Master’s course with a thesis exploring various scenarios by which small floating nuclear power plants might be used to provide civil power for the UK. Following on from her Master’s degree, Clara began a PhD in Nuclear & Civil Engineering at Cambridge University. Her PhD research focussed on the modular manufacture and construction of small nuclear reactors. In her thesis, Clara developed models to estimate the build times and costs associated with different levels of offsite construction for factory-built, modular nuclear reactors. Clara’s PhD was industry sponsored and allowed her to complete a short secondment in Derby with the nuclear team at Rolls-Royce. This enabled her research to investigate some of the key industry questions pertaining to small modular nuclear […]

Ben Lister

In 2008, Ben graduated from Churchill College at the University of Cambridge where he read for the Engineering Tripos and specialised in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. As part of his degree, Ben spent a year working in Sharjah, UAE as a design engineer and financial modeller for a small petroleum company involved in the construction of a new gas processing plant, and also completed an internship in the USA as an engineering specialist in the purchasing division of a large engine manufacturer. After graduation, Ben joined the engineering and research section of E.ON as a specialist in system modelling and analysis, initially focusing on renewable electrical generation technologies. The following years covered projects in a number of sectors including: MV distribution networks for industrial sites; analysis support for regional public distribution network operators, and an R&D portfolio, including electric vehicles and smart grid communication technologies. Ben later moved into a role supporting the commodities trading business with engineering analysis of the interaction between markets and electrical networks. In 2016, E.ON split its fossil fuel assets to form a separate company, Uniper. During this time, Ben moved back into a project support role as a microgrid and battery specialist on a […]

Graham Cooper

Graham obtained his first degree in Materials Technology from Coventry Polytechnic and his Masters degree in Advanced Materials Technology from the University of Surrey. He has been a Chartered Engineer since 1991 and is a Professional Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining. After graduation, he spent 10 years with British Aerospace where he was primarily involved with materials development, manufacturing support and aircraft defect investigation. He went on to work for British Airways in 1995 as their company metallurgist and defect investigation specialist before joining Burgoynes in 1998. Graham has investigated over 500 mechanical and materials related cases including aircraft accidents and incidents, marine accidents and losses, road traffic accidents, rail accidents, oil and gas production and pipeline incidents, industrial process plant incidents and power generation turbine failures. He has previously worked in Singapore and has undertaken investigations in the UK, Ireland, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Far East and Australia. He has acted as an Expert Witness and Single Joint Expert in litigation cases and has given expert evidence in civil and criminal court cases, arbitrations and mediations. Graham joined our Leeds office as a Principal Associate in August 2014, and is now based in our […]

Simon Batt

Simon is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He received his MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Birmingham in 2004. Simon began his engineering career at Jaguar Land Rover as a mechanical development engineer within the powertrain department, working on petrol and diesel engine development programmes. In 2007, Simon moved to Rolls-Royce where he was able to pursue his interest in engineering thermodynamics by becoming a gas turbine performance engineer. This included working on gas turbine projects for both naval and defence aerospace applications. Following a move to Siemens Energy in 2015, Simon worked on gas turbine engines within the energy sector. He was promoted to Head of Performance for aero-derivative gas turbines and became a leading influence in the area of decarbonisation, having patented an innovation in the operation of gas turbine engines running on hydrogen. After almost 7 years in this role, Simon decided to look for a new challenge and joined Hawkins in 2022 as a Forensic Investigator.

Nick Ashby

Following graduation Nick began his engineering career with the Central Electricity Generating Board as a graduate apprentice, which involved a two year technical training programme covering all aspects of the UK Electricity Supply Industry. Upon completion of his formal training Nick was appointed to a position within the Engineering Department of a 2000MW coal fired power station in Kent. For the next ten years Nick undertook a variety of technical operations and engineering roles within coal and gas power stations. During this time Nick was fully authorised under Powergen’s Electromechanical Safety Rules as well as being authorised under the National Grid Safety Rules. Nick discharged a number of shift management positions where he was responsible for the operation of all types of electrical and mechanical equipment associated with the generation and transmission of electricity. In 1998 Nick assumed a position with Powergen International in Hungary, as part of the senior management team of a new build Combined Heat and Power (CHP) power station. Nick had specific responsibility for the safety and technical training of the Hungarian operations staff, together with providing the operational liaison during the commissioning process. In 2000 Nick returned to the UK as Operations Manager at Seabank […]

Ben Adams

Ben is a power plant electrical engineer and internationally recognised generator expert.  Since joining Hawkins in 2018, Ben has specialised in major and complex electrical plant insurance losses with assignments in over 40 countries. As well as working on failures for the insurance industry, Ben has acted as an expert witness in an international arbitration and regularly provides consultancy on generator issues to power plants. Key areas of specialism: Generators (turbo, hydro and wind), and their auxiliary systems; Synchronous compensators / Rotating stabilisers / Large motors; Transformers (including bushings and on line tap changers); Wind turbine electrical systems; Solar PV plants; Switchgear and busbar systems; Power plant operation and maintenance (thermal and renewable); Power plant risk engineering; Quantum support on generator claims; Electrical equipment assessment following escapes of water; Generator fire investigation Prior to joining Hawkins, Ben gained more than 15 years’ experience working in the power industry at Drax power station, followed by RWE and International Power (latterly GDF Suez and ENGIE).  As part of these roles, he provided technical support to large fleets of power plants in the areas of high voltage equipment and general power plant risk engineering, both internally and in the case of RWE, also […]

Andy Bryce

Andrew’s career in forensic engineering began while carrying out an undergraduate placement at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, analysing the cause of aircraft component failures for the Air Accident Investigation Branch. Following his Masters Degree he joined Rolls Royce plc, Military Engine Division in 1988 where he was trained in the forensic investigation of engine failures for both in-service and development engines. Other areas of responsibility included carrying out in-service turbine component condition assessments and writing quality standards. Andrew resigned from Rolls Royce at Senior Scientist grade and joined Hawkins in 1991. Since joining Hawkins, Andrew has carried out over 1700 forensic investigations involving engineering, fire and explosion incidents both in the United Kingdom and overseas. These cases have covered a great range, from small domestic incidents to multi-million pound losses in shops, warehouses, factories, power stations (gas turbines & compressors), aerospace and marine. Andrew is experienced in the legal process and has given evidence in the capacity of an expert witness in Magistrates’ Courts, County Courts, High Courts, Crown Courts, Coroner’s Courts, mediations and arbitrations on numerous occasions. He is listed as an expert in the Expert Witness Directory. Andrew is currently a Director of Hawkins and based in the […]