Stephen Brough
Stephen is a forensic engineer and fire investigator, based in our Leeds office.
Stephen Braund
Stephen is a Chartered Engineer and holds a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Before joining Hawkins he spent twenty years working in industry. He has industrial experience and expertise in the following areas: Design of systems and equipment for industrial and military stealth technology applications, including information display technology, underwater acoustics, magnetic sensors, data acquisition and telemetry, corrosion and cathodic protection, electrical power and control. Product approval for electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for CE marking. Radio and television broadcast technology, including HF/VHF/UHF transmitters, antennas, microwave, terrestrial and satellite communications and professional studio equipment. Design and development of mass-produced television and computer products. Design and development of electricity meters and related products. Since joining Hawkins in 2003, most of his work has involved investigation of fires, explosions, break-ins, engineering, product liability and personal injury matters. He has expertise in intruder alarm systems and has worked on many cases where fraud or arson was involved. In 2005 Stephen obtained a qualification in the IEE Wiring Regulations and in 2006 he obtained a qualification in Fire Investigation from Edinburgh University. Stephen is a Principal Associate based in our Birmingham office.
Inigo Beckett
Inigo graduated from the University of Warwick with a First-Class Masters Degree in Mathematics having studied topics including Machine Learning, Advanced Real Analysis and Group Theory. His dissertation project explored the mathematics behind Linear Inverse Theory with applications in medical tomography. This included programming in MATLAB to demonstrate the inner workings of a CT-scan using Randomised Algebraic Reconstruction Techniques. Inigo joined Hawkins in 2020 as a Researcher in our Reigate office before progressing to Associate, expanding and strengthening Hawkins’ offerings in Digital Forensic Services. In 2022, he developed and implemented a new 3D Photogrammetric Modelling and Forensic Photogrammetry Service whereby he performs 3D modelling of retained forensic exhibits such as pipes, buildings, fire damaged electrical appliances, vehicles. Inigo applies key mathematical principles in remote-sensing and computer vision to deduce camera positions and lengths of objects. This area of work often coincides with his expertise in producing virtual visualisations & reconstructions, combining digital 3D models of exhibits and scenes to assist interpretations of imagery and videos of interest to insurance and legal professions. Inigo is also an A2 Certificate of Competence (A2CofC) certified drone pilot, regularly assisting clients with aerial surveys on cases relating to fires, structural failures, and personal injuries. […]
Lisa Beck
From South Africa, Lisa obtained a diploma in mechanical engineering and worked for a large wine co-operative in the Stellenbosch wine region. Thereafter, she studied further at the University of cape Town and obtained a science degree in mechanical engineering. In southern and central Africa, Lisa worked in the steel recycling and water tube boiler industries, gaining experience of heavy engineering plant and equipment. Lisa immigrated to the UK and joined Hawkins in 2007 as an Associate fire and engineering investigator in the Reigate office. She investigates fires ranging from domestic to large industrial incidents, and engineering losses ranging from personal injuries to large engineering equipment failures. She has also investigated various bicycle related incidents, drawing on a personal passion for the sport. LANGUAGES Lisa is also proficient in Afrikaans.
Patrick Barbour
Having obtained a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, Patrick spent two years designing sub-sea wellhead equipment for the North Sea oil industry. He then returned to Leeds University to carry out research into the wear of polymers used in artificial hip joints. Having gained a PhD, he continued his research and lectured Mechanical Engineering at Leeds University. Patrick joined Dr J H Burgoyne and Partners LLP in 2000 to investigate incidents involving personal injury and mechanical failure for insurers and solicitors. During this time the findings of his investigations were used in numerous court cases, both civil and criminal, and he attended arbitrations and mediations to present expert evidence. In 2008 Patrick joined Hawkins in our Bristol office where he continues to use his expertise to investigate incidents of personal injury and mechanical failure. Patrick’s cases have involved the safety of systems of work and the failure of engineering components in commercial and domestic installations. These cases can require the analysis of stress and failure modes of a variety of materials, loads generated by static and moving bodies, thermodynamics and fluid flow as well as the safety of systems of work and the safety of interlocking systems intended to prevent […]
Rob Baldock
Rob graduated from Cambridge University in 2003 with first-class B.A. and MEng degrees focused on structural and mechanical engineering. In collaboration with Arup, he completed his PhD in 2007, investigating the application of structural optimisation to building design. Rob then worked in Arup’s London Buildings Group for more than 6 years on diverse local and international projects in various sectors. These included long-span and transfer structures, deep basements, and tensile fabric roofs. Rob also has practical site experience, working on secondment to the contractor at Canary Wharf Crossrail Station and as resident engineer on a school construction in the Indian Himalayas. Rob is very experienced in structural glass design, having spent over 6 years at Eckersley O’Callaghan, where he was involved with iconic and pioneering projects associated with façade systems. He has managed the design of glazing systems on a number of international flagship Apple stores, including the hemispherical Marina Bay Sands store in Singapore, and has lead collaborations with major glazing contractors. He was also the lead engineer for a pair of complex pedestrian bridge structures, linking office buildings over a public highway. Rob joined Hawkins’ Built Environment Team in early 2022 with 14 years of building design experience working as […]
Richard Baker
Richard joined Hawkins in 2017 as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer. He graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2009 with a First Class Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. Richard has previously occupied the roles of Engineer, Senior Engineer and Principal Engineer. He now specialises in the forensic investigation of road traffic accidents/collisions, vehicle and mechanical failures, and image analysis typically of video recordings from CCTV systems and ‘dash-cams’. Richard has extensive experience in engineering design and analysis. As well as taking on more traditional mechanical engineering cases, such as those involving failures of mechanical joints and fasteners, Richard uses his experience in engineering data analysis and interrogation in cases involving video analysis. Richard applies scientific analysis methods to video recordings to facilitate interpretation of events in the context of space (position), time, speed, and the fundamental scientific and engineering principles that bound the problem. This work includes video clarification and enhancement, relating to single and multiple vehicle accidents, and collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists. This area of Richard’s work often strongly overlaps with his expertise in collision investigation and Richard is regularly instructed to deal with both Video Analysis Expert and Collision Reconstruction Expert aspects of a case. Richard has […]
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 […]
Russ Smith
After graduating, Russ was employed by the Avon & Somerset Constabulary as a Scenes of Crime Officer engaged in the forensic examination of crime scenes, including fires. In 1998 he joined the Avon & Somerset Scientific Support Fire Investigation Team specialising in arson cases. In 2000 he was promoted to Team Leader Scenes of Crime Officer, with responsibility for the coordination of the Constabulary’s response to vehicle crime, while continuing to play an active role in fire investigation. He has lectured to Police Officers, Fire Brigade personnel and Scenes of Crime Officers on subjects including the identification and preservation of evidence, scientific analysis of exhibits and the influence of DNA on crime scene examination. In 2002 Russ joined Dr J H Burgoyne & Partners LLP as a Consulting Scientist specialising in the investigation of fires and explosions. He was responsible for investigating a diverse range of incidents including small fires in domestic properties, large fires in restaurants, commercial buildings and vehicle fires. In 2005 Russ joined Hawkins, where he continues to carry out fire investigations. He is also frequently asked to provide expert assistance in criminal cases. He was Regional Manager of the Bristol Office for many years, and currently […]