Jason Atkinson

Jason, an Intel scholar, graduated from University College Dublin in 2018 top of his class with a 1st Class Honours Masters of Material Science and Engineering.

Sophie Parsons

Sophie is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining (MIMMM). She received her BEng and PhD (Eng) from Queen Mary College, University of London in Materials Science & Engineering. After a post-doctoral research post at Queen Mary’s, she joined LGC Forensics, UK, as a Forensic Chemist, specialising in the examination of textile fibres and polyurethane foam retrieved from crime scenes. During this time, Sophie analysed trace evidence, prepared detailed technical reports for court and presented evidence in court as a Court Reporting Officer. Following her arrival in Hong Kong, Sophie worked as a Research Fellow at City University, Kowloon Tong, developing techniques for analysing trace material evidence in crime laboratories. In 2012, Sophie joined Hawkins’ Hong Kong Office, and has since provided expertise in materials failure analysis and corrosion incidents in both the marine and land-based sectors. As a materials engineer, Sophie has conducted investigations involving the failure/corrosion of glass, ceramic, plastic and metal, and is particularly experienced at investigating lift and wire rope failures and criminal work involving trace evidence. On the marine side, Sophie is highly competent at conducting investigations involving the failure of marine coating, the liquefaction of Group […]

Nico Zurcher

Prior to becoming an investigator, Nico worked in a international environmental consultancy where he was involved in a number of major government marine projects in Hong Kong, as well as oil and gas, and mining projects around Asia. In 2011 he joined HFS-Asia in Hong Kong, where he worked as a fire investigator and consulting scientist. In 2015, Nico moved to London where he joined Hawkins to bolster our growing International and Shipping Incidents team. He continued investigating a broad range of land-based and marine incidents, both in the UK and internationally. He was also a member of our contamination team, taking on cases in the UK and Europe. Hawkins acquired HFS-Asia in 2016 and in 2020 Nico returned to Hong Kong to head the office he helped to build several years earlier. Nico has investigated several fires in large industrial plants, as well as in commercial and residential premises. On the marine side, he has investigated major fires on container and general cargo vessels. He has worked on numerous cases of bulk cargo spoilage, involving grains, oil seeds and seedcake. Nico has also worked on cases involving the carriage and storage of mixed chemical cargoes, and the contamination of […]

Hugh Martindale

Hugh is a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He has degrees in Architecture and Mechanical Engineering with Business Finance, and a Mechanical Engineering PhD from University College London (UCL) on the behaviour of flexible pipe tensile armour in the region of an end fitting.

Thomas Leyland

Thomas graduated with a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Cambridge in 2011 having studied a broad range of engineering disciplines for the initial 2 years.

Virginie Landais

Dr Virginie Landais: Hawkins’ Escapes of Water, Oil & Gas, Material Engineering & Metallurgy expert.

Sam A’Court

Sam has wealth of hands-on experience in the design, operation, maintenance, and modification of a wide range of process, utility, and safety systems, encompassing separation, heat exchange, produced water treatment, relief systems, and gas dehydration.

Benedict Barron

Dr Benedict Barron: Hawkins’ Fires & Explosions, Contamination & Pollution expert. Ben graduated from his PhD in Chemistry from Imperial College, London.

Jamie Paterson

Jamie is a chartered structural engineer with extensive experience in onshore and offshore structures. He holds a master’s degree in structural engineering, specializing in space frame structures, and has worked internationally in oil and gas projects, offshore platforms, and onshore buildings, including Passivhaus-certified designs. He currently serves as an Associate at Hawkins’ Glasgow office.

David Edwards

David started his career in 2005, with as a professional trainee at MITIE Engineering in London.