Profile

I was educated at Stamford School before getting by BSc in Civil Engineering (1st Class) from Loughborough University of Technology in 1978. I stayed on to undertake doctoral research in fibre composites with an SERC CASE studentship with Johnson & Nephew, then Fibretetch.

I worked for Tarmac Construction on M5 and A30 road construction projects. I later joined Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick & Partners in 1982 as a structural engineer, working on various projects including hospitals, airport and off-shore projects before joining Loughborough University as a lecturer in 1984. I was appointed to Chair in Structural Engineering in 1999.

I have undertaken industry-focused research for over 30 years into cementitious materials, construction methods, structural elements and the design process. It is mostly funded by EPSRC plus industry (32 grants worth £8M) with findings disseminated in over 100 journal and 150 conference publications.

I have always been motivated to see the fruits of my worthwhile research translated in to practice. To that end I have served on several BSi and CEN committees, been a consultant member of trade associations and hold several patents. I was the founder director of Adept Management, a specialist management consultancy to leading companies in construction and other sectors (www.adeptmanagement.com). This spin-out company was formed in 2001 and is now a well established business with offices in London, Coventry and California.

Professional affiliations

  • Retired as a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers

External activities

  • BSi Working Group B/517/WG10 - Sprayed Concrete
  • Member of CEN TC104/WG10 - Sprayed concrete
  • Member and former Chair of CEN TC104/WG11 - Fibres for concrete

Key collaborators

My research and enterprise activities have involved many organisations ranging from clients to consulants, contractors and research orientated organizations. A small sample includes:

  • Foster+Partners, Cundall, ABB, Skanska, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Elkem and HAL Robotics
  • Foster+Partners, Buro Happold and Hyundai EDC
  • Buro Happold, Foster+Partners, Shotcrete Ltd and Weber
  • Skanska, Foster+Partners, ABB, Tarmac and the Manufacturing Technology Centre
  • SCA, EFNARC and ACIFC trade associations.