Working with Industry

Current organisation and role: Managing Director - RSKW Ltd

Experience and qualifications: I am a Chartered Civil Engineer, with 40 years’ experience in the provision of management and technical consultancy to regulated industries in the UK and internationally. My focus has been in infrastructure - covering water, energy and transport. I have run a variety of businesses in the Engineering Consultancy sector and formed RSKW Ltd in 2008. I believe it is important to remain close to the technical work the company does and have always worked as a technical/management consultant as well as a chief executive.

Current organisation and role: Engineering Director and Chief Engineer for SC Group/Supacat Ltd

Experience and qualifications:

• BEng(Hons) CENG FIMechE MRINA
• 30 years in engineering across marine, composites, automotive and defence sectors covering concept, design, fabrication, repair and maintenance, including engineering leadership and management

Current organisation and role: Renishaw plc. General Manager Renishaw Exeter

Experience and qualifications: 38 years of experience in development of cutting-edge products for motion and control, measurement systems and ultra-high precision machine design. I have a MSc in control engineering and have been a member of the IEE/IET for over 20 years.

Current organisation and role: Head of Design & Engineering (South West) at nmcn Ltd 

Experience and qualifications:

• BEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering
• MSc Water and Wastewater Technology
• Chartered Engineer (CEng), Engineering Council UK
• Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers

I have 18 years of experience within the Water Industry, starting my career as a CAD technician, design engineer, senior design engineer, Design Manager to my current role of Head of Design and Engineering.

Current organisation and role: Hoare Lea LLP, Partner

Experience and qualifications: I have over 32 years of experience as a mechanical designer, project associate and now project partner and have worked on a wide range of complex schemes both locally and nationally. With extensive experience of the healthcare and education sector with respect to mechanical and electrical engineering and sustainability aspects, I regularly advise, professional, client and team members on many aspects of these sectors. As partner, I am also accountable for work winning, office management and resource.

Current organisation and role: Secretary & Treasurer of the Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (or ‘PMG’)

Experience and qualifications: Steve Gerry is a freelance business and economic development consultant. Aside from undertaking a number of commissions for private sector clients and the University of Plymouth and City College Plymouth, since 2008, he’s been Secretary & Treasurer of the PMG, a network of 60 local manufacturers which is currently enjoying its 40th anniversary this year. At 12%, Plymouth has the highest concentration of manufacturing employment of any City south of the Midlands . It accounts for 16% of the local economy and contributes nearly £1Bn GVA pa.

His non-executive positions include: Board Member, NHS Plymouth PCT (2007-11); Chairman of Guinness Hermitage Housing Association’s SW Area Committee (2005-13). Prior to this, Steve had a lengthy career in the Electricity Supply Industry, where with SW Electricity plc he was a senior management consultant and business analyst. After completing his MBA, he was seconded as Business Development Manager with South West Enterprise Ltd (SWEL), a private sector economic development lobby group and went on to become Executive Partnership Director of Plymouth 2020 Local Strategic Partnership (2000-03).

Steve has undertaken a number of voluntary positions including Chair of Governors at a local Primary School (1999-2017) and Young Enterprise Advisor (1998 – on-going).

Current organisation and role: Technical Director with Sweco UK.

Sweco plans and designs the communities and cities of the future. The results of our work are sustainable buildings, efficient infrastructure and access to clean water. With 15,000 employees in Northern Europe, we offer our customers the right expertise for every project. We carry out projects in 70 countries annually and Sweco is Europe’s leading architecture and engineering consultancy.

Experience and qualifications: I have a degree in Civil Engineering and I’m a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Water and Environmental Manager. Together with this I’m a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Member of the Institution of Water and Environmental Management.

I started my career working for contractors which was invaluable to help me understand the construction process, how construction sites operate and the importance of good design. For the last 30 years I have worked for four consulting engineers working on mainly water based projects both in the UK and overseas.

Current organisation and role: Technical Lead – Strategic Water Planning, Jacobs Engineering.

Experience and qualifications: I have 40 years of international experience as a Consulting Engineer; and have advised or worked with national and international public and private sector clients in over twenty countries throughout the world.

My key areas of expertise are in strategic decision analysis, using optimisation and simulation modelling and risk-based decision-making techniques to solve engineering and planning problems. I have applied these techniques to a range of strategic planning and economic development challenges relating to climate-change adaptation; sustainable water resources allocation and flood risk management.

Current organisation and role: Mechanical Design Engineer at Babcock International Group (Marine – Defence Systems Technology)

Experience and qualifications:

• MEng Mechanical Engineer
• I have worked in manufacturing, aerospace, automotive and marine industries