James Wade

James graduated from the University of Leeds in 2006 with a MEng degree in Automotive Engineering. Whilst at University he developed a bench top reactor to simulate oil degradation in internal combustion engines and was also an integral part of the University’s Formula Student Engine team, where he designed the fuel, electric and cooling systems for the 2005/6 car. After graduating, he accepted a role as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate working between the University of Sheffield and JCB Earthmovers Ltd. Here, he participated in a research project focussing on optimising the arrangement of pin joint and component materials. The aim of the project was to reduce the dependency on grease whilst improving service life. He developed designs for a test rig which could test a variety of loading conditions and joint arrangements. James then worked as a self-employed subcontractor for a Kent based Kit Car manufacturer where he carried out a variety of roles including design, fabrication, servicing, modification and repair of a broad variety of both road and race cars. In 2010 James set up his own Automotive Engineering practice specialising in the maintenance and modification of classic BMW cars, as well as sourcing parts. James joined […]

Neville Tranter

Following completion of his degree in Metallurgy at the University of Birmingham, Neville worked as a Graduate Heat Treatment Engineer at Wallwork Heat Treatment. This focused his knowledge of working in hazardous environments. It was from the work undertaken at Wallwork that Neville gained an interest in failure investigations and decided to broaden his knowledge by undertaking a Master of Science degree in Forensic Engineering and Science at Cranfield University. Following his Masters, Neville worked for Intertek Plc, running Rolls-Royce’s out-sourced Metallurgical Laboratory. This gave him exposure to materials science and general engineering of gas turbine engines and failure analysis. Intertek also undertook failure investigations from a wide range of third-parties. Through this work, he conducted over 100 metallurgical and failure investigations including: multi-million pound oil and gas industry losses medical devices and equipment railway rolling-stock and systems consumer products and patent infringement. After Intertek, Neville moved to Goodrich Corporation as a Materials Engineer where he investigated failures, non-conformance and manufacturing issues on hydraulic and electric aerospace actuation systems. Since joining Hawkins, Neville has specialised in the investigation of engineering failures and is currently working as a Principal Associate in our Birmingham office.

Robert Taylor

Robert is a Senior Associate based in our Birmingham office who specialises in the forensic investigation of road traffic collisions, vehicle and mechanical failures, and personal injury claims involving vehicle and workshop related incidents. Robert has completed a wide range of investigations and has prepared numerous CPR compliant reports.  He is experienced in completing vehicle examinations, collision scene surveys, analysis of CCTV and ‘dashcam’ recordings, download and analysis of Event Data Recorder (EDR) data, and analysis of the damage sustained to vehicles and how that affects roadworthiness. Before joining Hawkins in 2020, Robert held the position of Principal Engineer at Millbrook Proving Ground, having worked there for nearly nine years.  He was the Subject Matter Expert for active safety, having worked extensively in the testing, development, and certification of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Lane Support Systems (LSS).  Robert worked on a wide range of vehicles, ranging from hyper-cars and passenger cars to buses, lorries, and military vehicles. He gained extensive knowledge of vehicular systems and dynamic characteristics, having also held an advanced driving permit allowing him to drive vehicles beyond the limit of grip. Robert graduated from the University of Warwick in […]

Peter Reupke

Peter’s engineering career started in the textile industry where he worked on improving textile laminating and drying machinery. After a two year return to university to follow his interests in combustion and energy engineering, Peter undertook four years of research on biomass fuelled furnaces, gasifiers and carbonisation kilns at the Natural Resources Institute (NRI). During his time at NRI he wrote a number of papers and short books on the combustion of biomass. After he witnessed an explosion in an experimental gasifier, Peter developed an interest in explosions and uncontrolled combustion. In 1994 he moved to Chilworth Technology, a company specialising in providing advice to process industries on explosion prevention and protection. There, he undertook fire and explosion risk assessments and provided training for a number of firms, largely in the chemical, food and pharmaceutical sector. Peter joined Hawkins in 1996 and almost immediately became involved in the investigation of a number of gas explosions. Since then, he has applied his knowledge to the investigation of over 900 fires, explosions, chemical incidents and water leaks. These include the investigation of arson and major industrial incidents, but his work also involves looking at small domestic fires, electrical faults and failed pipework. […]

David Reid Rowland

David graduated with an MSc Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.  David began working in Forensic Engineering while he was employed by GBB UK Ltd, where he carried out road traffic accident investigation and reconstruction. David joined Hawkins’ London office in 2004. He has led and managed the investigation of a large number of fires in domestic, industrial, commercial and health care settings. He has also investigated a wide spectrum of engineering-related failures and personal injury cases, as well as being involved in the reconstruction of traffic accidents. The incidents investigated to date include small domestic losses through to extensive flooding and fire damage cases, as well as catastrophic engineering incidents.  David is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (MIMechE) and the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE). He has experience in the preparation of Court compliant reports, Experts’ Joint Statements and appearance in Court as an Expert Witness.  In October 2025, David relocated to Singapore where he will continue to carry out fire and engineering incident investigation.

Adrian Ratte

Adrian’s background is diverse, having gained experience with oil and gas exploration in the Canadian Arctic at Schlumberger, manufacturing of gas compression and generator packages in the oilfields of Alberta at Enerflex, and as a contract manufacturer applying prototyping and machining technologies at Alzar Industries in Ontario. He also completed a race car Mechanic training program at the Bridgestone Racing Academy near Toronto. Throughout University he was heavily involved in the Formula SAE team, where the students design and build a race car each year. Eventually culminating in a position as the team leader, his final year thesis project was the design, construction, and testing of a carbon fibre race car chassis. After completing his degree, Adrian joined Sereca Fire Consulting Ltd in Vancouver, BC in 2006 and for 7 years he performed engineering analysis following fires and other failure incidents. During this period he investigated fires, explosions, and other engineering failures in domestic, commercial, and industrial facilities. He has also investigated fires and failures in boats, heavy machinery and vehicles. This position included a focus on the application of Building Regulations, Standards, and Electrical and Gas Codes of Practice to identify defects, evaluate requirements, and analyse compliance. He has […]

Tom Peat

Tom graduated with a MEng in Aero-Mechanical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde in 2013. This degree incorporated numerous independent and group assignments, as well as an international research project at the Universitat Politècnica de València in Spain. Upon completion of his degree, Tom began work as a Supplier Quality Engineer with Jaguar Land Rover, located in Gaydon. This role included the review of suppliers’ manufacturing facilities to ensure correct process controls were in place to maintain part quality and protect the delivery schedule. One of his main projects involved the investigation of defective aluminium plates that were susceptible to splitting during the pressing process. The outcome of this investigation identified the primary cause of the failure and resulted in the implementation of new process controls to reduce the frequency of defective parts. This role cultivated an interest in materials science which led to the undertaking of a PhD in Advanced Surface Engineering within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. The PhD project involved the development of an innovative surface engineering process to manufacture highly erosion-resistant composite surfaces containing ceramic and oxide reinforcing particles. The findings of this research were published in leading peer-reviewed academic […]

Sophie Parsons

Sophie is a Chartered Engineer with expertise in materials failure analysis and corrosion incidents in both the marine and land-based sectors

Charles Murdoch

Charles’ background is in materials, having graduated with an MEng in Materials Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, UK. In his final year of study he took a slight specialism into Aerospace Materials covering aerospace structures and design. After leaving Imperial College, Charles secured a graduate scheme position with Rolls-Royce plc based initially in Derby, UK. As a graduate he spent placements on the shop floor, at the Heathrow field service office looking after British Airways and also spent time in Montreal, Canada, with the Energy business. After 18 months, he graduated from the scheme and into the Rolls-Royce internal Failure Investigation Team investigating a wide range of components from failed bolts to failed fan blades. In the majority of cases investigations concerned metallic components, however polymer, composite or even cardboard components were not uncommon. Investigations regularly included an aspect of tribology or fractography using a high magnification scanning electron microscope. In 2014 Charles relocated back to London and to Hawkins, and has continued to investigate Materials and Mechanical failures. Charles now regularly returns to his ‘student days’ at Imperial College to perform analysis of fracture surfaces on the microscopes available. Since joining Charles expanded his areas of expertise […]

James Morris

James completed his PhD researching a novel enzyme and its mechanism of action in blood cells, before undertaking six years postdoctoral research into the biochemistry of various cellular signalling pathways. In 2007 James took on a role at a small biotechnology company, where he ultimately became responsible for the chemicals production business, serving hospitals through the UK and Europe with histological stains. James built up the product stewardship requirements of the business, and qualified as a road transport Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser. James has since worked as a Product Steward, assessing and assigning hazard and transport classifications to new and reformulated petrochemicals products, for Shell and Gulf Oil. At Hawkins, he will be aiding both the Fire Investigation and Contamination teams, with his extensive knowledge of chemical reactions. James is a Senior Associate based in our Reigate Office.