We are delighted to welcome Dr Madeleine Combrinck to Hawkins, where she joins us as an Associate based in our Glasgow office. Madeleine brings a wealth of experience across the military, defence, materials, and energy sectors.
Madeleine began her career in the South African Navy in 2001, completing both basic and officer training, including practical courses in maritime damage control, firefighting onboard vessels, and sea survival. She has conducted feasibility studies and technical investigations for engineering changes on military vessels.
In 2009, Madeleine transitioned to the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor), where she served as Chief Engineer in the Fluids and Mechanical Engineering Group (Flamengro). Her work focused on developing experimental and computational mechanics capabilities for testing weapon systems and subsystems, including large calibre cannons, missiles, rocket nozzles, and warheads.
Madeleine earned her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pretoria in 2017. Her career has since spanned both national and international roles, including academic research and teaching. After relocating to the UK, she joined Northumbria University as an Assistant Professor, lecturing in Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Statics, and Design Optimisation. Her research pivoted toward waste-to-energy solutions, and she was awarded a grant by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to investigate hydrogen production from waste wood.
In February 2023, Madeleine joined DNV Spadeadam, a specialist research and testing facility for fire and explosion hazards, hydrogen testing, carbon capture and storage, and natural gas infrastructure qualification. As Principal Consultant and Engineering Team Lead, she oversaw the design, build, and commissioning of complex test rigs for full-scale testing. Her hands-on experience includes explosion chamber design, gas explosions, pipeline ruptures, dense phase CO₂ testing, pipe inspection operations, and pressure systems construction.
Madeleine is a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Her diverse background and technical expertise make her a valuable addition to the Hawkins team.
Please join us in giving Madeleine a warm welcome.
