Hawkins Principal Associate Yvonne Ainsworth shared her specialist geotechnical engineering knowledge at the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA) Conference with her presentation, “The Hole Story – Understanding Sinkhole Formation and Investigation”.

In her presentation, Yvonne explored how sinkholes form and why establishing their cause requires a careful understanding of both geology and human activity. She explained how natural sinkholes can develop over thousands of years as water dissolves soluble rock, while washout sinkholes may appear rapidly when large flows of water remove loose granular material. Drawing on case studies, she also highlighted the potential consequences for buildings and communities and the investigation techniques used to determine what has happened below ground.

A Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Yvonne has more than 25 years’ experience in the UK and international construction industry. Her expertise covers civil, structural, and geotechnical engineering, with particular strength in piling, diaphragm walling, complex foundations, and retaining-wall projects. She combines hands-on design and construction experience with specialist knowledge of failure investigation and risk assessment, enabling her to analyse technically challenging, ground-related incidents, and explain their causes clearly.

Yvonne was joined at the conference by Hawkins colleagues Graeme Drysdale, Business Development Manager and Fellow of CILA, and Andrew Moncrieff, Principal Associate and specialist in fire investigation and forensic geology. Together, their attendance reflected Hawkins’ broad technical expertise and longstanding engagement with the loss-adjusting and insurance communities.

Hawkins is pleased to welcome Dr Clare Waller as a Senior Associate Hydrologist based in our Cambridge office. 

With more than 20 years of experience in hydrology and water management, Clare brings a wealth of expertise spanning flood risk, hydrological modelling, water management and infrastructure resilience. Her career has encompassed senior roles across government, consultancy and academia, providing her with a broad and highly respected perspective on the management and analysis of complex hydrological issues. 

Clare holds a first-class degree in Geography from the University of Cambridge and a PhD in river modelling. She is a Chartered Geographer, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management. 

Before joining Hawkins, Clare served as a Senior Technical Adviser within a national flood hydrology team, where she played a leading role in the development of flood estimation guidance and contributed to nationally significant flood risk and infrastructure programmes. Her work included flood forecasting, analysis of major flood events, and the delivery of research projects designed to improve flood estimation methodologies. 

Throughout her consultancy career, Clare has led multidisciplinary teams delivering hydrological assessments, flood risk studies and drainage strategies for major development and infrastructure projects. She has extensive experience in providing the technical evidence required to support planning applications and address complex regulatory challenges. Her work has also included reservoir safety studies and infrastructure investment business cases for risk management authorities. 

At Hawkins, Clare will further strengthen our forensic hydrology capabilities. She combines deep technical knowledge with a practical understanding of flood events and hydrological failures, enabling her to deliver robust, evidence-based analysis. An experienced communicator, she is skilled at presenting complex technical findings clearly and effectively to both specialist and non-technical audiences. 

Clare joined Hawkins in August 2026 and will support clients across a broad range of investigations involving hydrology, flooding and water-related infrastructure.

From October to December 2026, join experts from across Hawkins’ Acoustics Consultancy as they host our Acoustic Insights webinar series.

This series will cover a range of topics, including acoustic failures in buildings, noise issues associated with air source heat pump installations, carriageway deterioration due to ground vibration and noise-related personal injury claims.

For webinar details and to register, please see below.

If you would like further information on each webinar before registering, simply click on the titles. Our Events page provides details of other Hawkins events you may find of interest.

We are delighted to welcome Gigi Howard to Hawkins as an Associate Fire Engineer. Gigi brings a strong technical background spanning fire engineering, sustainability, research, and the built environment.

Gigi graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in Natural Sciences, specialising in Mechanical Engineering and Astrophysics. Following her studies, she completed an internship with an international architectural practice, where she worked within the Sustainability Department, contributing to international construction projects focused on reducing environmental impact and promoting the adoption of emerging technologies.

She went on to earn a master’s degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Bath. During her time there, Gigi undertook research into contaminated land and water systems, analysing data relating to heavy metal pollution. Her work culminated in the co-authoring of an academic paper exploring water infrastructure and phytoremediation techniques.

After graduating, Gigi spent two years working in the design and construction sector within the built environment. During this period, she developed specialist expertise in fire engineering and producing fire strategies for a diverse range of building types. She also gained extensive experience in research and data analysis relating to energy and emissions assessment and reduction.

Now at Hawkins, Gigi will apply her expertise in fire engineering, research, and data analysis to the investigation of fire-related incidents and the examination of forensic evidence. Her multidisciplinary background and analytical approach support her work in conducting investigative analysis and examining forensic scenes.

We are pleased to welcome Gigi to the Hawkins team and look forward to the contribution she will make as she develops her career with us.

We are pleased to welcome Matt Clayden to Hawkins as an Associate in our Road Traffic Collision team.

Matt joins Hawkins with a background in automotive engineering and vehicle development. He graduated from Loughborough University in 2018 with a First Class Honours master’s degree in Automotive Materials Engineering. As part of his studies, he completed a year-long industrial placement at Nissan’s NMUK manufacturing plant as an Integrated Factory Automation Engineer, earning a Diploma in Industrial Studies. During his time at university, Matt was also an active member of the Loughborough University Kart Club, representing the university in the British Universities Karting Championship.

Following graduation, Matt joined Nissan NMUK as an Engineer within the trim & chassis department, where he was responsible for engineering delivery across key vehicle areas on the Nissan Qashqai, including the rear end exterior and luggage room interior. During this time, he achieved a Level 4 Improvement Practitioner qualification, further developing his expertise in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, root cause analysis and continuous improvement techniques.

In 2023, Matt moved into a New Model Development role, working on the all-new Nissan Leaf. He led planning and engineering activities across several vehicle areas throughout the physical development cycle, playing an important role in the successful launch and transition to series production. As part of the programme, Matt spent five months at Nissan’s Zama Development Plant in Japan, collaborating with colleagues from NMUK and Nissan Global Headquarters during vehicle pilot build and development activities.

Outside of work, Matt has a longstanding passion for motorsport and modern classic cars. He continues to enjoy working on car projects and taking part in karting recreationally.

Matt joined Hawkins in July 2026, bringing with him extensive vehicle engineering expertise and hands-on experience in automotive development. We are pleased to welcome him to the team and look forward to the valuable contribution his knowledge and experience will make to our road traffic collision investigations.

Hawkins recently welcomed clients to a Escape of Water Masterclass, delivered by materials experts George Jackson and Jacek Czech.

The event combined expert-led presentations with hands-on learning, providing attendees with a deeper understanding of the causes of, investigation into and prevention of escape of water incidents.

The day began with a presentation exploring how escapes of water can result in significant and costly damage, often escalating rapidly if not identified and addressed promptly. Through a series of case studies and real-life examples, George and Jacek demonstrated how forensic investigations can uncover the root causes of losses and support successful recovery actions.

The presentations covered a wide range of plumbing systems and fittings, including compression, push-fit, soldered, press-fit, solvent-welded and threaded connections. Attendees learned that the majority of failures are linked to factors such as poor installation, inadequate maintenance, corrosion, freezing conditions and incorrect system design, rather than manufacturing defects.

The session also examined domestic hot water systems, the unique risks associated with high-rise buildings, and the regulations and standards that govern modern plumbing installations. A key message throughout was the importance of preserving evidence, understanding system design and carrying out thorough investigations to prevent repeat incidents, establish liability and maximise recovery opportunities.

Following the presentations, participants took part in a practical pipe-soldering activity, applying their newly acquired knowledge to create their own pipework assemblies. The completed pipework was then pressure tested, giving attendees valuable hands-on experience and insight into system performance.

We are pleased to share that Siobhan O’Connell and Steven Mairs have had their article “Pedal Cycle Investigation: Using GPS and Activity Data to Reconstruct Road Collisions,” published in the latest edition of the Expert Witness Journal.

The article examines the growing role of digital activity data in road traffic collision investigations involving cyclists. As the use of GPS cycle computers, wearable technology and fitness platforms such as Strava continues to increase, these devices are becoming an increasingly important source of information for investigators seeking to understand a rider’s movements, speed, positioning and activity before and after a collision.

A key message of the article is that not all GPS data should be treated equally. While platforms such as Strava provide accessible visualisations of cycling activities, the authors explain that the information shown online is often processed, recalculated or smoothed, meaning it may not accurately reflect the original data recorded by the device. This distinction is particularly important when investigating critical events such as sudden braking, acceleration or interruptions in recording.

The article outlines three distinct tiers of GPS-related evidence:

We are pleased to welcome Sandra Rustomji to Hawkins as our new Business Development Manager based in London.

Sandra brings a strong background in sales, lead generation, marketing, and client engagement, with experience across the insurance, legal, technology, and wider professional services sectors. In her new role, she will focus on building and maintaining long-term relationships with clients and stakeholders, developing a strong understanding of their needs, and connecting them with the right expertise within Hawkins.

Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, Sandra is well placed to support communication with a diverse range of clients and international stakeholders. Her experience spans markets including Europe, North America, and Latin America, as well as a variety of commercially driven, client-facing environments.

Join us in welcoming Sandra to the team. She will be supporting clients and key stakeholders by ensuring they are connected with the right experts to meet their needs.

Please get in touch with Sandra if you would like an introduction to Hawkins or  advice on the appointment of an expert.

Hawkins is delighted to congratulate Anna Hodkinson of Morham + Brotchie on her exceptional academic success, having achieved a First-Class Honours degree in Quantity Surveying from the University of Central Lancashire.

Anna’s achievement is particularly impressive, having attained an outstanding overall result during her degree studies. Since joining Morham + Brotchie in 2025, following her transfer from A. Lamb Associates, Anna has become a valued member of the team and has quickly established herself as a highly regarded member of the wider Hawkins Group.

Adding to this success, Anna has been awarded the prestigious CIOB Certificate of Excellence by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). The award recognises the student who achieves the highest mark on their CIOB-accredited degree programme, making this an outstanding accolade within the construction and quantity surveying profession.

In a letter from the CIOB, Rosalind Thorpe, Director of Education and Standards, said:

“On behalf of the Chartered Institute of Building, I would like to offer my sincere congratulations on being awarded the CIOB Certificate of Excellence in recognition of achieving the highest mark on your degree course. This is an outstanding achievement and the Chartered Institute of Building is delighted and honoured to be able to present you with this award.”

The letter goes on to recognise Anna’s accomplishment and wishes her continued success as she progresses in her career.

Anna’s academic success and industry recognition are a testament to her hard work and determination.  Everyone at Morham & Brotchie and across the Hawkins Group is incredibly proud of her achievements and looks forward to seeing her continue to excel throughout her career in quantity surveying.

Congratulations, Anna, on this remarkable achievement and well-deserved recognition. We wish you every success in the future.