Bernard Travers
Bernard is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) with the Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE). He joined Hawkins in 2016, enhancing the company’s civil engineering capabilities. Since then, he has investigated over 250 cases involving civil, structural, and built environment issues. His expertise includes basement water ingress, cracked or shattered glazing, building collapses, cladding failures (including rendered external wall insulation or EWI), storm and vibration damage, solar panel installations, and roof issues. Bernard advises on Building Regulations and design standards, and he reviews and investigates performance using engineering principles and testing. Bernard combines technical expertise with a passion for clear communication. In 2017, he won the Institution of Civil Engineers’ ‘Pitch 180’ competition by explaining subsidence in 180 seconds using confectionery. He graduated from Cambridge University in 2010 with a degree in Engineering, specializing in Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering. Sponsored by Skanska UK during his studies, he gained experience on highways and rail sites. After graduation, Bernard joined Arup’s Advanced Technology and Research team. He worked on a variety of specialist technical problems, oversaw site work as a Resident Engineer seconded to Kier Construction, and assessed existing structures across the built environment. At Arup, Bernard provided technical advice for structures in […]
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.
James Townsend
James brings expertise in Plant Pathology to Hawkins. He has had over 25 years’ experience in the field, and for ten of those he has managed diagnostic plant clinics providing diagnoses for a range of UK and overseas crop problems for customers. He is experienced in investigating the causes of plant diseases, crop failures and spoilage of fresh produce and enhances Hawkins’ capabilities in the areas of Agriculture & Forestry, Cargo Spoilage, Contamination & Pollution, Marine & Shipping. James studied Applied Biology at Brunel University and his industrial placement project on the genetic resistance to the disease apple scab at HRI-East Malling, now NIAB-EMR, inspired him to pursue a career in plant pathology. James spent 12 years as a Senior Research Assistant in the Plant Pathology Department at Rothamsted Research, the oldest agricultural research institute in the world. He worked on projects to breed genetic resistance to diseases in oilseed crops and published research into the effects of climate change on plant diseases in the UK. James was a Project Manager in Plant Pathology for six years at Stockbridge Technology Centre where he managed a portfolio of field and glasshouse research projects and the Plant Clinic, gaining extensive experience in […]
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 […]
Ian Tatner
Having completed his PhD looking into the corrosion fatigue of stainless steel turbine blade materials, Ian’s career began working in the offshore oil and gas pipeline installation industry. Initially he worked on the construction of a pipeline installation barge in Turkey, before working offshore as a Barge Engineer during the installation of a pipeline in the Black Sea. Ian then spent a year working in Houston Texas on other offshore pipeline installation projects. In 2006 Ian moved to London where he worked as a Pipeline Installation Analysis Engineer. While in London Ian was involved in many interesting and innovative projects. He spent time offshore carrying out analysis during pipeline installation and dredging operations in the North Sea. He was also seconded to Baku in Azerbaijan to conduct pipeline installation analysis. Ian joined Hawkins in early 2009, where he trained in the investigation of fires and explosions to add to his engineering experience. Since then he has worked on a broad spread of forensic investigations. These have ranged from fires in domestic properties, restaurants and vehicles to explosions in factories. Since 2014 Ian has been investigating pedestrian fall incidents. These include slips and trips on level surfaces and stair falls. He […]
Helen Rosser
Following the completion of her first degree at Aston University Helen worked as a chemist, developing and improving infra-red decoy, target and tracking flares for military use. She gained her first insight into forensic science as a Scientific Advisor to London Fire Brigade when she provided advice and carried out fire and accident investigations. During this time she completed a degree in Fire Engineering at London South Bank University, building on her practical knowledge of fire and explosion science. Prior to joining Hawkins in 2012 Helen worked as a specialist Fire Investigator for the Forensic Science Service (FSS) in London for 12 years. She performed laboratory examinations on items recovered from fires and carried out scene investigations in a wide range of settings, including domestic, commercial and industrial premises as well as vehicles. Helen was responsible for setting up a validated method for flashburning to clothing and represented the FSS in Europe as Chair of the ENFSI Expert Working Group in Fire and Explosion. Helen is experienced in the legal process and has given evidence as an expert witness in Crown Courts and Coroner’s inquests on many occasions. Helen is a Senior Associate based in our London Office.
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. […]
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 […]
Martin Pope
Martin is a Chartered Physicist with a broad-based Bachelor of Science (BScHons) degree from the Open University, which he took during a long career with Kent Police as a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) and senior CSI/crime scene Manager. Martin also undertook an HNC in electronic and electrical engineering whilst in the industry and was a Retained Firefighter with Kent Fire and Rescue Service for five years. Martin joined Hawkins in 2019 with 14 years of previous experience in commercial fire investigation. Whilst with Hawkins, he has conducted over 400 investigations involving all types of fires, from large overseas losses to small domestic incidents. He has a particular interest in explosion investigation, fires in thatched buildings, unusual ignition mechanisms, and non-destructive methods of entry and is frequently consulted in cases of high value commercial burglary. He is a Principal Associate in our Cambridge office.
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 […]