Aquaterra Energy is delighted to announce that Patrick Phelan joined the company as Managing Director on 16th January 2012.
Meet the Team
Mark Boyd - Chairman
Mark is a veteran of the oil and gas industry with over 30 years of experience in the field. His career began with Amoco in 1979, working with the petroleum and drilling groups.
After working as a drilling consultant for several years, he founded Team Energy in 1987, followed by UWG in 1989 and has worked in managerial and technical consultancy roles worldwide.
Aquaterra Energy is the third engineering company Mark has founded throughout his impressive offshore career.
Patrick Phelan - Managing Director
Patrick joined Aquaterra as Managing Director in January 2012 with 30 years experience in offshore oil & gas and renewable energy industries and 20 years as a Managing Director. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from University College London and an MBA from Westminster University, and was named Cambridge Businessman of the Year in 2009.
From 1999 to 2011, he was Managing Director of JDR Cable Systems Limited. During that time, JDR grew from a small business providing diving umbilicals to become a market leading, global supplier of IWOCS systems, Subsea Production Umbilicals and Subsea Power Cables to major oil companies worldwide. He also led JDR’s diversification into Offshore Renewables, winning major contracts for the Greater Gabbard and London Array offshore wind farms.
George Morrison - Director
George served as Aquaterra’s Managing Director for 6 years. In January 2012 George stepped down as Managing Director to take on a more technical and commercial role within the company.
George is a native of Aberdeenshire and went on to study a BSc in Civil and Structural Engineering at Aberdeen University.
He started his career in the offshore industry in 1993 and spent 12 years working in Well Servicing, Commissioning and Project Management before joining Aquaterra in 2005. He has wide experience in delivering technically challenging bespoke engineering projects covering the full range of Aquaterra’s portfolio.
James Larnder - Technical Sales Director
James heads up Aquaterra Energy's Technical Sales department having been part of the company's original founding team.
Graduating with a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Nottingham University in 2000, he worked for Service Companies in a variety of Project Engineering, Offshore, Operational and Management based roles both in the UK and overseas.
Since joining Aquaterra, James has developed the company's service range and assumed a number of roles heading up the projects and operational departments, as well as being involved with the company's product, strategic and business development.
Dave Rowson - Technical Director
Dave joined Aquaterra Energy in early 2006, bringing with him a wealth of engineering knowledge and experience from more than 25 years in the oil and gas industry.
Dave, a Chartered Civil Engineer, is responsible for technical integrity within the company. He is also responsible for the training and development of engineering graduates working towards professional status with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Institution oif Civil Engineers and the Energy Institute.
After graduating with a degree in Civil & Structural Engineering from Sheffield University, Dave worked on civil engineering construction projects before moving into the oil and gas industry. He has since worked in both senior engineering and project management roles.
Richard Miller - Operations Director
In early 2011 Richard joined Aquaterra after working in the oil & gas industry for over 20 years with roles in Engineering, Sales, Operational Management and Business Development.
After completing an Apprenticeship and HNC in Mechanical & Production Engineering, Richard entered the oil & gas industry as a Project Engineer before progressing to Operations Director with an international oil & gas operation comprising seven business streams and employing 500 personnel operating worldwide.
At Aquaterra Energy Richard drives forward the company’s operations performance.
Robert Biggs - Projects Director
Robert joined Aquaterra Energy in 2005, responsible for the management of Aquaterra's Design department and design engineering projects. He now leads a focused team of experienced Project Engineers in the role of Projects Director.
Robert is a Chartered Engineer with over 20 years experience in the offshore industry. Robert has been responsible for both innovative and patented engineering projects ranging from the design and installation of diving and R.O.V. systems, subsea structures, well service and abandonment tooling and our own Sea Swift structures.
Andy McDowell - Sales & Marketing Director
Andy joined Aquaterra in July 2009 to lead the Sales & Marketing department.
He is responsible for directing the company's sales on an international scale, introducing Aquaterra’s products and services to potential and existing clients whilst also administering the marketing activities with his knowledge and experience of the industry.
Andy’s first insight into the offshore industry came when he completed an Apprenticeship as a fitter and turner in a shipyard; he then moved into the oil and gas field where he has worked since 1992. Andy has taken on many managerial roles throughout his career including managing coil tubing operations and personnel on a worldwide scale.
Michael Fagg - Finance Director
Michael joined Aquaterra Energy in 2008 and leads the Finance, IT and HR departments.
He qualified as a certified accountant in 2000 and has over 20 years experience of working within finance functions. After qualifying he gained experience working for an international offshore Oil & Gas company and also as a Divisional Finance Director for a division of circa £250m before joining Aquaterra Energy.
At Aquaterra Michael is responsible for company secretarial duties, treasury management, financial reporting and international tax compliance.
Gary Hackett - V.P. International Business Development
Gary is responsible for high level sales and project management in the US after setting up a base in Lafayette, Louisiana in May 2009. He has introduced Aquaterra's products and services to new regions and customers as V.P. for International Business Development.
Gary has had a long and varied career in the engineering industry; previously working in the Royal Air Force as an aircraft engineer for 11 years before moving into the oil and gas field. During his time in the offshore industry, Gary has managed projects worldwide and has specialised in North America operations where prior to joining Aquaterra he was Regional Manager based in Houston, Texas.
Kevin Attree - Operations Manager
Kevin joined Aquaterra in March 2011 as a Senior Project Engineer and moved into the role of Operations Manager in June. He is currently responsible for the management of Aquaterra’s Operations department where he leads an experienced offshore and onshore team of engineers and logistic's personnel.
Kevin is another member of the Aquaterra team who has served as an Aircraft engineer in the Royal Air Force for 22 years before moving into the oil and gas industry.
During his time in the offshore industry he has managed many varied and complex subsea projects for a list of world class companies.
Nick Stringer - Riser Analysis Manager
Nick joined Aquaterra Energy in early 2007 as a Senior Riser Analyst and now manages the Riser Analysis department. He is responsible for completing various types of analyses for conductor and riser systems and co-ordinating all departmental projects.
Nick completed a BEng in Mechanical Engineering at Oxford Brookes University before moving into the automotive industry for the first four years of his career. During this time he was responsible for completing finite element analyses from component level to pedestrian impact and vehicle crash.
To add to Nick’s experience in the engineering industry, he has been a Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers for the last three years.
Jason Brighton - Sales Manager
Jason joined Aquaterra Energy in August 2009 to work in the Sales department and now manages an international sales team which covers all of the world's continents, introducing Aquaterra's products and services to potential and existing clients.
Jason has worked in the oil and gas industry since 1990 and within sales since 1995. He brings his expertise of both sales and the market to build relations whilst driving business forward in new areas worldwide to achieve year on year growth.
Doug Lawrie - QHSE Manager
Doug has worked at Aquaterra Energy since 2005 and has specialised in QHSE in the offshore industry since 1996.
Doug is responsible for working closely with senior management to achieve and maintain excellence in quality, health, safety and environmental issues. His main focus is providing Quality and HSE resource and advice to managers and individual projects, developing management systems and maintaining certification such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
After completing a five year Engineering Apprenticeship and gaining relevant technical qualifications, Doug then gained an MSc in Strategic Quality Management and NEBOSH Diploma before embarking on a career in the oil and gas industry, and has become one of the country’s first Chartered Quality Professionals.
John Rainbow - IT Manager
John joined Aquaterra Energy as IT Manager in August 2008.
He started his career in 1989 as an IT support analyst and through gaining accreditation in networking moved through support and project management roles into the role of IT Manager which he has held for the last 10 years. John has worked in the offshore industry since 1996 which has given him a good understanding of the oil and gas field.
John is responsible for IT, Telecoms and Facilities, as well as being a member of the management team. His role also encompasses the project management of new building projects and finding and maintaining premises for a rapidly expanding company.
Kathryn Griffiths - HR Manager
Kathryn has worked in the offshore industry since 2003. She began her career in the oil and gas field as a Technical Assistant, progressing to PA and Facilities Manager before joining Aquaterra Energy in 2006.
As HR Manager, Kathryn has driven Aquaterra’s commitment to working with local students and schools and has raised the company’s profile as an employer of choice, winning Norfolk Best Employer in 2008. Amongst other duties, Kathryn is responsible for the recruitment, assessment and training of staff and the company’s Graduate Programme and Placement Schemes.
