Our staff

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Neil Kermode Managing Director Neil was appointed as Managing Director in November 2005. He is directly accountable to the Board for all operations and is responsible for meeting the Board’s objectives for EMEC’s operational, environmental, financial and commercial performance. Email Neil	Stuart Baird Operations Director Stuart has responsibility for ensuring that our operations are planned and executed in a safe and professional manner to meet agreed client objectives. He also deputises for the Managing Director in his absence and provides support in all operational aspects of our work. Email Stuart	Oliver Wragg Commercial Director Oliver supports the Managing Director to enable the vision for EMEC growth, providing a business development regime that establishes a firm commercial approach; liaises with developers, funders, and partners; and participates in new initiatives driving growth and revenue. Email Oliver

Donna Ritch Finance Director Donna is responsible for finance, HR, administration and facilities; managing forecasting, monthly accounts, invoicing and cash flow; facilitating HR processes and activities for the organisation; and managing administration processes and EMEC’s office facilities. Email Donna
ADMINISTRATION & QUALITY TEAM

Lesley Howard Quality Manager Lesley’s role is to manage EMECs Integrated Management System and assist the organisation in maintaining compliance with ISO 17025, EMEC’s accreditation with UKAS. She works with all staff to maintain a system that promotes a culture of compliant working practices and leadership behaviours across the organisation. Email Lesley	Andrina Wick Administration Officer Andrina supports the Finance & Administration Manager and other members of staff by providing key administrative services to the organisation. This includes providing ‘front of house’ services for visitors, booking travel and accommodation for members of staff, and processing invoices. Email Andrina	Cath Russell PA to the Executive Team Cath supports the Executive Team, and in particular the Managing Director. This involves providing a high standard of confidential administrative support, and includes arranging meetings and travel. Email Cath



COMMERCIAL & MARKETING TEAM

Eileen Linklater Client Relationship & Marketing Manager Eileen manages contracts with developers, ensuring Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental standards are met. She is the first point of contact for prospective clients and works with them from initial contact through to arrival on site. Eileen is also responsible for maintaining communications, seeking feedback from stakeholders and marketing EMEC’s services. Email Eileen	Lisa MacKenzie Marketing & Communications Officer Lisa is responsible for promoting EMEC, its facilities and services, its clients, and wider industry development. She manages EMEC’s website and social media channels, develops marketing resources, liaises with international media, and hosts visitors to EMEC. Email Lisa	Catrin Sutherland Graduate Marketing Officer Catrin is working with EMEC as part of a one-year graduate placement (sponsored by Orkney Islands Council). Catrin will support the marketing team with the implementation of EMEC’s marketing strategy, help develop work packages for delivery to external projects, as well as undertake market research activities. Email Catrin

Matthew Finn Senior Business Development Manager Matthew works with a range of leading organisations to establish new areas of business development in the marine renewables sector. He manages the bid development process within EMEC and works in close collaboration with in-house experts across a variety of technical disciplines. Email Matthew	Nicolas Wallet FORESEA Manager Nic is project managing the €11m Funding Ocean Renewable Energy through Strategic European Action (FORESEA) programme. He is responsible for managing the FORESEA consortium (which alongside EMEC includes SmartBay, SEM-REV, TTC and Ocean Energy Europe) and liaising with EU funders (particularly INTERREG). Email Nic	Danielle Moodie FORESEA Project Officer Danielle will work closely with the FORESEA Project Manager and the FORESEA consortium partners (SmartBay, SEM-REV, TTC and Ocean Energy Europe) to support the delivery of the FORESEA programme to provide technology developers with subsidised access to real-sea testing across the North West Europe region. She is responsible for day-to-day administration and ensuring that the project is integrated into EMEC’s UKAS accredited integrated management system. Email Danielle

Dave Wakefield ETV Manager Dave’s role is to manage EMEC’s involvement with the European Commission’s pilot Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) scheme which is a new tool to help innovative environmental technologies reach the market. He is also responsible for ensuring the organisation maintains its compliance with ISO 17020 and its UKAS accreditation. Email Dave



OPERATIONS TEAM

Chris White Senior Test Engineer Chris works with developers to manage electrical connections issues and to solve operational problems of a technical and electrical nature. He provides first line technical support at substation sites. Email Chris	Alistair Cameron Electrical & Test Engineer Alistair assists with acquisition and reporting of electrical performance data and management of client’s electrical connections. He also assists with the maintenance and record keeping of the EMEC 11kV system. Email Alistair	Donald Sinclair Engineering Technician Donald assists in maintaining availability and proper functioning of all HV electrical connections and SCADA system associated with the test sites. He also works with developers to solve operational problems of a technical or data-related nature and provides first line technical support at substation sites (wave and tidal) including ‘engineer level’ maintenance of SCADA system. Email Donald

Rob Ionides Engineering Technician Rob splits his time between EMEC’s Stromness office working on various projects and general maintenance roles, and Lyness looking after the EMEC-owned P2-002 wave energy converter. Email Donald	John Skuse Maintenance Technician John is based in Eday and is responsible for looking after the Eday Substation, maintenance, developer activities, troubleshooting and assisting with project work. Email John	Elaine Buck Technical Manager As Technical Manager, Elaine is responsible for managing the project team who work across EMEC to deliver wave and tidal developer R&D projects. She provides support to the Operations Director and from her technical perspective initiates testing programs to build on EMEC’s experience in real sea testing for the wave and tidal sector. In her time at EMEC, she has worked and delivered on key European funded projects and actively works alongside developers in supporting them in their technology development programmes. Email Elaine




Florence Ungaro Project Manager Florence is working with developers and other project partners, managing the progress and delivery of EMEC’s projects and ensuring outputs are delivered on time, and within budget. Email Florence	Andy Shanks Project Manager Andy joined EMEC in 2016, with a background in tidal site marine operations. Andy’s role within EMEC is to provide support and direction to the various projects that EMEC are involved with in their day to day operations. Email Andy	Caitlin Long Project & Consents Officer Caitlin works with developers and clients deploying at EMEC to ensure that all the necessary licences and consents are in place, and supports developers in adopting an appropriate environmental monitoring programme for their planned development. Caitlin is also involved in the management and delivery of EMEC’s projects. Email Caitlin

Joe Thompson Data Technician (maternity cover) Joe joined EMEC in May 2015. His tasks include assisting with quality control and reporting of wave and tidal resources and other data gathered by EMEC at the various testing facilities. He also responds to enquiries relating to the data gathered by EMEC. Email Joe