Blog: Movers and shakers at EMEC

It’s been all go here at EMEC lately with some new faces added to the team and a few internal job changes.

Firstly, we’d like to extend the warmest of welcomes to our new Project Managers, Andy Shanks and Florence Ungaro.

With a BSc in Ocean Science and Technology, Andy brings a wealth of experience in the ocean energy industry, having previously managed marine operations for Tidal Generation Ltd’s 500kw tidal turbine, and subsequently setting up and commissioning Minesto’s test site in Ireland. Andy has many strings to his bow, having acted as site manager, skipper and crane operator, as well as being a keen scuba diver, having attained his Dive Master certification in Thailand.

Florence joins us with significant international experience in mechanical engineering. Originally from Rennes (Brittany), Florence has spent seven years working in China in various guises, including a Maintenance Engineer for a wind energy farm in Xinjiang and then for solar pumps in Beijing, and a stint ‘on the dark side’ working in China’s coal refineries. She returned to France last year for a Masters Degree in marine renewable energy and an internship designing a wave energy converter.

Working alongside Andy and Florence, is Caitlin Long, Project and Consents Officer, who has been working at EMEC for the last two years on the wildlife observations analysis project. Caitlin is now the main point of contact for all your consenting and licensing needs.

And heading up the project delivery team is our new Technical Manager, Elaine Buck, who many of you will already know from her previous business development role with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, based at EMEC for the last 18 months.

We’re also delighted to have Iris Hoefnagels working with us as a Research Intern looking into the role of international collaborations in emerging technologies, and exploring the opportunities for co-operation between the Scottish and Dutch marine energy sectors.

Joining us from the Netherlands for three months, the internship is the final stage of her Bachelor programme in Science, Business and Innovation at VU University, Amsterdam. For her dissertation, Iris was keen to get experience in the field of renewable energy: “I decided to write to EMEC about this internship once I’d read their vision statement and values; they very much resembled the values I hold myself regarding innovation in general and renewable energy technologies in particular. It seemed like an excellent fit.”

A few other changes around the office include:

• Donna Ritch being promoted to Finance Director, from her previous role as Finance and Administration Manager.
• Stuart Flett has left EMEC, taking up a new role at the Northern Lighthouse Board. We wish him the best of luck.

For more details on the team here at EMEC, visit: Who’s who at EMEC