people
Executive Board
The management structure is such that an Executive Board oversees all activities within the Company and has particular responsibility for providing direction, strategy and financial matters.
about:
William is Managing Director of Woolgar Hunter and sits on the Executive Board. He is a highly experienced engineer with a wealth of experience of successfully delivering building structures designs. He is a committed team player and recognises the value of a well-coordinated design team working towards a common goal.
He believes that delivering successful engineering solutions requires innovative thinking and the expertise to deliver, but perhaps most importantly, an enthusiasm for the art of engineering that underpins all of his designs.
William has tutored at the Mackintosh School of Art for a number of years, working with final year architectural students on the structural engineering aspects of their thesis. In addition, he runs our in-house Engineering Club, which is a group within Woolgar Hunter which is concerned with looking at trends within engineering design, not just in structures, to see what lessons can be learnt and brought to building design.
William Neilson
about:
William is Managing Director of Woolgar Hunter and sits on the Executive Board. He is a highly experienced engineer with a wealth of experience of successfully delivering building structures designs. He is a committed team player and recognises the value of a well-coordinated design team working towards a common goal.
He believes that delivering successful engineering solutions requires innovative thinking and the expertise to deliver, but perhaps most importantly, an enthusiasm for the art of engineering that underpins all of his designs.
William has tutored at the Mackintosh School of Art for a number of years, working with final year architectural students on the structural engineering aspects of their thesis. In addition, he runs our in-house Engineering Club, which is a group within Woolgar Hunter which is concerned with looking at trends within engineering design, not just in structures, to see what lessons can be learnt and brought to building design.
Managing Director
about:
Malcolm is a member of the Executive Board of Directors and has overall responsibility for the technical standards within the Company. He has a wealth of experience and has delivered successful engineering solutions on a wide range of building projects both in the public and private sectors.
He has a detailed knowledge of modern construction techniques, innovative design solutions and procurement methods and takes a ‘hands on’ role on project delivery. He is passionate about exploring creative solutions, whilst having a firm grounding in the commercial reality and buildability of projects, which he believes is key to meeting the ever increasing challenges presented to projects by time and economic pressures.
Malcolm also tutors at the Mackintosh School of Art, working with final year architectural students on the structural engineering aspects of their thesis.
Malcolm Buchanan
about:
Malcolm is a member of the Executive Board of Directors and has overall responsibility for the technical standards within the Company. He has a wealth of experience and has delivered successful engineering solutions on a wide range of building projects both in the public and private sectors.
He has a detailed knowledge of modern construction techniques, innovative design solutions and procurement methods and takes a ‘hands on’ role on project delivery. He is passionate about exploring creative solutions, whilst having a firm grounding in the commercial reality and buildability of projects, which he believes is key to meeting the ever increasing challenges presented to projects by time and economic pressures.
Malcolm also tutors at the Mackintosh School of Art, working with final year architectural students on the structural engineering aspects of their thesis.
Director
about:
Moyra is a member of the Executive Board of Directors and has overall responsibility for financial matters within the Company.
She initially worked in private practice for a mainstream accountancy firm, specialising in the preparation of accounts of owner-managed businesses and advising on taxation issues.
Moyra is based in our Glasgow office and works closely with the Directors to monitor the company’s financial operations and to promote good financial practice and governance.
Moyra Skimming
about:
Moyra is a member of the Executive Board of Directors and has overall responsibility for financial matters within the Company.
She initially worked in private practice for a mainstream accountancy firm, specialising in the preparation of accounts of owner-managed businesses and advising on taxation issues.
Moyra is based in our Glasgow office and works closely with the Directors to monitor the company’s financial operations and to promote good financial practice and governance.
Finance Director
Management Team
The Executive Board is supported by Management Team which comprises of senior management who assist in the implementation of the agreed business strategy and have particular responsibility for technical, Health & Safety, Human Resources and Quality Assurance matters.
This management format allows for senior management to have a ‘hands-on’ approach to directing the business whilst the two tier set-up provides an essential review process to ensure best practice.
about:
John is a creative and driven engineer who enjoys his role in multidisciplinary design teams, engaging with all disciplines to develop holistic solutions. He is an enthusiastic contributor to the design process from concept through to construction and handover.
Through working across sectors throughout the UK, John has experience working in steel, concrete and timber to realise buildings at all scales. His experience working in London on international projects has given him the opportunity to work with novel materials and complex geometry, as well as building his experience using new and emerging technologies for design, analysis and construction. John has a keen interest in using these technologies to assist engineers in exploring challenges such as reducing embodied carbon of buildings, design for manufacture and creating adaptable digital models – allowing more time for early stage collaborative work where the full benefits of creative design are achieved.
Associate Director
about:
Patricia leads geo-environmental team within Woolgar Hunter and has an excellent track record within the construction industry.
She has undertaken and overseen numerous environmental and geotechnical appraisals for a variety of sites and proposed landuses. The majority of projects have involved the assessment of brownfield sites, including former gas works, chemical works, iron foundries, scrapyards, transformer works and collieries; with consideration being given to the associated issues of ground contamination and remediation requirements, foundation design, infrastructure solutions, mineral stability and earthworks.
Patricia is fully conversant with the Regulations and Guidance that are applicable to the assessment of land contamination; and she operates in a rigorous and stepwise manner; using the development of desk-based, Conceptual Site Models to inform appropriate intrusive investigations and subsequent tiers of risk assessment. She regularly provides expert opinion to third parties.
Patricia Bryson
about:
Patricia leads geo-environmental team within Woolgar Hunter and has an excellent track record within the construction industry.
She has undertaken and overseen numerous environmental and geotechnical appraisals for a variety of sites and proposed landuses. The majority of projects have involved the assessment of brownfield sites, including former gas works, chemical works, iron foundries, scrapyards, transformer works and collieries; with consideration being given to the associated issues of ground contamination and remediation requirements, foundation design, infrastructure solutions, mineral stability and earthworks.
Patricia is fully conversant with the Regulations and Guidance that are applicable to the assessment of land contamination; and she operates in a rigorous and stepwise manner; using the development of desk-based, Conceptual Site Models to inform appropriate intrusive investigations and subsequent tiers of risk assessment. She regularly provides expert opinion to third parties.
Director
about:
Colin is responsible for Information Technology issues and draughting standards within Woolgar Hunter. He is at the forefront of our involvement with BIM and his foresight was responsible for our very early involvement with it.
He works tirelessly to ensure the collaboration between designer and technician in the preparation designs is seamless and that we benefit from the smooth digital transfer of information between design models and 3D drawings.
Colin also has a keen interest in cyber security issues and has worked closely with our external advisors to implement and continually review practical measures to protect us and our client’s data.
Colin Campbell
about:
Colin is responsible for Information Technology issues and draughting standards within Woolgar Hunter. He is at the forefront of our involvement with BIM and his foresight was responsible for our very early involvement with it.
He works tirelessly to ensure the collaboration between designer and technician in the preparation designs is seamless and that we benefit from the smooth digital transfer of information between design models and 3D drawings.
Colin also has a keen interest in cyber security issues and has worked closely with our external advisors to implement and continually review practical measures to protect us and our client’s data.
Director
about:
David leads our Civils team and has over 30 years experience in design consultancy during which he has accumulated a wealth of experience on projects large and small, working with both private and public sector clients and prides himself in adding value through his drive to achieve team and client satisfaction through the successful delivery of high quality well engineered projects whether it be feasibility, masterplanning, detailed design or construction.
During his career David has been fortunate to gain experience across many sectors including Major/Minor Highways, Rail, Healthcare, Education, Custodial, Commercial/Retail, Industrial/Logistics, Energy and Residential. David takes great pride in having been privileged to have been able to contribute to the design delivery of some of Scotland’s largest high profile projects which include the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
David is keen to promote the value of good design in topics such as Place Making, Blue/Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems where innovative design can contribute to addressing some of issues affecting climate change.
David Campbell
about:
David leads our Civils team and has over 30 years experience in design consultancy during which he has accumulated a wealth of experience on projects large and small, working with both private and public sector clients and prides himself in adding value through his drive to achieve team and client satisfaction through the successful delivery of high quality well engineered projects whether it be feasibility, masterplanning, detailed design or construction.
During his career David has been fortunate to gain experience across many sectors including Major/Minor Highways, Rail, Healthcare, Education, Custodial, Commercial/Retail, Industrial/Logistics, Energy and Residential. David takes great pride in having been privileged to have been able to contribute to the design delivery of some of Scotland’s largest high profile projects which include the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
David is keen to promote the value of good design in topics such as Place Making, Blue/Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems where innovative design can contribute to addressing some of issues affecting climate change.
Director
about:
My 16 years’ experience as a structural engineer have allowed me to develop key technical and communication skills in the construction industry. These will make me an asset in delivering the proposed project successfully, working with colleagues and fellow design team members to ensure an efficient design is delivered within the agreed design programme.
David D'Arcy
about:
My 16 years’ experience as a structural engineer have allowed me to develop key technical and communication skills in the construction industry. These will make me an asset in delivering the proposed project successfully, working with colleagues and fellow design team members to ensure an efficient design is delivered within the agreed design programme.
Project Director
Prof Neil Currie
Director
BEng(Hons), FIStructE, MICE, CEng, PGCAP, FHEA, PhD
about:
Neil is a multi-award winning chartered civil and structural engineer with a wide range of experience on a variety of complex projects around the world. He is a Director at Woolgar Hunter based in the Manchester office with over 20 years experience spread between working as a practicing engineer and academic.
He has been responsible for a wide range of successful projects some of which include £200m mixed use developments, 50 storey mixed use buildings, tall buildings, large scale student accommodation, hotels, articulated glazed facades, cable supported roofs and canopies, CAT A office blocks, university libraries, lecture theatres, media installations, shopping malls, cinemas, museums, tensile fabric structures, inflatable structures, deployable structures, sustainable timber buildings, historic bridges, BREAAM rated buildings, transport interchanges through to competition winning bus shelters.
As a design focused engineer, he relishes working with creative design teams from the inception of the project through to construction. Neil shares his time between Woolgar Hunter and the University of Salford where he integrates his experience of high profile engineering projects with his collaborative ethos to encourage young engineers into design focused practice and developing cutting edge research which feeds directly into his projects.
Neil is also active within the Institution of Structural Engineers, where he has served in numerous roles for the past decade and currently sets and marks questions for the Chartered Membership examination.
Prof Neil Currie
Prof Neil Currie
Director
BEng(Hons), FIStructE, MICE, CEng, PGCAP, FHEA, PhD
about:
Neil is a multi-award winning chartered civil and structural engineer with a wide range of experience on a variety of complex projects around the world. He is a Director at Woolgar Hunter based in the Manchester office with over 20 years experience spread between working as a practicing engineer and academic.
He has been responsible for a wide range of successful projects some of which include £200m mixed use developments, 50 storey mixed use buildings, tall buildings, large scale student accommodation, hotels, articulated glazed facades, cable supported roofs and canopies, CAT A office blocks, university libraries, lecture theatres, media installations, shopping malls, cinemas, museums, tensile fabric structures, inflatable structures, deployable structures, sustainable timber buildings, historic bridges, BREAAM rated buildings, transport interchanges through to competition winning bus shelters.
As a design focused engineer, he relishes working with creative design teams from the inception of the project through to construction. Neil shares his time between Woolgar Hunter and the University of Salford where he integrates his experience of high profile engineering projects with his collaborative ethos to encourage young engineers into design focused practice and developing cutting edge research which feeds directly into his projects.
Neil is also active within the Institution of Structural Engineers, where he has served in numerous roles for the past decade and currently sets and marks questions for the Chartered Membership examination.
Director
Ashley Neilson
Marketing & Communications Manager
BA (Hons) MSc
about:
As Communication and Marketing Manager, Ashley works with directors to promote Woolgar Hunter’s work online, in print and throughout the industry. He also oversees the company’s bid-writing process, producing bespoke responses to client inquiries across the public and private sectors, .
With an academic background in law, Ashley obtained an MLitt in Media and Communications from the University of Strathclyde. Prior to joining Woolgar Hunter, he spent three years as a parliamentary reporter at the Scottish Parliament, researching and covering current issues including developments in the housing and planning sectors, environmental regulations and government contracting. Additionally, he has contributed freelance work to Woolgar Hunter bids and editions of our Layout magazine for many years.
Ashley also oversees Woolgar Hunter’s calendar of events, particularly our Business 2 Business gatherings, where we invite other practitioners into the office to make connections and share ideas over breakfast – or pizza. If you’re interested in making such a connection don’t hesitate to get in touch.
AshleyNeilson
Ashley Neilson
Marketing & Communications Manager
LLB (Hons) MLitt
t: +44 (0) 141 332 0471
@: [email protected]
about:
As Communication and Marketing Manager, Ashley works with directors to promote Woolgar Hunter’s work online, in print and throughout the industry. He also oversees the company’s bid-writing process, producing bespoke responses to client inquiries across the public and private sectors, .
With an academic background in law, Ashley obtained an MLitt in Media and Communications from the University of Strathclyde. Prior to joining Woolgar Hunter, he spent three years as a parliamentary reporter at the Scottish Parliament, researching and covering current issues including developments in the housing and planning sectors, environmental regulations and government contracting. Additionally, he has contributed freelance work to Woolgar Hunter bids and editions of our Layout magazine for many years.
Ashley also oversees Woolgar Hunter’s calendar of events, particularly our Business 2 Business gatherings, where we invite other practitioners into the office to make connections and share ideas over breakfast – or pizza. If you’re interested in making such a connection don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Marketing & Communications Manager
about:
Alan joined Woolgar Hunter in 2019 after a long career in multiple sectors. As such, he brings a wealth of experience in the Fire and Police, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Food and Drinks, Defence, Power and Energy, Oil and Gas, Ports and Harbours and Roads and Bridges sectors. He will claim that “having worked in the profession as long as I have and having been involved in so many areas, there are not many situations that I have not experienced and gained invaluable experience and skills from”.
He is dedicated to extending his experience and is committed to passing on his knowledge to the upcoming talented young Engineers at Woolgar Hunter, by mentoring and training. He is accredited as a Training and Supervising Engineer with the Institution of Civil Engineers. He has previously authored and had accepted by the Institution, company specific Approved Training Schemes for the development of Engineers wishing to achieve Chartered status, for previous Consultancies.
Alan is also an accredited Certifier in the Structural Engineers Registration scheme (SER). As such he is able to check and certify designs, which are subject to the Scottish Building Standards under the control of the Scottish Government.
He is passionate about his profession and engages with fellow Professionals and Clients on a daily basis to ensure that the projects under his remit are treated with the attention to detail, quality, programming constraints and commercial awareness that they deserve.
Project Director
about:
David is the Project Director responsible for leading the structural team specialising in the delivery of Woolgar Hunter’s residential projects. He is an accomplished chartered engineer with a passion for team working and successful delivery of projects. His experience ranges across multiple sectors and can therefore offer a diverse skillset to each and every project which he is involved in. This experience on projects, from new build to renovation, commercial to residential, leisure to healthcare, brings a sound knowledge to each project, often borrowing ideas from other sectors to enhance the designs being progressed.
He enjoys the variety that each day brings, from being involved in developing initial scheme designs with his trusty red pen, to coordinating tricky details around the project. He brings a practical and enthusiastic approach to engineering and strives to develop the best possible solution to suit all parties involved, providing quality throughout. He is a strong believer in good communication being the key to successful project delivery, ensuring that everyone understands the challenges and options available to allow informed decisions to be made.
Associate Director
about:
Peter is an enthusiastic engineer committed to the preparation of well designed solutions. At University he studied an engineering led multi-disciplinary degree allowed him to develop his interest in architecture as well as an appreciation of other disciplines which has allowed him to take an active part in the overall design process.
He previously worked in the Middle East and London before returning to Scotland to take up his post with Woolgar Hunter. Peter has been fortunate enough to have been involved in a number of prestigious projects across various sectors within the construction industry which has given him a detailed knowledge of modern construction techniques, innovative design solutions and project management.
Peter has a particular interest in the buildability of complex projects and passionately believes that successful design solutions embrace commercial and buildability issues at an early stage.
Peter Hendry
about:
Peter is an enthusiastic engineer committed to the preparation of well designed solutions. At University he studied an engineering led multi-disciplinary degree allowed him to develop his interest in architecture as well as an appreciation of other disciplines which has allowed him to take an active part in the overall design process.
He previously worked in the Middle East and London before returning to Scotland to take up his post with Woolgar Hunter. Peter has been fortunate enough to have been involved in a number of prestigious projects across various sectors within the construction industry which has given him a detailed knowledge of modern construction techniques, innovative design solutions and project management.
Peter has a particular interest in the buildability of complex projects and passionately believes that successful design solutions embrace commercial and buildability issues at an early stage.
Director
about:
Kenneth is an enthusiastic engineer who embraces the engineering design process. He particularly enjoys the analysis of building structures and has been fortunate to have been involved with a number of complex designs in most sectors across the industry.
He enjoys working with all structural materials, however, he confesses to having a particular interest in steelwork. In recent years he has been heavily involved in a number of our taller city centre commercial office projects looking at producing long span floor layouts to create flexible spaces.
Kenneth Irvine
about:
Kenneth is an enthusiastic engineer who embraces the engineering design process. He particularly enjoys the analysis of building structures has been fortunate to have been involved with a number of complex designs in most sectors across the industry.
He enjoys working with all structural materials, however, he confesses to having a particular interest in steelwork. In recent years he has been heavily involved in a number of our taller city centre commercial office projects looking at producing long span floor layouts to create flexible spaces.
Associate Director
about:
Paul has a wide range of design and construction experience working on projects for Woolgar Hunter in the Middle East and through out the UK.
He brings a reassuring depth of knowledge of the engineering challenges building structures project present to the design team and contractor alike. He is enthusiastic in delivering innovative structural solutions, relishing meeting strict deadlines whilst maintaining an ongoing commitment to quality.
Paul has gained a broad variety of skills, working in the construction industry, delivering structural solutions on a variety of building forms. He has a particular interest in refurbishment projects and working with concrete and has excellent experience of bespoke low rise projects and more main stream high rise schemes.
Paul McKay
about:
Paul has a wide range of design and construction experience working on projects for Woolgar Hunter in the Middle East and through out the UK.
He brings a reassuring depth of knowledge of the engineering challenges building structures project present to the design team and contractor alike. He is enthusiastic in delivering innovative structural solutions, relishing meeting strict deadlines whilst maintaining an ongoing commitment to quality.
Paul has gained a broad variety of skills, working in the construction industry, delivering structural solutions on a variety of building forms. He has a particular interest in refurbishment projects and working with concrete and has excellent experience of bespoke low rise projects and more main stream high rise schemes.
Director
about:
In her role of Company Secretary within Woolgar Hunter, Jane primarily assesses legal appointments for projects liaising directly with our technical directors and external advisors.
She is also responsible for HR and Administration departments and enjoys the challenge of keeping up with ever changing regulations which affect these areas.
Jane has previously worked with a number of various design consultants which has given her a deep understanding of the construction industry.
Jane Neilson
about:
In her role of Company Secretary within Woolgar Hunter, Jane primarily assesses legal appointments for projects liaising directly with our technical directors and external advisors.
She is also responsible for HR and Administration departments and enjoys the challenge of keeping up with ever changing regulations which affect these areas.
Jane has previously worked with a number of various design consultants which has given her a deep understanding of the construction industry.
Company Secretary
about:
Andrew leads the Building Civils team within Woolgar Hunter. Over his career to date he has gained extensive experience and knowledge in the civil engineering sector, working previously with an international consultancy associated with power generation, wastewater and building projects.
He has developed our Building Civils team’s role to deliver a range of masterplan and campus projects, often involving complex earthworks, roads and services infrastructure, as well as building structures. He is committed to working with design teams and clients to incorporate environmentally sensitive sustainable design as part of our positive contribution to designing the built environment.
Andrew is keen on the concept of green infrastructure and works closely with his geo-environmental colleagues, as well as landscape architects and wider design team, to develop appropriate, affordable and sustainable civil engineering design solutions that complement the landscape and architecture.
Andrew Ross
about:
Andrew leads the Building Civils team within Woolgar Hunter. Over his career to date he has gained extensive experience and knowledge in the civil engineering sector, working previously with an international consultancy associated with power generation, wastewater and building projects.
He has developed our Building Civils team’s role to deliver a range of masterplan and campus projects, often involving complex earthworks, roads and services infrastructure, as well as building structures. He is committed to working with design teams and clients to incorporate environmentally sensitive sustainable design as part of our positive contribution to designing the built environment.
Andrew is keen on the concept of green infrastructure and works closely with his geo-environmental colleagues, as well as landscape architects and wider design team, to develop appropriate, affordable and sustainable civil engineering design solutions that complement the landscape and architecture.
Director
about:
Graham is a project director within our Civils team and has over 18 years’ experience in civil engineering design consultancy. Over this time he has had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects within both the private and public sectors. Graham is self-driven and is professionally qualified as an Incorporated Engineer with the ICE. He prides himself on project delivery and client care and supporting the civils team deliver a diverse range of projects.
During his career Graham has been fortunate to have gained experience across a range of sectors including Highways, Educational, Commercial/Retail, Logistics, Residential and Public Sector. Graham is proud to have been part of the design team which delivered a number of large profile projects such as the 2014 Commonwealth Games Athletes Village and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Graham Kerr
about:
Graham is a project director within our Civils team and has over 18 years’ experience in civil engineering design consultancy. Over this time he has had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects within both the private and public sectors. Graham is self-driven and is professionally qualified as an Incorporated Engineer with the ICE. He prides himself on project delivery and client care and supporting the civils team deliver a diverse range of projects.
During his career Graham has been fortunate to have gained experience across a range of sectors including Highways, Educational, Commercial/Retail, Logistics, Residential and Public Sector. Graham is proud to have been part of the design team which delivered a number of large profile projects such as the 2014 Commonwealth Games Athletes Village and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Associate Director