Building resilience in coastal infrastructure development

Tim Chesher

Maritime Director, Sogreah Gulf Fzco

Tim Chesher, Chair of the IMarEST’s Coastal Science and Engineering SIG. Tim has over 30 years’ experience as a marine and coastal infrastructure consultant on major projects around the world.

Laurie Heyworth

Policy Analyst - Emerging Technology, RenewableUK

Laurie Heyworth is leading RenewableUK’s policy work on floating wind, green hydrogen and ports. He is also acting as the programme manager for a government-industry led Floating Offshore Wind Taskforce, which published a report on port infrastructure early this year.

Ed Hill CBE

Chief Executive, National Oceanography Centre

Professor Ed Hill CBE is Chief Executive of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), one of the world’s most innovative oceanographic institutions. 

He has a research background in physical oceanography, specialising in the circulation of continental shelf seas and participated in over 20 research expeditions.  Professor Hill received his MSc and PhD degrees in oceanography from Bangor University and his BSc in Applied Mathematics from the University of Sheffield. He was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2020 for services to environmental sciences.  Professor Hill has served, and continues to serve on numerous national and international advisory bodies. 

Paul Roach

Nearshore Service Line Manager, Fugro

Almost 20 years’ experience in industry, working in the Offshore and Nearshore Drilling, Mining and Tunnelling industries. Executing geotechnical site investigation, heavy engineering and site characterisation projects; both globally overseas and within the UK. Working in capacities both site and office based, working in operational leadership functions, innovation management and department senior management positions. Paul has a close eye for understanding client and project problems and delivery needs; with a track record of establishing the required solution and developing and leading innovative products into successfully executed projects.

Edward Walker

Environmental Specialist, Xodus

Ed is a Marine Energy specialist with specific experience in the assessment, consenting and development of marine-based infrastructure projects, including subsea transmission and offshore wind.

A Chartered Environmentalist, Chartered Marine Technologist and Chartered Water & Environment Manager, Ed has a range of experience supporting the development of marine infrastructure, including several Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

Ed’s experience encompasses subsea cables, offshore wind, CCUS, nuclear new build and a range of other coastal energy projects. Ed has experience managing multidisciplinary EIA teams and has led the environmental assessment of several subsea cable projects, as well as a new east coast offshore wind export cable route. Previous experience includes acting as Marine PM for a major new electricity reinforcement between Scotland and England. Alongside this, Ed has client-side experience (this includes acting as marine consents officer for a UK transmission owner on two major subsea cable projects).

Outside of EIA, Ed has experience providing support throughout the project development cycle from feasibility, strategic optioneering and routeing & siting through to consent preparation, submission and post-consent discharge. Prior to working in consultancy, Ed benefits from several years of experience working within a UK marine regulator – the MMO.

Alongside his day-to-day role, Ed is a regional IEMA chair / marine development steering group chair and sits on the regional Energy Institute board. Ed is a regular contributor to professional journals across IEMA, IMarEST, CIWEM and the Energy Institute focusing particularly on marine energy.

Melanie Zacheis

Nearshore Geotechnical Team Leader, Fugro

Melanie has 15 years’ experience in offshore and nearshore geotechnical investigations, after earning a BSc in Geology and Astronomy and MSc in Geohazard Assessment, joining Fugro as an engineer in 2008. She has extensive experience on drilling vessels, taking part in projects across Europe, Canada and West Africa, progressing to join Fugro’s Consulting team as Nearshore Geotechnical Team Leader. Melanie’s role includes being the principle engineer on site investigations in coastal environments, managing onsite activity with team members, and supporting the delivery of high quality Geo-data to clients.