Meet our team

Newly appointed Chair of the UKSTT. Dawn is the Global Creative and Business Development Director for Picote Solutions, an innovator and manufacturer of unique solutions for the trenchless rehabilitation of small diameter drains.
With a background in senior management and ten years’ experience of the trenchless sector, Dawn works closely with R&D, Production and the Technical Team to promote new advances in the trenchless market, as well as managing and developing contracts with key partners internationally. Dawn is also an active member of the ISTT Outreach Committee.

Graduated from the University of Northumbria, I have been involved in the trenchless industry for nearly 20 years.
Working with small diameter CIPP systems both for lateral rehabilitation as well as mainline cipp and extensive work with patch/point repairs in mainlines. Most activities in trenchless technology have involved projects overseas. In Singapore with the rehabilitation programs for the marina barrage as well working in the USA, China, Hong Kong, Middle East, Australia.
I have presented several technical papers at international trenchless conferences concerning lateral
rehabilitation,lateral connection repair systems and I/I control.
I am passionate about the various trenchless systems available and the market and contractor education ofavailable techniques.

Colin came into the trenchless technology industry in 1995 when he joined the American manufacturer FlowMole, who were one of the first pioneers of HDD drilling systems.

After several years with the company Colin progressed to become their Managing Director. In 2003 Colin decided to form his own business, Drilline Products. Selling and promoting a range of trenchless products but specialising in GPR systems for utility detection and mapping.

Colin has served on the council committee since 2007 and was voted on as the Societies Chairman in 2009. Colin has remained on the Council since stepping down as Chairman in 2011.

I have been a member of the UKSTT Council since 2002 during which time I've worked for Thames Water and Northumbrian Water. As well as being Vice Chair of the Membership Services Sub-Committee I also organise our Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony. in 2018 Itook over the role of Honorary Secretary from Norman Howell.

While working for Thames Water I was involved in the Section 19 Water Quality programme and managing programme reporting to OFWAT on benefits of Mains Replacement in London. For both Thames Water and Northumbrian Water I have undertaken technical projects and product evaluation relating to water mains and sewerage, including trenchless technology. I am now involved in commissioning research and product evaluation in this area.

 I am a professionally qualified Civil Engineer with 35 years’ experience in civil and geotechnical engineering and underground pipe networks, and am Managing Director of Downley Consultants, an international consulting engineering practice specialising in trenchless technology projects. I graduated in Civil Engineering at the University of Surrey in 1978 and became a chartered civil engineer in 1983. My early career was spent in design of water supply and wastewater systems and in geotechnical and foundations contracting and I also gained senior sales and marketing experience with companies manufacturing products for civil engineering applications.   

I have undertaken and managed many water and sewer pipe inspection, condition assessment and rehabilitation projects throughout the world and my experience in underground infrastructure encompasses innovative installation, assessment and rehabilitation and in developing strategies for managing rehabilitation programmes including QA and risk management.

I have also managed many market investigation and analysis projects in underground infrastructure related markets worldwide and have managed such projects for leading companies in this field from all over the world.  

I have recently returned to the UK after living and working in Switzerland where I was for 3 years President of the Swiss Society for Trenchless Technology, CHSTT.

Scott's career started in Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) in 1988 working for Visser Smit Reading & Bates (VSRB) as a steering tool guidance engineer.

Working throughout Europe Scott became one of VSRB's HDD Maxi Rigs Project Managers in 1991 before moving over to Visser & Smit Hanab (V&SH) in 1995 where he continued to develop the HDD technique in Europe. From 1995 - 2015 Scott has been involved in major HDD projects undertaken which range from drillings to install 56" pipelines over distances of 2.5kms. He has also been heavily involved in HDD landfall and shore approaches where under water connections are required in varying ground formations from soft soils through to hard rock formation.

In 2015 Scott moved from the operational to commercial side of the business to further develop the market within the UK.

Having recently graduated with a CIM, Professional Diploma in Marketing, Leon has been involved with Business Development and Marketing within the civils & construction industry for over 20 years; working for a range of companies from ground support systems, pipework manufacturers and specialist aggregate supplies through to piling contractors.
In April 2018, Leon joined the team at Amiblu, a world leader in the production and supply of GRP Drainage Systems for both trenchless and non-trenchless applications, Leon's role is to help create a better understanding within the UK Water Industry of how GRP can be of use, especially in trenchless applications such as Pipe Jacking, Pipe Relining and Bespoke Non-Circular Relining

I was one of the founder members of UKSTT and was the Technical Secretary from 1994 until 2004. At the time I was an academic involved in research and consultancy related to trenchless technology at the University of Manchester.

In 2004 I moved to Hong Kong to become a Technical Director with Black & Veatch, where I led a team working on a major water mains rehabilitation programme. During that time, I was the company's Regional Practice Leader for Underground Assets, and served as Chairman of CHKSTT from 2006 to 2009. I retired from full time employment in 2011 and am now based in the UK again.

Shauna Herron is Director of Environmental Techniques Ltd, an award winning civil engineering company with 32 staff and a turnover of over £4 million. She represents Ireland on the Council of the UK Society for Trenchless Technology and on the European Standards Board.

Since becoming one of the youngest people to start a civil engineering course at Queen's University, Shauna Herron has been blazing a trail in what is traditionally a male dominated industry. She became the first female site manager in Northern Ireland and now manages specialist contracting and consultancy firm, Environmental Techniques Ltd.

Simon has been in the trenchless industry since 1986 when he started working for Norweb (now United Utilities) in the acable laying department utilising impact moles.
Simon left Norweb to take up a position with a franchise of Dyno Rod where he worked his way up to become franchies principal.

During this time, Simon helped to introduce directional drilling, pipe bursting, small diameter CIPP lining and point repair systems into the Dyno portfolio. Simon became involved with ProKasro Mechatronik GmbH through the use of their UV lining equipment and sewer robotic systems. As a consequence of this, Simon left his position with Dyno Rod to take up his currrent role of UK and International Sales for ProKasro.

Mark has worked in the industry for 30 years, mainly in the waste water and railway sectors.

During his career Mark has worked as a client manager, consultant and contractor so has wide experience of managing projects from all sides of the fence.

Mark is currently working for Atkins providing specialist trenchless advice for their UK and International operations. He has won seven trenchless technology awards for innovation and innovative projects and brings extensive experience of working on complex, difficult access projects in built up areas.

I commenced my employment with TT-UK-Ireland on 24th October 1988 as an engineer repairing and servicing Grundomat Soil Displacement Hammers. Since then I have progressed through the company to become a Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) specialist on Grundodrills, helping both existing and new customers with operational aspects. Being a fully qualified HDD and mud specialist, I am able to provide HDD management course information.

My HDD skills have taken me to many parts of the world, working and giving technical drilling advice in the Far and Middle East, Ireland, India, South Africa, Kenya and Cyprus amongst other places.

In addition to the above, I also carry out both theory and operational training on other trenchless products such as Grundomat soil displacement hammers, Grundoburst pipe replacement systems, Grundowinch, Grundoram and many other trenchless products and techniques.
My present role with the company is to assist the Operations Director in the day to day running of the Customer Services Department. This includes helping UK and international customers with both operational and technical assistance in trenchless technology methods.

Andy has worked in the Utility Survey Industry for several years, Managing Departments and Teams with some of the largest Survey Companies in the UK. Currently working as Operations Manager for Plowman Craven Ltd,  Andy has played a key role in redeveloping survey outputs and applying innovation within projects, nominated for a Digital Construction Award in innovation and having been published in the Geospatial Engineering Magazine 2019 Andy has a personal passion for Underground Trenchless technologies and workflows. “

I am a chartered civil engineer and have worked in the water industry for 37 years in a wide variety of roles. I now work as an independent consultant providing technical and project management support to a wide range of utility related activities. Prior to this I worked in a range of technical and management roles with Thames Water before moving to Wessex Water.

I then moved to the Veolia Water Group where I have held a number of roles including Head of Network Asset Management and Director of Operations. I have been client manager for UKWIR and convener of the Water UK Distribution Infrastructure Network.

I have been involved in trenchless activities through the design and management of water pipe rehabilitation projects and am also actively involved in developing improved methods for recording and locating buried assets.

Norman Howell is an Engineering Geology graduate from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, he is a Chartered Geologist and Chartered Environmentalist.

He began his career at Tarmac Construction (1975 to 1985) and gained extensive experience of conventional tunnel construction. He joined D J Ryan & Sons Ltd in 1985 who were the developers and patent holders of the pipebursting technique and was responsible over a period of 18 years for all aspects of the company's involvement in Trenchless Technology.

In April 2002 he joined Subterra, who are an internationally recognised innovator and developer in the field of utility pipeline rehabilitation systems and is responsible for the overall management of the company. Since the end of 2013 he has been working as an independent technical consultant for a diverse portfolio of clients which include pipeline network owners, contractors and no dig equipment manufacturers and suppliers.

He is a Past UKSTT Chairman, has represented the UKSTT on the ISTT Board Executive Sub-Committee and is a Past National Chairman of the Pipeline Industries Guild.

iLine is a new company formed by ex-Perco management. My roll is to grow the business and develop relationships in the Rail, Highway and EA area especially.

My focus is marketing and improving the awareness of iLine in the trenchless industry.

iLine are specialists in UV lining with over 10 years experience together with offering GRP lining and Directional Drilling solutions

Stephen Taylor, joint Managing Director of Planned Maintenance (Pennine) Ltd has over 30 years' experience of providing engineering solutions, in difficult working environments. Stephen was the first to install the AMEX-10 seal and is responsible for all AMEX-10 seals projects, UK and worldwide, and larger contracts.