Oil Spill - Technical Emergency Response Services

Rob has over 20 years experience in the oil gas industry, starting at ExxonMobil before moving to Oil Spill Response Ltd. More recently, Rob joined Swire Pacific Offshore and was tasked with running their emergency response arm. Rob joined SpillConsult as a Director in September 2013.

Rob started his career in the oil industry in 1992 as an engineering apprentice at ExxonMobil’s Fawley Refinery. In 1997 Rob took up the position of Spill Response Specialist with Oil Spill Response Ltd. Where he went on to hold positions such as Global Initiative Consultant (on secondment to IPIECA), Trainer, Duty Manager and Response Team Leader. In 2006 Rob moved to Bahrain as Regional Manager, Middle East where he was responsible for the set-up and running of the Middle East Response Base.

Rob continued his career joining Swire Emergency Response Services as General Manager. Based in Dubai, Rob had a global responsibility, securing various short and long-term contracts in Africa, the Indian Sub-Continent, the Middle East and Europe.

Connect with Rob! - Rob Self LinkedIn

Stuart has over 20 years experience working within the oil industry, having worked for both ExxonMobil and Oil Spill Response Ltd. Stuart joined SpillConsult, as a Director in January 2013.

Stuart began his career as an Engineer with ExxonMobil at Fawley Refinery, Southampton, where he was trained on the maintenance and repair of all refinery heavy equipment. This included gas compressors, steam turbines, generators and all manner of pumps and fluid transfer systems. Stuart then worked at Fawley Marine Terminal where he was responsible for the maintenance and operation of the jetty berths for coastal and ocean tankers transporting gas, white oils, black oils and chemicals. Part of his role included carrying out vessel safety and cargo transfer inspections.

At Oil Spill Response Ltd Stuart occupied many positions including roles within Training, Consultancy and Operations. Some of the key positions included serving on the senior management team as Deputy Head of Global Operations, Global Technical Manager, Incident Manager, Global Readiness Manager, Response Team Leader and Duty Manager.During his career, Stuart has responded to hundreds of oil spill incidents globally and has extensive experience in Incident Management, response equipment deployment and aviation operations. Through these experiences, he has gained a solid understanding of the industry; its requirements and how best practices can and should be applied.

Connect with Stuart! - Stuart Gair LinkedIn

Archie brings to SpillConsult an extensive and proven track record in the leadership and development of international multicultural business.

Archie has over 40 years of Board directorship activity in both business and charitable environments and has built a strong network of contacts across the marine and oil sectors globally.

After a successful spell as a Board director with Ocean Inchcape Ltd (OIL), Archie joined Oil Spill Response ltd (OSRL) in 1995 where he stayed until 2013 as a Director and as Chief Executive.

Archie was recruited by OSRL to deliver the transition of the company from a department of bp into an independent commercial company, which is now recognised internationally as the ‘go to’ organisations for oil spill solutions.

From 2014 onwards Archie has been non-executive Chairman of Earth-I Ltd, a satellite and data management company specialising in the use of AI and machine learning to rapidly analyse data from space for both commercial and military use.

Archie also has numerous commitments outside of work. He recently retired from Chairman of the Governors the London Nautical School and serves as a Vice President of Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

Connect with Archie! - Archie Smith LinkedIn

Vicki comes from a diverse industry background having worked for a major aviation
flag carrier and large corporate computing and hardware company. During this time
Vicki was key in delivering specialist product knowledge and utilising intensive project
management to deliver excellent standards of customer service. 
 
Vicki’s interpersonal skills and competence in project management have been key in
enabling her to deliver in high stress and demanding situations. Joining SpillConsult in
2019, Vicki has progressed through the organisation delivering projects and customer
engagement programmes. Vicki serves one of our major customers as a responder in
an HR role providing accounting for people, relative response, and family liaison
consultancy and response services. 
 
Vicki now fulfils the role as Operations Director, managing a team of highly experienced consultants and associates worldwide.

Connect with Vicki! - Vicki Fuller LinkedIn

Tony is a financial professional with broad experience of working with growth businesses, including both public company and venture capital finance businesses.

Following a spell as the Chief Operating Officer / Group Financial Director will Hallin Marine, an integrated subsea contractor providing a high standard and wide range of subsea services, support and capability t the offshore oil and gas industry, Tony became the Group Finance Director for Oil Spill Response Ltd (OSRL).

Tony stayed with OSRL, the industry-owned and funded cooperative that exists to respond to oil spills anywhere and anytime, as a Board member for over 7 years. Gaining an extensive insight into the world of oil spill response.

Tony brought all his financial and oil spill experience to SpillConsult in 2022, where he performs the role of Finance Director.

Connect with Tony! - Tony Prest LinkedIn

Rachel joined the SpillConsult team in January 2015 to help assist the Finance Director with the day to day running of the accounts. Her roles at SpillConsult consist of all accounts requirements from preparing VAT returns, entering purchase invoice, preparing payroll to producing & submitting sale invoices on a wide range of platforms used by our customers. Rachel also liaises with our accountants to ensure all statutory requirement are fulfilled.

Rachel serves one of our major customers as a responder in an HR role providing accounting for people, relative response, and family liaison consultancy and response services. 

Before Rachel joined us, she worked in the accountancy industry, undertaking her AAT qualification. In her previous role, she carried out Audits & Accounts on limited companies along with all the relevant statutory requirements, so she is used to a busy environment and the pressure of deadlines.

Connect with Rachel! - Rachel Oneill LinkedIn

A former Detective Inspector with Grampian Police, Rona has a proven track record in all aspects of emergency response and crisis management within the Police Service. With over 30 years’ experience at different levels, she has wide range of knowledge in the field. Rona has particular expertise in regard to people issues, including Family Liaison and associated matters. Over the years she has worked with a wide variety of organisations throughout the Emergency Services, in addition to Local and National Government and Industry.

Rona has also developed and delivered courses, specialising in ‘people skills’ such as Family Liaison, Relative Response, Evacuee Reception Centres, Breaking Bad News and HR Awareness in Emergencies for many UK based Oil and Gas Operators. She has also similarly worked overseas in delivering to Oil and Gas Operators in Australia, China, Singapore , Africa and the Ukraine.

In 2011, Rona joined Altor Risk Group (Stirling Group and Restrata), where she has developed Security procedures using her previous Crime Reduction and CID experience. She has also developed and delivered Emergency Response Training and Exercises as well as Business Support and Crisis Management Training for a large number of clients both in the UK and overseas.

In 2018 she joined SpillConsult and has continued to develop and deliver training courses as well as delivering Major, Simulated and Table Top exercises and consultancy services in all aspects of Crisis Management.

Connect with Rona! - Rona Grimmer LinkedIn

Tim has over 30 years of incident response management and contingency planning experience within the oil & gas industry across all operational, tactical and strategic levels. Working with local, national and international companies & organisations including, government agencies and regulators with extensive experience specifically within the areas of oil spill response and emergency response management.

Has worked on a wide variety of projects including the establishment of oil spill response bases, development of contingency / emergency response plans, scripting and directing emergency response exercises, oil spill computer modelling and delivery of oil spill/emergency response training worldwide.

As well as experience within the UK, has extensive overseas experience (West and North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Far East) for a wide variety of oil and gas industry clients.

Connect with Tim! - Tim Endean LinkedIn

Peter joined SpillConsult in 2014 and his role includes preparing and delivering exercises, training courses, projects and publications involving all aspects of incident management. This ranges from high level crisis management to all sizes of incident management teams.

Peter spent 34 years in the UK Fire Service so brought wide experience of operational command, management and training roles. Peter held senior positions responsible for; Command Strategy, Hazardous Materials, Environmental Protection, Specialist Rescue, Urban Search and Rescue, CBRN, Counter Terrorism, National Resilience and Inter-Agency Liaison. He helped introduce ICS into the UK and part of the growth of multi-agency incident management in emergency services.

Peter was a leading member of the UK Fire Service International Search and Rescue team serving as Crew Leader, Operations Commander, Training Officer, Deployment Commander and National Coordinator. Peter deployed for disasters including earthquakes in Turkey, Iran, New Zealand, Haiti and Japan plus floods, volcano’s and tsunamis. Peter led the development of UKISAR transforming the team structure and standards, establishing it as the official UK governmental response team.

Peter is a trained US FEMA Task Force Leader and worked with several US Task Forces on exercises and deployments. Peter was active in the EU and UN response systems helping develop the INSARAG External Classification process and chairing the working group that produced a new coordination methodology for global disasters. Peter readily shares his experience, mentoring many international teams.

Peter received the Queens Fire Service Medal (QFSM) in 2012 for these achievements.

Connect with Pete! - Peter Crook LinkedIn

Ray Ramsay, Qatar Regional Manager, joined SpillConsult in May 2023. Currently heading up the Middle East office in Qatar, working on a consultancy project for the Qatar Oil and Gas Sector.

No stranger to the Middle East having spent time there during his 24-year military career, and also post military as a consultant for an Emergency Response and Crisis Management organisation. The last 8 years has seen Ray in various oil spill response managerial roles in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, one being the Country Manager for an international Oil Spill Response Organisation (OSRO). Ray’s last role in the Middle East, before joining SpillConsult, was as a Business Development specialist with the National Oil Company, Oil Spill and Hazardous Noxious Substances response department.

Achievements, as an expat, have been nationalizing his position as the Emergency Response and Crisis Management Practitioner. Turning a loss-making business into a profitable business. Writing strategy documents and capability plans. The latter leading to upscaling the response capability in purchasing of fit for purpose spill response vessels, new and modern response equipment, as well as increasing manpower to ensure that the department could meet their mandate. Selected as a technical committee member, trainer, and keynote speaker at conferences in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Connect with Ray! - Ray Ramsay LinkedIn

Rachel’s career in Emergency Response began some twenty years ago, working as an emergency control room operator for a major oil company, providing the focal point for coordinating immediate responses to emergency incidents in the North Sea. 

This then transitioned into a consultancy role, offering support to Emergency Response and Crisis Management projects both globally and within the UK, predominantly in the oil and gas sector. Rachel also spent time as an Emergency Planning Specialist, overseeing the London to South-West route, responsible for implementing the National Railway Emergency Plan.

Following a move overseas, Rachel returned to consultancy, offering emergency response technical services to clients within a variety of sectors within the Middle East. This included plan audit, development and delivery across all levels of the response framework within organisations.

Rachel brings a holistic understanding of emergency response and crisis management processes to SpillConsult, with a strong attention to detail and dedication to staying at the forefront of best practices within the subject area. Rachel brings a blend of practical experience and technical acumen to SpillConsult, drawing on her global experience within the field.

Connect with Rachel! - Rachel Davis LinkedIn

John’s primary role at SpillConsult is to deliver training to our clients in the Incident Command System and other aspects of incident response relating to oil spill and other industry related incidents. Secondary to this John will provide consultancy services to clients and work with them on the preparation and execution of exercises testing their emergency response capabilities.

John joined SpillConsult in September 2023 after a 30 year career as a police officer with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, where he retired at the rank of Chief Inspector.

A career highlight was four years as the District Commander for Hart & Rushmoor, where John was responsible for the delivery of local policing across these two diverse local authority areas.

John will be bringing his extensive experience in Incident Response, command and control, problem solving, decision making, project management, leadership and partnership working gleaned over his police career into this role with SpillConsult.

Connect with John! - John Halfacre LinkedIn

Matthew served 22 years in the Royal Navy, initially on the Surface Fleet as an Underwater Weapons (SONAR) System Operator / Engineer. During this time, he deployed around the world and was involved in several major maritime operations and exercises, including deployments to the South Atlantic, Baltics, Middle East and Asia.

In 2003 he transferred to the Fleet Air Arm and qualified as a helicopter aircrewman specialising in Anti-Submarine Warfare and SAR. During a 4-year secondment to the RAF he crewed the Merlin EH101 Helicopter in the Support Helicopter Role, which included deployments to operational theatres Telic and Herrick. He was also involved in a number of Non-combatant Evacuation Operations.

Qualifying as an Aircrew Instructor in 2010, he went on to assist in the development of initial aircrew training for the new variant Merlin helicopter and was heavily involved in testing and improvement of the curriculum and training material.

After leaving the Military in 2014, he moved to Abu Dhabi where he taught civilian and military aircrew on the Super Puma and Dauphin helicopters. Matt was responsible for developing the aircraft training syllabus for ab-initio rear-crew aviators, as well as standardising aircrew instructors ensuring that training was delivered at the highest level possible.

An experienced Instructor, Matthew brings Military ethos and experience to the SpillConsult team.

Connect with Matthew! - Matthew Wilson LinkedIn

Duncan specialises in ICS exercise development for a diverse range of customers and scenarios. More recently this has included several large-scale exercises, where he supported our clients with exercise planning, scenario development and roleplaying external agencies. He also leads the development of Microsoft Teams solutions, such as the Virtual Incident Command Post. Duncan provides consultancy support for clients, offering support and solutions to their needs, which recently has included equipment maintenance support and incident preparedness.

Duncan's joined SpillConsult in November 2016 when he joined as an administrator, studying level 2/3 diploma in business administration. In 2018, he transitioned into a full-time administrator role, contributing to various aspects of the company's operations including quality management (ISO9001), IT support, web/app development, procurement, and business support. In 2021, he started supporting exercise and consultancy projects alongside his existing role before moving to his current role as a full-time Consultant in June 2022.

Connect with Duncan! Duncan Bryson LinkedIn

Having spent over 30 years in the UK fire and rescue service, Jason joined SpillConsult in April 2024 as a Consultant/Trainer.

During the last ten years of his service, Jason was an Assistant Director of Operations and an operational incident commander responsible for Community Safety and responding to large-scale fires and other complex emergency incidents. Jason has attended the Fire Service College on numerous occasions throughout his fire service career and has completed both the Strategic Command Course and the Multi-agency Gold Incident Command Course.

He spent 14 years as part of the Urban Search and Rescue Team in Hampshire and was a member of the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue Team co-ordinating the response and deployment to disasters including earthquakes in Japan, New Zealand, Nepal and a gas explosion in States of Jersey.

Jason has also trained and exercised in the United States, Denmark and Germany.

Jason was a National Inter-agency Liaison Officer and worked with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Resilience Forum, both being at tactical and strategic levels in multi-agency environments.

Jason's main responsibility at SpillConsult involves providing training to clients in the Incident Command System and various facets of incident response relating to oil spills and other industry-related emergencies. Additionally, Jason will offer consultancy services to clients, collaborating with them on the planning and implementation of exercises to assess their emergency response.

Connect with Jason! - Jason Avery LinkedIn

Simon joined SpillConsult in January 2025 after spending 30 years with Hampshire & Isle of Wight fire and rescue service.

Simon spent most of career in leadership and command roles attending some of the most complex incidents as incident commander or other command positions.

As part of the UK’s response to national and overseas disasters, he has deployed to explosions, earthquakes and other disasters fulfilling the role of Safety and Security officer, ensuring the wellbeing and safety of 80+ emergency responders. In 2024 he was awarded a Fellowship from the Institute of Search and Technical Rescue

Simon has trained with many international teams and has been responsible for delivering training across the globe, including Trinidad, Malawi and Chile. He has also been responsible for delivering large scale exercises and been part of a larger development team supporting the International External Reclassification on behalf of INSARAG.

Simon operated at a tactical level and was part of the tactical coordination group during COVID, responsible for leading a specialist team of firefighters which supported the NHS in the intensive care unit.

In 2020 Simon completed his Master’s Degree in Crisis and Disaster Management with Merit.

Connect with Simon! Simon Forster LinkedIn

Steph specialises in business continuity and operational resilience, currently seconded to bp supporting the development and delivery of their global Business Continuity Management (BCM) programmes. This includes facilitating workshops to build Business Impact Assessments (BIAs), developing Business Continuity Plans (BCPs), and the implementation of a new response and resilience platform that integrates continuity, emergency response, and training systems.

Steph joined SpillConsult in 2014 as an Apprentice Administration Assistant while studying for a level 3 diploma in business administration. She has since progressed through a number of roles, gaining hands-on experience in office operations, training and exercise preparation, and quality management systems. She played a key role in the company’s transition to ISO 9001:2015 standards.

Connect with Steph! - Steph Miller-Harris's LinkedIn

Shona is currently seconded to support bp in the roll out of its business continuity program and building operational resilience.

Shona has been with SpillConsult since 2021 following a career in Police Scotland which included leadership roles in Operational and Community Policing , Firearms Commander and latterly working within NHS Scotland to develop custody healthcare and localised forensic services.  She has a track record of successfully implementing problem solving initiatives, multi-agency working, providing planning, directing, coordinating, and controlling operations.

This experience has been invaluable in understanding the needs of organisations in terms of avoiding outages, utilising AI, breaking down silos and building a culture of resilience and supporting risk awareness and preparedness.

Connect with Shona! - Shona Stewart LinkedIn

Bruce has over 35 years experience working in the oil industry, primarily in emergency response, as well as Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE). Bruce spent the first 20 years of his career working in the Arctic as well as 15 years working globally in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe.

Bruce started his career working for the Canadian government in the Arctic, inspecting oil and gas operations and acting as the government representative on oil spills. In 1985, he joined Gulf Canada Resources where he was responsible for obtaining drilling permits and managing Gulf’s Arctic spill response preparedness program.  In 1990, following the Exxon Valdez spill, Bruce joined Alaska Clean Seas and was part of a team that transitioned ACS from an equipment warehouse to a full response organization supporting oil and gas activities on the Alaskan North Slope. Bruce also had work secondments to Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., where he managed pipeline right of way maintenance and spill response capability, as well as BP as an arctic spill response expert in support of offshore drilling and production. In 1998, Bruce joined BP on a fulltime basis.

In 2000, Bruce was seconded from BP to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) as the Crisis Management Coordinator, responsible for implementing a standardized emergency response capability for the oil and gas industry in the United Arab Emirates. In 2005 Bruce became the Crisis Manager for BP Shipping, based in London and responsible for crisis management, business continuity and security for BP Shipping’s global operations.  In 2009 Bruce returned to Canada and joined Talisman Energy where he held a variety of positions supporting Talisman’s international operations; culminating in the position of Global Security Manager until 2015, when Talisman was purchased by Repsol.

During his career, Bruce has also held Directorships with Amulet ship vetting company, Oil Spill Response Ltd and Sea Alarm, a not for profit wildlife response organization.

Connect with Bruce! - Bruce McKenzie LinkedIn