Operations Manager

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for the management of the operation, funding and delivery of targets.

David completed his doctorate in materials engineering with a thesis on the corrosion performance of new packaging coatings. He then went on to work within the tinplate industry for several years, initially as a quality specialist and subsequently as a process engineer. He joined the university in 2012 as the project manager for the successful METaL work based learning project. He joined the M2A in 2016 and has continued in the role with the project being extended to 2023 and the successive 8 year CDT in Functional Industrial Coatings being awarded in 2019.

Office Manager

Project Coordinator

A bit about me……..

I have a PhD titled “Investigation into the Development of a Remanent Life model for an English Electric Mark Three (EEMKIII) Transition Joint “sponsored by Nuclear Electric and awarded by University of Wales Swansea in 1996.

Since graduating, I have worked as a Research Officer for British Steel Tinplate (R&D) and as General Manager of a local SME, before returning to the University in 2006. Subsequently I have held the posts of Research Office Manager (College of Medicine) and Senior Officer in Academic Services (Postgraduate Research Office). I joined M2A in January 2019.

Project Coordinator

A little bit about me:

Having studied (& enjoyed!) Materials Science & Engineering at Swansea, I was keen to continue life in research and went on to complete an Engineering Doctorate. Working with Tata Colors, my project considered the modification and characterisation of zinc-based galvanising alloys. This was through microstructural analysis and corrosion testing, to provide mechanistic understandings of newer generation magnesium-containing alloys. My research extended into chemical species to mitigate the rates of coating degradation, with a focus on green alternatives that can be considered less detrimental to our environment.

Outside of work…

There’s a good chance you’ll find me out hiking the hills somewhere with my partner and our notoriously noisy (but cute) sausage dog.

Otherwise, you might find me cheering Lewis Hamilton on in the latest F1 race, crafting music in my home studio, reading something from my library of health and genetics books, or indulging in the latest single origin coffee that’s taken my fancy (read: I’m a bit fussy when it comes to coffee).

Project Coordinator

A bit about me….

I gained my undergraduate degree in Materials Engineering at Swansea University staying on conduct my PhD with sponsoring company Airbus UK where I looked at the effect of heavy landing cycles on the next generation of landing gear steels. Following the completion of my PhD, I remained in the Institute of Structural Materials (ISM) at Swansea University where I worked with Rolls Royce on several research projects primarily focusing on the high temperature fatigue response of current and next generation Nickel based superalloys for turbine disk applications. My research focus then shifted to high temperature corrosion fatigue and the effects of extreme shot peening, a subject that I still have a keen interest in. After 11 years in research, I felt a change of direction was in order so became an Industrial Lecturer for project METaL at Swansea University. After nearly 2 years as an Industrial Lecturer, I joined the M2A family in September 2022.

Outside of work….

Coming from a long line of builders and carpenters, I enjoy anything building related, whether this be converting campervans (3 and counting) or annoying my wife by knocking our house around – there’s always a project on the go. Both my wife and I adore to travel with one of our favourite places being Budapest where we return most years. When traveling in our campervan, we love to bring our dog Bohdi with us (who loves the snow!!).

Living on the Gower means most weekend the three of us will be out walking and exploring the beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty  and almost certainly ending up in one of the many amazing pubs for a pint or two.

Interesting fact…

I am both a British and Canadian citizen.

CDT Administrator & Academic Quality Officer

A little bit about me….

I have two teenage boys and returned to my hometown of Swansea when they were little to enjoy the delights of Gower and surrounding area – walking the coastal path, participating in water activities, camping (Llangennith is beautiful when the sun is shining) and mountain biking.  I’ve worked at the University since 2010 and been involved administratively with the Engineering Doctorate programme since 2011 and will be the one chasing you if you miss a reporting deadline!  Before this I worked at the Arts and Humanities Research Council and helped set up their Peer Review College and therefore have insight into both sides of UKRI funded grants.     

An Interesting Fact

I’ve been swimming in the pool at Camp David, one of the presidential retreats, whilst volunteering at Catoctin Mountain Park in America.  I didn’t meet Bill Clinton who was president at the time and saw more chipmunks than people whilst working as a campground host but used the Park as the focus for my Geography degree dissertation.

Exams, Assessment & Senior Finance Administrator

Finance Officer

Finance Assistant

Graphic Designer