Technical Director (UK)
Derek is an experienced Engineering Consultant and Business Operations Manager with an extensive record of building and growing high performing teams and businesses and leading programmes and projects.
His 35-year career has taken him from frontline operations in the Royal Navy, to teaching mechanics, technicians, and engineering graduates, through operational management within the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and finally into engineering consulting and business operations management and leadership in industry.
As a result, he has gained a comprehensive understanding of engineering, management, and leadership across a broad range of industries, including defence, aerospace, civil nuclear and transportation.
Derek has a particular passion for Integrated Systems Assurance; bringing together the disciplines of systems engineering, technical system safety, reliability, availability, maintainability, and asset management throughout the engineering life cycle, to ensure the successful delivery of products, projects, and programmes - safely, effectively, and efficiently.
By combining decisive, dynamic, and empathetic leadership with a deep technical knowledge he can influence programme outcomes with real credibility, while maintaining strict alignment with overarching organisational aims.
His charisma, articulation, and ability to persuade lend themselves to leadership in continually changing and growing businesses, particularly in the face of interpersonal and organisational resistance.
Derek can delegate authority appropriately, enjoy the challenges of problem solving, and motivating both individuals and teams to ensure delivery in accordance with organisational aims, timescales, and budgets.