Meet the new team

As we welcome seven new team members to Geo², we introduce their roles and a bit more about them.

The new team bring multi-disciplinary geo-environmental guidance including environmental and ground risk assessment, contaminated land management, geotechnical engineering design, environmental due diligence and environmental, social and governance strategy, and pre-acquisition advice, and cost appraisal. These skills build upon our existing expertise and reputation in the regeneration of difficult development and contaminated land sites.

Simon Brown, Director – Development

Simon is our Development Director, with over 35 years in the environmental consultancy industry providing commercially focused advice and solutions tailored to the needs of clients in the property industry from inception and due diligence through to project completion and subsequent asset management. Simon has led and grown teams, providing consultancy services across the UK and Europe. He brings extensive experience of working as part of leadership teams to create a clear vision, strong culture and to drive strategic business growth. He has led and developed numerous initiatives focused on supporting the technical, commercial and cultural development of staff, including the creation of mentoring and coaching systems and is passionate about supporting employees to fully reach their potential. Simon has also led multiple business efficiency initiatives to improve business performance and has extensive knowledge of commercial and insurance management.

“When you are presented with a vision by an award winning, well respected, and trusted business, with an impressive list of credentials and achievements gained over 20 years, who want to create something special with people, culture and providing the very best service to customers at its core then it is impossible to say ‘no’.

I am excited to join the established team at Geo² along with the exceptional group of professionals who have recently joined to create and grow the land quality offering. The aim is to allow Geo² to grow and enhance its service offering, blending technical and commercial excellence with true environmental awareness and commitment, to provide intelligent solutions to all ground risk problems. It is a privilege to be asked to play a part in an ambitious and passionate business where investment in people, whether they are employees, customers, or suppliers, is paramount and the goal is to be the first-choice partner for all.”

Outside work Simon is a keen golfer and walker with two dogs to exercise and is an avid rugby fan.

Richard Lawless, Director – Consultancy (richard.lawless@geo2.co.uk)

Richard leads our consultancy offering for Geo² and brings in excess of 25 years’ leading teams of contamination and geotechnical specialists. He brings a bespoke, pragmatic and forensic approach to contaminated land issues and is passionate about deriving the best possible solution for both the client and environment. He also drives innovation and technical development for the team and regularly presents CPD training to the likes of the RTPI and RICS on land quality issues. Perhaps Richard’s best attribute is being able to develop and retain some of the best talent in the industry by providing an inclusive learning environment, so the team can provide unrivalled service to our clients.

“It’s a real privilege to be joining Geo² who have such an excellent reputation for providing great client care alongside their innovative technical remediation solutions.  In widening our service offering to include the full range of land quality, contamination and geotechnical consultancy we will ensure we retain and enhance the great client experience, while striving for the best outcomes for our clients and the environment. 

I believe the strength of any advisory company lies entirely in its people and will be ensuring Geo² is an inclusive and supportive environment to enable individuals to flourish and let them do what they do best – support our clients, communicate effectively and design the very best solutions.  We love a challenge, so regardless of poor ground conditions, site history or industrial legacy we will be delighted to help!”

Outside of work Richard is kept busy with a love of music, history, a labrador called Lucy and wife called Michelle and not necessarily in that order!

Chris Everitt, Technical Director (chris.everitt@geo2.co.uk)

Chris is our technical lead for contaminated land risk assessment and gets involved with our most challenging schemes and also drives our training and development programme.  With twenty-five years’ experience across a range of sectors, Chris understands that it’s all about the ‘so what’ for his clients. He believes that the collection of quality data, and the creation of a robust ground model are the foundations for an effective assessment of risk, tempered by the commercial realities of clients. Chris is a stickler for quality, accuracy, and the timely delivery of client support, but always makes time to ask the difficult questions, look for the bigger picture, working effectively with the client team to achieve the best outcome for them.

“I am deeply pleased to have joined Geo².  It’s a huge challenge, and a fantastic opportunity, to help build a team based on trust, hard work, and mutual respect (and no timesheets).”

Chris is a dinghy sailor, mountain biker, and walker.  This makes him sound far more dynamic than he really is, but it does help offset the beer and pies he also enjoys. Chris can currently be seen in winter plumage, around March the beard leaves for the clean air of the mountain pastures before returning refreshed in the autumn.

Mike O’Halloran, Associate Director (mike.ohalloran@geo2.co.uk)

Mike has 18 years’ experience working in the geo-environmental sector within the north of England as well as a range of experience on investigations and environmental assessments across the UK.  Mike prioritises providing best value advice to his clients and aligns himself to their commercial objectives and has helped deliver a variety of schemes from small residential to large commercial property portfolios. He provides advice throughout the project lifecycle regarding client’s environmental liabilities, geotechnical constraints, coal mining risks, remediation and validation.

“I’m excited to join a forward thinking and genuinely innovative business at the forefront of what they do. I’m looking forward to helping my clients bring their sites out of the ground to a successfully completed development. I am also excited to learn more about the remediation side of the business and see the innovative technologies being developed for existing and emerging contaminants of concern – I’ve had a taster of that already within the first week!”

Outside of work Mike has two young children who keep him plenty busy! He has a keen interest in most things science and space related and when time and weather permits, Mike can be found out in the garden with the telescope, letting the kids have a go too! Aside from that, he likes to tinker in the garage, do various DIY and gardening jobs then relax with a home brewed beer.

Pete Skinner, Technical Director (pete.skinner@geo2.co.uk)

Pete is our national geotechnical lead and has over 25 years’ experience in geotechnical and environmental engineering within consultancy and construction for both public and private sector projects within the UK. Pete has expertise in a wide range of geotechnical and environmental site assessment techniques as well as geotechnical design for shallow and deep foundations, retaining walls, ground improvement, earthworks, slope stability, roads and pavements, rail structures and basements.  He provides hands on, practical and pragmatic service to our clients.  

“I'm thrilled to be joining this well established, progressive company as they continue to grow their service offering in new directions.  Contamination and geotechnical issues often go hand in hand and I'm looking forward to demonstrating how we can offer a holistic solution to managing 'all ground risk' for our clients.”  

Outside of work when Pete’s not listening to music or watching Man City, he can usually be found wandering around the West Pennine Moors with his family or growing wonky fruit and vegetables in the garden and attempting to cook them in a variety of different ways.

Lizzy Moorhouse, Principal Consultant (lizzy.moorhouse@geo2.co.uk)

Lizzy is a highly experienced geo-environmental consultant, fantastic communicator and project manager. Lizzy proactively manages projects on behalf of our clients and runs a highly effective and efficient team. She has a wealth of experience in a range of difficult ground conditions and deriving solutions to facilitate redevelopment or transactions.  She particularly enjoys a challenging contaminated site!

“I am honoured to be part of this new and exciting journey with Geo². I am eager to get started on some challenging projects and to work alongside some fantastic technically and commercially focused colleagues.”

Lizzy’s main drive is her family (husband, six-year-old son and Buster the dog). They love making memories together, especially through travelling and eating good food. As well as being a Consultant, Lizzy is also the Stewardess of Marsden Golf Club, in which she supports her husband in his duties. In her spare time, Lizzy is a keen dancer and competes nationally in freestyle and rock and roll.

Frankie Exley-McTaggart, Geotechnical Engineer (frankie.exley-mctaggart@geo2.co.uk)

Frankie is an experienced, highly enthusiastic geotechnical engineer. He loves getting into the field to understand ground conditions close-up and providing advice on the spot. Frankie has obtained a wealth of experience and geotechnical knowledge, including delivery of National Highways schemes in accordance with CD622, preliminary foundation design, settlement analysis, geotechnical due diligence assessments and earthworks monitoring.

“I’m thrilled to be joining such an exciting, passionate, and successful company, and I feel honoured that I can be a part of pushing Geo² forward to its next chapter into an innovative multi-disciplinary company. The team and culture are the key, we share the same values and dedication to providing the best service and advice for the client, while simultaneously managing to remember we’re all people, and not robots, it’s refreshing.”

Frankie is an avid walker, hiker, mountain biker, paddle boarder and camping enthusiast – he does a lot of these activities with his girlfriend, and they are often out and about in his (relatively) old VW campervan and 4x4. As a result of his love of older vehicles, he’s often spinning spanners and covered in grease and oil – but always with a smile on his face.