Chartership Profiles

Who you are

I am a Chartered Geologist and Chartered Chemist with a PhD in Geochemistry, working across subsurface and petroleum systems, carbon removal and storage, low carbon energy and energy decarbonisation. I founded and lead Flanxus Energies, a low carbon energy and carbon management venture developing scalable carbon removal and storage and low carbon energy solutions informed by subsurface systems expertise.

How Chartership has helped you in your career

Chartership has formalised my professional authority and strengthened technical governance, judgement and accountability across complex subsurface and decarbonisation programmes. It has reinforced my credibility with technical peers, partners and stakeholders across research, industry and policy facing contexts. 

Any exciting projects you’re working on post Chartership and how Chartership has enabled this

My current work focuses on advancing carbon storage and removal pathways that integrate subsurface integrity and monitoring, while translating research into deployable low carbon energy systems and implementation across complex programmes. Chartership has supported my engagement at site, national and international levels, enabling my contribution to technical forums, consultations and delivery focused discussions of strategic significance. 

How Chartership has made you feel

Being Chartered has reinforced my confidence in setting technical direction, challenging assumptions and representing subsurface risk clearly to multidisciplinary audiences. It provides a professional framework for calm, accountable leadership in areas of long term societal and environmental significance.

Who you are

I am a Senior Geotechnical Engineer at Gavin Doherty Geosolutions (GDG, part of Venterra) based in Edinburgh.  After graduating from the University of St Andrews with a BSc. Geology degree I immediately entered industry as I was keen to begin my career in engineering geology and understood early on that I could expand my learning and skillset whilst on the job through continued professional development (CPD).  Having worked on a variety on projects in the renewables, housing, commercial, quarrying and infrastructure sectors, developing my on-site experience and desk based technical skills, I worked towards gaining my chartership in 2024.  After a successful application and interview, I was elected as a Chartered Geologist specialising in engineering geology.  

How Chartership has helped you in your career

Having become Chartered recently, it has already helped my career as not too long after sharing with my network on Linkedin that I had been elected I was approached by my current employer about an interesting role within their team. Without obtaining Chartership, these kinds of opportunities would not be available. Chartership opens more doors for developing your career and allows you flexibility to choose a career path that aligns with your interests and goals.  

Any exciting projects you're working on post-Chartership? What you plan to do now that you're Chartered and how Chartership has enabled this

In my current role, being a Chartered Geologist also allows me to work on a wider range of projects as professional accreditation is often expected from high-profile clients.  Most significantly is leading the geotechnical validation for an extensive earthworks operation in support of a new hospital in central Scotland and assisting with the project delivery for geotechnical design of a new datacentre in Finland. Being Chartered also allows me to understand the importance of CPD and I now lead the CPD coordination for the company, ensuring a wide range of topics are discussed regularly to provide those working towards accreditation the opportunity to learn from others in the business and beyond. 

How Chartership has made you feel 

Chartership has made me feel more confident to challenge other engineers in the field as well as provide encouragement to table ideas and solutions. It has also allowed me to provide first hand advice to early career geologists, ensuring I set a good example for adhering to the Society's code of conduct. I feel very proud to have obtained Chartership and highly encourage it to all those looking for an exciting and fulfilling career in geoscience. 

In my role I look after all geological aspects of our projects, making sure that any geological content produced by the teams is correct and follows up to date UK (or if required international) standards. I also design and deliver geology training for our staff and clients. I became a Chartered Geologist (CGeol) last year (2025) shortly before going on my second maternity leave, a milestone in both my professional and personal life. I have been preparing to apply for the status twice in the past however up to this point, I never felt completely ready or felt it was the right time. 

Achieving Chartership was a significant step in my career. The process itself encouraged me to reflect critically on my experience, leadership, and decision-making as a geologist. It helped me recognise the breadth of responsibility I was already carrying - from technical sign-off to mentoring of my junior colleagues and engaging directly with clients. The Chartership journey gave me a greater sense of professional credibility and strengthened my confidence in my own judgement. 

Looking ahead, I’m keen to give back to the profession by mentoring geoscientists working towards Chartership. Going through the process myself demystified it - I realised it’s not about being perfect but about demonstrating professionalism, integrity and continued development. Now that I’m chartered, I feel better equipped to support others in building their confidence and navigating the application process. I’m particularly passionate about encouraging women in geoscience to pursue professional recognition, even during life transitions such as parental leave. 

Achieving Chartership just before maternity leave gave me reassurance that my expertise and contribution were recognised. It strengthened my professional identity and I’m hopeful it will make my return to work feel like stepping back into a role I had earned and grown into.  

Can you tell us a bit about your work and what you do? 

I am an engineering geologist working in the construction industry in Hong Kong SAR. My organisation, Lambeth Associates Limited, is a member of the Gammon Construction Group, part of the global network of Balfour Beatty plc. Providing in-house engineering consultancy services for the group, my work focuses on applying geosciences to address challenges in construction and infrastructure projects. From collecting and analysing geological data to interpreting ground conditions, my role aims to drive the success of engineering projects through a proper understanding of the subsurface environment.

How has Chartership helped you in your career?

The preparation for my Chartership has allowed me to reflect on my early career experiences, summarizing the challenges I encountered and skills I developed to help me plan my future career development. Achieving Chartered status has then validated my competence, expertise and commitment to high standards, enabling me to gain greater trust from colleagues, clients and other professionals.  It has also opened up more opportunities to present and engage with stakeholders, which has helped to expand my professional network. 

What are your prospects of development as a chartered professional? 

I am committed to contributing through my specialised knowledge by deepening my expertise and staying updated with the latest advancements in both the industry and academia. Through my professional practice, I hope to further highlight the importance and potential of geosciences in engineering and raise awareness among stakeholders about our profession. Together, we shall engineer a better world with respect for the rules of nature.  

Who you are

I am a Senior Geoscientist with BGC Engineering. I obtained my Ph.D. in geology from The University of Hong Kong in 2016 and became a Chartered Geologist in 2022. I started my consulting career in Hong Kong, specialising in Engineering Geology and Geohazard Studies, and I am now based in Calgary, Canada. 

How Chartership has helped you in your career

Beyond just the title, the preparation for my Chartership application has helped me a lot in my career. I began working towards it in early 2017. At the time, I was a fresh PhD graduate and a newly elected Fellow of the Geological Society. The five-year career aspiration required for the application witnessed my successful transition from academia to industry. By working towards the seven competency requirements, I developed a clear vision and mindset that guided my daily work towards professionalism. Today, my Chartership status provides my clients with a guarantee of quality on international projects. It reminds me every single day to uphold the highest ethical standards and pursue lifelong learning.

Any exciting projects you're working on post-Chartership? 

After becoming Chartered in 2022, shortly after joining BGC Engineering, I had the opportunity to work in pipeline and mining sectors. I contributed to the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, a new pipeline over 1,000 km long connecting Edmonton, AB and Burnaby, BC. I worked on tailings dam projects with challenging geology in the Dominican Republic. I also worked on oil sands and coal mines across Canada.   

How Chartership has made you feel

First and foremost, I feel extremely proud to be a Chartered Geologist. This status gives me confidence to deliver professional work that helps my clients tackle the most challenging Earth science problems. Furthermore, I feel a great sense of responsibility to work alongside my company and peers to contribute to creating a more resilient and sustainable world.

Who you are

I’m a geophysicist specialising in near-surface onshore geophysical surveying to support engineering and environmental projects. My academic background covered geology, marine and terrestrial geoscience survey design and data interpretation, coding and working with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). I worked in field acquisition for the first 4 years of my career before transitioning to an office-based consultancy role.

How Chartership has helped you in your career 

Chartership has enabled me to undertake roles on certain projects where being professionally qualified was a particular requirement for that role. Going through the application process encouraged me to think more about the geological implications on my geophysical project work, improving my ability to collaborate with geological and geotechnical colleagues. As someone without an MSc, the professional recognition of Chartership has provided an alternative means for career progression.

Any exciting projects you're working on post-Chartership? What do you plan to do now that you're Chartered and how Chartership has enabled this? 

Since gaining Chartership, I’ve been working on a range of projects, including large infrastructure projects in the water, nuclear and highways markets. I’m planning on both (i) developing my technical understanding of my near-surface geophysics specialism and (ii) gaining a broader understanding of geotechnical engineering by supporting project management tasks. Outside of the office, I’m looking to share my experience with students to discuss the challenges and benefits of following a geoscience career path with the aim of encouraging more people to get into it! 

How Chartership has made you feel

Achieving Chartership has generally improved my own confidence and trust of those around me in delivering the consultancy services I provide. I feel more empowered to make technical suggestions and decisions and I’ve become more curious in understanding aspects of near-surface geophysics I don’t have experience in.

Who you are 

My name is Sebastian Rowe and I am a Senior Marine Geoscientist at AtkinsRéalis, specialising in offshore ground model development and geohazard evaluation for largescale marine infrastructure projects. My career has taken me across the onshore and offshore wind, power cable, carbon capture and storage and nuclear sectors, where I support the management and interpretation of geophysical, geological and geotechnical datasets. 

Drawing on my experience with glacial soils and site investigations, I help to unravel subsurface and surface challenges to reduce development risk and support the transition toward a more resilient and sustainable energy landscape that reinforces network security and accelerates the delivery of a rapidly evolving low carbon future. 

How Chartership has helped you in your career 

Gaining my Chartership was a significant personal and professional milestone. Since becoming chartered, I’ve found that it has greatly enhanced my credibility; both within AtkinsRéalis and with clients. It has given me a stronger platform to influence technical decision making and lead elements of complex offshore projects with greater confidence. 

Chartership has also helped me become more active within the wider geoscience community. Through early career presentations, engagement events and participation in the Geological Society community, I’ve been able to share knowledge, support others on their professional journeys, and contribute more meaningfully to the discipline as a whole. 

Any exciting projects you're working on post-Chartership? What you plan to do now that you're chartered and how Chartership has enabled this?

Since becoming Chartered, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a range of exciting projects, including offshore asset management studies, seabed stability assessments for major renewable energy developments and the integration of GIS with digital modelling to support cable and substation site selection strategies. My recent work spans floating offshore wind projects in the North Sea as survey owners engineer, offshore platforms and subsea cable and landfall investigations in Ireland, seismic interpretation in Poland, and ground model development in France. Chartership has enabled me to step more confidently into strategic technical roles while also mentoring early career colleagues as they progress in their own professional development. 

How Chartership has made you feel

Achieving Chartership has been both empowering and motivating. It has strengthened my confidence in presenting ideas, making technical recommendations, and contributing to wider industry discussions. It has also reinforced my commitment to professional standards, continuous learning and delivering high quality science in support of the energy transition. I’ve had the opportunity to put this into practice at the Engineering Group of the Geological Society Annual Conference 2025 at the University of Cambridge, as well as through being selected as a finalist for the Early Geologist Award at Burford House in London for my work on cable routing, design led ground models and offshore geoscience. 

Who I am

I am a Senior Engineering Geologist at Global Maritime, with a PhD in Geology. I specialise in offshore ground investigation and survey management to support offshore developments. My work focuses on advising clients on offshore ground investigation strategies, overseeing complex survey campaigns, and integrating geological, geotechnical, and geophysical datasets to produce robust ground models that support client’s development. 

How Chartership has helped me in my career 

Achieving Chartership is highly regarded within the geological community. It demonstrates not only technical expertise and professional competence but also a commitment to continued development, ethical accountability and high professional standards. 

Importantly, many of our clients place significant value on working with Chartered professionals, as it gives them confidence that the work is being carried out by someone who is independently recognised for their competence and professionalism. 

Many organisations actively seek or prioritise Chartered Geologists, and interestingly, shortly after receiving my Chartership, I was offered my current role, so in a sense I would say the Chartership has helped to find a better position. 

Exciting projects post-Chartership & how Chartership enabled this 

In my current role at Global Maritime, I’m fortunate to be involved in a wide range of offshore projects. Most recently, I have been part of the team working on the Green Volt offshore wind farm development. Once completed, Green Volt will become the largest commercial floating wind farm in the world. Working on such a major energy transition project has been immensely rewarding. 

How Chartership has made me feel

Before achieving Chartership, my PhD thesis was my proudest accomplishment, representing the culmination of my academic and intellectual journey in geology. Chartership, however, represents something different: a validation of my professional competence, judgement, and standing within the industry. It has made me feel confident, recognised, and part of a select group of professionals dedicated to high standards in geological practice. 

How Chartership has helped you in your career 

I feel that becoming Chartered gives people greater confidence in my opinions, as my technical ability and the work that I have done have been assessed externally to Affinity Water. Becoming Chartered has given me more confidence when having technical discussions regarding water resources and hydrogeology. 

Any exciting projects you're working on post-Chartership? What do you plan to do now that you're chartered and how Chartership has enabled this? 

Since becoming Chartered, I have been fortunate to have been able to work on a variety of projects at Affinity Water. Some have directly contributed to my technical development and contributing to the technical community (such as joining the Groundwater Modellers Forum organising panel), but some, such as project managing the company’s electric vehicle rollout during 2024 and project managing our Drought Management Group during 2022 have supported my wider professional growth. 

How Chartership has made you feel

I started at Affinity Water with very little technical knowledge and have been very lucky to benefit from the knowledge sharing of more experienced (Chartered) hydrogeologist colleagues and being able to work on a range of interesting technical projects to develop my knowledge and experience. I became chartered in 2022, having worked at Affinity Water since 2013. For me, becoming Chartered was a formal recognition of the experience that I had gained through my on-the-job learning at Affinity Water and the value of my opinions and analysis, both internally and externally in the wider technical community. 

I was excited to add CSci to my email signature and to my introductory slide for a presentation that I gave at the Groundwater Modellers Forum in 2022, on how we had conceptualised the River Brett catchment using field data and how this differed to groundwater model results. Becoming Chartered has also given me more confidence in sharing my views and presenting and helping with the development of more junior colleagues internally.