What is your role at Xodus?

I am an Environmental Specialist with a role that requires both subject matter expertise and a breadth of experience. As a specialist, I provide technical guidance to early-stage projects, particularly focussing on carbon and climate assessment.

I also lead the delivery of complex and often first-of-a-kind projects. These projects include environmental and regulatory assessments across a range of sectors such as carbon capture and storage, offshore wind, and oil and gas electrification. I coordinate multidisciplinary input, working closely with clients, colleagues across Xodus, and our network of subconsultants to deliver studies and assessments that meet both client expectations and regulatory standards.

I enjoy the variety and depth of the role, the opportunity to apply specialist knowledge, collaborate with a diverse range of people, tackle complex challenges, and see tangible outcomes from our work. It’s a dynamic and fulfilling position.

Why did you become a specialist?

My journey to becoming a specialist has not been linear, rather it’s been shaped by diverse, hands-on experience. I’ve held roles as a developer, researcher, and consultant across both oil & gas and marine renewables, which has given me a broad perspective on how environmental considerations can influence, and be influenced by, project design. Over time, I found myself increasingly drawn to the intersection of carbon, climate, and early-stage project development. Specialising in carbon and climate assessment has allowed me to consolidate my varied experience while continuing to deepen my expertise. It’s a space where I can help projects evaluate their carbon footprints and embed climate resilience from the outset.

Why is your environmental discipline so important to the energy industry right now?

As society, we need energy and there are difficult decisions to be made around which environmental effects of energy and energy development are acceptable. No form of energy has zero environmental impact: and we need nuanced debate about the costs and the benefits of different energy supplies given the climate emergency and the changing environment.

As we shift toward lower-carbon energy systems, it's essential to understand both the emissions profile of new developments and their resilience to future climate conditions. No energy source is impact-free, so robust, assessments are needed to evaluate trade-offs and inform decision-making.

My discipline supports the assessments required for decision-making, by evaluating lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, identifying mitigation opportunities, and assessing climate risks to infrastructure. Developers, regulators, and stakeholders can therefore make informed choices that align with net-zero targets, environmental regulations, and long-term operational viability. In a rapidly evolving policy and climate landscape, integrating carbon and climate considerations early in project design is no longer optional—it’s fundamental to responsible energy development.

What is the most interesting project you have been involved in while at Xodus?

There are multiple examples I could use! One of the most interesting projects was a front-end carbon assessment for a client’s offshore wind bid. It started as a relatively focused piece of work but ultimately evolved into a much broader assessment covering both offshore and onshore elements—including the innovative reuse of previously developed land.

Given the early stage of the project, data availability was limited, which made the task particularly challenging. But as a team, we developed a robust and comprehensive carbon assessment that not only supported the bid process but also provided the project team with a high-level emissions baseline. The project team a strong foundation to refine and build upon as the project progressed. It was a great example of how early-stage environmental input can add real strategic value.