Iain Gunn

I did an engineering science degree at Oxford, and I am a Chartered Civil Engineer, so I have a broad base of knowledge. I wanted to do something in water from a young age and by fate have worked predominantly on marine projects but also have some fresh water experience. 

I first worked here for three years after Uuniversity, primarily wave modelling, with some current and sediment transport modelling. I then spent 11 years working for a major engineering consultancy in London and Brisbane before coming back to HR Wallingford in 2009. My first role on return was on secondment to a LNG project that HR Wallingford was supporting as lead marine engineer, and since then I have worked exclusively in the energy sector.

As Sector Lead for Energy, I get involved in a wide range of energy infrastructure projects from renewables to nuclear with our input including subsea foundations, jetties, quays, breakwaters, intakes, marine operations, and everything around protection of assets from marine or fresh water flooding. Much of our work is international so I deal with a range of different clients and cultures. Because of the energy transition the energy sectors are becoming much more integrated with traditional oil and gas operators undertaking renewables projects and renewables operators developing projects with production of transition fuels such as ammonia.

I work on a range of projects from flood risk on solar farms to major LNG facilities, including marine operations / logistics studies, jetties, dredged navigation areas, shore protection, cooling water intakes / outlets and landside flood risk.  

Recently I have been leading an unusual project - the development of a UK Deep Water Testing Facility. The current design phase of this project is funded by the Crown Estate Accelerator with match funding from HR Wallingford. It is an ambitious project that will help solve issues related to motions on floating wind turbines that have led to failures in early demonstrator projects. The facility will also critically help to develop technical expertise  in the UK to serve the hugely ambitions plans that the UK has for floating wind.
 

That’s really simple: it’s the energy transition. We will see massive change in the next 10-20 years. We have been working in offshore wind for some years, but there are developing areas in transition fuels and carbon capture where we provide expertise. There is also an upcoming nuclear renaissance which is boosted by a desire for energy security and the prospect of small modular reactors which should be easier and quicker to build.

It’s a very friendly place, with interesting work. Our head office is in a fabulous location, and is small enough to be personal but also really well regarded internationally. I think that’s really hard to find.

Mainly rowing these days but also running, open water swimming, cycling, surfing and messing about in any other kind of unpowered boat. And a bit of tinkering on the guitar. 

Can you remember the first record you bought?  Yes! It was Alive 2 by Kiss but these days I’m a big Leonard Cohen fan..

And what about your signature dish? I do a lot of the cooking at home, so I should have one, but like diversity too much.

Anything else you’d like to share? Although I’m a marine engineer and love the water I get horrifically sea sick...fortunately I have managed to work through it so far.