People know me by a few different things.
Some know me as the founder of the FPS Group®. Others know me from television appearances discussing flooding and resilience. Some know me through engineering projects, business, speaking engagements, or industry work.
And others know me as The Flood Guy®.
At its core though, my career has always been driven by the same thing: understanding and investigating complex problems and seeing if they can be solved through engineering.
The story starts in 2007.
The flood
When I was thirteen, my family home flooded.
Like many people who experience flooding for the first time, we were completely unprepared for the disruption that followed. We were out of the house for months while repairs were carried out, and I saw first-hand the impact that a single event could have on a family.
At the time I had no idea that experience would shape my future.
What it did leave me with was curiosity. I wanted to understand why flooding happened, how risk was assessed, and what could be done differently.
A few years later, that interest led me to represent the UK in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize (opens a PDF in a new tab), where I presented my work alongside students from around the world and received a diploma from Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.
Looking back, that was probably a clear indication that engineering might become more than just an interest.
Building something
I went on to study Civil Engineering at the University of Nottingham.
Alongside my studies, I became increasingly interested in flood resilience, which at the time was still a relatively niche area.
What started as a small business focused on helping homeowners protect their properties gradually evolved into something much bigger.
Today, the FPS Group works nationally across flood risk, drainage, resilience, engineering consultancy and specialist products. Our work has ranged from helping individual homeowners understand risk through to supporting local authorities, infrastructure operators, developers, insurers and public bodies.
The scale has changed over the years, but the principle remains the same: understand the problem properly before trying to solve it.
Beyond flooding
Although flooding remains an important part of my story, my work today extends well beyond it.
I am particularly interested in the point where engineering, business and public policy intersect.
That has led me into areas including forensic engineering, resilience, construction, entrepreneurship, standards, regulation and public advocacy.
Over the years I have contributed to discussions involving government departments, industry bodies, local authorities and regulators. My work has taken me to Downing Street, Parliament, national conferences and media studios, often discussing how engineering can help address practical challenges facing communities and businesses.
I am also a contributing author for Elite Business Magazine, where I write about entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience and the realities of building a business.
Supporting the next generation
I believe strongly that engineering changes lives.
It certainly changed mine.
That is one of the reasons I volunteer with the Arkwright Engineering Scholarships programme, helping assess and interview talented young people who are considering careers in engineering, science and technology.
I have always benefited from people who were willing to give their time, advice and encouragement, and I see supporting future engineers as an important way of giving something back.
I am also a founding member of the International Property Flood Resilience Association (IPFRA), which was established to help improve standards, influence policy and provide a stronger voice for flood resilience both in the UK and internationally.
The Flood Guy®
People often ask where the name came from.
The truth is far less strategic than most people expect.
During a television appearance, a Sky News producer was trying to remember my name and simply said, "Ah, you're the Flood Guy."
The nickname stuck.
I later registered The Flood Guy® as a trademark and it has become a useful shorthand for the work I do in flooding and resilience.
These days, though, it is only one part of a much broader story.
Today
Today, I spend as much time asking questions as I do answering them.
Some days I am out on site visits or investigating technical problems. Other days I am reviewing reports, supporting our team, meeting clients, writing, speaking or working on the business itself.
A significant part of my time is spent looking at how we can improve. Whether that is developing people, investing in technology, improving safety, refining our processes or exploring new ways of working, I am always interested in how things can be done better.
Balancing engineering, entrepreneurship and leadership is not always straightforward. The challenge is part of what I enjoy. Every year I realise how much there still is to learn.
Away from work, I play tennis and pickleball, and golf when I get the time.
Despite spending more time in business and strategy today, I still enjoy being out on site. Some of the most valuable insights come from standing in a property, walking a construction site or speaking directly with the people affected. Engineering rarely happens behind a desk alone, and I believe there is no substitute for first-hand experience.