ALLIED EXPLORATION & GEOTECHNICS - Key Persons


Afam Obinwa

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Geo Environmental Director
Afam leads the Geoenvironmental Services Team at Igne. A seasoned professional with a robust background in engineering and geoscience, Afam brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role. He is a chartered engineer with over 25 years' experience in civil, geotechnical and environmental engineering. His practical experience includes significant work in brownfield development, particularly in relation to contaminated land, its investigation, risk assessment, remediation and provision of related advisory services. He is a registered suitably qualified and experienced person (SQEP) for the implementation of the UK National Quality Mark Scheme for Land Contamination Management (NQMS). He has been directly involved in the pre-acquisition, development, closure and divestiture surveys of several retail, industrial, commercial and residential sites in the UK and overseas.

Anne Baxter

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Managing Director - Site Investigation
Anne is a seasoned professional with 36 years of experience in site investigation. She began her journey as the sole Geologist at Whatlings Foundations Ltd., eventually co-founding Terra Tek in 1990, which she led for over a decade. Anne's pursuit of knowledge led her to complete a Master of Philosophy in Engineering Geology and a Masters in Business Administration during this period. After Terra Tek's acquisition, she became Managing Director of Raeburn Drilling & Geotechnical, playing a pivotal role in expanding the company's presence across major frameworks in Scotland, including Scottish Water, Transport Scotland, Scottish Power, and SSE. Anne's leadership extends beyond further as she served as the Chair of the British Drilling Association and currently holds a directorial position, contributing significantly to industry development.

Ben Cornish

Job Titles:
  • Director of Water Wells
Ben Cornish Director of Water Wells. Providing a solution for all specialist drilling and borehole related works. Read more

Bernard O'Sullivan - CFO

Job Titles:
  • CFO
  • Member of the Leadership Team
A Finance Director and Chartered Accountant, Bernard originally trained in practice in Dublin. Since then he has held senior finance roles in industry in both bluechips and SMEs, encompassing business transformation, large scale change and significant IT and ERP implementations. As well as directly contributing to strategy, Bernard holds responsibility for IT, HR, ESH and QHSE. Pragmatic, principled and progressive - Bernard's philosophy is that good people, aligned to a shared goal, deliver high performance, transforming departments, companies and organisations with positive lasting change. Bernard develops high standards, strong professional teams, and performance cultures that endure.

Calum Forsyth - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Member of the Leadership Team
Calum, with a distinguished career spanning 25 years in the construction sector across the UK and Europe, has been appointed Chair of Igne. Calum is currently the Managing Director of H+H UK and has previously served as Chief Executive Officer at IAC Acoustics and Group Managing Director for Wavin Group's South West Europe operations. Calum brings a wealth of leadership experience and strategic vision to his new role. His strong background positions him well to drive Igne forward in its mission and goals. Calum's strategic leadership will undoubtedly contribute significantly to Igne's future growth and development in the dynamic construction sector.

DTS Raeburn

Operational since the 1950s, providing geological, geotechnical, and environmental engineering services, DTS became Igne's expert advisory arm when it joined Igne on the 2nd October 2023. DTS Raeburn helps clients understand the geological, geotechnical and environmental conditions of a prospective development site, minimising client risk in relation to purchasing or developing land.

Gordon Ross

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Commercial Director - Site Investigation
  • Commercial Director at Igne SI Scotland
Gordon is Commercial Director at Igne SI Scotland. He has spent most of his career, spanning three decades, in the ground investigation industry, where he has demonstrated excellence within engineering and commercial roles, gaining a wealth of experience across infrastructure, renewables, and construction sectors. His focus is on driving value engineering to new and returning clients across all business service offerings. He is a significant contributor to joint British Drilling Association and Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists publications. Presently, he sits on the BDA's Technical Standards and Management Committees. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Geology & Applied Geology and M.Sc. in Petroleum Geochemistry.

James C Raeburn

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Igne 's SI Scotland Operations Director
  • Operations Director - Site Investigation
James (Jim), Igne's SI Scotland Operations Director, brings over four decades of passion and expertise to the drilling business. With a career that began in 1975, Jim's dedication and enthusiasm remains as strong as ever. Jim is optimistic about Igne achieving significant success and enjoys contributing to the business's growth. As a leading contractor in the UK, he sees tremendous opportunities for organic expansion on the horizon for Igne. Amidst stiff competition, he believes in establishing a strong presence and is eager to play a pivotal role in Igne's journey, supported by an enthusiastic team. The future is bright, and Jim's leadership promises great achievements in his role as Operations Director.

Joel Wittgren

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Non - Executive Director
  • Investment Director at Solix
Joel is an Investment Director at Solix, a Scandinavian investment company focused on industrials and B2B services. Besides being a Non-executive Director at Igne, Joel sits on the boards of Geveko Markings and Terratech. Prior to joining Solix, Joel worked as a management consultant at L.E.K. Consulting in London. He holds a BSc in Business and Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Kent Arentoft

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Non - Executive Director
Kent is one of Igne's Non-executive Directors. He also serves as the Chair of DSVM Invest A/S and its subsidiaries based in Denmark. With a diverse background in international companies within the building materials and contracting sector, Kent brings invaluable expertise to his role. His strategic acumen and experience in managing mergers and acquisitions will be instrumental in shaping the company's growth trajectory. Kent also holds significant positions such as a member of the Investment Committee at Solix Group AB (Sweden) and Chair of one of its subsidiaries.

Lucie Tiverrier

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Director of UXO
Originally from the South of France, Lucie relocated to the UK in 2003 after graduating from one of the leading business schools affiliated with the French Chamber of Commerce & Industry. She dedicated her initial 7 years to the telecommunications sector, as a recruiter for the Middle-Eastern markets, prior to commencing her tenure in 2012 with Igne. Lucie has demonstrated her professional acumen within our organisation, assuming diverse roles encompassing Business Development, Operations, Project Management, and Commercial Management. Presently, she holds the position of Director of UXO, managing high-performing teams for the successful delivery of Igne's UXO operations across the UK.

Nick Vater

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Director - Site Investigation
Nick is our director of Site Investigation in England. He offers 36 years of relevant geotechnical and engineering experience in both the private and public sectors. As a Fellow and Chartered professional of the Geological Society of London, he holds first and post-graduate degree qualifications in earth science and engineering related disciplines. As well as "the day job", Nick is active with Durham, Northumbria, and Newcastle Universities for student outreach, participates on the British Drilling Association's Training & Education and Northern Geotechnical Group committees, and is the lead Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) representative for the business. Clients will benefit from Nick's professional ethic, passion, and systematic approach to achieving fit-for-purpose programmes of ground investigation.

Paul Breslin

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • ESG & Regulatory Risk Director
Paul is the ESG and Regulatory Risk Director for Igne Group and is responsible for overall business risk and compliance. He is a highly motivated and proactive chartered safety professional with over 26 years' experience from both military and civilian application. Paul leads on QSHE, ESG and transport for Igne and reduces the risk to Igne's people, customers and the environment whilst ensuring sustainability is strategically delivered. Paul is instrumental in cultivating a positive safety culture across all organisational levels by delivering effective leadership and communication. With expertise in risk management, safety direction and quality assurance, Paul provides expert insight and advice across Igne. Paul is the current Chair of the British Drilling Association Safety Committee advising them on best industry practice and safety guidance.

Peter Godfrey

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Leadership Team
  • Director of Materials Testing
Ben Cornish Director of Water Wells. Providing a solution for all specialist drilling and borehole related works. Read more Peter is our Director of Materials Testing. He is an accomplished director with over 18 years of experience in the testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) sector. Starting his career as a Trainee Field Technician, and subsequently progressing rapidly, he cultivated a robust technical acumen from the ground up. Fuelled by an unwavering commitment to operational excellence and surpassing client expectations, Peter is renowned for his adeptness in implementing innovative solutions and delivering unparalleled service and value. His leadership ethos underscores a relentless pursuit of improvement and client satisfaction, positioning Igne a forerunner in the TIC market.

Peter Widdowson

Job Titles:
  • Director of Business Development
  • Member of the Leadership Team
Peter is Igne's Business Development Director. He is a civil engineering and construction professional with over 20 years' experience in infrastructure and building construction. His career highlight (apart from joining Igne of course) remains as Section Engineer responsible for the main aqueduct and wheel supports for the Falkirk Wheel; but experience in rehabilitating ecological features around the Manchester Airport second runway seems to have shone a light on his passion for promoting and ensuring sustainable development at a very early stage of his career. Peter is a professional civil engineer, a chartered member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and also has a Masters degree in Construction Law. Outside work, Peter proudly follows his daughters around the country as they compete in athletics and hockey.

Rob Hunter - CEO

Job Titles:
  • CEO
  • Member of the Leadership Team
Rob is our Chief Executive Officer. He brings a wealth of experience and a track record of delivering growth and change to a diverse range of businesses. Rob has been in a leadership role with the group for 8 years. He was formerly Chief Financial Officer and then Chief Executive of our sister company, SafeLane Global, before taking the helm here, when Igne was formed. Prior to that, he has worked in senior roles in the manufacturing, service and the FMCG sectors. He has a strong focus on developing high-value teams, building relationships and creating a culture of excellence. Rob is passionate about social mobility and seeks to ensure equitable opportunity regardless of background. Rob is a school governor supporting a local secondary school.