CO RESEARCH TRUST - Key Persons
After serving 9 years in the armed forces Adrian proceeded to work within West Midlands fire Service (WMFS) for 27 years and is committed to making people safer in their homes using the skills, knowledge and experience of the Fire & Rescue Service.
Since 2010 he was the lead representing the WMFS on a joint research project with several local authorities and has continued raising awareness and supporting various Carbon Monoxide projects, researchers and organisations within different work sectors because he is aware that people likely to be affected by Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning share many of the characteristics of those most likely to experience a fire in the home and the detrimental effect this may have to their health. Prior to retirement from the fire service, he also held the position of Gas & Carbon Monoxide lead within the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
Adrian has managed the CO Research Trust (formerly Gas Safety Trust) since 2013. Before joining the Trust he worked in politics for more than a decade - for a Member of the European Parliament, then in Westminster as a Parliamentary Researcher, before becoming Manager of the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group in 2010.
Professor Andy Shaw is currently the Head of the Built Environment and Sustainable Technology Research Institute (BEST) in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at Liverpool John Moores University. He graduated from the University of Liverpool with a BEng Hons in Electrical and Electronic engineering in 1990, a MSc in Materials Science (Engineering) in 1991 and a Ph.D. in 1995, titled "The realisation of an industrial free electron laser". He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool for 8 years on industrial microwave applications for both material processing, sensor technologies and microwave plasma applications.
In 2003, he become a lecturer at the University of Liverpool within the Electrical Engineering department, whilst continuing to research in microwave industrial applications, but also in the use of subsea radio frequency (RF) communications as part of a MoD funded project and later as an FP6 EU funded project. In 2005, he joined Liverpool John Moores University as Senior Lecturer in the General Engineering Research Institute (GERI), before becoming the head of the Electrical Engineering department within the School of Engineering in 2007. He became a Reader in Environmental and Sustainable technology in 2010 within the BEST research institute and finally head of the BEST research institute in 2015, and finally attained his Professorship in Microwave technology in 2016. He has over 20 years of expertise in developing industrial applications, such as material cutting, vitrification, exhaust gas conditioning for vehicles, pyrolysis, torrefaction and gasification, microwave chemistry and microwave biodiesel production. Along with the design and development of numerous NDT sensor technologies for the process engineering, healthcare and manufacturing sectors.
Currently CEO of HETAS and Woodsure, registration schemes and accredited certification organisations in the solid fuel, wood and biomass sectors. Bruce has a long history in gas engineering, initially working with British Gas from school. This led to a role at CORGI from the early 90's as Registration Manager. Having gained further management experience and qualifications to MBA level, he moved into senior management of registration and certification schemes in the fuel safety sector. His current role requires a huge commitment to safety and environmentally responsible burning in the domestic and commercial sectors.
Gerarda has worked with the CO Research Trust (formerly Gas Safety Trust) since 2014. Previously she has worked in the energy and medical industries, as Communications Executive and then later as an Executive Assistant to the CEO at the Energy Networks Association. Gerarda has also worked as an Editor for a medical communications agency.
John O'Grady has worked as a journalist and Public Relations practitioner for 40 years, including as Director of Communications for one of the UK's gas distribution networks. His interest in carbon monoxide issues has seen him serve as a trustee of a separate charity and as a special adviser to an earlier Parliamentary Investigation.
Julian has been Financial Controller of Cadent and the former Gas Distribution division of NGG since 2016. Since joining National Grid in 2007, Julian has held a number of senior roles which supported many functional areas. Before this, Julian worked in a number of Financial Planning, Reporting and Analysis roles in the wider industry. Julian has been the Trust's Independent Trustee and Treasurer of the CO Research Trust since January 2011.
Karen Gillespie is a Senior Consultant Solicitor specialising in Health, Safety, Environment and Crisis Management. After qualifying in 1992, she became a Partner in a Newcastle law firm specialising in contentious and non-contentious litigation before commencing work as a Senior Legal Advisor for Transco/National Grid in 1999, dealing with all aspects of health, safety and environment and incident management, including CO incidents throughout GB. After 15 years at National Grid, in 2015 Karen became a Senior Consultant Solicitor for Eversheds Sutherland, advising companies on all aspects of Health Safety and Environment and Crisis Management and from 2020 now continues to do so as an independent Consultant.
Job Titles:
- Head of Marketing Communications
Kimberly joined the CO Research Trust in February 2022 to lead the development of our events strategy. Kimberly started her career in marketing in Financial Services, where she managed award-winning advertising and sponsorship campaigns. Kimberly has for the past 5 years working with many SMEs and not-for-profits to support them in the delivery of their marketing activities.
A former HR Director, Pat has worked across both the electricity and gas sectors and was formerly Group HR Director of National Grid. She was a non - executive Director of CORGI Services between 2007 - 2015 and a Trustee of the CO Research Trust since November 2015. In addition to CORT, she has worked with a number of other organisations in the charitable sector.
Paul Everall CBE, retired from being Head of the Building Regulations Division in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in February 2005. He then became Chief Executive of LABC, the body representing all local authority building control teams, retiring in December 2019. He and his wife have 3 daughters and live in Bridport, Dorset.
Having graduated with a BSc in Chemical Engineering, Roger worked for more than 30 years in the research and development arm of British Gas where he was responsible for leading and managing the development of cutting-edge technologies on the efficient and effective utilisation of gas. Roger was awarded a Royal Society Gold Medal for one of his products whilst another won a Queen's Award for Technical Innovation. The second part of Roger's career was in the trade association sector where he was Director of the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) and Deputy Chief Executive of HHIC's parent organisation the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA). Here Roger was involved in all aspects of HHIC's service delivery and took particular responsibility for work on energy policy and legislation and for representing the industry with Government and other stakeholders. Since retiring from HHIC and EUA, Roger has continued to be a Trustee of the Gas Safety Trust. He is also Chairman and a Non-Executive Director of CORGI Services Ltd and Director of External Affairs for the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering.