Carolyn Nicholls - Managing Director
Managing Director of RAS Limited, Carolyn is an MIChemE Professional Process Safety Engineer, and has been in the risk and hazard management industry since 2006. She is also a Fellow with the Safety and Reliability Society and leads the RAS team of risk and hazard management consultants and has been instrumental in creating the company’s assessment methodologies. Carolyn has particular knowledge of flammable and toxic materials, and has experience of developing emergency response plans, evaluating the economic impact of safety improvements and reviewing operational controls. Her specific area of interest is the demonstration of ALARP, an often-misunderstood concept. As well as achieving a postgraduate master’s degree in Process Safety and Loss Prevention, Carolyn also holds an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology.
Andy Stanley - Founding Partner
Andy set up RAS Ltd in 1993, having decided that better and more innovative, flexible solutions to managing the process safety risks the offshore oil & gas industry was facing at the time could be offered, and he is still a key part of the team today. A Nuclear Physicist by training, Andy has worked in the oil, gas and chemical and aviation industries over 30 years. He has developed a unique approach to risk assessment and management over the course of his career, particularly with regard to organisational change and major accident hazards. He is regularly called upon for guidance on how to demonstrate compliance with new regulations, and has provided advice, support, and training to many senior leaders across a number of industries.
Jordan Smith - Principal Consultant
Jordan joined RAS Limited in 2012 and is now a Principal Consultant having obtained his Professional Process Safety Engineer (MIChemE) and Functional Safety Engineer (FS Eng TÜV Rheinland) status’.
Jordan is qualified in advanced consequence modelling techniques and quantified risk assessment (QRA), and is a trained HAZOP and LOPA chairperson with chair experience in both the chemical and petrochemical sectors. Jordan has a particular interest in the fundamentals of risk and ALARP, particularly how these are applied in LOPA and SIL calculations and is an author of published papers on the subject.
During his tenure at RAS, Jordan has played an influential role in a diverse selection of projects. These include but are not exclusive to, chair and scribe for HAZOP and LOPA at various sites and industries, risk analysis for flammable and toxic materials, and process safety support on major developments in the UK.
Nicole Sothern – Principal Consultant
A senior consultant with RAS Limited, Nicole has been part of our team since 2005. She obtained her chemistry degree in New Zealand before relocating to the UK and working at Unilever. Nicole has a strong base of application and experience that she is able to apply to a wide range of projects, from hazard studies, consequence modelling and hazardous area classification, through to DSEAR assessments, LOPA and full COMAH Safety Reports. She is a TUV certified Functional Safety Engineer and sits on the Energy Institute Area Classification Working Group. Nicole particularly enjoys developing spreadsheets to simplify the collation, analysis and presentation of complex data, to enable clients to make decisions for process safety management. Nicole’s meticulous approach to her work, partnered with her positive mindset and substantial knowledge of the industry, makes her an instrumental figure within the RAS team.
Bob Burnup – Principal Consultant
Bob joined RAS Limited in 1999 as a Principal Consultant after previously spending time in the aerospace and nuclear industries. As a lead author and analyst for safety reports COMAH sites in the UK, Bob is able to apply his extensive process safety knowledge and experience to a wide range of projects. Bob is integral member of the RAS Limited team who guides the technical direction of the company and works to develop technical methods.
Jennifer Carroll - Senior Consultant
Jennifer has been a valuable member of the RAS team since 2014, originally as a Graduate Risk & Hazard Management Consultant and now in her current role as a Senior Consultant. She joined the company shortly after achieving a master’s degree in Environmental Science. Jennifer has a particular interest in environmental permitting, sustainability and environmental management and is also an Associate member of the Institute of Environmental Management (IEMA). As well as regularly attending conferences, Jennifer is also the dedicated editor of the RAS newsletter, The Oracle, in which industry incidents, news and key legislation updates are communicated. Jennifer was chosen for this role based on her extensive knowledge and passion for the industry, as well as her effective communication skills.
Naomi Warrilow – Senior Consultant
A Senior Risk and Hazard Management Consultant with RAS Ltd, Naomi is a mathematician by training, and has been in the process safety industry since 2013. Naomi is experienced in hazard identification, consequence modelling and risk assessment. She particularly enjoys developing computerised tools to simplify the complex calculations involved in more detailed risk assessments. This includes creating a bespoke Frequency Tool using HSE historical data which has been used in numerous risk assessments by RAS. On a day-to-day basis, Naomi benefits RAS by carrying out a multitude of different tasks, ranging from project management including preparation of proposals and developing timelines, to being an author and analyst for a variety of assessments and studies.
Robert Ritchie – Senior Consultant
Rob has been in the risk and hazard management industry since graduating as a chemist and is experienced in consequence modelling, risk assessment and hazard identification. Particularly interested in environmental risk assessment, he has helped to develop and apply methodologies for different types of high hazard sites as well as having authored several conference papers on the topic. Whether he is delivering process safety awareness training courses for a variety of sites, preparing upper and lower tier COMAH safety reports, or compiling a chemical plant consequence analysis, Rob is a composed individual who will not let the scale or urgency of a project impact the high quality of his work.
James Park - Senior Consultant
Since joining RAS Ltd as a graduate risk and hazard management consultant in 2014, James has gained knowledge and experience in various aspects of process safety. With a master’s degree in Environmental Science alongside years of experience carrying out environmental risk assessments for a number of different sites, James is accomplished in his field. He has a keen interest in reducing and mitigating against potential harm to the environment, as well as DSEAR regulations, and is experienced in the classification of hazardous areas and demonstrating compliance for a variety of facilities across the UK. James is a trusted member of the RAS team and is passionate about delivering assessments to the highest standard.
Aimee Russell - Consultant
Aimee has been a consultant at RAS Limited since 2015 after obtaining a master’s degree in Geological and Environmental Hazards from the University of Portsmouth. She is also a Fellow at the Geological Society of London. Aimee has considerable experience in Environmental Risk Assessments, including bespoke assessments for a variety of sites and substances. She has a particular interest in the behaviour of petrochemicals in the aquatic environment and the sub-surface (groundwater), as well as NaTech (Natural Hazards Triggering Technological Disasters’) and she undertakes flood risk assessments within the industry. Aimee is accomplished in the Risk and Hazard Management industry and is adept at recognising, reviewing, and nullifying potential risks that may be faced by a client.
Alexandra Hurst - Consultant
Since joining RAS Limited in 2017 as a Graduate Risk and Hazard Management Consultant, Alex has gained a wealth of experience in risk management and process safety in the high hazard industries. Alex holds an integrated master’s degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Lancaster, which incorporated modules in Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology. This multi-disciplinary background effectively integrates with her role in the risk management spectrum, across a range of industries. A typical day at work for Alex may include the creation of bespoke risk analysis tools, authoring COMAH Safety Reports, the production of Bowtie diagrams to communicate Major Accident Scenarios to a wider audience or the development of ALARP demonstrations.
Rachel Littler - Consultant
After achieving a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Geology at the Royal Holloway University of London, Rachel joined RAS Limited as a Graduate Risk and Hazard Management Consultant in 2019. With a strong interest in environmental risk management, including flooding, climate change and looking to the future of energy, Rachel’s impressive skillset makes her affinity to RAS and its principles undeniable. Whether she is aiding in the development of multiple flood response plans for vulnerable sites, conducting risk assessments using both qualitative and quantitative methods, or being the author and analyst of COMAH Safety Reports for upper and lower tier COMAH sites, Rachel is always putting her abilities in the risk and hazard management spectrum to effective use.
Emma Naldrett - Consultant
With an integrated master’s degree in Ecology and Environment (MEcol) under her belt, Emma possesses a wealthy background in the environmental spectrum. Since joining the RAS team, Emma has gained knowledge and experience in various aspects of process safety and developed a particular interest in the human aspects of risk management. On a typical day at RAS, Emma may be found writing up reports, scribing HAZIDs/HAZOPs, performing gap analyses or almost anything in between! Emma is passionate about caring for the environment and ensuring it is effectively protected from threats, and this passion directly feeds into her work.
Ben Taylor - Consultant
A knowledgeable operations engineer with a passion for process safety and innovative solutions as well as over 15 years of experience, Ben is the latest addition to the RAS Ltd team. With a range of relevant qualifications including IChemE HAZOP for Team Leaders, TUV FSEng and APM Project Fundamentals, Ben is proficient in his field, and is even currently working towards an MSc in Risk and Safety Management in order to expand his knowledge even further. Ben is a personable and enthusiastic character and is a welcome addition to the RAS family!
Jim Cowell - Consultant
Jim is a risk and hazard management consultant at RAS who has been with the company since 2015. He works with clients within the chemicals industry, ranging from small airport fuel storage sites to large chemical manufacturing sites. Jim enjoys compiling Excel worksheets to solve complex problems and present the information in a straightforward manner and has been involved in various aspects of risk and hazard management, such as writing and amending COMAH reports, production of hazardous area classification schedules, carrying out detailed risk analyses, and emergency response preparation. Jim graduated with a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Manchester University in June 2014.
Daniel Copple – Consultant
Dan joined RAS Ltd at the start of 2022 and has quickly settled into his role as a Graduate Consultant. Dan has obtained a bachelor’s degree in Genetics from the University of Liverpool and is currently working part-time towards a master’s degree in Microbiology. Dan has also previously worked as a freelance writer and helped to coordinate numerous charity events using social media as a promotional medium. The wide array of projects that Dan has carried out has enhanced his ability to prioritise, multi-task, and work towards and meet tight deadlines, and these skills make him a great mould for RAS, whether he is developing planning advice for proposed building projects, developing risk assessments for a wide range of sites including fuel storage and chemical sites, or being a scribe for multiple HAZOPs in UK and Europe.
Jo Condon - Office & Business Support Manager
Operating as Office & Business Support Manager at RAS Limited since 2014, Jo is an invaluable member of the RAS family. A Fellow of the Institute of Administrative Management and an AAT Qualified Bookkeeper, Jo has worked in a wide range of industries for over 30 years. Her vast experience means she can successfully take on a range of responsibilities in order to allow operations at RAS to run as smoothly as possible. No two days are the same for Jo, you can find her doing anything from organising and scheduling meetings and social events to managing a variety of internal projects. If you decide to give RAS a call, you can expect to be greeted by Jo’s friendly voice.
Joe Walsh - Technical Assistant & Marketing Coordinator
Joe joined RAS Ltd at the start of 2022 in his role as Technical Assistant and Marketing Director. Joe’s position at the company is focused on building and portraying a strong brand persona and increasing accessibility to our services from a client’s perspective. This includes writing editorials which have been published in industry-focused magazines such as TSA Insight and Hazardex, contributing design ideas and content towards the new RAS website and organising media days to benefit RAS’ social media presence. As well as working on the promotional side of the business, Joe has contributed towards technical aspects through writing proposals for clients as well as carrying out MapInfo training.
