Our Team

Caff Allen

Global Learning & Development Director

Caff is our Global Learning & Development Director responsible for the needs analysis, design, and delivery of a wide range of learning solutions for our global team, working equally at a local level.

With over 25 years’ experience in managing large client and customer-facing teams, she is an experienced learning designer, facilitator, and coach who designs and delivers content for face-to-face, virtual, and digital delivery. She specialises in all aspects of leadership, communication, change, client experience, and group dynamics. Building on these concepts with studies in Educational and Organisational Psychology, Coaching, and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), she creates blended theoretical and practical learning experiences.

She takes a learner-centred approach to create the best possible experience in the educational space. Considering the different ways in which people take in information, think, and learn, she flexes both content and facilitation styles to meet individual needs whilst supporting the group process. Ultimately the development of our One Global Team approach impacts on and enhances the great experience our clients receive when working with us.

Caff has worked with a variety of clients in previous roles, receiving high praise and great feedback for programmes she developed and delivered. She is a lifelong learner herself and is continually looking for new theories and concepts she can bring into her own work with others.

Edinburgh

Atul Kumar

Global BIM Application Specialist

Atul is a Global BIM Application Specialist at Black & White, based in our Newcastle office. He joined as a BIM consultant while completing his MSc in Construction Project Management with BIM at Northumbria University, later moving into his current specialist role.

With 15 years of industry experience, Atul began his career as an Architect on high-rise commercial and residential projects before transitioning into BIM, combining his design expertise with digital technologies. He holds RICS certifications in Quantity Surveying and BIM – Project Management, and his MSc dissertation explored the adoption of DfMA within the M&E sub-sector through BIM integration.

Atul has a strong knowledge of ISO 19650 and Asset Information Requirements, ensuring information compliance and structured delivery across the asset lifecycle. He has also contributed to the development of in-house BIM standards aligned with ISO 19650.

Blending technical depth with innovation, Atul develops custom solutions across Autodesk Platform Services (APS), Revit, and Navisworks—leveraging AI-assisted vibe coding to prototype apps and streamline workflows rapidly.

Newcastle

Devan Moodley

Global Director of Power Systems & Infrastructure

Devan is a Technical Director – Power Systems based in our Manchester office. His primary responsibilities involve leading the Power Systems team to ensure technical quality and compliance to the required codes and standards.

Devan’s primary experience revolves around power plant design, construction, and operations. He also has spent significant time consulting on utility network and performance, connection and planning studies, and custom software model development for renewable energy plants.

With his great attention to detail and extensive domain knowledge, Devan drives excellence in delivery which essentially gives our clients comfort on the efficacy of Black & White’s outputs.

On a personal note, Devan is an avid Formula One supporter. He spends some of his free time playing video games in his home racing simulator.

Manchester

David Williams

Global Director of Structures & Civil Engineering

David is the Global Director of Civil and Structural Engineering and is based in our London office. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers and has worked for some of the top engineering consultancies around the world.

David has over thirty (35) years’ experience in the design, implementation and ongoing management of civil and structural engineering schemes in the UK and overseas. These include high rise, retail, commercial and industrial buildings, data centres, battery factories, airport terminal buildings, railway stations and depots, tunnels, sewage treatment works, water storage tanks and pumping stations. David has also been involved in the assessment and retrofit of existing structures and forensic investigation into cause of failures.

He is experienced in leading and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams, and has overseas experience on projects in Europe, the Far East, Australasia and the Middle East. Much of his time has been spent working with offshore design centres using multiple teams in different geographical locations. He is adept at working with contractors to work designs around construction restraints.

London

Mick Cairns

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

As the Chairman and CEO of Black & White, Mick has been operating internationally since 1997, delivering successful projects in over 40 countries. Over the course of his career, he has built several companies from ground up including Black & White, which has grown from one person to a team of over 1000 staff in 18 cities around the world.

While his experience at the board level has provided him with valuable insight into strategic direction of the companies he has worked for, he remains a hands-on leader who is involved in day-to-day delivery. He is passionate about working closely with clients to understand their needs and ensure that projects are delivered to their satisfaction.

At Black & White, he has built an amazing team around him, and together, are currently delivering complex data centres in over 40 countries. Mick believes that his success is built on a foundation of hard work, attention to detail, and a dedication to providing the highest quality of service to his clients.

Dubai

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Stephen Tode

Chief Operating Officer

Stephen is our Chief Operating Officer based in our headquarters in Dubai. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Building and has also completed an LLB. Stephen has over 39 years’ experience in the industry, across the construction and engineering sectors. Stephen has worked in the UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and since 2005, has been based in Dubai.

He has enjoyed a wide experience of projects covering both the building sector as well as heavy civils engineering. His notable projects include the Taiwan High Speed Rail and the Burj Khalifa. Along with his project roles, Stephen brings in his experience in corporate, operational, financial, commercial, and contractual roles to Black & White to support the development of the business, the CEO, and all our Directors and projects.

Dubai

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Grant Porter

Chief Financial Officer

Grant is our Group Chief Financial Officer, based in the UK. He brings over 30 years of financial and operational management experience across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Grant has spent 20 years in Regional CFO roles for two UK-listed engineering consultancies, driving financial performance, business growth and successful post-acquisition integrations. He has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, as well as financial and operational strategy.

A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, Grant takes a collaborative approach, using his deep understanding of project dynamics, business operations and economic cycles to support the business beyond the traditional finance function.

London

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Steven Horn

Managing Director - Europe

Steven is a Director at Black & White with operational responsibility for the UK and Europe region of the business. He joined Black & White in 2014 to grow and develop the UK and Europe business.

Steven is a chartered, degree-qualified engineer, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (FCIBSE), and a member of the Society of Public Health Engineers (SoPHE). In addition to the UK, he has lived and worked in both the UAE and Qatar, with over 20 years’ experience in the building services industry, working on projects in the UK, Middle East, and Asia.

Steven’s experience encompasses sectors such as mission critical and data centres, commercial, hotels, leisure, residential, and retail, leading teams and design offices in both the UK and Middle East. His current role as part of the global leadership team means daily involvement in a number of major projects across the UK and Europe.

As a result of his Middle East experience, Steven has previously been involved as an author in writing the CIBSE Publication Buildings in Extreme Environments for Arid Climates and has also been part of the CIBSE CPD technical review panel for a number of years.

Newcastle

Jamie Darragh

Regional Director - Europe

Jamie is a Technical Director based in our headquarters in Dubai. His primary responsibilities as Technical Director include project delivery, design management, client liaison, and technical quality assurance.

He is a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council UK and a member of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET). He has worked across the Middle East, Europe, and extensively throughout the UK since 2005. His technical experience, combined with his commercial awareness, motivated attitude, and team leadership capabilities, are demonstrated throughout all engineering challenges.

Jamie has received several recognitions in the Middle East; he won the ‘Young Engineer of the Year’ Award at the MEP Middle East Awards 2015; won the ‘Electrical Engineer of the Year’ Award at the MEP Middle East Awards 2017; and won the ‘Engineer of the Year’ Award at the UAE Construction Innovation Awards 2018. He sits on the UAE CIBSE Technical Committee and recently contributed to the development of the CIBSE UAE Design Guides.

Europe

Gerard Keating

Area Director - Dublin

Gerard is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of CIBSE, IHEEM, and ACEI, with over 35 years of experience in the design and management of acute healthcare facilities, large-scale building services, industrial developments, and mission-critical projects.

In recent years, Gerard has played a key role in mission-critical projects, delivering solutions through RIBA Stages 1–5 for developments in Ireland, as well as contributing to reference designs across APAC and EMEA. His experience includes securing planning permissions at Stage 1 for multiple IT facilities.

Gerard specializes in client-facing project delivery and is accredited as an Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) by the Uptime Institute.

In recognition of his contributions to the industry, Gerard was awarded the CIBSE Bronze Medal in 2013 for services to the building services profession and to the Institution in Ireland.

He has also held several academic and professional roles with TU Dublin, including Lecturer, External Examiner, and currently as a member of the Industry Liaison Group. Additionally, Gerard supports professional development within the engineering community as a membership interviewer for Engineers Ireland.

Gerard manages CPD activities for the Electrical Department, ensuring design standards and principles remain at the forefront of industry practice.

Outside of work, Gerard is an avid golfer and can often be found on the links at weekends.

Dublin

Obi Onuora

Area Director - London

Obi is an Area Director based in our London office. He is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with over 15 years’ experience in designing and delivering engineering solutions across a variety of sectors, with a focus on delivering engineering best practices through innovative and sustainable designs.

He has led multi-disciplinary teams to deliver complex projects and was previously the PMO Engineering Lead for Barclays Retail Estate portfolio, where he managed the delivery of engineering solutions across 35 to 40 projects per year. Obi has extensive experience of designing and delivering co-working office projects too – he has delivered several ‘Spaces’ offices through the Regus framework. He has managed the fit-out of three Barclays Eagle Labs, which are creative co-working spaces for nurturing innovation and bringing together Tech start-ups within an innovation community. Obi has also led the design of a number of commercial office projects, supporting corporate clients to achieve their workplace strategies.

Obi received an industry recognition early in his career for his drive and leadership by winning the ‘2008 Newcomer Award’ from Building Magazine. He has a holistic approach to the design of engineering solutions, having held roles with consultants, D&B contractors, and as the clients’ representative.

London

Karl Snowball

Area Director - Newcastle

Karl Snowball is an Area Director holding a first-class degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and is an Incorporated Engineer at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Karl’s primary responsibilities include overseeing the team’s development and growth, ensuring successful delivery of the Black & White office, while cultivating key relationships to support sustainable growth.

With experience dating back to 2006, his skills cover all aspects of the electrical building services design, from concept up to detailed design and handover. As one of the first Autodesk Certified Professionals to gain accreditation in the UK, Karl is a committed supporter of BIM processes and their correct application. He actively and continually pushes the development and implementation of BIM within Black & White to improve design efficiency on all projects.

Karl began his engineering career working as an Avionics Engineer for the Royal Air Force (RAF), spending over four years on fast jet aircraft, predominantly Tornado F3. Working in a highly motivated team, Karl gained skills in aircraft systems repair and maintenance including radar, communications, inertial navigation, and autopilot where he achieved multiple awards during his time.

Newcastle

Ram Sethuramalingam

Head of CFD

Ram is an experienced leader in Mechanical and CFD Engineering, with a career that blends advanced research, technical excellence, and global project delivery. His research on data centres pioneered one of the most energy-efficient rack-cooled prototypes, achieving 40 kW to 110 kW per rack capacity, and established him as a thought leader in sustainable high-density data centre design. Since joining Black & White in 2022, he has delivered a wide portfolio of CFD projects worldwide, guiding clients through both data centre (up to 1GW) and non-data centre challenges with innovative, energy-efficient solutions.

Beyond project delivery, Ram has strengthened industry knowledge through seven published papers and three thought-leadership articles, including in DCD. As an accredited Low Carbon Consultant (LCC), he also drives sustainability by helping organisations reduce energy use and meet building compliance standards in England and Scotland. His leadership, technical depth, and ability to translate complex challenges into practical solutions continue to set benchmarks for excellence and inspire confidence across global clients.

Newcastle

Wyn Turnbull

Global Technical Director

Wyn is a UK-based Technical Director and the Global Lead for the Black & White Technical Authority which sets engineering standards for design and deliverables. He supports Devan Moodley in the Power Systems group.

He has been a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and a Chartered Engineer registered with the UK Engineering Council since 1984. He has held a position on the IET President’s List of expert witnesses and has served in a British Standards Institution committee.

Wyn’s expertise lies in power systems engineering, generation, and controls. He spent his early years in the process, mining, and metallurgical industries. Since 1998, he has concentrated on mission critical projects for the financial sector and data centre industries which have taken him throughout Europe, Africa, North America, Far East, and Australia.

His 50 years in the engineering and construction industries bring a wealth of knowledge, making him a go-to person by colleagues and clients.

With a keen eye for detail, Wyn excels at due diligence and root cause analysis, and deep dives into controls system logic and power systems analysis.

London

John Tremble

Head of Site Services - Germany

John joined Black & White in September 2023 as the Head of Site Services – Germany, based in our Frankfurt office. With a rich background in electrical installations and inspections, he commenced his professional journey as an Apprentice Electrician and progressively advancing to roles like Electrical Package Manager.

Over the past years, John has consistently demonstrated his commitment to data centre projects in both the UK and Germany. In his role at Black & White, John’s primary responsibility is to build and lead a highly skilled and efficient site team, all operating from our Frankfurt office. His extensive experience and passion for the data centre sector make him an invaluable member of our team, serving as a driving force behind our dedication to delivering exceptional services in the region.

On a personal level, John takes pleasure in cycling, swimming, and learning to speak German better. He is a dedicated fan of Newcastle United.

Frankfurt

Edmar Cabra

Sustainability Lead - MENA & APAC

Edmar is a Regional Sustainability Head (MENA) based in our Dubai office. He is a certified LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP BD+C), a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), a registered Professional Mechanical Engineer (PME), a member of ASHRAE and a member of the US Green Building Council. A highly qualified expert in sustainability and in mechanical engineering, he has worked across the Middle East and Europe since 2009 in various building sectors such as commercial, healthcare, retail, and technology and data centres. Edmar’s portfolio includes multiple LEED Gold certified Data Centre projects across the Globe. He is an advocate of cost-effective and sustainable design and a strong believer in technology-based and integrative approach to engineering. With his strong working knowledge of building services engineering, he provides a robust sustainable engineering solution that exceeds Client aspirations and with a reduced environmental impact. Edmar was recognized as one of the top engineers in the Middle East in 2023 in the Filipino Times UAE. He is also passionate in mentoring engineers and is actively involved in volunteering in mechanical engineering institution in the Middle East. He currently sits as Chair of Professional Enhancement within PSME UAE.

Dubai

Scott Wilson

Sustainability Lead - Europe

Scott is the Head of Sustainability – Europe based in our Newcastle office. With an MEng in mechanical engineering, he is an accredited BREEAM assessor, a Low Carbon Consultant (LCC), and a Level 5 Non-Domestic Low Carbon Energy Assessor (LCEA).

Scott is highly experienced in sustainable building design, with particular expertise in building physics and net zero carbon building design. He has experience in a wide range of sectors such as commercial, technology and data centres, and more in the UK, Middle East, and Australia.

With a background in building services, Scott helps to deliver low-carbon and sustainable buildings while considering the feasibility and affordability of a range of solutions. His extensive energy modelling experience, including operational energy prediction, thermal comfort, building regulation compliance, and daylight analysis, brings him a good understanding of what works, enabling him to take a holistic approach to find the optimum outcome on each project.

As an accredited BREEAM assessor with experience in LEED, Green Star, and the WELL Building Standard, Scott understands that sustainability goes beyond just energy and carbon. He works with all members of the design team – from architects through to building users, to ensure that all aspects of sustainability are considered.

Having spent time working in Australia, Scott has experience working over a range of climates and building regulations. He also has experience of working with the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS), the energy performance rating tool which is coming to the UK imminently. Scott is currently working as the lead carbon consultant on several net zero carbon buildings which will be the first in their region.

Newcastle

Luke Armstrong

Technical Director

Luke is a Technical Director based in our Manchester office. He is responsible for leading the Manchester office and is a key account lead overseeing the delivery on key client accounts.

With a first-class honours degree in building services engineering, he is a chartered engineer and member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), with over 18 years’ experience in the industry.

Luke has a proven track record of leading successful deliveries of multi-billion-pound projects in the UK and overseas, in mission critical and non-mission critical sectors.

Luke is driven by working directly with clients to help them realise their vision and business goals – an approach leading to client trust and often repeat business.

He is a mentor for IET members working towards professional registration and a guest lecturer at a local university. In his spare time, Luke enjoys mountain biking, squash, and football.

Manchester

Adam Asquith

Technical Director

Originally from the UK and with 15 years’ industry experience, Adam is a Technical Director based in our headquarters in Dubai. Adam is mainly focused on leading and assisting the delivery of mission critical projects, given the extensive proliferation of IT-based services today.

His experience has seen him successfully undertake consulting, contracting, and client-based roles spanning across several regions including the UK, Asia Pacific, and Middle East. This has equipped him with the insight and perspective that help deliver a balanced and tailored approach. Adam strives to build strong and lasting relationships with clients and develop a deep understanding of their objectives and requirements, with a view of ensuring a project’s success.

Aside from client liaison and management or leading a project, Adam remains very active in the technical front and takes on a proactive approach towards innovation, problem solving, and identifying value-adding opportunities.

Dubai

Benedict Chuah

Technical Director

Benedict is a Technical Director based in our London office, with over 17 years of industry experience. He is a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council in the UK, and a member of both the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Benedict specialises in leading, managing, and designing many major complex and challenging projects from inception to completion, working with multi-award-winning architects. His work encompasses both new build and complete refurbishment, covering a broad spectrum of sectors.

He thrives on problem-solving and believes in providing an efficient and technically robust engineering solution that exceeds client aspiration, whilst contributing to save the environment. He particularly feels that an engineer’s vision is to identify key emerging technologies that will revolutionise the building services industry.

Benedict is passionate about mentoring young engineers and being actively involved in volunteering for the engineering institution. He currently sits within the CIBSE Membership Panel as a Membership Assessor.

London

Thomas Craig

Technical Director

Tom is an Technical Director primarily responsible for project delivery, design management, client liaison, and technical quality assurance. He has an MEng in Architectural Engineering, a Chartered Engineer through CIBSE, and an Uptime Accredited Tier Designer.

With over 10 years’ experience, Tom has worked on projects in a wide range of sectors such as commercial, education, healthcare, and residential. During his time at Black & White, he has developed into a data centre specialist and has worked on many projects throughout Europe, Middle East, and Asia.

He is experienced not only in leading mechanical designs, but also in leading full MEP and CSA design teams. Tom has worked with a range of data centre clients, leading designs all the way from the site due diligence stage through to construction.

Tom has Middle East Region recognition – he won the ‘Young Engineer of the Year’ Award at the CIBSE UAE Awards 2019. He was also a finalist for the ‘Mechanical Engineer of the Year’ Award at the CBNME Awards 2021 and for the ‘Mechanical Engineer of the Year’ Award at the MEP Awards 2021.

Dubai

Grant Dalgleish

Technical Director

Grant is a Technical Director based in our Edinburgh office.

He is a building services electrical engineer and has been working in the industry since 2000. He has gained wide project design experience in Edinburgh in multiple sectors before progressing into major project leading, resident engineer, and client monitoring roles in London where he worked on major mixed-use projects and high-rise residential buildings for seven years. Grant was then the project director for the MEP design of one of Edinburgh’s most iconic city-centre retail and leisure mixed-use developments, regenerating the east-end of Edinburgh.

Grant specifically sought out roles within the technology and data centre sector in 2019 and has worked full-time on data centres since then. His experience now covers concept and develop design stages for both client and contractor design and build contracts across Europe and the Middle East.

Edinburgh

Wesley Daniel

Technical Director

Wesley is a Technical Director – Power Systems based in our Manchester office who joined Black & White in August 2023. Wesley holds both a Bachelor of Engineering degree and an MBA, with specialisation in heavy current systems.

Throughout his career, Wesley has demonstrated a strong commitment to the power generation and data centre sectors. Among his many achievements was his pivotal role in the Kusile Power Station Project in South Africa. As the leader of a team of electrical design engineers, he played a crucial part in successfully delivering the project, adding a total of 800MW to South Africa’s grid. Notably, Wesley also played a vital role in the operationalisation of the first AWS data centre cluster (CPT) on African soil, further showcasing his expertise in the rapidly evolving data centre industry.

With Wesley’s extensive experience and innovative mindset, he continues to drive progress and excellence in the power systems and data centre fields. His arrival at Black & White brings valuable insights and contributions to the company’s success and the industry as a whole.

In his personal time, Wesley enjoys sports, particularly touch rugby and indoor football. Off the field, he finds joy in reading. Interestingly, before pursuing engineering, he had aspirations of becoming a writer.

Manchester

Jihad Diab

Technical Director

Jihad is a Technical Director based in our Abu Dhabi office. His responsibilities include design and supervision, construction and execution, and project management.

He is a Chartered Engineer, a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), a member of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), a Tier Accredited Designer (TAD), a LEED Green Associate, and holds two Masteral degrees: Mechanical Engineering and Building Services Engineering with Sustainability.

Jihad has extensive experience in the building services industry since 1990. He has been involved with leading projects for clients across many sectors including aviation, commercial, healthcare, hotels, industrial & logistics, and more. Jihad has strong technical knowledge and practical experience. He is detail-oriented, a creative thinker, and problem solver. Jihad has successfully delivered many mega projects across the Middle East – a number of these are award-winning projects and have been recognised worldwide.

During his own time, Jihad enjoys reading history, exercising in open air, and mentoring his young children.

Abu Dhabi

Ferruh Ertekin

Technical Director

Ferruh is a Technical Director based in our Abu Dhabi office. He is primarily responsible for technical leadership, design and coordination of projects, communicating vision, values, and direction to achieve growth and profit.

He is a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), a certified LEED Green Associate with the US Green Building Council, and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Ferruh also holds a Prince2 Project Management Qualification. He is a Chartered Engineer with extensive experience in multi-disciplinary design and construction of mission critical, power, financial, infrastructure, high-rise, and renewable energy projects throughout the EMEA region.

He manages an integrative engineering team delivering projects with effective use of resources whilst keeping up to date with the global company direction in terms of leadership and internal systems. He maintains excellent client relationships to achieve high levels of satisfaction and repeat business.

Ferruh has spent majority of his career successfully delivering mission critical and substation projects. Recently, he took up a challenge to lead a cross-functional team in delivering the 2022 FIFA World Cup Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

In his spare time, he enjoys doing small DIY projects at home and continuously fixing his car.

Abu Dhabi

Amy Henderson

People Manager - UK / Europe

In her role as People Manager for the UK and Europe based in our Newcastle office, Amy is responsible for executing our global people strategy on a regional scale. She ensures that our regional business plans align with our people strategy and that we advance the Black & White brand to become an industry-leading employer of choice.

Amy joined the Black & White team in October 2023, bringing with her more than 20 years of extensive experience in various HR positions within the pharmaceutical medical devices and science sectors.

Amy has a business degree and as a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (MCIPD), is a seasoned people leader who derives great satisfaction from fostering the growth of individuals and witnessing their accomplishments as well as working closely with business leaders to drive the business forward.

Newcastle

Phillip Hilton-West

Technical Director

Phillip is a Chartered Engineer, holding a BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering. He has been working in the industry since 2005 and has been with Black & White since 2014. Based in our Newcastle office as an Associate Director, he possesses a wealth of experience in undertaking a broad spectrum of projects throughout the UK and Europe.

Managing and delivering these projects to the client’s expectations, Phillip is an experienced engineer working on a wide range of sectors including leisure, historical, commercial, education, industrial, and domestic, including new build and refurbishment projects. He works efficiently and effectively with his team to provide low-energy design solutions to limit carbon emissions produced, working both in client and contractor sides to deliver schemes to ensure local code, planning, or BREEAM compliance are achieved.

Phillip is the current regional North East Chair at the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) – he is working to raise awareness of Building Services Engineering and support members in the region.

Newcastle

Ross Leask

Technical Director

Ross is a Technical Director based in our Edinburgh office. He is a Chartered Engineer with the UK Engineering Council and a member of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Ross brings extensive knowledge and ideas from over 20 years’ experience he has gained in consultancy across a wide range of industry sectors. This includes a strong working understanding of thermal and energy modelling using IES.

Ross displays a technical focus with an excellent understanding of other design disciplines, allowing him to collaborate effectively with all members of the wider project team. His pragmatic approach to engineering ensures the final design will be the most efficient and practical solution. His experience of working in various roles within a team, as well as leading teams, allow a very rounded approach to the final design outcome.

Edinburgh

Michael Mahieu

Country Manager - France / Technical Director

Michael is a Technical Director spearheading Black & White’s data centre initiatives in France and Africa from our Paris office. With a wealth of experience dating back to 2000, he has successfully managed projects in various countries including France, Russia, and the UAE. Michael holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Throughout his career, Michael has established a diverse background in various building services projects encompassing high-rise buildings, professional kitchens, historical landmarks, and luxurious villas. In France, he was involved in prominent projects like the Fondation Louis Vuitton designed by Architect Frank Gehry, the esteemed 18th Century Mansion – historical building Hotel Bourbon Conde, and the exquisite Luxury Villa Girasol on the serene Saint-Barthelemy Caribbean Island.

In Russia, Michael made significant contributions to projects such as the iCity Mix-use high-rise building, an opulent Luxury Villa for a high-ranking governmental individual, the grand Headquarters of GazPromNeft (Europe’s largest office building), and the Lakhta Center 2, which stands as the tallest high-rise building in Europe.

In his leisure hours, Michael passionately pursues martial arts, having started on this journey at the age of 13 and achieving his black belt in Karate by 22. Michael also takes pleasure in playing tennis. On weekends, he devotes his time to training with his son, who plays football in PSG Academy.

Paris

Rajni Manocha

People Manager - India

Rajni is a People Manager based in our New Delhi office, working closely with the New Delhi Leadership team to create, develop, and deliver local people plans that align with our business ambitions, strategic themes, and company values. Rajni’s role is to support the business’ people-driven strategy, so we continue to evolve and grow with well-motivated, highly skilled, and high-performing employees.

She has an MBA degree in Human Resources, with a Master of Philosophy degree specialising in Political Science. As a highly qualified Human Care Manager, Rajni has extensive experience in hiring, leading, and managing a team. Her responsibilities involve developing and implementing strategies, managing performance, mentoring, developing team members, and managing conflicts and issues. Her proficiency revolves around communication and collaboration. She builds, activates, and implements employee plans using her strong knowledge and expertise in hiring, training, and developing new employees to meet organisational needs.

Before joining Black & White, she primarily does C.V. development and writing, coaching, and public speaking. In her spare time, Rajni enjoys reading, gardening, and socialising with her friends and family.

New Delhi

Nick Remington

Technical Director

Nick is a Technical Director in our London office. His primary responsibilities include project delivery, design management, client liaison, and ensuring technical quality.

He is a passionate chartered mechanical engineer with the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) with over 14 years’ experience. Nick has extensive experience in the building services industry across a wide range of sectors including mission critical, residential, mixed-use high rise, airports, commercial, retail, and infrastructure designs, having worked in both London and Sydney.

His day-to-day role includes leading multi-disciplinary teams to ensure successful project delivery through a hands-on approach. Nick prides himself on recognising our client’s end-user value, ensuring the optimum and most sustainable design is repeatably delivered.

Solutions-driven with a can-do pragmatic approach, Nick is motivated by a successful project outcome and high client satisfaction.

London

Jonathan Robinson-Hoare

Technical Director

Jonathan is a Technical Director based in our Newcastle office, primarily responsible for leading the electrical design of data centre projects across the UK and Europe.

He has been working in the industry since 2001, gaining a wide experience across many sectors including commercial, education, industrial & logistics, leisure, residential, technology & data centres, and more.

Jonathan holds a first-class degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. As a fully qualified Installation, Testing, and Inspection Electrician, Jonathan brings both practical experience and technical knowledge to the team, providing invaluable early insights into potential issues and developing innovative solutions.

Jonathan was a ‘Data Centre Engineer of the Year’ runner-up during the DCS Awards 2022 and won the 1st Place in the IET North East Project Competition in 2017 for efficient electrical distribution design. He enjoys mentoring engineers in electrical design and has previously sat on the CIBSE NE Young Engineers Committee.

Newcastle

Girish Sharma

Technical Director

Girish is a Technical Director based in our New Delhi office. An Electrical Engineer and effective Team Leader, he has proven time management skills and has a passion for optimised and energy-efficient designs.

With his extensive years of experience in the industry, Girish has delivered more than 100 projects covering many sectors such as commercial, hotels, residential, industrial & logistics, and so on, from concept through to handover. His expertise predominantly sits around hotels and commercial sectors – some of the projects he has been involved in are the YAS Island Hotel (UAE), Opus (UAE), DLF Cyber City (India), and Mall of India (India). He has worked with clients like DLF, Bagmane, Leighton, Laing O’Rourke, Brookfield, Hayden, Hutchinson, and more.

Girish has been awarded as ‘Engineer of the Month’ several times at Black & White. He has worked in the UAE and Australia. He also had a design and build experience of working with Sumitomo, a Japanese contractor. Girish maintains positive working relationships with his clients and colleagues. He believes in collaborative approach to problem solving, with the commitment to ensure the team succeeds with all tasks, duties, and projects.

New Delhi

Chris Williams

Technical Director

Chris is a Mechanical Engineer with over 40 years’ experience in the construction industry – 20 years of which have been spent in the data centre arena, leading project teams in the delivery of complex projects across the industry. Chris is a Technical Director based in our London office.

Chris’ experience spans around various facets of the construction industry, having successfully worked in design and build contracting, design consultancies, construction management, and in client end-user delivery. He has a very broad understanding of the client’s and project teams’ needs, providing him with a very driven and focused attitude towards successful project delivery.

He focuses on getting the design right first time to ensure quality and guarantee of project delivery. He is an active team member who leads from the front. He maintains a strong technical bias and persists to be hands-on with many projects.

London

Martin Winter

Technical Director

Martin joined Black & White in October 2023 as a Technical Director based in our headquarters in Dubai. He is dedicated to project delivery, technical reviews, and leading projects for offshoring teams outside the UAE.

With background encompassing design management for quality control and creating clear, coordinated work packages, Martin brings 30 years of hands-on design experience in diverse sectors such as technology, resilient buildings, and commercial and residential developments, to name a few. While Martin’s recent focus has been on data centres, his experience in the industry since 1997 has led to significant milestones, including contributions to the success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and other high-value projects.

Martin puts emphasis on efficient design processes, client satisfaction, and team collaboration; he excels as a leader in Excel design tools and with extensive years’ experience in client-facing roles. He holds an honours degree in Building Services Engineering Design and Management and has earned MEP awards in the Middle East.

On a personal note, Martin is an avid golfer and an adrenaline seeker with a bucket list of ideas.

Dubai

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Bobby Cruz

Director

Bobby is a Director based in our Global Design Hub in Manila. He has over 30 years’ professional experience in the field of mechanical design and project management.

He has led the engineering design on a number of large-scale international projects across many sectors in the Philippines, UAE, Qatar, UK, and Indonesia. He has also been involved in district cooling projects.

His areas of expertise include developing schemes, concept design, and preparing tender and construction documents.

Manila

Mais Albaqaeen

Associate Director

Mais is an Associate Director based in our headquarters in Dubai. She has an MBA degree, a certified ASHRAE High Performance Building Design Professional, and a LEED professional.

A highly-qualified Senior Mechanical Engineer, Mais has extensive experience in the building services industry – she has been exposed to both new and existing developments that cover a broad spectrum of sectors such as aviation, commercial, retail, residential, and more. With her professional background in sustainable design, equipment inspection, testing, and asset reliability assessments, she brings in a very proficient approach to every undertaking and project management.

Mais is also an active advocate for sustainability with a well-recognised volunteering work record covering professional education and awareness in Jordan and Dubai. This includes her contribution to the establishment of the Jordan Green Building Council, as well as her involvement in multiple successful Green Apple Day of Service events, a globally recognised sustainability movement for schools.

Dubai

Kevin Barry

Group IT Manager

Kevin joined Black & White in 2023 as our Group IT Manager, bringing with him a wealth of professional experience that dates back to 1998. With an extensive background in the field, Kevin has accumulated a wide range of skills and affiliations, making him a valuable asset to the company. He is a distinguished Microsoft Azure Cloud Administrator, AWS Cloud Solutions Architect, and AWS Cloud Practitioner.

Kevin’s expertise spans across various domains, including Multi Cloud Solutions encompassing Azure, AWS, and OCI Cloud Infrastructure. Additionally, he possesses proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, specialising in Exchange, SharePoint, and OneDrive migration and implementation. With his deep knowledge in Enterprise Architecture and Data Center IT Infrastructure Design, Implementation, and Management, Kevin is instrumental in developing robust and efficient IT frameworks.

Moreover, Kevin excels in IT Security Strategy, contributing to the design and implementation of effective security measures. His skill set also extends to Project Management, utilising methodologies such as Prince2 and Agile to ensure successful project execution. With his comprehensive skill set and extensive experience, Kevin plays a pivotal role in driving IT initiatives and ensuring the smooth operations of the organisation.

Dubai

Sean Connor

Senior Commissioning Manger

Sean is our Senior Commissioning Manager based in our Dubai office. His primary responsibility revolves around developing the business unit and ensuring Black & White Cx team delivers the best in class Testing and Commissioning services to our clients.

A Commissioning Specialist Association (CSA) Grade 6 Commissioning Management accredited, Sean has over 20 years’ experience covering the Caribbean, Europe, and Middle East. He has worked on many major MEP projects on the client and contractor sides – projects in sectors such as healthcare, technology & data centres, and more.

With a solid knowledge on building services and the current standards and regulations, Sean brings a client-focused approach to deliver projects with a can-do attitude.

On a personal note, Sean enjoys spending time with his young family. Most weekends are taken up entertaining his two young boys. He is a keen football fan – playing and watching the game is his preferred past time.

Dubai

Michael Cox

Site Services Technical Director

Michael is a Technical Director and the Global Business Unit Lead for our Commissioning Management department.

He is a certified LEED Green Associate, a certified commissioning professional, and previously a certified cleanroom professional. Michael has been in the commissioning industry for over 20 years, starting his career as a hands-on Cleanroom Testing and Certification Engineer. He relocated to the Middle East in 2011 and progressed through from being a Commissioning Manager to becoming a General Manager/Projects Director of a dedicated commissioning and handover management consultancy. At the role’s peak, Michael had approximately 80 staff under his direction consisting of Project Managers, Commissioning Engineers, Technical Authors, Document Controllers, and Administration staff.

Michael’s experience in working on numerous high-value prestigious projects spans many sectors; healthcare, labs & research, technology & data centres, and more. He has also been involved in most aspects of construction, having worked at the subcontractor, contractor, consultant, and client representative levels.

With his extensive experience, Michael can greatly assist any client in all things commissioning-related. He has considerable management experience and takes a practical and proactive approach to project management and technical issue resolution. Michael has led commissioning on many iconic projects including three of the World Cup Stadia.

On a personal note, Michael is a keen golfer – he is a regular on the fairways of Dubai.

Dubai

Mark Dalisay

Associate Director

Mark Jay is an Associate Director based in our Global Design Hub in Manila. He is a Professional Engineer (Mechanical) registered in the Philippines and an officer of Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineer in Manila Chapter.

He has an extensive experience that goes back to 2005, working in consulting companies from the Philippines and Singapore where he was involved in various stages of design from concept to client handover. Mark Jay has worked with projects in the UK, Singapore, Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Philippines across multiple sectors such as commercial, residential, high rise & infrastructure, pharmaceutical, laboratory, animal facility, industrial, mixed use, railways and more. Mark Jay’s expertise revolves around Mechanical design & coordination, technical specifications, contract documents, cost and feasibility studies.

Mark Jay continuously ensures that the design maintains its quality in a time & cost-efficient manner through constant communication and coordination among stakeholders.

Manila

Robert Davis

Associate Director

Bob is an Associate Director based in our London office.

Bob has an extensive background in electrical engineering acquired through an engineering apprenticeship with Matthew Hall. With a track record spanning over thirty years in the building services industry, Bob has excelled in designing and overseeing intricate projects from initial feasibility to completion. His focus primarily revolves around substantial commercial projects, encompassing Shell & Core, CAT A, CAT B, as well as data centres, high-end residential developments, and healthcare facilities.

Combining profound technical expertise with hands-on experience, Bob holds full qualifications for testing and inspecting electrical installations, overseeing designs specifically tailored for hyperscale projects. Notably, he has effectively executed electrical fixed installation testing across the entire BBC London Estates portfolio, showcasing his proficiency and competence in the field.

London

Chris Devine

Associate Director

Chris joined Black & White in July 2023 as an Associate Director based in our Edinburgh office, bringing in extensive years of experience in the engineering field. Over the course of his career, he has gained valuable expertise across various industry sectors. However, his true passion lies in taking on the challenges associated with refurbishment projects in operational buildings. Chris is a proud member of CIBSE.

With a wealth of experience in the retail industry, as well as the higher and further education sectors, Chris has proven his proficiency time and again. One project that particularly stands out is the Campus Central at the University of Stirling. This remarkable endeavor involved a combination of new build extension and refurbishment. The resulting building is not only visually stunning but has also completely transformed the experiences of students and staff alike. Notably, it has garnered multiple prestigious awards, a testament to Chris’ exceptional contributions.

Edinburgh

Prasant Dhal

Associate Director

Prasant is an Associate Director for ELV based in our New Delhi office. His primary responsibilities include managing the ELV design team, coordinating with clients to meet project requirements, and ensuring efficient and quality package.

With an Electronics and Telecommunications diploma and degree from Bhubaneswar, Odisham, Prasant has extensive experience in designing, engineering, and commissioning including BMS, DCIM (Data Centre Infrastructure Management), FAS, and all types of Security Systems. He is also proficient in implementing sustainable designs that are consistent with international standards.

With a strong and comprehensive working knowledge on ELV and his up-to-date knowledge on international standards and practices, Prasant has proved himself as an ELV expert in the sector. He has been involved in ELV designing, engineering, and commissioning in various sectors such as commercial, healthcare, technology & data centres, and so on. He has also been involved in Tier-3 Design and Testing of a prestigious project, “Bihar State Data Center 2.0” for the Government of Bihar, Uptime Institute Certified.

In his spare time, Prasant loves to play with his kids, sit with his parents, and spend time gardening.

New Delhi

Daniel Dowling

Associate Director

Daniel is an Associate Director based in our London office. He is a Chartered Engineer with an electrical engineering background who has worked as part-architect and part-engineer, leading integrated multidisciplinary teams for many years. Such environment has given him the ability to contribute beyond his direct field of technical expertise.

Daniel’s focus has been on complex projects for both private and government clients, taking on roles such as design lead on data centres in the UK and Europe, high-profile sports venues, and award-winning cultural venues in London, Bristol, Manchester, Doha, and Los Angeles.

In consideration of the client’s aims, he seeks clarity and consensus in a structured manner. Daniel is also always willing to challenge the conventional way of designing and delivering projects.

London

Sujata Gupta

Associate Director

As an Associate Director based in Dubai, Sujata is mainly responsible for project delivery, design management, client liaison, alongside with ensuring technical quality.

She is a Chartered Engineer by the Engineering Council in the UK, an Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) by the Uptime Institute in USA, a Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute in USA, a LEED AP (BD+C) by the US Green Building Council, and a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in the UK.

With 29 years’ extensive experience in the building services industry, Sujata is highly qualified in both new and existing developments that cover a broad spectrum of sectors such as aviation, commercial, education, healthcare, industrial & logistics, residential, and more. She has exemplary collaboration/coordination skills in leading a team and in running a contract from start to finish, both commercially and technically.

Sujata has a strong working knowledge of building services engineering, has good local knowledge, and has up-to-date knowledge of building standards and practices. She brings a well-rounded expertise and proficiency to each undertaking and project management. Her knowledge and keen interest towards sustainability leads to the sustainable project designs.

Sujata has Middle East Region recognition with more than 25 years of experience in the same region. She has led the design team for many award-winning projects. She is also an International Professional Registration Adviser (IPRA) for the IET in the UK.

Dubai

Sarah Ingram

Associate Director

Sarah is an Associate Director based in our London office and is our UK & Europe Regional Lead for Lead Design Consulting (LDC) Services.

She has a background in civil and structural engineering (BEng Hons, MSc), is a chartered member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (CEng MICE) and has a Project Management Qualification with the Association for Project management (APM PMQ).

Sarah has a breadth of experience in the design and delivery of large infrastructure projects and design and project management of international mission critical projects. Her background provides a strong foundation for effective management and support of sub consultants to drive delivery of DC projects as one team.

Sarah prides herself on her interpersonal skills, and focusses on Client experience, building relationships, project delivery and supporting the LDC team.

London

Javanna Javadova

Bid Proposal & Business Development Manager

Javanna is Black & White’s Bid Proposal & Business Development Manager who primarily assembles a bid team with the relevant service and business knowledge required to prepare a winning bid, whilst taking ownership of the end-to-end bid process. Javanna manages opportunities from qualification through to contract award. Her responsibilities also involve introduction and implementation of all necessary proposal procedures.

With a Master’s degree in International Management from the University of Buckingham’s International Business School, Javanna joined Black & White in 2020 and has brought a fundamental difference to the success of the company. Javanna has had a varied career to date, with experience in government and Fortune 500 companies, while gaining excellent communication and interpersonal skills through working in diverse cultures. She is a multilingual speaker, which brings another advantage to the organisation.

Javanna’s ability to show flexibility, initiative, and innovation when dealing with challenging situations is a testament that she is a highly valued member of Black & White.

London

Aurore Knight

Associate Director

Aurore is an Associate Director based out of our European headquarters in Newcastle. Her primary responsibilities as Associate Director include project delivery, design management, client liaison and technical quality assurance. She has an MSc in Building Services Engineering with Renewable Energy, is a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council UK and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

She has worked extensively across the UK, Middle East and Europe since 2007. Aurore was part of the founding team of Black & White when operations started in August 2014.

Aurore has worked on projects in a wide range of sectors including education, healthcare, commercial, hospitality, super high-rise and mixed-use developments. During her time at Black & White, she has developed into a data centre specialist and has worked on many projects throughout Europe.

She has experience not only in leading mechanical designs but also leading full MEP and CSA design teams. Aurore has worked with a range of data centre clients, leading designs all the way from site due diligence through to construction. She has a practical approach to design and a proven record of delivering complex projects. She strives to maintain positive working relationships using a collaborative approach to problem solving.

Newcastle

Gil Labay

Associate Director

Gil is an Associate Director based in our Global Design Hub in Manila. He is a registered mechanical engineer and a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

He has experience since 2000 in the building services industry and has a wide range of experience in the field of mechanical engineering, particularly in the design of centralised HVAC and other related mechanical works across multiple sectors.

Gil has worked an extensive variety of projects from design, construction drawings, shop drawings, feasibility studies, project management, testing and commissioning, and site supervision. On top of his sound knowledge of key health and safety issues and legislation, Gil ensures that his designs are following international design codes and standards.

Manila

Emmanuel Lingad

Associate Director

Emmanuel is an Associate Director in our Global Design Hub in Manila. He is a Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE), a member of the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines Inc (IIEE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

He has a MSc in Electrical Engineering with major in Power Systems. Having started in the industry in 1985, he has extensive experience in the design of electrical power systems across multiple sectors such as aviation, education, healthcare, retail, technology & data centres, and more.

Emmanuel prepares high-level and detailed designs for high-voltage and low-voltage electrical systems including HV network protection and load analysis that also involves primary, secondary, and tertiary infrastructures and ancillary systems.

Manila

Villy Maliaka

Associate Director

Villy is a Design Manager based in our headquarters in Dubai, having over 13 years’ experience in the industry.

With a Master’s degree in Energy, Villy is a Certified Energy Auditor (CEA), a Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP) from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), and an ASHRAE member. She has strongly developed knowledge in Green Building MEP Design, Energy, and Carbon Emissions Management.

As a highly qualified Senior Mechanical Engineer, Villy has extensive experience in the building services industry including both new and existing developments in commercial, retail, residential, and more, with specialisation on high-rise projects and luxurious villas. The projects she has been involved in span across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Australia.

Dubai

Jonathan Mitchell

Associate Director

Jonathan leads the Black & White site supervision teams for European projects. He previously managed the design and construction for most of the major sites in the Middle East. His focus is to ensure a seamless link between design and construction for all projects.

With 20 years of experience in contracting and 15 years as a consultant for Black & White, Jonathan has worked in all sectors. Delivering iconic hotel projects in the UAE and Azerbaijan has given him the most pleasure, but working on projects in aviation, healthcare, retail, and other sectors amongst others has allowed him to experience a wide range of challenges.

His role allows him to influence designs, ensuring they consider buildability and long-term maintainability. Jonathan advises our team on how to avoid designs that will be difficult to execute. On site, he identifies risks and instructs practical solutions. To achieve this, building relationships with stakeholders is critical.

His experience enables him to deal with all aspects of a project – from the initial survey to commissioning and handover.

Manchester

John Murphy

Associate Director

John is a Chartered Electrical Engineer with over 20 years experience in design consultancy and client side roles. John has experience in many sectors having worked on projects varying from commercial offices, data centres (hyperscale and colo), mixed use developments, financial/banking frameworks and more recently nuclear sector.

John has been the lead electrical engineer for several hyperscale and colo data centres ranging in size from 1MW IT – 6OMWIT. In client-side John worked for one of the largest data centre colo providers in Europe developing concepts as well as managing design teams to ensure successful delivery of projects. Johns also has experience from the nuclear sector, where he was working as a Project Engineer for the client’s utility team. In this role he was managing and coordinating several contractors who were providing EPC(engineering, procurement & construction) services, in Nuclear and Conventional areas to guarantee safe delivery and completion of the plant.

John is motivated by delivering technically focused solutions that align to and often exceed client requirements and expectations.

London

Dhiran Patel

Associate Director

Dhiran is an Associate Director based in our London office.

He has a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (MEng) and is on-course to attaining Chartership while being a member of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineering (CIBSE).

Dhiran has extensive experience across numerous building sectors, specialising in data centres and commercial offices. With a strong working knowledge of building services engineering and construction projects, Dhiran has well-rounded expertise to each undertaking and project management.

While Dhiran has been the project lead and lead mechanical engineer for a number of projects, he also has significant expertise in being a client’s technical advisor and representative. With a passion for seeing projects through from feasibility and concept design to practical completion, Dhiran strives to be the clients go-to consultant.

His strong core values of putting the client first and delivering information ‘right first time’ is reflected in his work, with clients providing repeat business.

London

Simon Rae

Associate Director

Simon joined Black & White in October 2023 as an Associate Director in our Edinburgh office, leading a diverse team on data centre projects, ensuring timely delivery within client programme constraints and maintaining high quality and client satisfaction. He holds affiliations as a European Engineer (EUR ING) with Engineers Europe and is a registered incorporated engineer (IEng) with the Engineering Council. Simon is a member of various organizations, including the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Society of Light and Lighting, and Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management. He is also an associate member of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

With over 20 years of experience in the building services industry, covering a broad spectrum of sectors, including defence, power, public, retail, education, leisure, industrial, commercial, and healthcare, Simon is also an expert in litigation work and forensic engineering. His expertise includes technical analysis of electrical engineering designs, defect investigation, compliance breach identification, and providing expert opinions on disputes across diverse industry sectors, supporting the legal profession.

Beyond work, Simon enjoys walking his two dogs, playing the guitar, playing golf, and recently delving into learning Python programming.

Edinburgh

Neil Reyes

Associate Director

Neil is an Associate Director based in our Global Design Hub in Manila. His responsibilities primarily revolve around leading electrical design and project coordination.

A certified MMUP Grade A Electrical Engineer in Qatar and a highly qualified Registered Electrical Engineer, Neil has extensive experience going back to 1993 and has worked on significant projects in the Middle East and Philippines – these cover multiple sectors including commercial, healthcare, industrial & logistics, technology & data centres, and more. Currently, he is focused and involved in data centre projects, which include design validation and full MEP Stage 4A Design, in the Middle East and Europe.

Close coordination with the front office, clients, and contractors is what Neil corroborates as the most vital piece when working on projects.

In his spare time, Neil enjoys jogging, biking, and watching TV.

Manila

MD Fozail Ahmad Rizvi

Associate Director

Fozail is a professional Engineer with almost 15 years’ experience in the building services industry. He has a passion for quality and high standards in all aspects of building design.

As an Associate Director, Fozail is responsible for the Plumbing and Fire Fighting Design and the coordination of all MEP services and external utilities, delivering projects to a high standard, utmost quality, and within the project’s budget.

He is a Certified Accredited Professional of Indian Green Plumbers. With Fozail’s working experience in the UK, India, Singapore, USA, Australia, and Middle East, he has delivered more than 100 projects in sectors such as aviation, commercial, residential, and more, from pre-concept through to handover.

He has worked with various international consulting companies which enables him to have a better understanding of project life cycle challenges. He uses this 360-degree approach to ensure the success of each project.

New Delhi

David Seymour

Associate Director

David Seymour is an experienced Associate Director at Black & White Engineering, based in Edinburgh, with over 25 years in the mechanical building services industry. Starting his career in 1997 as an electrical engineering apprentice, he quickly transitioned to mechanical systems, earning an M.Eng in Architectural Engineering from Heriot-Watt University and achieving Chartered Engineer status with CIBSE in 2011.

David has led mechanical design and coordination across a wide range of sectors, including pharmaceutical labs, cleanrooms, industrial facilities, and high-capacity data centers. His data centres experience includes projects up to 72 MW, utilising liquid cooling and multiple advanced cooling system types to meet demanding performance and energy efficiency targets.

At Black & White Engineering, David plays a key role in strategic planning, technical leadership, and team development. He is passionate about mentoring engineers, improving design standards, and driving innovation across projects.

With a strong focus on quality, collaboration, and continuous improvement, David is committed to delivering engineering solutions that meet the evolving needs of clients and the industry.

Edinburgh

Leo Steel

Associate Director

Leo is an Incorporated Electrical Engineer recognised by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), with a first-class combined master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester.

In his role as Associate Director at Black and White’s Manchester Data Centre design office, Leo oversees a range of critical responsibilities, including leading the design of electrical systems for Data Centres, and cultivating strong relationships with clients, with his ambition not only to ensure project success but also drive innovation within the team.

With a robust background in the commercial design industry, Leo brings experience in electrical design across diverse applications. His portfolio includes large-scale university engineering research campuses, defence manufacturing sites, and high-performance Data Centres. This varied expertise equips him with a unique perspective on the complexities and challenges of modern engineering projects.

Leo is deeply committed to technical excellence and actively pursues continuous personal and professional development, staying at the forefront of industry advancements, and integrating the latest technologies and sustainable practices into his work.

Through collaboration and innovation, Leo aims to exceed client expectations and contribute to impactful engineering projects.

Manchester

Ross Urquhart

Associate Director

Ross is an Associate Director based in our Edinburgh office. Ross has over 25 years’ experience in Building Services Engineering Electrical Design, having worked in both MEP and multi-discipline consulting practices. He is a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Ross is an experienced team leader and problem solver. He has an in-depth electrical knowledge base from exposure to multiple sectors where he has consistently delivered innovative design solutions through concept design to completion for major new build projects as well as major refurbishment projects, throughout the UK.

Ross has a very practical outlook to design and has a particular focus on the installation efficiency and maintainability of electrical distribution systems and their co-ordination with other systems.

Edinburgh

Gavin Wilson

Associate Director

Gavin is an Associate Director based in our Newcastle office. His responsibility as a Team Leader primarily focuses on project delivery, design management, client liaison, and technical quality assurance of projects delivered by the team.

Working in the industry since 2007, Gavin is a certified WiredScore Accredited Professional and a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

As an experienced and highly qualified Associate Director, he has worked extensively across several sectors within the building services industry on both new and existing developments in the UK, Middle East, and India. He has been recognised as the UK Sector Lead for residential development projects.

Gavin undertakes a practical approach to design and has a proven record of delivering complex projects. He is an effective Team Leader and strives to maintain positive working relationships using a collaborative approach to problem solving.

Newcastle

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Alistair Davis

Director

Alistair serves as one of the Directors at Black & White, with a crucial role in overseeing the operations within the UAE and Middle East region.

With a Chartered Engineer qualification, Alistair’s experience in the Middle East dates back to 2007. He has spent the past decade with a strong focus on data centre delivery, alongside building and leading the technology sector team in the Middle East.

Alistair’s extensive experience in the building services industry began in 2002, where his influence has spanned an impressive spectrum of building sectors such as commercial, healthcare, laboratories and research, leisure, residential, retail, and technology and data centres.

His portfolio encompasses a diverse range of projects, including both new and existing developments and ranging from initial due diligence and test fit stages, all the way through to project handover and soft landings.

Alistair is an advocate for accurate, cost-effective, sustainable, and pragmatic design. He sets a valuable example by prioritising these principles in his approach to MEP engineering.

Dubai

Marcus Eckersley

Director

Wth over 25 years of experience Marcus moved to Singapore in 2010 to pursue engineering in the APAC Critical Systems sector. He is highly experienced in mechanical design development and the production of detailed design information including the production of specifications, survey reports, tender documents, drawings, calculations and health & safety information.

Marcus has demonstratable experience in design and management of an extensive range of critical systems projects with values from $6m to $300m. He has first-hand experience in responding to design challenges presented by green rating institutions such as Green Mark and LEED.

Leading M&E design from concept through to completion, Marcus has a track record of delivery on high profile projects within budget and programme. He is well versed in forming positive working relationships with clients and architects resulting in strong delivery teams and is skilled in developing upfront building services concepts in conjunction with architects and structural engineers.

Singapore

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Rob Forsyth

Director

Rob is a Director based in our London office. He has a 30-year track record supporting multinational clients around the globe. He has spent almost a third of that time embedded within client organisations and with a thread of data centre projects all throughout.

Rob has diverse experience across technology, life sciences, and financial sectors too. He brings a unique perspective to Black & White, complementing our core expertise.

London

Khan Moid Hasan

Director

Moid is a Director in our New Delhi office responsible for project, office, and team management, along with coordination with other offices or clients to ensure quality delivery.

He is a focussed professional mechanical engineer with rich experience in leveraging consulting skills with strategic approach for driving the entire MEP project life cycle from design development, construction support, testing, commissioning up to handover. He has successfully led HVAC design development and MEP coordination for various projects in Asia and Middle East.

A motivator, mentor, and talented professional, Moid leads by example through his innovative thinking and creative mind. With more than 17 years’ experience, he has successfully delivered more than 100 projects including district cooling plants, hotels for leading brands, high-end residential, mixed-use development, and commercial data centres. One of his renowned projects is a sea water cooled district cooling plant for a mixed-use development in Jordan. Moid has good experience in hospitality projects in Asia and Middle East too – he has worked for almost all leading hotel brands like IGH, Marriot, Carlson, IHG, Hyatt, and so on. In fact, he contributed to writing the design guidelines for IHG.

He strives to implement the latest technology for energy-efficient design. He has extensive experience in witness testing and commissioning of systems to deliver systems performing to specifications.

In his personal time, Khan likes to ride the bike, visit places, and play sports.

New Delhi

Ashish Tiwari

Director

As a Director based in our New Delhi office, Ashish is primarily in-charge for a variety of responsibilities including team management, liaison with our clients and other offices, and assurance of efficient and quality package.

Ashish has a Fire Life Safety PG Diploma in Fire and Safety Management from Nagpur. As a qualified Electrical and Electronics Engineer, he has gained extensive experience in the building services industry including both new and existing developments that cover a broad spectrum of building sectors such as commercial, education, healthcare, residential, technology & data centres, and more.

He has been listed as a certified FLS Auditor in RGH Group. He was involved in designing reputable hotel brands like IHG, Marriott, Radisson, Hilton, Sheraton, and more. In fact, he was able to participate in writing the design guidelines for IHG. With a strong working knowledge on building services engineering and his up-to-date knowledge on building standards and practices, Ashish brings a well-rounded expertise to each undertaking and client management.

On his own time, Ashish enjoys spending time with his family, listening to music, and playing sports.

New Delhi

1/3

Andy Woodward

Director

Andy has over 35 years’ experience in the design and management of technically demanding fast-track construction projects. He has worked throughout the UK, Middle East and, for over 20 years, Asia Pacific, including 10 years in China and 10 years in Singapore, assisting clients who are both entering and expanding within the region.

Andy’s experience spans in a wide range of sectors such as commercial, industrial & logistics, retail, and more. Some of his notable projects include super-scale logistics facilities for Nike, high-tech aero-composite plants for Boeing, infant formula manufacturing facilities for Abbott, and healthcare product manufacturing facilities for Reckitt Benckiser. Andy’s clients looked to replicate their global facilities within a challenging marketplace which required significant focus on highly tailored localised solutions, approvals, and procedures.

Andy’s most recent projects have a significant focus on new-build and expansion of the technology & data centres sector across Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East.

Singapore

1/3

Barry Wormald

Director

Barry joined Black & White in 2020 as a Director focusing on the business development in expanding target geographical locations, notably in Southeast Asia. Initially focused on supporting the growth of the technology & data centre sector, Barry looks to develop parallel business opportunities using his extensive experience in the hospitality and building performance fields.

Based in the UAE since 2018, Barry was the Head of Building Performance, which included Commissioning Management, MEP Advisory, and Innovation. He spent the previous seven years in India where he founded a new consultancy business and led the development of applying BIM to building services engineering, and handover information for projects. Barry was responsible for building his team to 100 strong over a four-year period.

He has gained substantial experience in all aspects of design and construction during his career, and his innovative thinking often leads to more efficient, cost-effective solutions in the projects he is involved in. He serves on both the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)/Associate Member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Scientific Committee for reviewing technical papers submitted for conferences and also the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heating (AIRAH) Technical Committee for the same responsibilities, plus writing and reviewing various publications.

Barry is a passionate engineer who strives for excellence and innovation in all areas. He provides strong mentoring for his team and leads by example. He has won numerous awards and always encourages his team to expand their thinking to develop better solutions in every area of their work.

Dubai

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Arman Yango

Director

Arman is the Director of our Global Design Hub in Manila and the Head of Electrical Engineering team. He is a Registered Electrical Engineer and a member of the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines Inc (IIEE).

His experience goes back to 1997, working in the building services industry. Arman’s role comprises of management of technical operations, supervision of team resource for projects to meet specific time and quality requirements, technical design work, design checking, approvals of each project as appropriate to the organisation, project liaison, design coordination with lead offices, and monitoring of financial and commercial performance of design projects.

He has held various positions in the field including as a Designer, Engineering Head, Project Management Engineer, Project Engineer, and Design Manager. His expertise revolves around developing schemes, concept design, and preparation of tender documents.

Manila

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