Employee Spotlight: Jim Forde, Technical Manager, UK and Scandinavia

Ask Jim Forde, the REGENESIS® Technical Manager for the UK and Scandinavia, what he enjoys most about his work and you are likely to get the impression you’re speaking to famed detective Sherlock Holmes. Forde’s intuitive site investigation skills combined with a collaborative, client-forward approach to remedial design are key to his long-term success. He begins, “I like drawing on experience, listening to a client and trying to understand exactly what they need. Then it’s a case of rubbing my chin, finding out as much information as possible, and drawing on the collective experience of the company – which I should say, is amazing!” He adds, “This absolutely extends to all points of the compass: R&D, TS, Sales, RRS teams, Marketing, and Business Support.  I like the collaborative effort to meet a client’s needs and coming up with something better than what our competitor is offering.”

Forde joined REGENESIS in November of 2016, after spending three years as a Hydrogeologist with an international environmental consulting and engineering firm, where he was responsible for site investigation and characterization. He continues, “There was lots of fieldwork, all over the European Union, and some in the US and Canada.  I learned about different drilling and investigation methods, data management and some remediation work too.” He also spent three months working out of the firm’s Guelph, Ontario, Canada office, which he says was a great opportunity to meet several contaminant hydrogeology thought-leaders from the nearby Universities of Guelph and Waterloo.  “I had the opportunity to work with a team undertaking an ex-situ pilot test for a large petroleum client using smoldering technology to treat contaminated soils – STAR (Self-sustaining Treatment for Active Remediation).” Prior to specializing in hydrogeology, Forde worked in the UK nuclear sector and general environmental consultancy. He prepared for a career in environmental remediation by earning a BSc in Environmental Science from the University of Nottingham in 2006. He then followed those studies by earning a Hydrogeology MSc from the University of Birmingham in 2012. He continues, “I spent the summer of 2013 in Berlin undertaking research for my master’s thesis looking at the chemical cycling which occurs at groundwater-surface water interface zones. I was working in collaboration with the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) – a fantastic place and a leading center for international research in freshwater science.”

“I like drawing on experience, listening to a client and trying to understand exactly what they need. Then it’s a case of rubbing my chin, finding out as much information as possible, and drawing on the collective experience of the company – which I should say, is amazing!”

Forde was drawn to REGENESIS, by the company’s unique culture of innovation and the opportunity to collaborate with some of the best in the field across Europe and the US. He continues, “REGENSIS’ reach was also a big draw. The company’s size and status provides the opportunity to work on a lot of contaminated sites- from all over the world, and in doing so, develop my skills as a hydrogeologist.” When asked about the challenges he faces, he quickly turns to the industry’s increased focus on PFAS. He shares, “When thinking about challenges and opportunities, it’s hard not to talk about PFAS. With our colloidal activated carbon range of products, and groundwater remediation knowledge, we find ourselves poised to really deliver on the growing demand for groundwater PFAS solutions.  I think we’re already seeing that, with sites like Cambridge and Southampton airport here in the UK, and in the US too.”

Living in Bristol, in the southwest of England with his wife and four children, Forde finds time away from work to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. “We live in the middle of the city, which is brilliant for all of its busy, diverse and stimulating city-ness, but the call of nature is always there so I spend most of my time outside of work trying to expose my family to it.  Rural Somerset County is lovely for rolling hills, woods and rivers (and cider), and we’re just over the bridge from South Wales, which has some stellar beaches. I enjoy my time outside of work, but I really like my current role with REGENESIS. There is great satisfaction with seeing contamination actually cleaned-up as a result of our efforts. It sure beats just talking about it!

REGENESIS is proud have Jim Forde as its Technical Manager for the UK and Scandinavia, and we appreciate his experience, leadership and enthusiasm in developing successful remediation outcomes for REGENESIS and its clients.