Directors
Our directors and technical team comprise the following members:
Giles Sommerwill
Risk Assessment and Risk Communication
Having grown up in Cornwall, in 1997 Giles studied for a BSc in Applied Geology at the University of Leicester, before moving to South Wales after graduation.
Joining Earth Science Partnership in 2001 and undertaking a part-time MSc in Geoenvironmetal Engineering at Cardiff University whilst still working full-time, Giles’ career progressed rapidly, being made an associate in 2003 and invited to join the board of directors in 2005.
Giles was made a Chartered Geologist in 2009, and a Specialist in Land Condition in 2017, with a number of additional industry related qualifications held.
With approaching 25 years of professional experience in geotechnical and geoenvironmental consultancy he has consistently demonstrated a high level of competence in all his endeavours. For the last 20 years he has contributed to the organisational, financial and technical responsibility and strategic aims for Earth Science Partnership.
LinkedIn Profile
Matthew Eynon
Engineering and Environmental Geology
Matt is a Swansea based UK Registered Ground Engineering Specialist and Chartered Engineering & Environmental Geologist with significant experience of Site Hazard Assessment, Remediation, Design and Implementation across the Geoenvironmental and Geotechnical sectors in the UK and abroad.
Matt started in geo-consultancy in 2002 and moved home to South Wales from the Midlands to work for ESP in 2005. He often works in multi-disciplinary teams advising other engineering and design professionals on the implications of ground hazards. His work involves undertaking design, planning, management and reporting of ground investigations, including investigations for new developments, and many bespoke studies including the assessment of hydrogeological settings, materials for earthworks, the impact of abandoned mine workings, remediation and stability assessment of soil and rock slopes/landslides, most notably the Pantteg Landslide in the Swansea Valley for which he guided and presented assessments to Local Authority officers and the general public.
Matt is dedicated to Continual Professional Development and developing a positive Health and Safety Culture. He has enabled schemes for wider benefit, such as Giving and Gaining Days, whereby we encourage and fund voluntary activities outside our field of work and was also the lead on ESP becoming a Gold Standard Four Day Week company.
Education
- University of Portsmouth BSc (Hons), Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
1998 – 2002
- Swansea University MSc, Environmental Conservation and Management (plus geoenvironmental industry project placement) 2002 – 2003.
Certifications
- UK Registered Ground Engineering Specialist – RoGEP/Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) 2014
- Chartered Geologist (CGeol) – The Geological Society 2009
- CSCS Professionally Qualified Person
- NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. 2014
Following a presentation at Cardiff University, Matt was presented the inaugural Early Career Geologist Award from the Geological Society in 2008 based on strength of content and presentation of the paper to a peer group.
Matt volunteers as a leader with his local Scout group weekly and enjoys passing on experiences from his time as a cub and scout to the youngsters and also gets them away from their devices spending time outdoors.
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Leadership Team
Danilo Bettosi
Associate Director
In Danilo’s current role, he is Associate Director at Earth Science Partnership, with a background centred around Environmental and Engineering Geology, and Offshore Geology. Danilo works alongside the Directors and Project Engineers at Earth Science Partnership, performing a multi-disciplinary role comprising geoenvironmental and geotechnical aspects, with targeted specialisms including, contamination, flood consequence assessment and project management.
Further to Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Aberystwyth, Danilo’s career commenced in the North Sea oil fields where he worked for three years, with experience working off the coasts of the United Kingdom, Holland and Norway, before joining ESP in 2006. His first role at ESP was as a geoenvironmental engineer, progressing to Operations Manager and then on to Associate Director in 2020. As part of his current role, he focusses on working with the Directors of ESP to ensure smooth operation of the business, with particular emphasis on logistics and project throughput.
LinkedIn Profile
Hywel Davies
Associate Director
Living on a farm in Penderyn, fossil hunting in karst sinkholes, swimming in the waterfall plunge pools of the Hepste and hiking through the landforms of the Neath disturbance were part of Hywel’s youth. Not that he appreciated that at the time but was later lucky enough to map the area and understand the range of process that formed and sculpted his local area as part of his masters at Cardiff University (graduating in 2006).
Now Associated Director, in 2007, Hywel joined ESP as a graduate engineer and over the last 17 years has developed extensive experience in engineering geology, mining related hazards and contaminated land. Formerly technical manager, helping improve and streamline company procedures and processes has been a key part of his role whilst ensuring compliance with evolving standards and guidance. In 2019, he became a Chartered Geologist and UK Registered Ground Engineering Professional, by evidencing proficiency in the design, execution and management of desk studies, intrusive investigations and remedial works. Hywel is a CL:AIRE qualified person, enabling and promoting the sustainable re-use of site won soils in the UK.
Career highlights include the systematic and cost effective investigation of a link road route in Cross Hands, delineating, assessing and remediating the variable hazards along its length (inc. mine shaft and workings stabilisation and geotechnical design checks for large structures in areas of unfavourable ground conditions) and enabling the development at a former aluminimum tube factory in Pyle which included detailed human health and controlled waters assessment, remediation design and implementation.
When not chasing his children around parks, listening, writing and playing music is his passion (rock by day and rock by night as a journalist once put it).
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Mat Elcock
Technical Manager
Mat is an Engineering Geologist with 18 years experience in site investigation and applied geology. He started his career in Manchester working for a multidisciplinary company before moving to London working on investigations within the capital. He wanted to return to Wales, and joined ESP in 2015 and has since progressed in the company to Technical Manager and Chartered Geologist.
Mat enjoys a mixture of projects, likes the varied skills ESP can provide to clients and the geology and landscape of Wales. He often involves himself in slope stability, coal mining and natural geohazard projects which require detailed conceptual models. Due to this varied work portfolio, Mat can assist clients who are either looking to discharge planning conditions for a house extension or for larger and more complex schemes.
Mat graduated from the BEng Engineering Geology and Geotechnics course at Portsmouth University in the early 2000’s. Throughout his career he has attended industry leading training session, for example engineering logging of the Lambeth Group, slope stability work or coal mining risk assessments, including mines gas risk assessment.
He became a Chartered Geologist through the Geological Society in 2022 and a Registered Ground Engineering Professional in 2024.
He has a young family and a dog, so spends much of his time enjoying the outdoors with them.
Mat tries to play golf and enjoys the silence whilst walking zig zag across fairways and
sometimes into the rough. Mountain biking and snowboarding are other ways he likes to try to
avoid injuries.
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Emma Kirk
Senior Engineer
Originally from Northern Ireland, in 2011 Emma moved to Glasgow to attend the University of Glasgow where she completed a BSc (Hons) in Earth Science. After graduating, Emma remained in Glasgow and progressed her career as a graduate engineering geologist between 2015 and 2017. Her early career years working across Scotland not only provided a solid foundation of knowledge, but provided an opportunity to explore new places.
In 2017, an exciting opportunity led Emma to move to South Wales, where she joined ESP as a Project Engineer. In this role, she was responsible for undertaking various geotechnical and geo-environmental investigations and developed her experience in contaminated land, mining, and ground stability hazards. In her current role as Senior Engineering Geologist, Emma is responsible for managing projects and providing technical support as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
At ESP, Emma has not only contributed to technical projects but has also been a driving force in enhancing the company’s GIS capabilities. In recent years, she has been a key member of ESP’s leadership group, working with others to develop company procedures, with particular interest in the companies wellbeing policies. Emma is currently actively working towards achieving chartered geologist status.
Away from work, Emma is a passionate touch rugby player who recently had the opportunity to represent Wales in the Senior Mixed team at the World Cup in Nottingham. She also enjoys exploring the outdoors, whether it’s on land hiking, or participating in various water sports.
