Our leadership team
Our leadership team
Our senior team are all practising engineers with decades of hands-on experience working on major infrastructure schemes around the world. They lead all our projects which means our clients benefit from direct access to deep technical rigour and expertise at every project stage.
Nigel Hewson
Director
BSc, CEng, FICE, FIStructE
Biography
I founded Hewson Consulting Engineers in 2005 after an initial 30-year career in contracting and consulting which extended over most types of bridge structures and in many different parts of the world.
I have worked on many iconic bridge projects starting with the Byker Viaduct, the first match-cast precast segmental bridge in the UK. The suspension bridges I have worked on include the Second Bosporus Bridge in Turkey and Bonny River Bridge in Nigeria, while cable-stayed bridges include Stonecutters Bridge in Hong Kong and Naini Bridge in India. Arch bridges include the Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Causeway Bridge in Bahrain and most recently the Chung Hwa Footbridge in Brunei.
I am best known for my work on prestressed concrete bridges, especially precast segmental construction having pioneered the technique in south-east Asia with the Bangkok Second Stage Expressway, the Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing and Hung Hom Bypass in Hong Kong. In recent years I’ve led the design on a number of urban rail viaducts, including the Dubai LRT, Kuala Lumpur MRT Lines 1 and 2 and the Jakarta MRT.
I still maintain a hands-on approach to the technical side of our projects, providing leadership on designs as well as guidance to our growing team of engineers.
Publications
ICE Manual of Bridge Engineering, 3rd Edition (Editor, and author of Chapter 3: Loads and Load Distribution and Chapter 9: Prestressed Concrete Bridges). Published by ICE Publishing.
Prestressed Concrete Bridges: Design and Construction, 2nd edition. Published by ICE Publishing.
Temporary Works for Concrete Bridges (Technical Guide No. 16). Published by Concrete Bridge Development Group.
Andrew Hodgkinson
Director
BEng, CEng, FICE, MIStructE, MHKIE
Biography
I have been a director of Hewson Consulting Engineers since 2006 and have over 35 years experience in the design and erection of major bridges and civil engineering structures. This includes a number of well-known projects such as the Oresund Tunnel, Taiwan High Speed Railway, Stonecutters Bridge and Dubai LRT.
Whilst my passion remains for bridgeworks of all types, I have also been involved in a wide variety of other projects including underground stations, mega-roof erection, temporary works and a good number of dam spillways. I enjoy working with clients to provide tailored solutions to tricky engineering challenges that save them time and money.
I remain very hands-on with our projects and for me this is a major benefit of working for a specialist consultant. I now also invest quite a lot of my time in developing young engineers and emerging future leaders within the company as well as engaging with existing and future clients.
Publications
ICE Manual of Bridge Engineering, 3rd Edition Chapter 4: Bridge Dynamics. Published by ICE Publishing.
Temporary Works for Concrete Bridges Technical Guide No. 16 Chapter 10: Incremental Launched Deck. Published by Concrete Bridge Development Group.
Wasim Qadir
Director
CEng, FICE
Biography
As the Director of Hewson’s Dubai office, I steer the company’s operations across the dynamic Middle East. I have been associated with a number of iconic transportation projects over the course of more than 20 years, such as the Dubai Metro, Makkah Mass Rail Transit, Doha Metro, Dedicated Freight Corridor in India and Etihad Rail.
My expertise extends beyond rail to major highway projects, showcasing innovative solutions like the environmentally conscious Umm Yafina highway, which conceptualised the first arch causeway in the region.
I bring extensive experience designing and delivering complex transportation projects, ensuring successful project delivery across various infrastructural elements. A career highlight was leading the team in supporting the contractor for the first cable car system in UAE.
My vision is to position the company as a leader in sustainable and innovative transportation solutions in the Middle East, and to contribute significantly to the economic and social development of the region.
Publications
Manual of Bridge Engineering, 3rd Edition, Chapter 21: Bridge Accessories. Published by ICE Publishing.
Chengrui Hu
Director
BEng, MSc, CEng, FICE, MHKIE, RPE
Biography
I am responsible for our operations in Asia. Having spent nearly ten years in the UK, I moved to Hong Kong in 2012. I have had the privilege to work on a wide variety of infrastructure projects with each of them offering unique challenges and rewarding experiences. This includes permanent structures such as bridges, stations, cut-and-cover tunnels, reclamations as well as temporary works and erection engineering.
I have led consulting activities at different project phases ranging from business case review, feasibility study and tender design all the way through to detailed design and forensic investigation.
One of my primary technical interests is the modern integration of permanent works design and erection engineering to optimise the use of off-site precasting/prefabrication technology to achieve fast-tracked on-site construction.
My current focus is supporting our clients to continue securing and successfully delivering large-scale transportation-related infrastructure projects in Asia.
Publications
Precast Concrete Substructure for Bridge Construction. Published by the Concrete Bridge Development Group.
Bridget Mullane
Director
BEng, CEng, MIEI, MHKIE, RPE
Biography
I have 20 years experience in the design, construction, and erection engineering of civil structures and associated temporary works in the UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Ireland.
I have worked on a wide variety of infrastructure projects; each of them offering unique challenges and rewarding experiences. I have carried out concept through to detailed design of a number of large-scale infrastructure projects. This has included railway viaducts such as Klang Valley MRT in Malaysia, architectural footbridges, highway bridges, underground structures, temporary works for construction and various other civil structures.
I believe consideration of the construction sequence including its impact on the permanent structures is key to the success of any project. A particular interest is working with contractors and clients to develop the best solution for each set of individual project challenges. Whether this is for smaller scale temporary works or larger schemes, I find it extremely rewarding to see the design drawings we’ve been working on translated into structures that are buildable and efficient, and that add to the built environment and benefit users.
Craig Giaccio
Technical Director
BEng, CPEng, FICE, FIEAust, NER, IntPE
Biography
I am a chartered bridge and civil engineer, and Fellow of Engineers Australia and the Institution of Civil Engineers, with nearly three decades of experience leading the delivery of infrastructure design projects in the UK, Australia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and Ireland.
Some key projects have included Queensferry Bridge, where I was technical lead on a number of Category 3 check packages, Lower Thames Crossing where I was appointed bridge lead to Development Consent Order, HS2 where I led a multi-disciplinary team, and the Waterloo station Eurostar terminal upgrade for which I was engineering lead.
I work collaboratively with clients and partners, leading multidisciplinary teams towards achieving shared objectives even within stringent timeframes and demanding regulatory environments.
I am an active member of the British Standards Institute (BSI) committee for concrete design and assessment of concrete structures, serving as one of the two nominated BSI experts for concrete structures on the European Committee for Standardisation. I also played a significant role in updating EN1992-1-1(2023) and currently sit on the UK National Annex committee preparing this standard.
I am committed to developing and mentoring the next generation of engineers and have supported the education and career development of individuals and teams throughout my career.
Publications
Giaccio, C. Caracuel, J.M., and Boothman, D. (2017), “Design of the new pedestrian and cycleway bridge in Strabane, Northern Ireland”, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Bridge Engineering, Vol 170 (3), pp. 181-191.
Giaccio, C (2012), “Enhancing predicted shear strength for assessment of existing highway concrete bridges”, Australian Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 13, No. 3, 2012: 297-309.
Giaccio, C., Al-Mahaidi, R. S. and Taplin, G. (2006), “Flange Strain Measurement in Shear Critical RC T-beams”, Journal of Advances in Structural Engineering. 9(4), pp. 491-505.
Giaccio, C., Al-Mahaidi, R. S. and Taplin, G. (2002), “Experimental study on the effect of flange geometry on the shear strength of point loaded RC T-beams”, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 29 (6), pp. 911-918.
Giaccio, C (2024) ‘Provisions for assessment of existing structures in the second-generation concrete Eurocode’ Accepted for publication in The Structural Engineer in April 2024
Giaccio, C., Jones, T., Truby, A (2022) ‘fibUK: Key updates in the second generation Eurocode 2’ Presentation to the fib UK group
James, S, and Giaccio, C. (2014) “Queensferry Crossing”, Presentation to IStructE, South-Eastern Counties Regional Group, London. October 2014
Giaccio, C. (2014) “Forth Replacement Crossing- The Independent Structural Design Review Role and Technical Review Methods”, Sofistik Seminar, Munich. April 2014
Matthew Baxman
Associate Director
MEng (Hons), CEng, MIStructE
Biography
Publications
Co author, Concrete Bridge Development Group Technical Guide 19 Precast Concrete Superstructure for Bridge Construction, Concrete Society, Camberley
Kenny Yu
Technical Director
MEng, CEng, MIStructE
Biography
I am a Technical Director and have been with the company since 2014, based in the Hong Kong office. I have been fortunate to have the opportunities to be involved in the delivery of a diverse range of challenging civil engineering projects in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia, for which I played a leading role in the tender design, detailed design and independent checking.
These projects include major bridgeworks for new roads and railways, site formation works with slopes and retaining walls, erection engineering and temporary works design, deep excavation and underground structures, new sewage treatment facilities, nullah modification works and underpinning works, etc.
The highly complex nature of these projects demands unique engineering solutions to meet specific time, cost, social or environmental requirements and I very much enjoy tackling these challenges.
K.M. Tam
Technical Director
MEng, CEng, MIStructE
Biography
I have over 17 years of experience working on numerous complex infrastructure and building projects both in Hong Kong and Macau, including the Deep Cement Mixing and Reclamation of the Third Runway at Hong Kong Airport, the Expansion of the Existing Airport Terminal 2, the MTRCL’s Admiralty Integrated Station, the West Kowloon Terminus of the Express Rail Link between Hong Kong and Mainland China, the Tamar Development of Government Complex and the Venetian and City of Dreams Hotels in Macau.
My experience ranges from the design of steel and composite structures, the staged analysis of steel and reinforced concrete structures to the major temporary works such as the earth lateral supports/cofferdams for the deep basements of railway underground stations and airport terminus. I have developed construction methodology and engineering alternatives that provided the clients with safer, more practical and cost-effective solutions at both the tendering and the project delivery phases.
Nate Yang
Technical Director
BEng, MSc, CEng, MICE, MInstCES, MHKIE, RPE, RSE
Biography
I am a Technical Director with extensive experience in the management, design and construction of the complex large-scale infrastructure projects in Hong Kong. These include the Third Runway at Hong Kong Airport, Trunk Road T2 in Kowloon, Scenic Hill Jacked Box Tunnel on the Hong Kong Link Road, Central-Wanchai Bypass Tunnel, MTRC Express Rail Link and Shatin Central Link.
These projects have developed my primary technical interest in the field of underground engineering, including cut-and-cover tunnels and associated deep excavations where sophisticated soil-structure interaction analysis is involved. Having worked for both contractors and consultants and being a Registered Professional Engineer in the Civil, Structural and Geotechnical disciplines, I have established a track record in providing holistic construction engineering and value engineering services for our clients. I always aim to deliver innovation and excellence on technically challenging projects.
Michael Duvall
Associate Director
MEng (Hons), CEng, MIStructE
Biography
I joined Hewson in 2014 as a graduate engineer and became an associate director in 2023. In that time I have gained experience in the design and execution of temporary and permanent works for bridges, civil structures, and buildings over a wide range of projects.
More recently I have been more involved in the inspection, assessment, and rehabilitation of existing bridges, which I firmly believe will become the mainstay of the industry as our existing infrastructure ages. I’m passionate about supporting others at the early stage of their careers, and enjoy mentoring students and graduates so they receive the same support I experienced when I joined Hewson.
I regularly plan and deliver internal training as well as managing our training schemes in an effort to develop the next generation of engineers!
Andy Kwok
Associate Director
BEng, MSc, CEng, MICE, MHKIE, RPE, CPEng, MIEAust
Biography
I am an Associate Director and have over 20 years’ experience specialising in construction engineering of major bridgeworks and special structures, with a particular emphasis on prestressing systems, cable stay technology, deck erection engineering methods, heavy lifting equipment and major temporary works design.
Throughout my career, I have worked on a large number of prestigious bridge and infrastructure projects in Hong Kong and other Southeast Asia regions, including the Cross Bay Link, the Central Kowloon Route, the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Highway Viaducts, the Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Link, the MTR South Island Line Aberdeen Channel Bridge, the Widening of Tolo Highway and Fanling Highway, the Tseung Kwan O Full-span Lifting Bridge, the Macau Venetian Casino, the Tamar Central Government Headquarter Complex, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Atrium Link Extension, the Stonecutters Bridge, the Shenzhen Western Corridor Bridge and the MTR West Rail Viaducts.
With the extensive practical experience gained from those projects, I have developed a buildability-oriented approach to promote highly efficient design and construction solutions that can enhance the productivity while also improving the site safety conditions and enhancing quality assurance. I also enjoy working closely with our clients and collaborators to develop innovative engineering concepts and schemes by leveraging the use of the latest technologies such as DfMA and BIM.
Tom Lin
Associate Director
BEng, MSc, CEng, MIStructE
Biography
I am an Associate Director of the company responsible for Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) design and structural design of building projects.
I am a chartered structural engineer with extensive experience in the design and construction of major building projects. Having previously worked at senior positions in both design consultants and manufacturers, I am a recognised MiC specialist with detailed knowledge in the design, fabrication, supply and construction of MiC building structures.
Over the recent five years since the MiC concept was introduced and advocated in Hong Kong, I have been continuously involved in over thirty MiC projects, including both high-rise and low-rise buildings with steel and concrete MiC systems.
My experience also covers the project management, business development and supply chain management related to the MiC sector in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Richard Scantlebury
Director of Major Projects
MEng, MA (Cantab), CEng, MICE