Meet The Team

Max Wakefield

Technician

max@wci.co.uk

With a childhood well spent ‘building stuff’ and mastering Lego under the watchful eye of a family of engineers, it was little surprise that Max ended up in civil engineering. Aged 16 Max was accepted onto a full-time civil engineering apprenticeship with AWP in Exeter where he stayed for three years learning about private drainage and handling section 38, section 104 and section 278 agreements.

From AWP he moved into a Technician role with Clarkebond Engineering Services. Here he worked across a range of international civil and structural engineering projects, notably evaluating the drainage design of a large general hospital in Myanmar.

After three years Max sidestepped into the family business, a firm specialising in mechanical engineering for trucks and trade waste, before joining a local civil and structural engineering firm and returning to design work.

In May 2024 Max started with WCI in the Consulting Engineers division. He’s engaged in drainage projects ranging anywhere from potable water supply and sludge storage to foul and surface water design.

Away from his desk, Max is dedicated to competitive paintball, a sport he competes in and coaches at the international level. With competitions taking place all over the world, he’s been lucky to combine his love of paintball and his love of travel to see the sights across the globe. When at home, Max enjoys spending time with his two dogs, Elmo and Ozzy.

World travelling paintballer

Champion CAD user

Independent thinker

Mark Bowditch BEng (Hons)

Project Engineer

mark@wci.co.uk

Mark’s experience in engineering is long and varied with a career that’s seen his involvement in a range of prestigious projects around the UK.

Mark started out as a Research Engineer with Hydro International creating bespoke engineered systems, designing and trialling surface water and stormwater flow controls for commercial clients. He then moved into groundworks and civil engineering at Building Schools for the Future, followed by work at Delta Tunnelling as a site engineer. This role saw him working on various infrastructure upgrades including high profile improvements in Reading, Somerset housing developments and hydroelectric plants nationally.

Mark branched out into geothermal heating and boreholes with a role at Earth Energy before taking on self-employed engineering projects at various onshore wind farms and Hinkley Point in Somerset. Another five years with Hydro International followed, this time design engineering products for stormwater and grit separation from urban run-off.

In 2021 Mark answered the call of the wild (aka the Somerset countryside) and returned to his home county to take up a role with WCI.  Mark’s responsibilities chiefly involve surveying and installation of bespoke sewage treatment systems and compiling comprehensive drainage reports.

As a farmer’s son, Mark’s happiest outdoors, often out mountain biking on the Quantock Hills or chilling out with his cat.

Weekend biker.

Cat parent.

Infectiously enthusiastic.

Taz Denham

Service Engineer

taz@wci.co.uk

Having grown up just metres away from WCI’s offices it’s only fittiing that Taz joined our team. After leaving school Taz started out as a children’s outdoor activity instructor, leading scores of groups on sailing, kayaking, climbing and mountaineering pursuits around the British Isles. Some five years later and with a taste for adventure, he joined the merchant navy for a three-year stint working offshore in Brazil. As an officer on board he was primarily involved in navigation and cargo operations.

Taz returned to the UK and took up a role as a touring IT technician setting up the lighting and programming of shows for large scale theatre and music events, spending anything from three to six months on the road. From touring to Taunton, Taz then joined a local company as a lead mechanic ensuring the safe running of 200+ e-scooters in and around the town.

Three years later, in January 2024, Taz joined the WCI team as a service engineer. Primarily field-based, Taz accompanies Mike B to service and repair foul water drainage systems for our domestic and commercial customers.

A tinkerer through and through, Taz is often to be found working on cars or building his miniature traction engine when not at work. His love of motors and motor sport extends to road rallying and he’s a regular competitor in his MGZR alongside his brave partner in her role as navigator. He’s also, rather impressively, built a radiator surround for a 4.5l Bentley replica using a 3D scanner and printer.

White knuckle rally driver.

Creator of cool stuff.

Inventor and innovator.

Akintunde Alade BEng

Engineer

akintunde@wci.co.uk

Akintunde’s civil engineering career began while he was mid-way through his BEng course at the Federal University of Technology in Nigeria. Juggling his studies with employment, he worked as a structural engineer working on large scale concrete and steel projects for schools, hotels and residential estates. After completing his degree, and with his experience as a structural engineer, Akintunde took on a site engineer role for another major engineering firm, relishing the chance to work in the field, whilst drawing on his design knowledge.

Fast forward three years and an even bigger move was on the cards as he and his wife relocated to the UK and settled in Somerset. In late 2023 Akintunde joined the consulting engineering team at WCI, with his day-to-day work being principally CAD focussed, designing solutions for surface and foul water drainage with input from other senior engineers in the business.

Seldom seen without his headphones, Akintunde’s a music man who enjoys playing the guitar and listening to blues. Away from the office, he’s a self-confessed dabbler and loves nothing more than solving technical challenges, whether that’s car-related or something around the house.

Wizard with CAD software.

Culinary genius.

Inquisitive and innovative.

Mike Budgen

Service Engineer

mike.budgen@wci.co.uk

With over 40 years’ experience as a maintenance engineer, Mike worked across a wide range of industries before ending up in wastewater – so to speak! Starting out as an apprentice at the Royal Ordnance explosives and detonators factory, Mike went on to secure maintenance engineering roles in the food, paper, petrochemical and leisure industries as well as the Ministry of Defence. Latterly he was a site engineer at a local Biffa anaerobic digestion plant before joining WCI as a service engineer in 2023.

Mike’s a rare sight in the office, spending most of his working week off-site assessing and repairing customers’ foul drainage systems either as part of annual service contracts or as emergency call outs.

Outside of work Mike’s a big softie when it comes to animals and is the proud owner of two Golden Retrievers who he rescued from Turkey. He enjoys plenty of country walks with the dogs and his partner – particularly those that end with a pub stop! With a large co-blended family that includes nine children and 14 grandchildren, Mike’s kept busy but does like to follow amateur boxing having formerly boxed and coached at a local club in Taunton.

Wildlife enthusiast.

Conscientious.

Independent minded.

Phil Anderson

Project Engineer

phil@wci.co.uk

A passionate project manager and seasoned trouble-shooter, Phil’s hands-on experience gained over a decade of property development, pub ownership and tech consultancy has equipped him well for life as a wastewater project engineer.

In 2022, Phil found his calling and joined WCI, initially combining on the job training with his years of practical experience. His methodical approach, innate understanding of construction and contract management and natural affinity with clients required no training.

Phil’s work ranges from surveying domestic and commercial properties for potential replacement of treatment works or compliance assessments of drainage for prospective home buyers.

A self-proclaimed reluctant horse dad, Phil spends his weekends chauffeuring his daughters and their ponies around the southwest. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, watching football and indulging his other former passion of motor sport – though away from the driving seat these days. 

Wannabe globetrotter.

Casual golfer.

Indispensable in an emergency.

Brad Taylor MEng

Director

brad@wci.co.uk  

The need to ‘always find a way’ runs deep in the Kiwi psyche and it’s a mindset that New Zealander Brad has adhered to throughout his career. Having started out in aeronautical engineering, he spent 15 years in management consulting with big city firms before taking the plunge to join the family business in Somerset. With a wealth of experience in commercial and strategic management but new to the water and wastewater world, Brad learned his trade at the coal face, working every job in the business before taking the helm with wife Naomi in 2014.

With Brad’s strategic vision they transformed the business, diversifying the technical offering to better reflect the demands of commercial and domestic clients. WCI became an integrated solutions provider with the introduction of Professional Services, Design & Construction and Service & Maintenance divisions and WCI is now regularly drafted into projects where others have failed to solve a problem.

Brad, amongst his many responsibilities, heads up the Consulting Engineering, Construction and Nutrient Neutrality businesses. He is a recognised expert on nutrient neutrality, pioneering the roll out of a phosphate credit scheme across Somerset and the Southwest.

When Brad isn’t dealing with drainage, you can find him and Naomi hiking up a mountain, on the sidelines of a rugby pitch cheering on their two ‘free range’ sons or getting roped into office DIY.

Wilderness wanderer.

Climber.

Ideas person.

Naomi Taylor BSc, MSc

Director

naomi@wci.co.uk

With an entire career devoted to the water and wastewater sector, Naomi’s passion for the industry is undisputed. Post-graduation Naomi worked in surveying and planning and undertook an internship in Ecology with Somerset Environment Record Centre. She then moved to Canada, landing a coveted Product Technical Support role at Pinnacle Environmental Technologies Inc a wastewater treatment solutions company located in Langley BC – in part due to her university dissertation on reed beds.

In 2006 Naomi succumbed to the pull of Somerset and interviewed for a role at WCI, at the time owned by her father. She joined on the condition she worked every role in the business before moving up the ranks, which she duly did.

In late 2007, as a director of the business, Naomi took the leap to move WCI from sole trader to limited status, paving the way for future growth. With her father stepping aside, and Brad joining the family business, WCI grew from a team of just three to a full-service, diversified entity. Together they added a service team, asset audits, engineering services and consulting engineering to the offering, building WCI’s reputation as experts in water and wastewater engineering. Today, as company owner, Naomi wears many hats including heading up Engineering Services, Environment Agency permitting and screening all new enquiries. Naomi’s often the first point of contact for customers and is a font of knowledge and advice on all matters sewage related.

Away from the office, Naomi’s a busy mum to two sports-mad boys, a passionate gardener and a seasoned hiker, regularly undertaking multi-day overseas treks with the family.

Whodunit devourer.

Canine lover.

Intrepid explorer.

Sharon Stone

Bookkeeper

sharon@wci.co.uk

Sharon joined WCI in 2019 with responsibility for managing our Accounts function, after 15 years in a similar role at a local engineering company. With the previous 20 years spent in high street banking, Sharon’s dedicated her career to finance and keeps us on the straight and narrow!  Her main responsibilities include running the management accounts, customer and supplier invoicing and pay roll. She’s also successfully navigated us through several migrations to new financial packages (but don’t remind her!).

Sharon’s a sport enthusiast and a committed supporter of Exeter Chiefs as well as her local rugby teams, often watching her son and daughter play at senior level. Married to an amateur cricketer, Sharon and her husband regularly travel with the team on overseas tours and find it a fantastic way to explore the world. When she’s not supporting others on the sporting field, Sharon likes to run and keep fit and is also an avid reader. 

Worldly traveller.

Cricket groupie.

Impeccable attention to detail.

Sara Spiller

Service Coordinator

sara@wci.co.uk

Sara started at WCI in 2023 after 25 years in the motor industry – most recently as a Senior Service Advisor for Jaguar Land Rover, liaising with customers to get their vehicles into the workshop and back on the road. Swapping wheels for wastewater, Sara is often WCI’s first point of contact for our domestic and commercial customers in their time of need. Her role involves the efficient scheduling of our team of engineers, arranging annual service plans or emergency call outs. With a wealth of customer service experience under her belt, as well as six years spent as a Special Constable with Devon & Cornwall Police, Sara’s rarely deterred by anything and is a calm, reassuring voice in an emergency! 

When she’s not working, Sara’s to be found exploring the many beauty spots of the Southwest in her caravan or strutting her jewel encrusted cowgirl boots to some modern country music. Yee-haw!

Wine aficionado.

Country music fanatic.

Incredible unflappability.

Chris Elston

Senior Engineer

chris@wci.co.uk

Chris’ career in water and wastewater engineering started almost 30 years ago as a fresh-faced apprentice engineer with Exeter-based water pump and motor specialist, Mathews. The first in what turned out to be a long line of apprentices at the company for almost fifteen years.  Chris gained valuable expertise in water filtration services, pump maintenance, electrical engineering and emergency call outs, progressing through the ranks and amassing a wealth of experience in potable and foul water systems. Some 18 years later, as Contracts Manager, Chris moved on to take on a senior engineer role elsewhere, acting as technical lead for the servicing and maintenance of pumping stations across Devon and Somerset.

In 2018, he made the decision to go it alone and set up as a self-employed electrical, pump and water engineer, chiefly dealing with potable water. Two years later, shortly before the world ground to a pandemic-induced halt, he was approached by Brad to join WCI, bringing together the two skillsets of potable and foul water.

As a senior engineer working across the company, Chris’s remit is varied to say the least. Chris not only oversees the service engineers responsible for routine service, maintenance and commissioning, but also works alongside our construction team surveying sites, pricing and running projects to ensure compliance with private water and EA regulations.

When not at work, Chris’s young family keep him extremely busy, however when the opportunities arise, he enjoys listening to live music. An award-winning beer writer, and former member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, Chris is passionate about real ales and craft beer, and likes to unwind with a half or two with friends.

World Beer Awards Judge.

Champion tinkerer of vintage cars.

Impassioned story teller (specialising in witches and dragons).

Alix Reeves

Marketing Manager MCIM

alix@wci.co.uk

Alix joined the team in early 2024 taking on responsibility for WCI’s marketing. With her most recent experience lying in marketing for high end hospitality and artisan food, she’s traded dining and bedrooms for design and build. Having previously spent many years producing technical business to business conferences, she is used to picking up new industries quickly – though thankfully many of the principles of marketing are transferable!

Alix oversees our online and offline marketing channels, including brand management, email and social media, content creation and promotional campaigns.

Outside of work, you’ll find Alix running around the lanes and fields of mid Devon, stomping across Dartmoor with her family, or supporting her children from the side of a pool or sports field.

Wears lycra and wellies.

Cake lover.

Initiator of pointless conversations.

.Mike Niisato

Senior Engineer

mike@wci.co.uk

Mike’s first foray into drainage came as a graduate civil engineer working for a multi-disciplinary firm in Surrey where he specialised in detailed design for infrastructure projects – namely highways, foul and surface water drainage. After six years focussing on specifications and drawings for the design and construction of adopted highways (section 38), alterations to adopted highways (section 278) and the adoption of public sewers (section 104), Mike headed down under to Sydney, Australia.

Here he joined a firm of geotechnical engineers looking after landfill and large earthwork projects in New South Wales and Queensland. As a surface water engineer he managed various forms of surface water runoff (clean and dirty) from a number of large scale projects which kept him busy for four years.

Alas, the glorious Australian weather proved too much for Mike and he returned to the UK and Surrey to continue his work on drainage – this time working across various stages of Civil Engineering projects, from concept planning to site supervisor for different industry sectors, which also included project lead on the construction of several hospitals in Ghana,

Two years and a move to the West Country later, Mike joined a civil engineering company based in Taunton, Somerset, working primarily on new housing developments ranging from sites of 50 to 400 properties. His role mainly involved SUDS projects, and Highways engagement and, after a couple of years he was ready for another challenge. It was time to move into the world of off mains drainage! Enter WCI.

In 2021 Mike joined WCI Group bringing his expertise in surface water solutions at a point where their experience mostly lay in wastewater projects. Today Mike leads the Consulting Engineering arm of the business, with the bulk of his work lying in drainage design solution (foul and surface water) for off main solutions for rural sites. He works with domestic and commercial clients to build a drainage strategy that meets their needs from the perspective of cost and time as well as planning and regulatory requirements. He is also familiar with the challenges posed through Nutrient Neutrality and supports clients in navigating their way through their planning requirements on the matter.

Out of the office he spends his time tinkering on the ukulele and electric guitar, reminiscing on his more youthful days. A keen traveller and has visited over 40 countries (black listed from one) and likes to watch live sports.

Willingness to help.

Careful Colin.

I’m Anglo-Japanese.

Karen Hawes

Customer Relationship Manager

karen@wci.co.uk

Karen joined WCI in 2024, having spent a decade at Strutt & Parker and Wilkinson Grant estate agencies looking after vendors and purchasers from their point of enquiry to the exchange of keys. Having worked closely with conveyancing solicitors and surveyors and often dealing with septic tank compliance issues, Karen was primed and ready to enter the world of wastewater!

In her own words the ‘spider in the web’ Karen’s responsible for smoothing the customer journey for all new enquiries across the business, making sure our customers are directed to the right person and receive the responsiveness they deserve. She also provides administrative support to our project engineers and our Nutrient Neutrality division.

Outside of work, Karen, her husband and three sons are music lovers and festival goers, regularly travelling to gigs in her beloved VW Campervan, ‘Pudney’. Living in rural Devon, Karen’s blessed with fabulous walking country to enjoy with her German Shepherd, Rico, and she’s also able to indulge another lifelong passion, watching contemporary dance and ballet in nearby Exeter.

West Country music junkie.

Campervan queen.

Instinctive cook.

Jon Edwards

Operations Manager

jon@wci.co.uk

At a young age, Jon picked up a tennis racket in his grandfather’s garden and used it as a golf club, unwittingly showing real potential for the sport. He enrolled at a local golf club and won a succession of trophies and titles over the next few years. His first career role naturally was golf-related, as an Assistant Golf Professional in South Wales. Until he realised, he’d rather be working on the course himself.

Over the following seven years, Jon held a range of customer service management roles, primarily in the utilities sector, proving instrumental in keeping operations running smoothly as many of the businesses changed hands.

Jon’s next role was as a Technical Specialist for a maintenance, repair and overhaul supplier in Merthyr Tydfil. Working across a range of clients from steel mills, mining and the Royal Mint, he inspected and advised on bearings – sometimes finding himself in some awkward spaces to get the job done. As a former national climbing competitor, flexibility and being a challenge seeker was invaluable!

From bearings to nuts and bolts, and a move to Tiverton to take up the role of Area Sales Manager for a mechanical engineering supplies company. Jon spent the next five years on the road covering a vast patch from Cornwall to North Somerset before the next challenge presented itself.

In 2016 Jon joined WCI as Contracts Manager, a role which gradually morphed into his current position of Operations Manager. Jon is the cog that keeps the WCI machine well-oiled and turning with a remit that spans health & safety, buying, fleet management, contracts and sub-contracts management as well as the smooth running of the yard and warehouse facilities. A self-confessed nit-picker, Jon enjoys finding solutions to health and safety challenges and is currently studying for the NEBOSH certificate in construction health and safety.

In his spare time Jon still enjoys a round of golf and is a keen hiker with Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) being a favoured destination. Married and with a young daughter, Jon’s weekends are often spent supporting his wife’s events management business. 

Welsh wanderer.

Celebrant at pagan weddings.

Indispensable list maker.

Tom Bushby

Assistant Operations Manager

tom@wci.co.uk

Tom started his career as an Avionics Technician in the RAF before swapping afterburners for steel girders with a two-year apprenticeship at Devon Contractors. Studying Construction in the Built Environment, Tom was able to combine classroom learning with practical experience, gaining valuable skills in commercial procurement and quantity surveying. In this role he was part of the team managing the build of the prestigious Noss on Dart Marina – a project that also involved WCI in the design of sewage solutions.

Tom’s next position was as Operations Manager at JP Building in St Neots where the focus was on domestic builds and extensions. Working within a team of just two, Tom quickly learned the ropes and was soon in charge of materials pricing, procurement and customer service.

On returning to his home county of Devon Tom took up the reins as Assistant Operations Manager at WCI. It’s a hugely varied role that involves, amongst other things, supporting Operations Manager Jon with the preparation of construction and engineering project work, including ordering materials and parts and ensuring correct stock levels across our yard, fleet and warehouse.

At the weekend you’ll likely find Tom on or near a racetrack crewing on drag racing cars. While his passion for high octane sport has taken him to Las Vegas, California and beyond, he’s also happy to be in Devon playing football for his local team or chilling out with his guitar at home. 

Weekend garage guru 

Chief multi-tasker 

International speed demon

Luke Neller

Junior Project Engineer

luke@wci.co.uk

Luke joined the WCI team in September 2024 bringing thirteen years of utilities and water experience with him. Starting out with construction firm, The Clancy Group, Luke’s role was hands-on and wide-ranging covering everything from mains laying and repair and maintenance to metering and surveying. Moving up through the ranks from brush boy to team leader, Luke oversaw the management of a variety of nationwide clean water projects installing and commissioning mains water for major housing developments.

After relocating with his family to the Southwest, Luke was eager to embrace new opportunities. As a Junior Project Engineer at WCI, his extensive experience in groundworks has proven to be a valuable asset. Learning the ropes from our seasoned Project Engineers, Luke’s dived into the world of wastewater managing sewage treatment and developing creative technical solutions for sewage, surface water, and potable water treatment. From conducting site surveys to assisting with estimates and resource planning, Luke’s enjoying the variety the role provides.

Outside of work, Luke’s spends as much time as he can with his family and their English bulldog, exploring the local countryside or as chief trampoline monitor for his young son. When not on family adventures you’ll find Luke pumping iron in the gym or cooking up a storm in the kitchen.  

Weightlifting gym bro

Committed family man

Italian cuisine lover – he makes a mean prawn linguini