Our People

Darren O’Mahony

Director

Started with Causeway Geotech in 2012

I am the Director with responsibility for Contracts and Operations. My role involves oversight of all contracts, from award through to completion. Ultimately, I’m the person responsible for the successful execution of work, with a heavy emphasis on Client satisfaction. I pride myself on my ability to support a strong technical knowledge with a good grasp of the practicalities. Luckily, I’m supported by an extremely strong and enthusiastic team, so I generally enjoy my work!

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family, gardening and getting the odd session in at the gym or on the bike.

Paul Dunlop

Director

Started with Causeway Geotech in January 2012

I am a founding shareholder and director at Causeway Geotech and have been instrumental in the growth of the business, which started with eight staff members in 2012 and now employs more than 100 people. I studied Civil and Environmental Engineering and then completed a PhD in Construction Management at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. I am responsible for the preparation of commercial proposals and tenders. While I no longer practice the technical aspects of geotechnical engineering daily, I will always consider myself to be an engineer.

Outside work I enjoy cooking and travelling. By combining these interests, I get to experience the unique flavours of different regions, creating lasting memories with my wife and daughter through both culinary delights and enriching travel experiences. These pursuits bring balance to my life and provide an opportunity to recharge and broaden my horizons.

Ciaran Doherty

Director

Started in Causeway Geotech in January 2012

Director responsible for HSEQ and Finance. I especially enjoy working on Hydrogeological/Borewell Projects.

Outside work interests I enjoy learning about History and especially natural history and sport.

Stephen Watson

Laboratory Manager

Started with Causeway Geotech in March 2012

I manage the UKAS geotechnical testing laboratory in Causeway Geotech. My roles include being responsible for all laboratory technical procedures and operations and managing an ever-expanding team of technicians and technical staff. I enjoy the variety of testing services we can offer clients and continual investment adding to the scope of the lab. I also value the people I work with from my own team in lab, engineers, and subcontractors. It’s always good to achieve testing solutions for everyone and look back with a sense of pride being able to say Causeway Geotech carried out the site investigation and lab testing.

Outside work I enjoy all things fitness! I attend gym classes for both cardio and strength, cold- water dipping and cycling around the North Coast.

Lucy Newland

Senior Geologist

Started in Causeway Geotech in Feb 2016

I am involved in primarily project management which involves organising what each job requires, speaking to clients, ordering lab testing and compiling reports for each job. I also carry out some site work including supervision monitoring, trial pitting, surveying and carrying out in situ testing.

Outside of work I enjoy travelling, cooking and horse training.

Colm Hurley

Regional Manager, Republic of Ireland

Started in Causeway Geotech in July 2016

My role is managing Causeway’s Ground Investigation Business in the Republic of Ireland. We established the office around five years ago and it has gone from strength to strength with the steady building of a cohesive and well-motivated team of colleagues. On a day-to-day basis I am responsible for the procurement, management, and delivery of several large-scale ground investigation projects, which are some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the state. I really enjoy interacting with people from our clients and customers to our many site teams.

Outside work I enjoy travel, socialising usually involving rugby and attending my kids many sporting events. For fun I engage in long distance endurance events.

John FS Cameron

Lead Driller Dynamic Sampling

Started in Causeway Geotech in January 2012

I am involved in daily health and safety, drilling and geotechnical logging and sampling of boreholes and trial pits as well as in situ CBR testing.

Outside work I am a keen mountain biker, especially where there’s an uplift! I’m a lifelong and long suffering supporter of Coleraine FC. I also talk a good garden!

Sophie Sung

Credit Controller/ Payroll Manager

Started with Causeway Geotech in November 2014

I have many roles here, the main ones are responsible for all clients’ accounts doing credit control, from tracking and chasing payments for all Sales invoices as issued by engineers. I am also responsible for processing all weekly and monthly payroll for the 100+ staff. I would also assist and deal with accounts payable tasks, suppliers bank payments, as well as Project Costings and any other ad hoc tasks as and when required within the Finance Department. Every day is different in a credit control / finance environment. I enjoy the complexity and the problem-solving sides of my job.

Outside work I do have many interests, but these days, being a working mother of three and grandmother of one, I love nothing more than spending time with my family and going to the beach with my dog when not in work.

Matthew Graham

Associate

Started with Causeway Geotech in December 2022

I am responsible for the implementation, management, and delivery of a diverse range of geotechnical and geo‐environmental investigation projects. Ranging from simple single house investigations through to complex commercial site and public infrastructure projects. My role requires a wide range of involvement from initial stages of preparation of HSQE documents, programming, and resource coordination, through to contract management of site works and finally preparation of factual and interpretative reports. I enjoy the dynamic working life at Causeway where no two days are the same and things change constantly – it makes for an interesting working week, the team at Causeway isn’t too bad either…

Outside work I enjoy playing golf (on the rare occasion now), watching rugby, cooking, and spending time at the family caravan on the Causeway Coast.

Wendy Doherty

HSEQ Manager

Started with Causeway Geotech in March 2023

I have over 12 years’ experience within HSEQ and an ISO management role and at Causeway Geotech I am responsible for all aspects of Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality compliance. I also manage ISO standards, including ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018, ensuring compliance with these standards and HSE legislation. As you can imagine no day is ever the same for me, but I enjoy the challenge and keeping the workers on their toes!

Outside work I enjoy being an ‘embarrassing’ football mum and cheering on my son’s football team from the sidelines, not sure he enjoys it just as much!

Chris Anderson

Technical Director

Started with Causeway Geotech in Febuary 2023

Based in our Belfast office, I am a Geotechnical Engineer with over a decade of experience as a geotechnical design engineer. My role includes providing geotechnical expertise and supporting our talented cohort of engineers and technicians across the business. My job is to ensure the high quality of our services are maintained through many aspects of the business, from site, through to laboratory testing, to the final product ‐ sound geotechnical data. I am working to develop and expand our Geotechnical Design services; mentoring a team of Engineers to provide Design services. What I enjoy most about my job is the versatility it offers; working on a range of different challenges in collaboration with the knowledgeable and enthusiastic personnel employed here.

Outside work I enjoy entertaining my young family. I enjoy camping, hill walking and generally being out in nature. I have a keen interest in music, enjoy playing guitar and always like to have at least one gig/concert in the diary to look forward too.

Stuart Abraham

Senior Geotechnical Engineer

Started with Causeway Geotech in April 2018

I manage a selection of small to medium sized contracts, taking them from instruction through to invoicing. My typical day involves coordinating drilling crews, reviewing logs and writing reports. I still get out on site from time to time usually on the railway or when something more unusual is going on. I enjoy the variety of the work we do and the challenges this presents me.

Outside work I enjoy getting out for a walk with the family on the beach.

Joe Nicholl

Laboratory Quality Manager

Started with Causeway Geotech in 2014

I joined the company in March 2014 as a laboratory technician. Previously I had 10 years’ experience in the industry with Glover SI, as a Senior Technician. From joining the company, I progressed to a supervisory role, and then to my current position as Quality Manager within the testing laboratory.

In 2018, I worked alongside the Laboratory Manager to upgrade our procedures to attain UKAS accreditation. Since, my job has been to ensure the ongoing quality of our testing by training and assessing technicians, and regular calibration of the testing equipment in our state-of-the-art laboratory. I enjoy my role and I am particularly proud of the steps made by the laboratory during my time here, as the team continue to move forward along with any changes within the industry.

In my spare time I am kept busy by three young children. I am also a keen sports fan; I play football but enjoy watching almost anything.

Matthew Gilbert

Principal Geologist & Data Manager

Started with Causeway Geotech in 2014

As one of the senior geologists in the company, I lead the training of new engineers and oversees the core logging department. My Data Manager role involves assisting colleagues with the reporting of AGS data, digital monitoring records, and Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) data. With eight years’ experience as a project manager, I continued to manage small to medium-sized contracts.

Outside work I enjoy playing tennis and have an interest in genealogy.

Graham Kinnaird

Senior Laboratory Technician

Started with Causeway Geotech in March 2013

I oversee technicians to ensure target dates are met, input test results data for final reports and calibrate a range of different testing equipment. I enjoy the relaxed environment within Causeway Geotech and being given the freedom and trust to be able to get on with my job.

Outside work I enjoy walking my dog, watching most sports and collecting vinyl records and vintage razors.

Emily Davidson

Company Accountant

Started with Causeway Geotech in April 2014

I oversee the finance department and manage a small team, responsible for preparing monthly management accounts, preparing budgets and forecasts, managing cashflow, liaising with external auditors, complying with legal and statutory obligations. I enjoy the fact that each day is different, it is definitely not a dull accounting role here. The task I most enjoy is producing the monthly management report.

Outside work I enjoy hiking, taking my 2 sausage dogs to the beach, reading and eating out.

Stephen Franey

Associate Geo-Environmental Engineer​

Started in Causeway Geotech in Sept 2013

My role is to oversee a variety of geo-environmental investigation projects. These can vary from large scale, technical environmental investigations through to small one day investigations, all depending on the clients’ requirements. This work involves close liaison with clients, consulting engineers and colleagues on the ground to ensure the objectives of each project are met and that any challenges encountered are resolved with a practical solution. This work can have its occasional headaches but with a good team around, no problem is too difficult to resolve.

​Outside of work I enjoy hikes along the coast and in the forests around our home and enjoy the opportunity to get out for a cycle and the occasional round of golf. I also enjoy helping out with hurling and football training for our children as well as attending GAA matches with family and friends. For proper downtime I enjoy reading and listening to music and hopefully as our children get older will be able to attend some concerts again!

Neil Haggan

Marine Contracts Manager​

Started in Causeway Geotech in January 2016

My role is to oversee all our marine contracts. Day to day this involves management of the marine team across multiple projects, and liaison with our clients and their consultants working towards our common goals. Whilst the work can be challenging at times, it’s never dull, always variable, and generally very rewarding. The onus now is to continue to build our marine team and our offering to our client portfolio. With the emergence of the offshore wind market in Europe, alongside the worldwide opportunities offered by the wider Sealaska Engineering & Applied Sciences (SEAS) team, this really is an exciting time to be involved in the sector.

Outside of work I enjoy playing football and golf, watching films, listening to music, attending gigs, and occasionally socialising with like-minded adults when babysitters can be arranged.