Chartered Environmentalist Tim Carter has joined Tidal Lagoon Power, the development company behind the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, as head of environment to lead a team of environmental and ecology specialists. Tidal Lagoon Power also welcomes Jo Pickard, principal ecologist.  

Carter brings more than 20 years of experience to Tidal Lagoon Power, most recently serving as technical director at Hyder Consulting. There, he was primarily responsible for the environmental impact assessment of major infrastructure projects. Carter brings considerable knowledge of landscape assessment, the development of ecological mitigation proposals and the assessment of nationally significant infrastructure projects. His most recent work includes the Loughor Viaduct replacement for Network Rail and the Thanckes Oil Fuel Depot project in Plymouth, as well as a number of high-profile highways projects throughout the UK.  Carter is a Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (MIEMA) and also a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (CMLI). He has acted as an expert witness at Public Inquiries in both the UK and Ireland.

Jo Pickard is a specialist in habitats regulations assessment and environmental impact assessment, bringing extensive experience of working in both nature conservation and commercial ecological consultancy. She holds an MSc in Environmental Impact Assessment from Aberystwyth University, and her career has included seven years working for the Countryside Council for Wales (now Natural Resources Wales), followed by seven years working  Hyder Consulting, where she was responsible for the habitats regulations assessment and ecological input into a wide range of infrastructure projects. Pickard is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (MCIEEM) and a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv).

“Both Tim and Jo have excellent working knowledge of statutory processes and procedural requirements for nationally significant infrastructure projects, including marine, coastal, transport and property development,” said Mark Shorrock, chief executive of Tidal Lagoon Power. “Their specific experience of environmental impact assessment and liaison with statutory consultees will be of great benefit to our business as we continue with our plans to follow Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon with five full-scale tidal lagoons in UK waters, meeting approximately 8% of the UK’s electricity requirements.”