Meet the ARC Team

We believe that building with nature-inclusive designs is one of the most powerful ways that we can enrich marine biodiversity across the world’s oceans. We wouldn’t be where we are today without our teams of dedicated scientists, engineers, conservationists and all-round ocean-lovers.

Tom Birbeck

Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Tom Birbeck

Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

After extensive research into artificial reefs and their uses around the world, Tom founded ARC Marine in 2015 with a determination to repair the world’s damaged marine ecosystems.

He has experience in commercial diving, aquaculture, and sustainable fishing and has successfully led the company over the past 9 years, from a seed round of investment to the completion and installation of ARC Marine’s flagship product, reef cubes® across the globe.

Tom’s vision is for ARC Marine to pioneer the unrealised potential across the offshore, coastal defence and aquaculture industries, helping them to build thriving marine ecosystems. These ecosystems can be designated for marine conservation, habitat restoration, sustainable fishing and restocking programs or, most importantly, scientific monitoring and proactive management for long-term sustainable oceans.

Steve Wright

Strategic Business Lead

Steve Wright

Strategic Business Lead

Fascinated by rock pooling, snorkelling and diving since childhood I’m finally working on opportunities to positively help transform how mankind impacts the oceans and work with people passionate about ocean conservation. My dream is to get paid to dive and protect marine reefs around the world and with ARC Marine that is a real possibility.

Julian Chenoweth

Chief Manufacturing Director (CMD)

Julian Chenoweth

Chief Manufacturing Director (CMD)

A highly experienced and successful entrepreneur having built several companies from start-ups to multi million pound turnover businesses, mostly in the Waste management and haulage industries. I've also built an extremely successful group of companies(Maen Karne Group) specialising in concrete products, ready mix concrete, aggregate bagging and waste processing. In 2017 I sold Maen Karne which continues to successfully operate to this day and of which I remain the Chairman. Following the sale of Maen Karne I started and developed a further eight businesses, all of which have been equally successful. I sit on several corporate business boards and performs chairman roles in addition to many directorate roles across multiple businesses.

Sam Hickling

Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)

Sam Hickling

Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)

A dedicated scientist with a generalist skill set that allows me to keep ahead of the varying aspects of development at ARC. As the Chief Scientific Officer I’m in a multifaceted role that includes aspects of management, ecology, materials science; and product development.

I'm grateful to be working with ARC marine. I've been able to develop around my role in the company and the mission is intertwined with my goals in life.

James Murphy

Project Engineer/Marine Scientist

James Murphy

Project Engineer/Marine Scientist

A keen scientific, commercial and recreational diver, I have personally witnessed the rapid decline in marine biodiversity and the destruction caused by human activities on the marine environment and believe it is imperative to work with nature in order to ensure our survival and that of all marine species.

I am a firm believer in a nature inclusive approach to the design of every marine project. My ethos aligns fully with ARC Marine and over the last 9 years I have been part of the design, implementation and monitoring team for every reef that they have deployed.

James Regan

Non-Executive Chairman & Growth Advisor

James Regan

Non-Executive Chairman & Growth Advisor

An experienced business builder with a passion for the natural environment. I get a kick out of working with enthusiastic teams to create and grow technology companies.

What better than to do that with an endeavour working to rescue our oceans and the planet?

Scott Bushby

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Scott Bushby

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

I’m a chartered accountant with more than 20 years’ experience leading the finance functions of engineering businesses across the South Coast.

I love living near the ocean and in my free time I’m a coasteering instructor, so I get to see first-hand the changes to the ecosystems along our coastlines.

Working for ARC means being part of a company that’s not only pushing the boundaries in working to repair the world’s ecosystems - it’s also highlighting the strength of UK innovation and engineering.

Levi Williams

Office Manager

Levi Williams

Office Manager

As the Office Manager and PA, I'm here to make sure that the office runs smoothly and that the staff at ARC Marine are happy. I love living by the ocean - it helps bring me a sense of calm when life gets hectic.

Harrison Short

Project Engineer

Harrison Short

Project Engineer

An engineer with experience in marine civil and coastal engineering looking to develop artificial reefs across the globe with ARC Marine’s unique and leading solutions. I love spending time in and around the ocean and enjoy diving and surfing whenever I can.

By providing responsible, sustainable, and practical solutions with ARC Marine I hope to help preserve and restore the ocean for generations to come.

Fiona Hutton

Accounts Manager

Fiona Hutton

Accounts Manager

A Chartered Accountant here to make sure that ARC’s figures balance and that we’re following best practice.

I’ve got an eye for detail, a love of excel and an interest in sustainability and the reduction of waste. At home by the sea, I live in Cornwall where I enjoy swimming and surfing - I find meaning by helping to build biodiversity with ARC.

Dave Kellaway

Production Manager

Hannah McFadyen

Marketing Manager

Hannah McFadyen

Marketing Manager

An ocean-loving marketing professional working to accelerate reef creation by spreading the word about ARC Marine and our groundbreaking solutions. Copywriting, swimming, sailing and social media are some of my biggest passions and I couldn’t think of a better way to bring them together than in my role here at ARC.

Ferrante Grasselli

Eco-engineering Scientist

Ferrante Grasselli

Eco-engineering Scientist

Marine ecologist specialised in eco-engineering solutions for various coastal and marine habitats. My goal is to contribute to the improvement of marine ecosystems by leveraging the extensive knowledge I acquired throughout my studies.

At ARC Marine, my work matches my goals and background and I’m here to promote the conservation and restoration of the marine environment by designing greener solutions.

Martin Dreneau

International Business Representative

Martin Dreneau

International Business Representative

Originally from eastern France, I decided to move to the UK 10 years ago driven by my passion for English literature, history and all things British! Living by the seaside on the English Riviera has made me aware of the strain human activities put on our oceans and coastlines.

As an International Business Representative at ARC Marine, my aim is to provide advice and support to our customers and to assist our team at ARC Marine to accelerate reef creation in the British Isles and beyond.

Tyler Ireson

Production Team

Charlie Brunyate

Blue Economy & Sustainability Lead

Charlie Brunyate

Blue Economy & Sustainability Lead

Sitting at the nexus of sustainability, corporate communications and change management, I'm here to ensure our sustainable activities are anchored to our core business values, stakeholder expectations and meeting the environmental and societal challenges of global habitat restoration and conservation.

Growing up by the sea, I'm passionate about nature and coastal life, leveraging my commercial experience and expertise to help achieve ARC Marine's ambition to create thriving ecosystems and advocate for a world in which nature is a key business consideration for the future.

Koan Hughes

Graduate Marine Scientist

Koan Hughes

Graduate Marine Scientist

As a dedicated marine scientist and recreational user of the marine environment, I’ve explored a multitude of scientific principles in exciting locations around the world. I’m passionate about investigating the intricacies of underwater life and our understanding of physical marine processes.

I’m excited to navigate a path to sustainable coastal and offshore development, entwining ARC Marine’s nature-inclusive ethos with my own so we can make a meaningful impact on our blue environment.

Kyle Dearson

STEM Graduate

Kyle Dearson

STEM Graduate

An engineer by qualification, I moved back home to Torquay after four years of study away from the sea at the University of Cambridge, and I am glad that I’ve found a position that I’m not only interested in but gives me as much of a connection to the ocean as I had growing up.

At ARC Marine, I enjoy tackling the engineering considerations of ARC’s products, but I am also fascinated by and have appreciated researching, understanding, and helping to further our scientific endeavours. It’s clear to see the effects of humanity on undersea ecosystems around the world, and I consider it a privilege to be a part of the effort to save our seas.

Karen Whicker

QHSE Advisor

Korede Agbaje

Graduate Engineer

Korede Agbaje

Graduate Engineer

I am passionate about marine conservation and joining ARC Marine has not only allowed me to leverage my previous experience in the energy sector but has also provided a platform to contribute to a cause I deeply care about. With a keen interest in nature-inclusive design, I am excited to be part of a team that prioritizes the health of our marine ecosystems. My role as a Graduate Engineer involves undertaking technical assessments on a project-by-project basis, allowing me to apply my skills in a meaningful and impactful way.

David Blake

Sales Director

Dave Runicles

Senior Engineer

Looking to join the ARC team?

If you're a Marine Engineer, Scientist, Ecologist or think you can help us accelerate reef creation, we want to hear from you.

Testimonials

“Kier have been very satisfied and pleased with ARC Marine throughout the preconstruction and construction stages of the Newlyn Tidal R&D project. ARC Marine have fabricated and delivered exceptional Intertidal reef cube® ECO armour units for the project where all parties, including Kier, the Environment Agency and Atkins, have been very impressed with the quality of finish of the units. Overall a very exceptional service from ARC Marine and would highly recommend.”

Jack Walker, Site Agent / Chartered Engineer, Kier Infrastructure – Regional Civil Engineering

“reef cubes® is a unique product that could reach a massive global market. Marine-i has been proud to help ARC Marine develop and test their amazing new approach to marine conservation and in particular, its application to marine renewable energy. Their pioneering products have the potential to improve the health of our oceans for generations to come.”

Alex Whatley, University of Plymouth

"ARC Marine are providing 25% of the reef blocks for the Newlyn project. Their blocks offer multi-functional benefits, such as biodiversity enhancing design and low-carbon fabrication. The development of viable alternatives to carbon intensive and non-sustainable solutions such as reinforced concrete, or quarried rock, is hugely important in order to meet the EA’s organisational targets to achieve net zero by 2030. More broadly, decarbonisation of the coastal and subsea infrastructure industry will also provide an important contribution to wider UK pledges on climate change."

Justin Ridgewell, Coastal Advisor for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Environment Agency

“The idea of a carbon-neutral reef cube® that can be used to help rehabilitate reef ecosystems is exciting – we really need to do everything we can to give coral reefs a break”

Dr Sylvia Earle, National Geographic Explorer upon congratulating ARC Marine as an Ocean Impact Finalist, 2020.

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