Dr Gareth Davies, BSc (Hons), PhD

Chief Executive Officer, Aquatera Group

Dr Gareth Davies has worked as an environmental consultant for over 30 years. He trained initially as a marine biologist, obtaining his doctorate in deep sea biology. He has since been involved in over 750 consultancy and research projects and has particularly extensive experience in environmental impact assessment (EIA), best practicable environmental option (BPEO) studies, quantitative risk assessment, environmental surveys, environmental management systems development, waste management studies, stakeholder consultation, workshop organisation and training for the renewable energy, oil and gas and other industrial sectors. He has worked in many areas of the world including the Caspian Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, Russia, North America, South America and numerous island groups.

Since founding Aquatera Ltd in 2000, Dr Davies has been deeply involved in the development of the marine renewables industry in Scotland and internationally. In addition to leading and participating in many of the 300 or so studies that Aquatera has completed in this sector, he has also been an active member on the board of the Scottish Renewables Forum where he co-chaired the Marine Group as well as participating in the Marine Grid Group and has also served for over 10 years on the board of the Orkney Renewables Forum (OREF) where he is currently Co-Chair. He has also been a sustainable energy ambassador and visiting expert for places such as Chile, Barbados, wider Caribbean, Brazil, Faroes, USA, Japan, Portugal, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.

Renowned for innovative thinking, enthusiasm and commitment to finding solutions, Dr Davies has moulded Aquatera into a respected, high profile consultancy firm. In 2002 the company received a BP Helios Awards Commendation for environmental support to the Magnus Enhanced Oil Recovery Project in the northern North Sea. A year later, the company was awarded a Highlands and Islands Small Business of the Year Commendation. Most recently the company’s work for The Highland Council in developing a Renewable Energy Strategy was recognised with a 2007 Scottish Planning Awards Commendation. Aquatera was also shortlisted for the company of the year award at the Scottish Renewables Forum Green Energy Awards. In a wider business context in 2008 Aquatera was one of three companies from the Highlands and Islands to be awarded an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholarship to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan Business School. Gareth led Aquatera to a number of export achievement awards and business excellence nominations during the period 2010 to 2016. In 2017 Gareth received two prestigious lifetime achievement awards from SCDI Highlands and Islands for Business Excellence and from the Scottish Green Energy Awards for renewables related activities.