Chris Woodhead Joined S.A.Technology in early 2008 as the Manager of International Operations charged with the continued development of S.A. Robotics Ltd. a UK subsidiary. He was promoted in early 2009 to Vice President of International Operations and Managing Director S.A. Robotics Ltd.
Prior to working for S.A.Technology Mr. Woodhead was employed by The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) where he held various senior management positions including Operational Project Manager of the Windscale Piles Decommissioning Project, Project Manager of the Windscale Advanced Gas Reactor (WAGR) Decommissioning Project and Project Controls Manager.
In 1998 after completing his Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering Mr Woodhead began his career as a Structural Engineer within the Civil Construction Industry. He took a year out in 2002 to complete a Masters Degree in Impact and Explosive Engineering from The University Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). Successfully completing his Master Degree he joined the Nuclear Industry working for WS Atkins as a Structural Engineer, gaining significant experience in building substantiation and seismic analysis.
Mr Woodhead joined UKAEA in 2004 where he quickly attained a senior management position and secured support and funding to obtain a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). He completed his MBA in 2007 from the University of Lancaster.
Mr Woodhead has held various diverse positions allowing him to gain a holistic appreciation of the nuclear industry. With his combined managerial skill set, strong leadership, and developing network, he continues to drive and grow the UK subsidiary through a collaborative market approach offering a differentiated service.
Matt Cole took over as chief engineer of the company in 2007 after moving up from a project engineering and lead mechanical engineering role. Mr. Cole was the first employee hired by Dan Johnson and started work for the company while still in high school. Starting work as a machinist and welder Mr. Cole built some of the first equipment made by the company under the direction of Mr. Johnson. After completing an engineering degree in 2000, Matt hired on full-time to the company as an design engineer. Mr. Cole has grown as the company has grown moving from entry level design engineer through project engineering/management and finally to engineering management. He understands and has worked with nearly every aspect of the company from fabrication to purchasing.
Mr. Cole has been instrumental in improving the engineering discipline and professionalism while maintaining the creativity and flexibility that was key to the company’s growth. Under Mr. Cole, the engineering program has built an extraordinary core of engineering leadership by elevating engineers who have proven themselves on difficult and quick turn-around projects to lead positions. This group, under Mr. Cole’s leadership, improved the engineering process to meet not only the standards required by NQA-1 but also ISO9001:2000. Matt has seen every aspect of the business from working out of Dan Johnson’s garage to a multi-national company with 150 employees.
Mr. Cole has had a working role on nearly every major project done by the company since its inception. This insight into the realities and challenges of producing complex equipment in short-time frames is the experience that Mr. Cole will use to continue to improve every aspect of the engineering program. This will ensure that S.A.Technology continues to deliver high-quality products highly focused on specific clients needs so that these clients get the equipment they need to solve their problems while understanding the difficult project constraints these clients face.
Hugh Miller joined SA Robotics as Programme Manager in November 2009 charged with the management of ongoing and new projects, improving project management systems and negotiating new contracts under NEC Conditions of contract. Mr Miller holds an IOD Diploma in Company Direction
Prior to working for SA Robotics Mr Miller has held senior positions with several UK and international nuclear engineering companies. Positions including Studsvik UK Programme Manager. Gravatom Engineering Systems General Manager (Workington) and Nukem Business Development Manager
Mr Miller entered the Nuclear Industry in 1976 when he joined UKAEA at Dounreay. Recognised as an innovative engineering manager Mr Miller was promoted several times and held various senior positions. Including; Area Engineer (Reprocessing Plants), FCA Project Manager, Manager Engineering Development Unit and Manager Central Engineering. Mr Miller has over the years developed a large network of contacts as is well known throughout the UK Nuclear Industry
Steve Blackwell joined SA robotics in late 2007 as the lead electrical engineer looking after the development of remote tooling for the Sellafield site (UK). He was promoted to UK Engineering Manager in 2009.
Prior to joining SA Robotics Mr Blackwell was employed by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) where he held the position of Engineering Manager on the Windscale Advanced Gas Cooled reactor (WAGR) Decommissioning project.
Mr Blackwell graduated his part time studies at the University of Central Lancashire in 2001 with an Honours degree in Electronics and Control.
On leaving school Mr Blackwell worked as an apprentice gaining hands on experience and attending technical college. Following his apprenticeship Mr Blackwell undertook various positions working at a specialist high speed packaging producer. His final role before leaving to join UKAEA was design engineer.
