Team

Leadership Team

Alireza Abbassi Monjezi

Founder and CEO

Alireza Abbassi Monjezi

Founder and CEO

Waterwhelm Founder, technology inventor, and multiple award-winner, including Scottish EDGE and a Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowship. A PhD in desalination, 3 years post-doctoral experience with over 7 years of business and technology development.

Mark Volanthen

Chairman

Mark Volanthen

Chairman

Serial entrepreneur with international career in private equity and VC backed businesses, with extensive business development, technology scaling and board level experience.

Akta Raja

Investment Director

Akta Raja

Investment Director

Serial entrepreneur, qualified solicitor and former investment banker with experience in successfully leading and scaling multiple businesses.

Engineering and Operations Team

Lisa Thomson

Head of HR

Lisa Thomson

Head of HR

A final year Business with Marketing student at the University of Edinburgh. Working part-time and supporting the creation of new marketing materials, branding and conducting market research.

Even Hestnes

Head Of Operations

Even Hestnes

Head Of Operations

A Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) with 30 years of experience in project and engineering management. Managing and delivering projects in the oil and gas industry, and now applying this experience to overseeing engineering operations, plant development, project development and equipment installation.

Dr Jamshid Zarkesh

Head of Engineering

Dr Jamshid Zarkesh

Head of Engineering

Significant experience in process engineering and engineering design, specialising in modelling, simulation, prototyping and commercialising thermal separation processes. Previously involved in industrial energy efficiency optimisation projects across a 35-year engineering career in the energy sector.

Fiona Collins

Head of Finance

Fiona Collins

Head of Finance

A chartered accountant since 2007 with over 15 years of experience in supporting management teams at fast-growing companies with a focus on financial management to meet organisational priorities.

Iman Shams

Senior Process Engineer

Iman Shams

Senior Process Engineer

A final year Business with Marketing student at the University of Edinburgh. Working part-time and supporting the creation of new marketing materials, branding and conducting market research.

Leonardo Marcelo

Project Engineer

Leonardo Marcelo

Project Engineer

A final year Business with Marketing student at the University of Edinburgh. Working part-time and supporting the creation of new marketing materials, branding and conducting market research.

Ben Parkinson

Process Engineer

Ben Parkinson

Process Engineer

A final year Business with Marketing student at the University of Edinburgh. Working part-time and supporting the creation of new marketing materials, branding and conducting market research.

Charles Hine

Business Development Officer

Charles Hine

Business Development Officer

With an MSc in International Development at the University of St. Andrews - focussed on transboundary water cooperation. Followed by 4 years business communications and development experience.

Leila Zarbafnejad

Control System Engineer

Leila Zarbafnejad

Control System Engineer

An Electrical Engineer with over 20 years of experience in control systems development, plant automation, data monitoring and instrumentation communication.

Farshid Tarzdar

Electrical Engineer

Farshid Tarzdar

Electrical Engineer

Over 30 years of industrial experience in project and plant development as a senior electrical engineer with extensive expertise in engineering control, instrumentation, and automation.

Mathew Nwafor

Plant Operator

Mathew Nwafor

Plant Operator

Over 7 years of experience in process/plant operation in chemical industries, cement industries, and the wastewater treatment industry. With a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and an MSc in Sustainable Engineering.

Shahzad Ahmad

Plant Operator

Shahzad Ahmad

Plant Operator

Over 20 years of experience as a Plant Operator working in numerous refineries in various countries. Now applying his experience to operation of pilot / commercial plants.

Zaw Htet

Plant Operator

Zaw Htet

Plant Operator

A final year Business with Marketing student at the University of Edinburgh. Working part-time and supporting the creation of new marketing materials, branding and conducting market research.

Poppy Houston

Graduate Marketing Assistant

Poppy Houston

Graduate Marketing Assistant

A final year Business with Marketing student at the University of Edinburgh. Working part-time and supporting the creation of new marketing materials, branding and conducting market research.

Connor Fairgrieve

Mechanical Technician

Connor Fairgrieve

Mechanical Technician

A final year Business with Marketing student at the University of Edinburgh. Working part-time and supporting the creation of new marketing materials, branding and conducting market research.

Hannah Turner

Business Development Engineer

Hannah Turner

Business Development Engineer

A final year Business with Marketing student at the University of Edinburgh. Working part-time and supporting the creation of new marketing materials, branding and conducting market research.

Iona Thomson

Graduate Process Engineer

Iona Thomson

Graduate Process Engineer

A final year Business with Marketing student at the University of Edinburgh. Working part-time and supporting the creation of new marketing materials, branding and conducting market research.

Ali Sadeghi

Intern Mechanical Engineer

Ali Sadeghi

Intern Mechanical Engineer

A final year Business with Marketing student at the University of Edinburgh. Working part-time and supporting the creation of new marketing materials, branding and conducting market research.

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Team

Leadership Team

Alireza Abbassi Monjezi

Mark Volanthen

Akta Raja

Engineering and Operations Team

Lisa Thomson

Even Hestnes

Dr Jamshid Zarkesh

Fiona Collins

Iman Shams

Leonardo Marcelo

Ben Parkinson

Charles Hine

Leila Zarbafnejad

Farshid Tarzdar

Mathew Nwafor

Shahzad Ahmad

Zaw Htet

Poppy Houston

Connor Fairgrieve

Hannah Turner

Iona Thomson

Ali Sadeghi

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