Who are we

Chair 
University of Glasgow
Daniel.Mulvihill@glasgow.ac.uk

Daniel Mulvihill is Professor of Materials Engineering and Tribology at the James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, UK. He is also a faculty member of the Materials & Manufacturing Research Group (MMRG). He obtained his doctorate at the University of Oxford (UK) in 2012 and then completed postdoctoral periods at the University of Limerick, EPFL Switzerland and the University of Cambridge prior to joining Glasgow in 2016. His research interests are focused on tribology, experimental mechanics and materials for energy applications. His work has included contributions on: friction, wear, surface topography, triboelectrification, adhesion, composite materials and aerospace metal alloys. He is a ‘novel materials editor’ for Chemical Engineering Journal (Elsevier) and also editor for Results in Engineering (Elsevier). He is a Chartered Engineer in the UK (C.Eng.) since 2017 and was elected Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE) in 2023. Prof Mulvihill is also a former Institution of Mechanical Engineers Tribology Trust Bronze Medallist (2013) and BSSM Young Stress Analyst (2011). He chaired the BSSM CONFCO committee between 2019 and 2024 and was General Chair for the BSSM’s 17th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Mechanics (Glasgow) in 2023.

Message from the Chair 2025

Vice Chair 
University of Bristol
neha.chandarana@bristol.ac.uk

Dr Neha Chandarana is a Senior Lecturer in Bio-based and Sustainable Composites and the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Director at the University of Bristol. She is based school civil airspace and also Bristol composites institute (BCI). Neha’s research interests lie in the areas of non-destructive evaluation, structural health monitoring and sustainability of composite materials and constituents.

Honorary Treasurer
BSSM
jdl602@gmail.com

A former Chair of the Society and committee member for over 15 years, Jerry worked for almost 30 years in the Materials Centre at NPL after completing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Leeds University.

He has relevant interest and experience in many aspects of materials testing and strain measurement, but specifically in strain gauging, DIC, modulus measurement, microscale testing, FIB and residual stress measurement.

Outside interest include cycling, walking, photography, music, sport and Burnley FC.   

Honorary Secretary
aboaler@gmail.com

Amanda is now the Company Secretary for the BSSM having previously been the Society Manager from September 2013 to November 2025.  

Previously, Amanda has worked in both the scientific and commercial sector, as a participant and as an event co-ordinator.

SATCO Chair and Past Chair
Swansea University
hari.arora@swansea.ac.uk

Professor Hari Arora has been on the committee since 2016 and works on characterisation across length and time scales including high-rate events (blast and ballistics). He has worked on protective structures (materials); and injury, health, and disease with a focus on soft tissues (biomechanics). Hari is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Swansea University. He previously worked in the Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering Departments at Imperial College London, the latter where he also obtained his MEng and PhD.

He has experience across a range of measurement techniques with specific interests in digital image/volume correlation, microscale testing and measurements in extreme environments (e.g. blast).

Outside interests include travel, cooking, most sport and painting (occasionally more than just speckles). 

Message from Chair 2024 

Cerco Chair
ian_j_jones@blueyonder.co.uk

Ian has been the Chair of the certification committee and the Chief Examiner for strain gauge certification for the British Society for Strain Measurement (BSSM) for over 20 years. Ian is also a member of the BSSM’s National Council, Natco.

Retiring in June 2021 after working in the Aerospace industry for over 35 years, he was involved in the design and testing of all the Airbus aircraft programs including the latter days of Concorde. As the Advanced Metrology Methods Expert, he focused on Experimental Mechanics strain and displacement measurements and was responsible for the measurement technologies deployed within the Airbus Test centres.

Confco Chair 
University of Liverpool
K.Dvurecenska@liverpool.ac.uk

Ksenija is a lecturer in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Liverpool and a member of the Structural Materials and Mechanics research group. The challenges she is addressing with her research are effective use of physical measurements in the validation process, standardisation of the validation methods, and interpretation of the validation outcomes. This is with the aim to establish confidence in computational models and support decisions based on the predictions of the high-fidelity models. She was a recipient of the National Nuclear Laboratory Chief Scientist Award for the best paper in 2018 resulting from an NNL-university collaboration as part of her PhD. She joined the BSSM CONFCO Committee in 2022, and since then has chaired the 8th PostGraduate Experimental Mechanics conference and 18th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Mechanics.

Society Manager
rachel.tomlinson@bssm.org

Dr Rachel Tomlinson became the Society Manager for the BSSM in October 2025.  Rachel is responsible for the day to day running of the Society including, membership applications, planning and facilitating the annual conference, workshops and seminars, invoicing and general enquiries.

Rachel retired from the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering at the University of Sheffield in June 2025 after an academic career of over 30 years. She is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Her research was in the area of experimental mechanics, primarily in the development and use of optical instruments to measure strain. She has expertise in Photoelasticity, Thermoelastic Stress Analysis, Digital Image Correlation, and Experimental Fracture Mechanics.

She has been a member of BSSM since 1993 when she won the Young Stress Analyst Competition. She has served as a member of NATCO and CONFCO and has chaired the organising committee for several annual conferences, most recently in Sheffield in 2017.

Outside of her professional career, Rachel enjoys sewing, many types of crafting, travelling and hiking.

Marketing Manager & Webmaster
bianagale@bssm.org

Working with the BSSM since 2005, Biana is a Marketing professional with a wealth of experience spanning sectors as broad as automotive and aerospace through to the hospitality industry and the NHS. Experience covers the full marketing arena working through the line on all project types whether digital, print or social media.

Qualified to Masters level, Biana’s responsibilities at the BSSM include production of all marketing and PR material as well as creation and management of all CRM and online activity.

Past Chair
Techni Measure
chair@bssm.org

Since graduating from the University of Southampton with MEng Aeronautics & Astronautics, Andrew spent 14 years involved in the design and test of rotary wing aircraft at what is currently named Leonardo Helicopters. For the last 5 years Andrew has been a Director of Techni Measure Ltd, supporting UK industry with the supply and installation of strain gauges and many other types of sensors for test & measurement applications and it is in this role that Andrew became involved in BSSM. Whilst mainly experienced in bonded resistance and fibre optic strain gauges, Andrew has an ardent interest and fast growing knowledge in all methods of strain measurement. BSSM is a strong part of Andrew’s heritage since his grandfather Frank Ramage and father Ian Ramage have both been involved with the Society since its foundation in 1964.

Outside of his professional career Andrew enjoys raising his three young daughters and, when he gets the chance, surfing, mountain biking, whitewater kayaking or snowboarding.

Natco Member
Imperial College London
catrin.davies@imperial.ac.uk

Catrin Mair Davies is a Professor in Structural Integrity within the Mechanics of Materials Division at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London. She was awarded an EPSRC Career Acceleration Fellowship (2010-2015) in partnership with EDF Energy and E.ON. She leads the High Temperature Centre at Imperial and in total has over 90 publications relating to experimental testing and finite element modelling of creep deformation, damage, creep crack initiation and growth, low-cycle fatigue, weld simulations, prediction and measurement of residual stresses and failure analyses. Her research has been incorporated into industrial codes and testing standards.

Past Chair
LaVisionUK Ltd
dhollis@lavision.com

A committee member since 2007, Dave has served as Society and SaTCo Chair. Having completed a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering at Loughborough University, he has been with LaVision since 2005 and has the current position of Technical Director of the UK business. Dave also has responsibility for the materials testing products for LaVision globally and significant experience with Digital Image and Volume Correlation.  That experience has been gained across a wide range of applications including high speed testing, testing at the microscale, high temperature tests, and the use of X-ray CT imaging.

Past Chair
The Open University
salih.gungor@open.ac.uk

Past Chair of BSSM and a committee member since 2011, Salih is a senior lecturer in Materials Engineering at The Open University, where he produces and presents courses in mechanics, materials engineering, nuclear energy and structural integrity of materials and structures. Before joining The Open University, he has worked in several post-doctoral projects at the Universities of Sheffield and Oxford. Salih has over 25 years of research experience in applying optically-based experimental methods for characterizing in-situ behaviour of materials and structures. His current interests include the application of DIC for strain measurement in high temperature tests, in particular for the characterisation of creep behaviour of weldments.

Past Chair
BSSM
judithshackleton@compuserve.com

Judith Shackleton, CEng. CSci. received an MSc from the University of Aston in 1984 and has worked in the field of X-ray crystallography for over 40 years. She has been working in the field of residual stress measurement for the last 20 years. She retired from full time work in the Civil Large Engines Division of Rolls-Royce plc in December 2020 where she was responsible for most of their X-ray diffraction analysis, principally the measurement of residual stress.

She has worked in both Industry and academia including, Lucas Industries, Philips Analytical (now Panalytical), The University of Manchester Department of Materials Science and finally Rolls-Royce. Her principal interests include all diffraction based methods of residual stress measurement primarily those based on laboratory X-ray sources. Although now retired she retains an active interest in the field.

Committee Member
Airbus
emily.rolfe@airbus.com

Advanced Measurement Specialist at Airbus. Emily is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and PhD graduate with research focus on composites, sandwich structures, blast and impact. Experience with conducting and instrumenting large scale and laboratory based experiments. Interests in digital image correlation, advanced measurement techniques, experimental mechanics and composite materials. Research Gate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emily_Rolfe2

Natco Member
Swansea University
feihu.zhao@swansea.ac.uk

Dr Feihu Zhao is a Lecturer of Biomedical Engineering in Zinekiewicz Centre for Computational Engineering (ZCCE), Engineering, Swansea University.

Before joining Swansea University, Feihu was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands. During his postdoctoral period, Feihu also held an Academic Visitor position in INSIGNEO Institute for in silico Medicine, University of Sheffield. Feihu received his PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering from National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland in 2016, and a MSc(Tech) degree in Machine Automation from Tampere University of Technology, Finland in 2012.

Feihu’s research is mainly focused on using in silico approach for elucidating and optimising the micro-mechanical environment of cells for bone & cartilage tissue engineering. His research also involves using a combination of computational and experimental techniques (e.g. atomic force microscopy, microfluidics) for investigating cellular biomechanics & mechanobiology. Furthermore, his work has significant impact on cell/tissue engineering products R&D (e.g. biomaterial scaffolds, bioreactors and microfluidic devices

Natco Member
UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)
lloyd.fletcher@ukaea.uk

Lloyd's work focuses on creating the technology required to qualify fusion components and materials, for extreme and untestable environments. 

His research focuses on developing new material and component test methods that leverage the power of image-based measurements (e.g. digital image correlation, DIC and infra-red thermography) to obtain more information from a single test. 

His latest publications can be found on my google scholar profile: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=IEfaCN8AAAAJ&hl=en

Natco Member
Head of Postgraduate Institute, National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
richard.burguete@npl.co.uk

Richard graduated from the University of Sheffield with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 1994. Following three years as a postdoctoral researcher working in Experimental Mechanics, he joined the Experimental Stress Analysis group at Airbus in Bristol where he developed and implemented a variety of optical stress and deformation measurement techniques for structural testing. During this time he sponsored many postgraduate research projects and led the development of the Structures Test R&D strategy for Airbus as well as managing the associated test programme.

Having followed a postgraduate training pathway, Richard has then delivered technical solutions in his field of expertise, with a focus on the usual business challenges of optimising cost and time. The value of collaborative engagement is well understood by Richard and during his career at Airbus, and chairmanship of the British Society for Strain Measurement, he fostered the development of stronger links between industry and academia along with other similar societies as part of being a strong believer in the industrial application of high-level academic research and skills.

Richard remains passionate about a joint industry and academic framework being the ideal platform for postgraduate training, leading to the development of extremely desirable skillsets for the benefit of industry and academia alike, so increasing career prospects for postgraduate researchers.

Natco Member
University of Strathclyde
yevgen.gorash@strath.ac.uk

Yevgen Gorash is Research Fellow in the Weir Advanced Research Centre (WARC) - research group which works on a range of collaborative projects with Weir Group, a leading manufacturer of equipment for mining, oil and gas and power industries.

His area of expertise and responsibly includes FE-analysis of structural integrity using advanced approaches within non-linear Mechanics of Materials. Objects of analysis and design optimisation are usually products produced by various divisions and companies of the Weir Group located all over the world.

Managerial responsibilities within WARC and department include implementation of research and knowledge exchange projects, coordination with industrial partners, support of early career researchers and supervision of PhD students.

Natco Member
University of Sheffield
r.curry@sheffield.ac.uk

Richard completed his engineering training at the University of Cape Town in South African and spent the first part of his career working in Blast and Impact protection as well as the Centre for Materials Engineering. He is interested in the deformation of materials at high strain rates under blast and impact loading conditions and the transient deformation of structures under these extreme loading conditions. He is particularly interested in the application on non contact measurement techniques such as Digital Image Correlation (DIC) in these environments due to the dense datasets which can generate during experiments

Committee Member & CERCO Instructor
Vishay Measurements Group UK Ltd
Anton.Chittey@VPGSensors.com

Anton has worked with strain gauges for more than 30 years. In that time he has repaired and calibrated instrumentation, installed gauges and captured data on a variety of materials in many environments, including bone for evolutionary biology investigation, a hydroelectric power station, sea trials for a missile system, vehicle testing on a well-known test track etc.  

Presenting training workshops has been a key part of his career including those on behalf of the BSSM. He has been a member of BSSM’s CERCO committee for several years which includes the role of examiner for the strain gauge installation certification scheme.  

Natco Member
Instron
Peter_Fuller@instron.com

Peter is a Materials Testing Consultant and Sales & Applications Engineer at BSSM Corporate Member Instron

Natco Member
Severn Thermal Solutions
nigel.ryder@severnts.co.uk

NIgel is Managing Director with BSSM Corporate Member Severn Thermal Solutions Limited

Committee Member & CERCO Instructor
Strain Solutions Ltd
richard.greene@strainsolutions.com

Richard is the Managing Director of Strain Solutions Ltd, a small UK-based consultancy company which offers full field strain measurement capability around the world using techniques including digital image correlation, thermoelastic stress analysis and photoelastic stress analysis, alongside point sensors such as strain gauges and thermocouples.

He has previously served on NATCO, is currently a member of CERCO, and delivers strain gauge installation courses and seminars on behalf of the society, mostly at levels 2 and 3 of the certification scheme. 

CERCO Committee Member & Instructor
Quantify bv / Strain Academy
philippe.zwaenepoel@quantifybv.be

Philippe is the managing director of Quantify, a small business based in Belgium, specialising in distributing test and measurement equipment and strain gauges from VPG Micro Measurements. He has been assisting and advising customers on their strain gauge installations since 2012. Philippe has also founded The Strain Academy, bringing workshops based on the BSSM Code of Practice to the BeNeLux market and giving guest lectures in Universities and Schools to introduce students to the world of strain measurements.

Presenting training workshops has been a key part of his career and has been the foundation to setting up The Strain Academy.
He is the newest member of the CERCO committee and will be promoting the BSSM Code of Practice and certification scheme, and being multi-lingual, this includes being the local examiner in this region.