Meet the Team

Peter Cooke

Owner, Founder & Chairman

Peter started Sanctus with the aim of providing smart solutions to highly technical issues delivered with great practicality and being commercially sensitive, delivering what the client wants and when.

The ethos is to employ the best people, train, nurture, reward and praise and make them part of the journey, this has created a culture of smart working, happy and loyal staff.

The business has grown through sustainable organic growth, never chasing sales and only undertaking the right contracts, this plan has seen the company grow steadily and always delivering an annual profit.

In May 2019, Peter took a step back due to personal circumstances and a planned handover to Shaun who became Managing Director, he is now Chairman and shares his time between the strategic overview of Sanctus and managing the sister company Sanctus Training, the property business Sanctus Group Holdings, the Lifestyle and Wine business Kingsthorne as well several other business interests.

Shaun Tolfree

Managing Director

Shaun is Managing Director of Sanctus.

Shaun uniquely combines technical excellence, commercial drive and experience of practical delivery to help clients and partners unlock sites others think impossible.

Shaun has worked on some of the most important and industry defining remediation and ground engineering projects including redevelopment of the Richborough Power Station, the remediation of Wheathampstead Pesticide Factory and the high consequence demolition of Sharpness Docks.

Under Shaun’s leadership Sanctus continue to secure numerous national awards including being named 2020 Business Leaders Awards – Best Green Business and Best Place to Work in Gloucestershire in 2019 as well as a suite of specialist remediation, ground engineering and demolition awards.

Shaun has been at Sanctus from the outset and working alongside it’s founder Peter Cooke is proud to have grown Sanctus into the industry leader it is today.

Alex Willison

Contracts Director

Alex Willison is our Contracts Director responsible for the operational, technical and commercial delivery of projects.

Alex believes in providing innovative and sustainable engineering solutions that prove beneficial both environmentally and commercially for our clients.   

Alex has secured, supported and delivered many large scale projects working alongside various clients and organisations, utilising his wealth of experience to provide confident liaison with all project stakeholders.

Alex started in industry back in 1999, starting out within the mineral exploration & extraction and the oil & gas industry. He subsequently moved into the environmental regeneration sector and has over 18 years’ experience in enabling works, ground remediation, civil engineering and environmental enhancements in terrestrial and aquatic environments.

Alex holds a degree in Geology and numerous other industry accreditations.

Dominic Hill

Senior Environmental Engineer

Dominic Hill is an Senior Environmental Engineer working within Sanctus, specialising in site investigations, and coming from an Engineering Geology and Geo-Environmental background.

Dom has a particular interest in being able to deliver an all-encompassing service to our Clients, from initial Geo-Environmental desk studies, through intrusive site investigations, to the planning and implementation of remediation strategies, and their eventual verification.

Dom is a firm believer in sustainability, and taking a sustainable approach to all things we do, so applies this wherever possible to remediation projects.

Dom recently joined Sanctus in early 2022 after spending the first 5 years of his career carrying out site investigations of varied scales, nationwide, including large infrastructure projects and smaller residential developments.

Tom Carter

Site Manager

Tom is a recent addition to Sanctus, with prior experience in Readymix Concrete, managing all aspects of the business from British Standards compliance to repairs and fabrication. Tom also has experience operating plant and driving HGV’s. 

A native of the Isle of Wight, Tom made the move to Sanctus to develop his career in project management and work to better the environment. He holds an MGeol in Geology from Plymouth University.

Imogen Elam

Environmental Engineer

Imogen Elam is an Environmental Engineer who works within Sanctus, specialising in the remediation of Contaminated Land.

Imogen believes in providing effective and sustainable ground remediation solutions to solve past legacies of industrial contamination for future generations.

Imogen has been involved with a variety of Phase 1 & 2 site investigations for contamination projects, utilising a range of analysis techniques for example, the implementation of bioavailability testing to risk assess the concentration and spatial distribution of heavy metals prior to the redevelopment of derelict buildings.

Imogen joined Sanctus in 2022, starting her career in industry following a placement period at Sanctus during her Applied Environmental Geology MSc programme at Cardiff University.

Imogen currently holds a Distinction in MSc Applied Environmental Geology and a First Class in BSc Physical Geography and Geology.

Vladimir Simov

Project Manager

Vladimir is a Project Manager who works within Sanctus specialising in Environmental & Ground Remediation, Geotechnical Engineering, and the delivery of Environmental Works packages.

Vladimir feels that the work carried out by Sanctus is contributing to the environmental shift towards a ‘greener’, more sustainable and environmentally conscious mindset with regards to the UK’s wider infrastructure expansion and ever-increasing housing demands. Vlad is proud to be a part of this transition.

Vlad started his career as a Geo-environmental Engineer delivering projects from initial Geo-Environmental desk studies, through intrusive site investigations, to the planning and implementation of remediation strategies, and their eventual verification. Vlad also has a strong background in material management working on large-scale remediation projects. Recently Vladimir led a successful in-situ bioremediation groundwater treatment project where he engaged with the local university arranging two MSc placements, adding value to the local community.

Vlad holds an MSc in Applied Environmental Geology from Cardiff University, and a BSc in Applied Geology from the University of Exeter, Camborne School of Mines. He started in the industry in 2017 and holds Temporary Works Supervisor and SMSTS certification, as well as being a CIWM WAMITAB holder. Vlad is also a fellow of the Geological Society and is working towards chartership.

Riley Smith

Site Manager

Riley has always enjoyed the natural environment and therefore wishes to help minimise and mitigate the impacts that our growing society has whilst enabling essential works to take place. He incorporates sustainable thinking into daily tasks, keeping the environmental impacts of his works to a minimum, whilst trying to improve and maintain it for people to enjoy.

Riley is a graduate of Biological Sciences with some Ecology based experience. He works with many members of the company to both prepare for and deliver works, quickly gaining valuable knowledge and experience as he progresses in his career.

Piers McDonald

Project Manager

Piers is a Project Manager who works within Sanctus specialising in Environmental & Ground Remediation, Geotechnical Engineering, and the delivery of Environmental Works packages.

Piers feels that the works carried out by Sanctus have contributed to the environmental shift towards a ‘greener’ and more environmentally conscious mindset with regards to the UK’s wider infrastructure expansion. The relatively recent shift towards the procurement and development of ‘Brownfield’ sites over ‘Greenfield’, has gone a long way to minimising the destruction and depletion of valuable ecology and environment, as well as slowing the overall rate of urban sprawl; and Piers has been proud to be a part of it.

Over the years Piers has managed and delivered a number of Environmental and Enabling works packages, and has been at the helm on projects throughout some more challenging weather periods. Over the years he has gained experience in the field of enabling works & remediation, but has taken particular interest in the more technical aspects of those projects, favouring involvement in Geotechnical projects, as well as those projects requiring the varying degrees of surveying engineering often required.

More recently he has been involved with works that focus more on environmental and ecological improvement. Completing a recent project enabling the relocation and release of breeding beaver pairs in Derbyshire, as part of the UK’s wider Beaver Reintroduction Scheme.

Piers holds a MRes in Earth Sciences & Geophysics from Bristol University, and a BSc in Geography from Staffordshire University. He started in the industry in 2013 and holds a Level 6 Diploma in Construction Site Management, as well as being a fully Licensed Asbestos Supervisor.

John Cossins-Price

Project Manager

John Cossins-Price is a Project Manager who works within Sanctus specialising in environmental improvement and non-native invasive species treatment and eradication.

John enjoys and highly values the vital work that he carries out to improve Britain’s waterways, restoring the rivers and creating habitats in highly sensitive natural environments and urban water courses.

He was responsible for the project management and the delivery of the Severn Rivers Programme of river restoration, barrier removal and habitat creation along 20km stretch of the River Severn and its tributaries. This award-winning project saw seen Sanctus remove many historic industrial structures.

John started in the industry in 2007 and holds a multitude of relevant training certificates including SMSTS, NPTC Level 2 Certificate of Competence in the Safe Use of Pesticides and various plant operative CPCS cards.

Aaron Bennett

Site Supervisor

Aaron is a conscious environmentalist with a passion for reducing and mitigating negative environmental impacts. He believes in a careful and meticulous approach to carrying out activities on and off site, to ensure a safe and positive outcome. Projects he has been involved with include Japanese Knotweed surveying & management including treatment and removal, asbestos in soil management, controls, processing and removal, ground investigation, and urban Greening and Rewilding projects.

Aaron studied Environmental Geoscience, in order to pursue a full-time career with Sanctus as a site supervisor with aspirations to develop into site management.

Jo-Hannah Rees

Ecology Coordinator

Jo-Hannah is an Ecology Coordinator who works within Sanctus specialising in protected species surveys, habitat enhancement, mitigation and environmental compliance. Jo-Hannah has a passion for nature conservation and is a member of the British Ecological Society, Avon Bat Group, Avon and Somerset Reptile and Amphibian Group and Buglife. Jo-Hannah has volunteered for several charities and nature groups over the years, including providing medical assistance for wildlife casualties at Secret World Wildlife Rescue, Toad Patrolling to relocate migrating toads found on the busy Bristol roads, and participating in reptile and amphibian surveys to collect species distribution data.

Jo-Hannah is an environmentally aware and proactive person who regularly organises community litter picks, participates in beach cleans and manages an online sustainability group posting content to encourage members of the community in ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Jo-Hannah supports our projects by organising protected species surveys, collaborating between ecological consultancies and construction staff, resourcing wildlife enhancement items and habitat creation such as constructing reptile hibernaculums and native plug planting. While on site, Jo-Hannah supervises construction works within species sensitive areas and translocate’s wildlife that is found on site. Jo-Hannah is also involved in tendering for green and blue infrastructure projects and is looking forward to working collaboratively to improve a sites ecological status with a range of stakeholders.

Jo-Hannah holds a First-Class degree in Zoological Management and Conservation (Hons) from the University of Gloucestershire. She started in the industry in March 2022 and has attended the DEFRA (Module 2) Water and Flood First Aid Responder course to enable site safety risk assessments near water bodies to be carried out.

Lee Fawlk

Site Manager

Lee Fawlk is a Site manager who works within Sanctus specialising running sites to the highest standards, particularly in the field of groundwork investigation.

Lee believes in the job being done correctly ensuring health and safety at any site is implemented and that work is carried out according to published method statements in a judicious and practical manner. 

In the 5 years Lee has been at Sanctus he has worked on a variety of important projects.  The most notable being –

• Bristol Airport – the removal of asbestos soils to allow installation of concrete footings for the new fire station
• Swansea – removal of asbestos soil to be processed to form a piling mat and to excavate the basement of proposed student accommodation
• Aylestone Meadows – Creation of wetland and balancing ponds to assist with flood attenuation and biodiversity enhancement

Lee started at Sanctus 2016 and has been in the groundwork industry for the past 20 years. 

Cameron Malone

IT Manager

Cameron Malone is our IT Manager, managing all computer-related tasks, problems, and solutions within the business.

Cameron provides support to all of our sites and believes in bringing Sanctus to the forefront of technology.

Cameron started in the IT industry in 2016 and has continued to develop his skills in IT to the benefit of Sanctus.

Kirsten Mills

Senior Environmental Engineer

Kirsten Mills is a Senior Environmental Engineer working within Sanctus, specialising in contaminated land site investigations and remediation validation.

Kirsten has wide-ranging experience from initial desk-based assessments through intrusive investigations to the scoping, monitoring and verification of remediation across a variety of brownfield sites, with particular experience in detailed quantitative risk assessment.

Kirsten joined Santus in April 2024 after almost 13 years as an Environmental Consultant working on a wide range of geo-environmental projects across the UK.

Kirsten holds a BSc (Hons) in Earth Science from University of Plymouth, and a MSc in Applied Environmental Geology from Cardiff University.

Daniel Alexander

Environmental Technician

Daniel is an Environmental Technician who is fresh out of University of Bristol with a degree in Environmental Geo-Science and has experience working in Solar Consultancy.
Aiming to prove himself on his first assignment on Temple Island, Bristol – he will be responsible for monitoring any changes in light NAPL in the water table during the Remediation works.

Iestyn Maidment

Environmental Engineer

As a recent graduate of Cardiff University with a degree in Exploration Geology, Iestyn is deeply invested in both the preservation and protection of the environment. At Santus, he hopes to make a lasting impact through various techniques, ensuring safer and healthier ecosystems.

Iestyn is also keen on learning and understanding how current behaviours and actions surrounding the environment can impact the future. His background in geology provides him with a solid foundation to comprehend the dangers posed by contaminants in terrestrial environments, and how different rock types can be used to mitigate these dangers, such as using permeable reactive barriers to filter out pollutants or employing specific minerals to neutralize harmful substances.

By combining his academic knowledge with practical experience at Santus, Iestyn aims to contribute to sustainable environmental practices and promote a cleaner, safer planet for future generations.

Matt Weldt

CAD Technician

Matthew is a CAD technician and started working at Sanctus in 2022.

Matthew’s provides CAD drawings for every project within Sanctus, from site investigations to full scale enabling works. His other roles include assisting the engineers by coordinating every stage of the laboratory chemical analysis process.

Matthew has over 6 years of experience in CAD and has a HNC in Construction.

Georgia Honeyman

Administrative Support

Georgia Honeyman carries out Administrative Support within Sanctus Limited and Sanctus Training Limited providing admin support to all areas of the company.

Georgia believes that administrative work is an important role as she provides support to all areas of the business and the Directors and also ensures that no matter how big or small the job is, that it is done on time, to an efficient and quality standard.

Georgia started in the industry in 2021. Her biggest life achievements are being a Senior corporal Army Cadet and completing a series of courses learning how to fire multiple different rifles.

David Moreing

Senior Project Manager

David Moreing is a Senior Project Manager and works within the Sanctus Group specialising in Civil Engineering, Utilities and Ground Remediation.

David believes that the works Sanctus undertake on ‘Green’ and in particular ‘Brownfield’ sites through their specialised, innovative, and the more traditional remediation techniques, combined with offering and undertaking ‘Enabling works packages’ allow for a more cost effective, and ‘Site ready handover’ to the client and their chosen Main Contractor.

David has been involved in a number of differing projects, utilising his experience, knowledge and skills on a wide spectrum of projects ranging from:

• Exeter: Earthworks and Enabling works on a former landfill site for a new Solar Farm.
• Wokingham: Upgrading of Reservoir Dam & Installation of insitu reinforced concrete and precast concrete culvert sections within large cofferdam to form new Main and Auxiliary Spillways & Footpaths within a Country Park.
• Croydon: Installation of Concrete Retaining wall panels on mass fill (circa 3m-5m deep) and RC strip foundations. Forming of piling mat.
• Royal College of Arts, Battersea: Remediation and removal of Asbestos contaminated soils, bioremediation of Hydrocarbon impacted soils, Piling mat installation.
• Bristol: Demolition of existing warehouse buildings, including removal of Asbestos lagging, board and roof sheets. Diversion of mains utilities – HP & MP Gas, HV & LV Electric, Mains Water, Virgin Media and BT fibre optic cables. Construction of new highway section including foul and storm water diversions and connections to existing systems to adoptable standards. Pile mat preparation and installation of Auger pile foundations.

David started in the industry in 1985 gaining valuable experience at ground level before progressing to supervisory then site management roles. David has attended and passed several training courses to ensure he is able meet todays required standards for managing a site and personnel in a safe and productive manner.

James Adley

Senior Environmental Engineer

James Adley is a Senior Environmental Engineer working within Sanctus, specialising in site investigations and remediation project delivery.

James has a particular interest in a number of technical aspects within our Geo-Environmental and Geotechnical regeneration works as well as the challenges of delivering economically and sustainably suitable solutions for a variety of legacy brownfield sites.

James recently joined Sanctus in early 2024 after spending over 10 years of his career as both an Environmental Consultant and Remediation Engineer on a wide range of large-scale infrastructure projects for a variety of multinational clients and related utility firms across the UK.

James holds a master’s degree (MEng with honours) Chemical Engineering degree from Edinburgh University as well as a MSc in Environmental Engineering degree from Cranfield University.

Debi Jones

Accounts Manager

Debi Jones is the Accounts Manager who works within Sanctus specialising in the smooth running of the accounts department and providing up to date detailed information to the directors.

Debi believes that the relationship with our customers and suppliers is of utmost importance and this is reflected within our punctuality and accuracy of our processes.

Debi plays an active role from the day to day management of Sanctus’s jobs through to the completion of the relevant compliance work.

Debi started in the accounting industry in 1997 and became a fully qualified accountant in 2004 where she was dealing with a wide range of industries. Her valuable working knowledge has then been implemented within Sanctus.

Debi holds MAAT and FACCA certifications.

Jake Hanham

Technical Manager

Jake Hanham is a Technical Manager who works within Sanctus specialising in the production of technical drawings & 2D/ 3D modelling.

Jake believes the outputs from his work allows for improved support relating to tendering practices, site based operations and client progress updates.

Jake provides support to almost every job that comes through the door since joining, ranging from large scale specialist Earthworks projects to small site investigations.

Jake started in the industry in 2013 and is a certified AutoCAD and LSS Operator.

Matthew Hole

Remediation Surveyor

Remediation Surveyor with Sanctus Limited. Responsible for pre-commencement site appraisals through to technical, and commercial delivery of remediation projects combined with client and stakeholder
engagement and communications.

Matt is committed to ensuring on site remediation is delivered to provide the best value to the client while improving the environment and leaving a legacy for generations to come while removing the hazards posed by asbestos and contamination on brownfield sites.

Matt has been involved with a number of asbestos and remediation schemes, ranging from small asbestos removal projects to multimillion remediation projects to deliver much needed education facilities in Portsmouth.

Matt joined Sanctus in 2018, starting his career in the industry following his undergraduate degree. Matt holds a upper second class degree in Geology from Plymouth University.

Alexa Stewart

Bid Manager

Alexa started in the industry in 2006 and is now Sanctus’ Technical Manager specialising in bid management, accreditations and waste classification.

Alexa has enjoyed a variety of roles during her 15 years working for Sanctus helping her to gain valuable experience across all aspects of the business including technical site reviews, chemical analysis and tendering making her an important long standing member of the team.

Alexa has helped the company to achieve a number of invaluable accreditations during this time, ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO45001, CHAS, SafeContractor, Constructionline, to name a few, demonstrating the company’s dedication to quality, the environment and health and safety in all aspects of their works.

She holds a upper second class degree in Chemistry with Forensic Analysis BSc from Loughborough University.

Angie Shaw

Health, Safety & Environmental Manager

Angie Shaw is a Health, Safety and Environmental Manager who works within Sanctus specialising in all matters relating to occupational health and safety and well-being; and compliance with International Standards for Quality, Environment, Safety and Competence Management, and safety systems in procurement awarding bodies.

Angie believes that a safe workplace promotes a high standard of worker engagement, reduces stress and promotes good mental health, which contributes to a high quality product and client confidence.

Angie supports projects, from input to tender through delivery, providing guidance and advice on site, including auditing and task specific training.

Angie started in the industry in 2004 and holds NEBOSH General and Construction qualifications, Arca (Asbestos) Contracts Manager and Site Management Safety Training Scheme certification.

Chris Adams

Procurement Manager

Chris is a Procurement Manager who works within Sanctus specialising in the hire of plant and equipment and subcontractors; the purchasing of aggregates, plant and materials; and the disposal of contaminated soils.

Chris knows that Sanctus’ reputation is reflected by the quality of our hiring and purchasing, and seeks to make relationships with companies and suppliers that offer exceptional standards of service and expertise.

Chris has worked on site in both engineering and site management roles, as well as in his current role supporting our operational sites with the hire and purchase of plant and equipment, pricing exercises and tender opportunities. Chris has significant site experience in the management of asbestos-contaminated soils and sub-surface demolition, having been involved in six separate contracts on the Slough Industrial Estate, helping to secure repeat business for Sanctus with the deliverance of quality work. In addition to this, Chris has worked up and down the country on former gasworks, hospitals, power stations, railway sidings and heavy industrial land use, which has provided a good background, experience and working knowledge for the procurement for our current sites and projects across the industry.

Chris started in the industry in 2007 and is an Engineer by trade, and still holds many industry related training and certificates, including plant tickets.

Chris holds a BSc in Geology, and MSc in Applied Environmental Geology from Cardiff University.

Melanie Reed

Accounts Administrator

Melanie Reed is an Accounts Administrator who works within Sanctus specialising in the day to day running of the accounts department alongside the accountant, keeping suppliers paid promptly and dealing with their queries. She also pays the staff salaries and expenses.

Melanie is a positive member of the team who believes that good customer service is paramount and aims to reflect the professionalism of the company in all that she does.

Melanie started in the industry in 2006 and continues to enjoy being part of the Sanctus family.

Rob Lucas

Construction Design Manager

Rob Lucas is a Construction Design Manager who works within Sanctus specialising in all aspects of enabling works/ groundworks and temporary works including tendering, programming, design and value engineering through to managing the successful completion of the works on site.

Rob brings nearly 40 years of knowledge and first-hand practical experience from his Civil Engineering background and groundworks career built up from working hands-on as an engineer on highways, utility and drainage diversions, bulk excavation, façade retentions, insitu and pre-cast concrete structures and working for almost 20 years as a successful Contracts Manager. Rob has also worked as Site Manager and Projects Manager for larger building companies as a team member in planning and constructing schools, Ministry of Defence buildings, retail and private sector developments so also understands concrete, timber and steel frame construction through to, and including various forms of cladding, roofing, M&E, landscaping and soft finishes and recently diversified into river regeneration projects.

Rob has helped secure a number of remediation, demolition and construction projects for Sanctus including, but not limited to, Unity Street in Bristol which involved façade retentions, service diversions, asbestos removal before demolition of several warehouse buildings prior to overseeing archaeological investigation works, CFA piled foundations, sheet piled coffer dam and supporting structures to comply with adjoining party wall requirements, diversion and construction of an adoptable highway including liaison with utility landlords to reroute services and local council Highways departments for Section 50, TTRO and parking restrictions. He has also had a large involvement in the regeneration of Bath with the new bus and train station on Dorchester Street, new student accommodation on the Lower Bristol Road and more recently for Sanctus, the demolition and remediation at Saw Close for a new hotel and casino, service diversions, demolition and remediation for new accommodation over retail units at Roseberry Road and remediation and design and build contiguous piled retaining wall and capping beam with natural bath stone finishes for gas diversions and gas governor compound prior to development of the land at Windsor Bridge Road.    

Rob started in the industry in 1982 during his school holidays so was learning how buildings were constructed from an early age which fuelled his enthusiasm in achieving a BEng (hons) degree in Civil Engineering. He graduated from Plymouth Polytechnic in 1989 before saving up and travelling around the world for a year prior to settling down to work as a Civil Engineer.

Dan Ingram

Asbestos Manager

Dan Ingram is the Asbestos Manager for Sanctus and is responsible for all asbestos operations and company / client compliance. He has a wide ranging skill set and specialises in asbestos assessment, removal and remediation.

Dan has set the standards within the company and has supported various working groups over many years with the aim of also raising standards across the industry. He believes that the key to successful and safe asbestos removal and remediation starts with task specific training, providing the relevant information and instruction to help personnel develop key skills and competencies over time.

Dan has successfully planned and implemented hundreds of projects, some which have required an extremely technical or forward thinking approach. He has been involved with award winning projects including Sharpness Docks and Leeds College of Arts. Some of the major projects include Project Nemo @ Richborough Power Station and remediation of The Mound @ Elstree Film Studios.

Dan started his career in 2005 as a removal operative and having developed skills, experience and competencies in various sectors of the industry is now an accredited UKATA trainer, approved face fit tester, BOHS certified asbestos surveyor, HSE senior licence holder and contract manager. In addition to this, Dan has also completed a wide range of health and safety, demolition and teacher/trainer qualifications.