Staff Page and Biographies

Barry Collum M.Sc

Barry Collum M.Sc (Automated Manufacturing) - CEO

The founder and driving force behind BDC, Barry's career started with Mintex/Don International where he worked as a Development Engineer from 1977 to 1979.   He then worked as a Consultant for the Salford University Industrial Centre until 1985, before accepting a position as the Control Development Manager with Mars (UK) Ltd.

In 1987, Barry left Mars to form BDC Consultants.  He subsequently worked as an independent Technical Adviser, involved in a wide range of projects in a number of key industries including: Food, white goods, automotive, petro and agro-chemical, warehousing, telecommunications and aviation.

Barry has extensive world-wide baggage handling and passenger processing experience (advising both International and Domestic airports) including:-

• Security screening (100% HBS) and Baggage Reconciliation Systems (BRS) to DETR standards.
• Integration of air-rail passenger and baggage systems for "down-town" check-in.
• Detailed bag and passenger flow modelling for existing and future system requirements.
• Chute allocation modelling for complete flight / class segregation to containers.
• Container handling requirements including modelling of container filling, tug movements, full container storage.
• Modelling of off-line baggage storage capacity (early bag storage) for varying operational criteria.
• Modelling of manning requirements, including live "head of stand" operations.
• Arriving, transfer and direct product definition.

He has advised airlines, airports and suppliers in the UK, USA, Europe, Russia and Australia.

Barry is married with four children and enjoys music (he has a fine collection of Emerson Lake and Palmer records).

Roger Cannon

Roger Cannon - Senior Software Author.

A programmer with 15 years experience of writing and implementing software systems across a range on industries, Rogers particular expertise is with databases.  He has a degree in Computer Sciences and has in-depth experience with a wide range of process, maintenance, mechanical handling, conveying and storage systems and has authored a range of database-based packages and management applications.

Roger has a diverse IT development background, ranging from 8088 machine code and assembler experience, through to Microsoft-based operating systems (including DOS, Windows 95 and Windows NT).  He also has a broad range of database application and programming skills, including C++, DBXL, Delphi, Paradox 8, Pascal and SQL.

Colin Fairfax

Colin Fairfax CEng. MIMechE MIEE DMS - Engineering Specialist.

Following an early career in the machine tool industry, Colin has some 25 years experience in the food and beverage, packaging, package manufacturing and related machinery supply industries.   His career began in 1958 with an apprenticeship as a Machine Tool Fitter.  He subsequently worked in a variety of technical and engineering roles, expanding his skillset and moving into his first Technical Management role in 1981 with Battenfield Gloenco Extrusion Systems.

In 1984, Colin joined Simplimatic (UK) ltd where he worked as a Technical and Product Manager until 1990, when he accepted a position with Artwood Ltd as the Companies General Manager.  In 1996, Colin joined BDC, bringing with him, a wealth of engineering and project management experience.

Colin is married with 2 children.

Richard Garner

Richard Garner Aviation Security Specialist.

A graduate of the Institute of Transport and a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and American Society for Industrial Security Systems, Richard worked as the general manager of British Airways (world-wide) from 1964 to 1982, before accepting the role of Regional Technical Director for the International Air Transport Association, representing IATA and member airlines in activities directed towards the international standardisation and implementation of technical facilities and procedures throughout South America and the Caribbean.

In 1986, Richard joined BCAL as their General Manager (Ground Operations), where he was responsible for the ground and operational service procedures for passenger, cargo and aircraft handling. He introduced measurable quality performance standards in customer service and was Chairman of the Airline's Committee for the design and operation of the new Gatwick and Stansted airport terminals.

In 1988, Richard returned to British Airways as the Customer Services General Manager. He designed and implemented the Customer and Cargo Services Delivery Plan for the UK.  He was responsible for performance monitoring of quality customer service and aircraft ground handling and the rectification of deficiencies in the promotion of British Airways as a world leader in aviation.

Richard became the Senior Security Adviser and Deputy Head of Security British Airways in 1992, where he was responsible for the implementation of worldwide security policy, standards and performance, for passenger and cargo operations.

From 1999, Richard has worked as an Aviation Security Consultant, providing advice to Security Services enterprises in respect of the achievement of sales targets, market intelligence and acquisitions as well as the development of publicity and marketing material, quotations and tender proposals, physical security, systems architecture and risk assessment.

Richard is married with 2 children.

John Hudson

John is a Quality and Business Process Manager with extensive experience in International telecommunications organisations operating across Europe.  He is fully conversant with the requirements of the ISO9000 series Quality standard and Continuous Improvement methodologies.

He began his career with the Silver Line Shipping Company as a Navigation cadet in 1973 and subsequently worked as a Development Engineer and Group leader for GEC Telecommunications from 1974 to 1985. 

When the company restructured as GPT Telecommunications, John was employed in the Engineering department on the design and development of electronic communications equipment and was head of section (Design Support) until 1991, when he joined Nortel Networks (Enterprise Solutions).

In the 8 years that followed, John honed his QA skills, reporting to the director on business processes for the implementation and management of a multi-site ISO9001 Quality system, which covered locations in the UK, France and Ireland with corporate links to the US and Canada.

John is married with 2 teenage children.  He enjoys family activities, golf and walking/hiking.

Dr. Marian Langford

Dr. Marian Langford - Security Specialist.

Dr. Marian Langford was awarded a degree in Physics Hons. (1st class) from University College Swansea in 1986. Subsequently she gained a Diploma in Analytical Physics (Swansea 1987) and a PhD in Chemical Physics (Swansea 1991).

Between 1991 and 1995 she worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with Professor John Todd on the development of ion trap instrumentation. During this time she worked on a wide range of equipment design and development projects. In particular, she worked on the development of a direct air sampling ion trap for the detection of trace quantities of explosive vapours in air.

In 1995 Dr. Langford joined the Defence and Evaluation Research Agency (DERA) to lead research on explosive and drugs detection projects. She remained with DERA until July 2001 and led research on a variety of sensor development projects.  She also managed the UK DETR equipment development programme at DERA in support of transport security. This programme tackles the development of instrumentation for explosive detection and people screening at airports and other ports of entry. Projects included the development of X-ray, millimetre wave, quadrupole resonance, trace and vapour detection techniques and equipment.

She provided technical advice on detection issues to UK government bodies and acted as a technical consultant to the MoD on relevant procurement projects. She worked as a consultant to the Federal Aviation Administration on trace detection issues and acted as technical consultant to Customs & Excise during their recent procurement of X-ray scanners for British ports.

She was organiser and principal Chair at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Workshop (Sunningdale 1999), Chaired the Trace and Vapour Detection Session at the Gordon Conference on Illicit Substance Detection (Connecticut 2000) and gave a keynote talk on the development of instrumentation for aviation security at the SPIE (Orlando 2000).

Dr. Langford now works as an independent consultant on aviation security, explosives detection, drugs detection, mine detection and the detection of illegal immigrants.

Su Lawrence

Su Lawrence - Graphics Design Specialist.

Su has worked as a freelance artist since 1991. Her work is well regarded, both in the UK and all over the world (and graces such prestigious institutions as the Royal Armoury in Leeds).

She is a versatile artist, working in a variety of mediums, including chalk pastel; watercolour pencil; acrylic paint; silk, cotton fabric and leather painting.  Subjects range from fantasy artwork to portraits and landscapes; with a large portion of her work being detailed pencil drawings of the Sealed Knot Society in action on the battlefield.  (Of which she has been a member since 1984).

Su has over 12 years experience in computer graphics, including such areas as logo design, typesetting / layout work, software 'splash' pages, brochures and exhibition promotional material.  More recently she has turned her skills towards web design and graphics and has also branched out into animation.   Her design and conceptual skills are now widely sought-after.

When she isn't working with computers, Su enjoys gardening, reading and cooking.

Phil McKenzie

Born and raised in New Zealand, Phil has over 25 years experience in the I.T. industry, mostly with Digital computers and VAX/OpenVMS technology.

He has worked as a programmer, system specialist, network technician, technical author, applications tester, security specialist and quality-controller, in a wide range of industries including insurance, banking (including FX and interbanking), utilities, telecommunications and IT.  Over recent years, Phil has turned his skills more towards PC applications and website development and now provides BDC with a range of website support and multimedia development skills.

Phil is a keen diver (currently studying for his B.Sc in Earth Sciences, majoring in marine biology) and part-time martial artist, who also enjoys classical guitar and photography.

Derek Rawle
C.Eng
M.I.E.E.

Derek Rawle - Technical Security Specialist.

A graduate of the University of Liverpool, Derek has a Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics) degree with honours. He worked as an engineer in the instrumentation group at Nuclear Energy Systems from 1967 to 1971 and then worked for Westinghouse Nuclear energy systems (Europe) as the section leader of the electrical co-ordination group in Brussels (advancing to the position of senior engineer in 1973) until, 1980.

From 1980 until 1986, Derek then worked as a consultant for the nuclear instrumentation systems of the Koeburg nuclear power station, operated by ESCOM in South Africa, where he was responsible for the review and engineering acceptance of several nuclear systems.  In 1986, he joined Balfour Beatty Engineering Ltd in Kent as their Lead Instrument Engineer and later as Lead control and communications engineer.

In 1992, Derek began a 2-year direct contract with Eurotunnel, as project manager responsible for the specification, tender evaluation and project management of a replacement access control and security system, (approximate value £4,000,000), covering the UK and French Terminals and Shakespeare Cliff.  Starting from a defined threat and an analysis of the site conditions, this involved the development of the detailed design of a comprehensive intruder detection system, CCTV surveillance and a card access control system. This role involved liaison with the Joint Security Committee of both the French and UK Governments during the development and installation of the project.

From 1994 to 2001, Derek worked as the Senior Technical Security advisor with British Airways, where he was responsible for specification of all BA access control systems, CCTV systems and physical security systems world-wide.  He implemented a programme of expatriate and executive staff protection in several high risk locations in Africa and elsewhere.  Measures implemented include protected residential compounds, increased security at local offices and ballistic protection for management and crew vehicles. He was also responsible for several security projects with a value of approx. £1M to 2M each including the security systems for: Gatwick Engineering base, the new corporate headquarters, the new cargo centre and the BA London Eye.  These projects included advanced CCTV systems, access control, perimeter protection and detection.

As part of a major loss reduction program, Derek specified and developed with a manufacturer, an advanced digital CCTV system for the existing cargo sheds at Heathrow. At the time of installation in Aug 1996 this was the largest digital system in the UK. Similar systems have since been installed in various overseas locations with the facility to remotely monitor the CCTV images from Heathrow. The introduction of these systems resulted in a significant reduction of the losses in cargo.

Derek was also responsible for many smaller projects and advised all BA departments on physical security. He additionally developed, with an external manufacturer, a fully flight qualified On-Board digital video recorder for use with cameras in aircraft holds and was responsible for counter surveillance sweeps at all locations used for BA board or sensitive commercial meetings.

Derek also acted as the Principal Security Advisor at TPS Consult in 2002.
His most recent projects have included the security systems for the new London Stock Exchange and a project at Chequers.

Derek is married and enjoys swimming, woodwork and badminton.

Richard Stevens

Richard Stevens - Senior Associate.

Richard is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with an Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He has extensive experience of technical management and design for capital projects.

Richard worked for Hansen Transmissions as a Sales Engineer from 1971 to 1977, before joining the British Airports Authority (BAA) as a Senior Mechanical Engineer.

In 1994, Richard accepted the position of Chief Mechanical Engineer with the BAA Group Technical Services, where he worked for 3 years.  In 1997 he was promoted to the position of Technical Development Manager with BAA.  He joined BDC as a Senior Associate in 1999.

Richard's particular expertise is mechanical handling and transportation systems for airports, particularly the design and provision of:-

• Automated baggage handling systems, including hold baggage screening.
• Automated passenger rapid transit systems.

Brian Thorley

Brian's career began as a Professional Technical Officer in the HSE, where he worked from 1981 to 1985.  He subsequently worked in a wide variety of contract and project engineering roles in a broad and diverse range of companies including GEC General Signals, Four Square (Mars) UK, Baker Perkins, H.J.Heinz, CJB Systems, Hoskyns PLC, AEG, Rust Kennedy and Donkin, Kavaerner John Brown and National Power PLC.

His particular area of expertise is SCADA System instrumentation with particular reference to Seimens systems: WF470, S5-103U, S5-150U and PG685 as well as Texas Instruments (PM550), Phillips (MC30 and PC20), Square D SY/MAX (Series 400 and 500), IBM RIC/ARTIC, Novell Netware, AFE IC2X, USDATA and ALLEN-BRADLEY Control systems.

Brian also has broad cross-communications protocols experience including Ethernet TCP/IP, DecNet Pathworks, Bull AIX and UNIX Open Server.