Our MDA Experts

A journalist, researcher and expert fundraiser, Andy is a storyteller who helps organisations to articulate their needs and aspirations so they can set about meeting them. He has a particular penchant for fundraising and has raised several million pounds for socially responsible projects and organisations.

Andy also leads innovative research projects exploring the emerging potential of digital and data tools for social impact. He applies rigorous foresight research to immediate organisational challenges to inspire teams to develop solutions fit for the future.

Jonathan is a creative problem solver and leader of organisational transformation. Jonathan is a Co-founding Director (with Andy and Nick) of NLA International. Driven by a shared passion for the natural world and by a recognition that sustainable environments enable cultural and economic development NLA International has become an established and trusted brand.

With a strong foundation in customer-focussed organisational design, transformation and performance Jonathan has a proven track recored of delivering measurable benefits, business growth and positive sustainable impacts. Drawing on his cross sector senior leadership experience Jonathan is an advocate of ‘evolution at pace’. He uses engagement and data to understand complex scenarios and to develop and implement solutions and services across marine and maritime domains.

A master mariner and a committed proponent of the maritime users’ perspective, Rear Admiral Nick Lambert concluded a long naval operational career as the UK National Hydrographer in December 2012. Globally connected, Nick is a key thought leader on Blue Economy potential and tech innovation in associated domains.

He advises on a wide range of marine and maritime issues, including: the importance of spatial data infrastructures and hydrography for maritime economies; the evolution of eNavigation and GNSS vulnerability; near or real time situational awareness (especially from space based assets and applications), and maritime training and education for capacity building.

An experienced senior executive officer and master mariner, Captain Al Wilson completed a 27-year career in the Royal Navy in February 2021. He has commanded four warships, contributing to peacekeeping and maritime operations worldwide, as well as employment in a broad range of senior management roles in national and NATO strategic headquarters. A specialist in water column acoustics and underwater operations, he has significant experience in the maritime domain, particularly in maritime situational awareness and risk, the integration of complex deployable systems, the development of emergent and disruptive technology, and the identification introduction of innovative capabilities. More broadly, he has overseen strategic policy and capability development, and is experienced in financial oversight and governance and NATO transformation.

Since leaving the Royal Navy, Al has deployed his knowledge of maritime operations and safety at sea to lead a number of client facing projects with NLA International. Delivering navigational risk assessments and working with innovators to apply emerging technologies to improve understanding of maritime traffic and human activity at sea.

Andy was a naval officer for over 24 years. The majority of his career as a Hydrographic, Meteorology & Oceanographic (HM) specialist. His last HM job being Commanding Officer of the Fleet HM Unit, leading a team of specialists that provided Tactical Exploitation of the Environment to the Armed Forces.

Having studied Environmental Impact Assessments for his degree dissertation, it followed that he would end up working in an arena that acknowledged the importance of earth sciences to all human activity. He continues to contribute to this field through his work with NLA International.

An experienced senior strategist, technical leader, Chartered Engineer, board member and business professional. Andy has delivered real success in growing and advising businesses, innovating products and services, development programme oversight and assurance, new market entries and understanding the power of connecting people and businesses together to deliver success.

Specific technical expertise in space-based and non-space-based position navigation and timing systems, and satellite communications technology. Andy is a former naval communications and surveillance engineer, UK government technology investor, former Technical Director of the UK Space Agency, and PNT technical lead across the UK Government for the Cabinet Office. He also has 15+ years working in industry. A Fellow and Trustee of the Royal Institute of Navigation (FRIN), and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (FIET).

A professional naval officer, master mariner and Category A hydrographer, Captain Gary Hesling concluded a successful 33-year career in the Royal Navy in the summer of 2019. He commanded the Royal Navy’s hydrographic ships in his final role as Hydrographer of the Navy, was head of branch for some 450 environmental and geospatial specialists and was a non-executive director on the UK Hydrographic Office Board.

Gary vigorously promotes the utility of advanced sensors, autonomous technologies and automated information systems to collect, collate, fuse, analyse and display marine and maritime data in game changing formats and services. He is also a passionate advocate of the natural marine environment, understanding that modern, accurate datasets underpin every facet of maritime operations to enhance environmental sustainability, safety, marine resource management, energy, tourism and trade across the burgeoning international blue economy. Gary is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the National Oceanography Centre and is qualified as an APAEWE Expert Witness.

After graduating in physics at Imperial College London, Kevin joined the Royal Navy as a maritime aviator. He operated helicopters from warships deployed in many of the world’s seas and oceans and has extensive experience as a flying instructor. In the UK Ministry of Defence, he audited Defence capabilities and advised the Defence Chiefs on strategic and operational lessons from UK military operations. In the UK Defence Academy, he developed Naval and Military officers’ skills in leadership, contextual analysis, critical thinking, and evidence-based decision making. To end over three decades of Service, Kevin was UK Defence Attaché to Brazil. His excellent diplomatic and linguistic skills, saw him successfully advance the UK-Brazil relationship in this uniquely challenging and beautiful country. Throughout his career he led people in many challenging contexts and at many different levels.

Kevin is a Maritime Situational Awareness & International Engagement expert. Passionate about safeguarding the seas and oceans, he engages worldwide, concentrating on using data to increase understanding, to enable the development of Blue Economies. He focuses on the benefits of fused any-source data, to better understand the marine space, allowing better policy decisions, leading to coherent and sustainable use whilst delivering maximum socio-economic benefit. He is a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London, in both the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies and the King’s Brazil Institute.

Dr Kieran Bjergstrom is an expert in strategic technology transformation, especially of the Blue Economy, marine and maritime sectors. With a background in quantum technologies and a PhD in Quantum System Engineering he has developed principles and approaches for low technology readiness level (TRL) technology development and maturation, bridging "valley-of-death issues", and managing the risk of cutting-edge technology adoption.

He has worked nationally and internationally with governments, large business, defence, investors and technologists to inform and guide strategic decision making, investment and analysis. Amongst a wide variety of technologies he has worked on, Kieran retains a keen personal interest in Quantum Technologies, resilient Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) and large-scale artificial intelligence and machine learning systems for situational awareness and governance, especially of the oceans.

In a naval career spanning thirty six years, Lee Hardy is an acknowledged and highly regarded maritime warfare specialist. Qualified as a watch keeper, to navigate out of sight of land and ultimately to command, his experience was gained in operational frontline and staff appointments at sea and further exploited ashore. In the training environment he led the training and qualification of bridge watch keeping officers, and authored the initial specification for Royal Navy compliance with STCW.

Subsequently he managed the development of capability requirements and procurement, ran specialist intelligence both in the UK and overseas, and exercised Command. He also led a UK Overseas Territory on behalf of the British Government. Upon retiring from the military in 2015 he was contracted by the Overseas Territories Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as the Maritime Adviser which saw him define, source and deliver to the British Indian Ocean Territory an ocean going patrol vessel. He now advises widely on enforcement and surveillance matters in the maritime domain and is committed to countering the scourge of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing on the high seas.

Phil is a master mariner with comprehensive maritime experience including Royal Navy sea command. He has proven leadership experience in port marine operations in government, municipal, trust and commercial ports. He has also worked in government policy, fleet capability management, and training. He advises on a wide range of strategic maritime issues including the growing potential of spatial data for maritime economies, the evolution of eNavigation and GNSS vulnerability, maritime connectivity and human factors, training and education in the maritime sector. He has a particular interest in decarbonisation and digitalisation of the maritime sector including the growth of marine autonomous systems and port and vessel efficiency projects.

Bianca Ulan is an expert in market research with a strong background in quantitative and qualitative studies. With a degree in Applied Mathematics and an ongoing Masters of Business Administration, Bianca has extensive experience in researching various verticals, including the Blue Economy, FMCG, and technology industries such as FinTech, HealthTech and more.

Bianca's passion lies in using her research skills to support socially responsible projects and businesses that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. With her dedication and enthusiasm, Bianca is a catalyst for change in the business world, encouraging companies to prioritize social impact alongside profitability.

With over 30 years’ experience in business administration and management, Shah has worked across a broad range of sectors from the steel industry to coaching and from healthcare to the Blue Economy. Shah has covered a diverse set of roles including purchasing and shipping, IT, training, HR and finance.

Shah is NLA International's Business Manager, drawing on her diverse experience and strong interpersonal skills to support the team in successful operational delivery.