Key Staff Members
Mr. Brian Cafferkey
BEng (Hons), MSc, CEng, MICE, CIWEM, MIEI
Chairman
With over 40 years of experience, Brian has led Drainage Area Studies and Plans under Asset Management Plans for water and sewage companies, highway design, and river and sewer modelling for both public and private clients. He has provided flood risk and potable water demand advice to government agencies and private developers alike.
In recent years, Brian has served as a technical and policy advisor to the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on flooding, as well as offering guidance at local and regional levels. His career also includes the management of large-scale flood alleviation and infrastructure projects, including negotiations with local authorities.
Over the past decade, Brian has expanded MECE’s water-focused services, adopting a holistic approach that integrates water, waste, energy, and transport sectors. He has also acted as an expert witness on multiple development schemes relating to flood risk and utility provision.
Dr. Manaye Ewunetu
BEng (Hons), MSc, PhD, CEng, C.WEM, MCIWEM, MIAHR
Managing Director
Dr. Manaye Ewunetu is the Managing Director of MECE. He holds an Honours degree in Civil Engineering from London South Bank University, an MSc in Water Resources and Environmental Management from City University London, and a PhD in Civil Engineering from Queen Mary University of London.
With over 30 years of diverse experience, Manaye has worked with both public and private clients in flood risk assessment, road and railway drainage design, river and coastal modelling, and flood risk mapping. He has also provided policy advice on sustainable drainage design for highways, railways, airports, and mixed-use developments.
Manaye’s career includes key roles at Betteridge Turner & Partners, Jacobs Engineering Ltd., WSP Groups in the UK, Parsons Overseas International, and Italconsult S.P.A. in Dubai, with projects spanning Africa, the Middle East, and the UK.. He has authored multiple drainage design manuals and serves as a visiting lecturer in hydrology with the title of Assistant Professor.
Mr. Rob Collins (FIHE)
Highway Engineering Director
Rob Collins, founder of Nola Design and senior partner at MECE, brings nearly 50 years of experience in civil engineering projects, with deep expertise in drainage, infrastructure design, and quality control across residential, commercial, industrial, and public amenity sectors.
His career has spanned Southern Africa, the UK, and beyond, including founding and managing project management and consultancy firms. Rob’s wide-ranging experience covers:
- Rural & Urban Potable Water Design
- Rural & Urban Sanitation Design
- Health Infrastructure Projects
- Highway Design
- Community Upliftment Projects
- Commercial & Industrial Developments
- Private Residential Projects
- Educational & Public Infrastructure
Mr. Beza Nigussie Wube
BEng, MSc, PHE, TPEng
Associate Director
Beza Nigussie is an Associate Director at MECE with over 20 years of professional experience, primarily in East Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania). He specialises in detailed road (urban and national) and railway drainage design and supervision under diverse climatic conditions.
His expertise includes hydrology and hydraulic studies, flood risk assessments, site investigations, and the review and preparation of drainage design manuals. Beza has extensive experience leading, reviewing, and delivering large-scale infrastructure drainage projects to the highest technical standards.