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The Team

We pride ourselves on a team of highly experienced modellers and civil engineers who offer a bespoke collaborative and pragmatic approach.

Vish Naik

Senior Hydraulic Modeller

Vish has over 20 years experience as a wastewater modeller.

After his graduate position at a small consultancy did an 8 year stint at Haswell Consulting Engineers and Severn Trent, then moved to Mouchel (now WSP) followed by Grontmij and has spent the last ten years supporting Anglian Water working with the @One Alliance modelling team with capital delivery projects mainly solving flooding and growth issues as well as serving the wider business in other areas.

In recent years Vish has taken a keen interest in optimisation software and strategies to help the wastewater modelling industry utilise AI technologies to increase efficiencies, he is also keen to implement and promote sustainable environmentally friendly options as much as possible with clients to help aid the fight against climate change and increase sustainability.

In his spare time enjoys helping to manage a youth cricket team, is involved with his children's school life on the PTA and as a governor, volunteers with the guide dogs association to help raise guide dogs, enjoys cycling, going to the gym and outdoor activities with his family at weekends.

John Ward

Senior Hydraulic Modeller

John has 35 years experience as a wastewater modeller.

John pioneered the use of computer modelling in the late 1980s for drainage network analysis and has maintained his position at the cutting edge of practical software application, using Innovyze products, throughout his career to the present day.

The first 10 years of his career were spent in Local Authority working on Strategic Planning and Capital Investment Solution projects for Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water. In 1997 he became an independent consultant working nationally across the UK for such clients as MoD, Scottish Water, Anglian Water and internationally for such clients as Melbourne Water and Sydney Water in Australia and Watercare in New Zealand.

As a specialist he has worked for the majority of International Water Industry Consultants such as Stantec, Jacobs, AECOM, RPS and Mott MacDonald. He was registered as an Incorporated Engineer with the UK Engineering Council in 1999 and is a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager with CIWEM.

John is a current member of CIWEM's Professional Standards Team (interviewing candidates for chartership). He is also a peer reviewer for submissions to the CIWEM Journal.

In his spare time John is an active Green Party member, a keen mycologist and marathon runner.

Yan Lu

Senior Hydraulic Modeller

Yan has over 15 years experience in wastewater hydraulic network modelling and project management.

After graduating from Imperial College of London Yan spent 10 years working with Black & Veatch (now Binnies) where she successfully delivered the drainage area plan (DAP) for Anglian Water in AMP4, the Bathing Water programme for Southern Water in AMP5 and the Southern Water DAP in AMP6.

Yan joined Southern Water in 2016 and further developed her career and leadership. She achieved her Chartership with CIWEM in 2019 and successfully managed the Southern Water DWMP framework option development and appraisal phase and shellfish project for AMP7. She also has solid knowledge and experience in 2D integrated catchment modelling, flood risk modelling and river modelling using InfoWorks ICM.

Yan takes a keen interest in WINEP UPM projects integrating river models with urban drainage models.

Outside work, Yan plays the piano, enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, cycle touring and golfing. She completed approximately 100miles cycle touring around Hampshire and Isle of Wight in 2018.

Benoit Bacher

Senior Hydraulic Modeller

Benoit has over 5 years experience as a hydraulic modeller.

After two positions in France and Belgium he joined the British Water Industry in 2017 at Richard Allitt Associates as a hydraulic modeller. Ben worked on the Wessex Water framework carrying out model build, verification and optioneering work. Ben joined Hydroinformatics in 2021 to support the Anglian Water model maintenance team.

In his free time Benoit enjoys cycling and is an active member of the Alpine Mountaineering Club.

Ben Cranfield

Senior Hydraulic Modeller

Ben has over 15 years experience as a wastewater modeller.

After graduating at Leeds University Ben held positions at a number of consultancies completing projects primarily for United Utilities, he moved to MWH (now Stantec) in 2011 and has spent the last ten years supporting United Utilities, Southern Water and Yorkshire Water.

In his time there Ben spent three years on secondment with United Utilities focusing on capital delivery projects, he then took a year's secondment to the Stantec office in Pune, India, where he trained a team of graduates in model build and verification. In 2016, on the back of these achievements, Ben became chartered with The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management. More recently Ben has been a key part of the successful delivery of the Southern Water drainage area plans and the progression of YWS Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs).

In his free time, Ben enjoys spending time with his family, renovating houses, and exercising outdoors.