Hartlepool West Park Flood Alleviation Scheme, Robert Stephenson Award Winner 2026

Dennis Hancock

Dennis Hancock CEng FICE is a catchment engineer with the Environment Agency and a Chartered Engineer with more than 30 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering. His career has included roles with Easington District Council and Hartlepool Borough Council, delivering projects in highways, contaminated land, colliery reclamation, demolition, and coastal engineering.

Dennis brings a wealth of real-world experience and practical insight, sharing lessons learned from delivering infrastructure and environmental projects across the public sector. He is passionate about applying engineering excellence, innovation, and collaborative approaches to address today's environmental and infrastructure challenges.

Rowena Bradley

Rowena Bradley is a programme leader in the Environment Agency with experience delivering major civil engineering and flood risk management projects across the public sector. As a project executive, Rowena leads complex programmes from initial concept and business case development through design, procurement, construction and commissioning, ensuring successful outcomes for communities and the environment.

With a strong background in project governance, commercial management and stakeholder engagement, Rowena is responsible for programme assurance, financial oversight, risk management and strategic decision-making. Rowena works closely with multidisciplinary teams, contractors, consultants and government partners to deliver resilient infrastructure and environmental improvement projects.

Robert Brownlee-Pinkerton

Robert Brownlee-Pinkerton CEng is an associate project manager with Mott MacDonald, currently seconded to the Environment Agency. With over 26 years' experience in military engineering, construction and infrastructure delivery, his career has progressed from plant mechanic and clerk of works to leading major infrastructure projects across the water, environment, defence, ports and aviation sectors.

A Chartered Engineer, Robert combines practical construction expertise with programme leadership, Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) and capability acquisition experience, supporting the sustainable delivery of resilient infrastructure and environmental outcomes.

Brendon Colarossi

Brendon Colarossi is a highly experienced civil engineering professional with 46 years’ service in local government. Having begun his career in 1979 with Cleveland County Council, he has progressed through a wide range of technical, site and delivery roles, and is now principal engineer for construction at Hartlepool Borough Council.  

Brendon brings exceptional local knowledge of Hartlepool’s infrastructure, communities and delivery environment. This has been particularly valuable on complex schemes requiring careful coordination, practical buildability input and sensitive engagement with residents, businesses and local stakeholders. His understanding of local constraints and community priorities has helped ensure resident consultation is meaningful, informed and responsive.

Hartlepool Borough Council, with Brendon’s involvement, oversaw the delivery of the complex, award-winning West Park Flood Alleviation scheme, adding value through strong client-side leadership, design insight and construction delivery expertise. The council played a key role in shaping and championing the project, working collaboratively with local contractors and specialist suppliers to develop practical solutions on behalf of The Environment Agency, managing local impacts and deliver a high-quality scheme rooted in the needs of the area.

Lisa Todd

Lisa Todd is head of strategic partnerships at Seymour Civil Engineering, where she plays a key leadership role in building strong client, stakeholder and community relationships.

With a background in business development, marketing and social value, Lisa is passionate about the role civil engineering can play in creating long-term positive impact.  At Seymour, Lisa helps champion the business’s commitment to delivering beyond construction - working collaboratively to support clients, communities and the wider industry.

Seymour Civil Engineering has over 45 years’ experience delivering award-winning infrastructure across the North East and Yorkshire, with a strong focus on quality, collaboration, social value and making a meaningful difference in the places where it works.

Shahwaiz Raja

Shahwaiz Raja is a highly regarded site manager at Seymour Civil Engineering and is recognised as a future leader within the business. He brings a positive, proactive and collaborative approach to project delivery, with a strong focus on safety, quality, problem solving and effective communication.

Shahwaiz has gained valuable experience across a wide range of civil engineering schemes, from large, complex national highways programmes to smaller, sensitive projects requiring careful planning, stakeholder engagement and community-focused delivery. This breadth of experience has given him a well-rounded understanding of the importance of collaboration, buildability, adaptability and finding practical solutions in challenging environments.

Currently developing his career through Seymour’s apprenticeship programme, Shahwaiz’s progression into a site manager role also reflects Seymour’s commitment to investing in future industry talent and creating meaningful social value.