Principal Investigators

Professor Hywel Thomas for FLEXIS and FLEXISApp
Professor Hywel R Thomas
Principal Investigator
Professor Alan Guwy from FLEXIS and FLEXISApp
Professor Alan Guwy
Principal Investigator
Professor Phil Bowen of energy system projects FLEXIS and FLEXISApp
Professor Philip J Bowen
Principal Investigator
Professor David Worsley from FLEXIS and FLEXISApp
Professor David Worsley
Principal Investigator

Management Team

Dr Aleksandra Koj from energy system research projects FLEXIS and FLEXISApp
Dr Aleksandra Koj
Project Manager
Sanjana Bushra FLEXISApp Deputy Project Manager
Sanjana Bushra
Deputy Project Manager
Professor Hywel R Thomas
Principal Investigator

Professor Hywel Thomas is Professor of Civil Engineering at Cardiff University, Wales, UK; the founder Director of the Geoenvironmental Research Centre (GRC) at the University and a UNESCO Professor in the Development of a Sustainable Geoenvironment.

His research interests lie in the area of “Coupled Processes in the Ground”. His work has covered a wide range of geoenvironmental issues, from coupled multiphysics/geochemistry flow problems in soils and rocks, to waste disposal, including nuclear waste. Other subjects of interest include land regeneration and sustainability issues in general. Current interests are focused on the geoenergy field, with major projects on ground source heat, underground coal gasification, exploitation of unconventional gas and carbon sequestration in coal seams.
Professor Alan Guwy
Principal Investigator

Professor Alan Guwy is the Director of the Energy and Environment Research Institute (EERI) at the University of South Wales and the Head of the Sustainable Environment Research Centre (SERC). His research is focused on renewable generation of hydrogen, the optimization of anaerobic fermentation to produce bioenergy in the form of hydrogen and methane gas, bioelectricity using microbial fuel cells and bio-electrocatalytic systems water and wastewater treatment and analysis of recalcitrant pollutants.
Professor Philip J Bowen
Principal Investigator

Professor Phil Bowen is Director of Cardiff University’s Gas Turbine Research Centre. He worked in the private Energy Sector for 5 years before joining Cardiff University in 1994. He has published over 200 papers and been an investigator on over £30M of research contracts. He is currently a member of the RCUK Strategic Advisory Committee (SAC) on Energy and the IEA Technology Collaboration Programme in ‘Clean and Efficient Combustion’. He was DIrector of Cardiff School of Engineering 2012-2015 and is a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales, IMechE and Institute of Physics.
Professor David Worsley
Principal Investigator

Over the course of his academic career, Professor Dave Worsley has created a multi-million pound portfolio of national and international consortium projects in the areas of advanced materials, solar energy and research into the development of innovative technologies and materials to feed into the global supply chain. To date he has led the development of more than £120M investment in collaborative training, research and innovation.

In a time of climate crisis - with the UK construction industry accounting for 60% of all materials used and buildings up to 40% of our carbon emissions - Dave’s focus is on the de-carbonisation of the materials supply chain and renewable energy for buildings and transport.

For his work, in 2020, Dave also secured two awards, the St David Award for Science and Innovation from Welsh Government and the Institute of Materials, Bessemer Gold Medal for research and innovation work in the steel and metals sector.
Dr Aleksandra Koj
Project Manager

Aleksandra is the current Project Manager for FLEXIS and was the Deputy Director of a predecessor project Seren from 2009 to 2015. She is responsible for the overall delivery of the management and administration of the project, which includes reporting to WEFO, our funding organisation.

Prior to her work on FLEXIS and Seren, she worked at the Geoenvironmental Research Centre (GRC) at Cardiff University as a UNESCO Research Fellow and a UNIDO Consultant. Aleksandra was also involved in a series of World Bank funded projects. Graduated originally as a Sociologist, she subsequently completed a PhD in the importance of social capital in the regeneration of mining communities. Aleksandra has a particular interest in gender issues, entrepreneurial activities and economic development.
Sanjana Bushra
Deputy Project Manager

Sanjana Bushra assists the FLEXISApp Project Manager in carrying out strategic planning and delivery of the project. She is responsible for monitoring the project progress, evaluation and compliance at the operational level.
Sanjana recently completed her MSc in Construction Project Management from the University of the West of England (UWE) and has an MEng in Architectural Engineering from Cardiff University.
She has worked closely with Cardiff School of Engineering Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity team as a committee member.

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