Meet our New Starters – Harith Altuma & Abid Gul

Harith Altuma

Harith Altuma joins Brookes Bell as a Fuel Chemist, based in our Houston office. He brings over 25 years of extensive experience in petroleum and chemical testing, with deep expertise in analytical chemistry, fuel quality evaluation, and laboratory quality assurance. He has built his career around ensuring scientific precision, operational excellence, and data integrity across the oil and gas industry.

Before joining Brookes Bell, Harith served as Laboratory Co-ordinator at AmSpec Group, where he led day-to-day laboratory operations, and ensured strict compliance with international testing and quality standards. Earlier roles include Team Leader, supervisory, and technical posts with SGS and other laboratories, where he led operations across multiple departments, gaining deep practical knowledge of chromatography, analytical instrumentation, and laboratory quality systems.

Earlier in his career, as a Senior Chemist at the Quality Control Central Laboratory in Basra, Iraq, he led a large team responsible for water and air pollution testing and comprehensive chemical analyses. His remit included detailed analysis of raw materials such as ethylene, butane, cyclohexane, natural gas, octane, hydrochloric acid, caustic soda, silica and calcium stearate masterbatch. He also directed instrument calibration and organic testing programmes spanning BOD, COD, TOC and oil and grease, and coordinated chemical preparation and equipment validation to support large-scale laboratory operations.

Harith holds a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Basra and is highly experienced in method validation, measurement uncertainty, and ISO-based laboratory management systems. His technical insight and leadership strengthen Brookes Bell’s capabilities in fuel chemistry, analytical investigations, and client assurance work across the region.

“After many years of routine testing, I wanted to move into work where every case is different,” Harith says. “At Brookes Bell, I’m able to apply my laboratory experience to complex, real-world investigations, helping clients uncover root causes and deliver scientifically sound solutions.”

Abid Gul

Abid joins Brookes Bell’s surveying team as a Managing Master Mariner with three decades of maritime experience. He began his sea career in 1995 as a cadet, serving on tankers and bulk carriers, before moving into the offshore sector in 2007. He took command in 2010 and has since led operations across a wide range of offshore vessels, including dive support, geotechnical drilling, subsea construction, ROV support and, most recently, wind farm vessels. Abid brings a strong track record of leading diverse crews, enforcing safe systems of work and maintaining high standards of procedural compliance, reporting and documentation in demanding environments.

Abid’s new role focuses on marine surveying and associated casework, including depositions, supporting incident investigations, condition and damage surveys, and the preparation of structured, evidence-based reports. His academic and professional background includes training at India’s Training Ship Chanakya, an HND from GCNS in Glasgow, a Master’s Certificate of Competency from the UK’s MCA, a Navigational Assessor certificate from The Nautical Institute, and internal auditor certification for ISM, ISPS and MLC.

“I have always been fascinated by the survey side of the industry,” Abid says. “I am excited to be joining Brookes Bell, where I can apply my experience to help identify issues, understand why they occur and prevent a repeat, while working closely with clients and continuing to learn new disciplines.”