Meet our New Starters – Leanne Jones and Cameron Kneen

Leanne joins Brookes Bell’s metallurgy team, bringing strong expertise in materials science and advanced characterisation. Raised in Anglesey, Leanne studied Physics with Medical Applications at the University of Liverpool, focusing on detector physics and the properties of functional materials.

She went on to complete a PhD at Liverpool on two-dimensional, layered materials, understanding their electronic structure and how their properties evolve with thickness. Her research toolkit centres on X-ray and complementary physical and chemical characterisation methods, applied to batteries, photovoltaic materials and related technologies.

After her doctorate, Leanne held a postdoctoral research position at the University of Oxford for more than three years, investigating metallic alloys for water electrolysis, with an emphasis on surface reactions that enable efficient hydrogen production. Across these projects she developed a passion for turning large, complex datasets into clear, actionable insights, a skillset she is keen to apply to real-world investigations and client challenges within Brookes Bell’s multidisciplinary environment.

“I enjoy taking complex data and distilling it into something clear and useful,” Leanne says. “Moving to Brookes Bell lets me work closer to the practical end of the problem, where the findings can make an immediate difference. I am looking forward to collaborating with my new colleagues across different disciplines and applying my experience to real-world cases.”

Cameron joins The Lab at Brookes Bell as an NDT technician, based at The Lab on the Wirral. He brings more than five years’ experience in non-destructive testing across marine and offshore projects, specialising in ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle inspection and dye penetrant techniques.

Cameron began his practical career with Ultrascan NDT, where he carried out inspections and maintenance on a variety of industrial and marine assets, before working with Axis NDT & Inspection and as an NDT inspector for Applus+. More recently he ran his own company providing inspection and tank survey services, gaining hands-on experience with UT/MT/PT, floor scanners, MFL 3D mapping systems and crawler-based tank inspection equipment.

Cameron trained at Colchester Institute and has completed industry-recognised NDT training, with a strong focus on asset integrity, safety and regulatory compliance.