Carwyn Williams

What is your role at Ricardo?
My role is multifaceted. I lead audits of renewable heating sites for regulatory compliance, assess CHP schemes, and specialise in emission modelling and techno-economic analysis for CCS and biomethane facilities.

What does your average day at Ricardo look like? 
My workdays are diverse and engaging. I compile audit reports, perform QA checks, and update models in Excel/VBA as my core tasks. I've also been involved in bid writing, literature reviews on low carbon policies and technologies, and leading emission modelling and techno-economic analysis for carbon capture. I recently completed a year-long study on negative emissions technologies. In my downtime, I use Ricardo's resources to improve my project management skills, practice coding, and manage emails and team messages.

What do you look forward to at work? 
I look forward to collaborating with my team daily, due to the sound and supportive environment they facilitate, as well as working towards my goal of becoming a CCS specialist, which Ricardo supports via a personalised development roadmap. Post-work socials are also great fun, recently attending a drag race event and Eurovision themed party! 

What do you find most rewarding at work? / Are you proud to work at Ricardo?
Ricardo's commitment to allow me to specialise in my areas of interest is highly rewarding. This involves flexibility to join focused projects and collaborate closely with specialists, regardless of my job title. For example, I enhanced my modelling skills by leading tool developments for a biomethane GHG modelling tool under the project manager's guidance, despite limited Excel VBA experience. Inspired by my senior colleagues, I aim to share my expertise and support junior staff.

What was your team’s latest achievement and how was it celebrated?
We completed a one-year project dedicated to developing deployment pathways of negative emission technologies (NETs) for a governmental client. This involved a thorough literature review of technologies available, a scoping of all potential sites, and the calculation of capture potential and costs of each site. Pathways were developed depending on the choice of governmental policy enacted. This project is a strategic win for Ricardo, as we aim to grow within the field of NETs. 

How have you developed your career at Ricardo? 
I joined the Heat Decarbonisation team as an Analyst Consultant in October 2021. During my time here, I've honed essential skills to advance as a technical expert:

• Project Management - received formal training by senior colleagues. 
• Business Development - presented to potential clientele and have written bids.
• Modelling - led on updates for the Ricardo biomethane GHG tool, overseen by the project manager. 
• CCUS - worked with technical experts on emissions modelling and techno-economic analysis of potential CCUS sites. 

What do you most enjoy about working with your team?
I’m able to collaborate with a diverse group of experts, including those specialised in low carbon technologies like CHP, district heating, and CCUS, and those in modelling and policy. Together, we form multidisciplinary teams that tackle complex problems, providing me valuable insights into various low carbon technologies, policy variations, and diverse work approaches.

What advice would you give to anyone considering a career as an Analyst Consultant? 

Embrace new opportunities as this has been key to my growth and learning as well as stepping out of my comfort zone and saying yes to new challenges. Additionally, visiting the office has played a crucial role in strengthening my working relationships. Meeting colleagues in person and socialising face-to-face has created a deeper connection and understanding among the team. However, we are really engaged with each other via digital platforms too. Lastly, setting clear limits is essential when it comes to managing workload. Prioritizing both physical and mental health should always be the top priority, ensuring a healthy work-life balance.