Charlie Price
Charlie did his BSc in freshwater biology, then an MSc in Aquaculture and multi-use aquatic systems before completing 5 years of PhD research on integrated fish vegetable systems in Asia. In early 2007 he co-founded a renewable energy company and whilst installing a heatpump powered aquaponics greenhouse, he identified the need for a organisation to support the growing aquaponic movement. In 2008 he gave birth to aquaponics UK. Charlie is a big fan of everything aquatic, he loves to build and has a minor pipe work fetish. On a more serious note charlie is motivated by being part of a new and exciting shift in the way we use and value our resources, and creating mechanisms for people and communities to move forward more sustainably.
Becky Bainbridge
Becky is nature mad, graduating from Nottingham Uni in 2008 with an honours degree Zoology she decided to leave the monkeys behind and complete an MSc in Sustainable Aquaculture with the hope that a more sustainable food system would solve many of the issues the world faces. This led to her thesis and subsequent obsession with aquaponics. Becky then completed the world’s first Life Cycle Assessment of an aquaponics system and shortly after traveled to Kenya to research low-tech aquaponics systems and on-farm feed production including the rearing and processing of black soldier fly larvae. She has been working for Aquaponics UK for the last 3 years and has designed & constructed a range of systems in different contexts around the world.
Anton Immink
Simon Delvaux
Passionate since I was a child about nature and complexity of the man-made environment, it is natural that I decided to turn my passion into my future career. That is why I graduated in Engineering Studies and I have a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Ecology and Environmental Management.
Simon wrote his Master’s Degree Final Project, during my internship in an organization specialized on urban gardens, was about the organics waste development in urban communities by coupling vermicompost with aquaponics. This is how I met Charlie and Becky. The passion and enthusiasm contained in the team and Aquaponics UK philosophy have boosted my hope to spread and improve this agriculture technique that, I am sure, is a big step towards human life sustainability in this beautiful ecosystem called The Earth.
Niall Dollan
Niall grew up in sunny Edinburgh and later spent 3 years studying geography at Newcastle Uni, and 1 year studying sustainable aquaculture at Stirling. He enjoys learning about weird and wonderful things, loves cycling and can’t wait to get a pet dog! He joined Aquaponics UK in 2011 and is chuffed to bits that he is involved in developing and installing aquaponics systems around the world.
Lawrence Watson
Lawrence joined the team in November 2010 as strategic advisor to the company. His international career of over 30 years included living in 8 countries (4 in the developing world and 4 in Europe) as a Partner in an international consulting company specializing in organisation and human resource consulting (80 offices – 38 countries).
Lawrence is a practicing amateur “aquaponist” in Brussels where he lives and is actively examining the potential for aquaponic solutions to sustainably make poverty history in the developing world.
Ian Lapraik
Ian graduated from Edinburgh University in 1990 with a degree in Ecological Science. He then spent five years teaching in overseas schools before training as an accountant with KPMG in Bristol. Ian spent over 10 years working as an accountant in the Financial Services sector while at the same time developing his interest in sustainability. He lives on a smallholding in Somerset with his wife and two young children. Ian first learnt about aquaponics two years ago and has been in ongoing communication with Aquaponics UK since then.
Ian is joining the management team of Aquaponics UK with a particular interest in maintaining the organisation’s financial stability through what looks set to be a period of significant growth.
and our current interns:
Laurie Renguet
Laurie comes from Brussels in Belgium. She graduated in 2011 with a Masters in Bioengineering orientation Environment, at the Free University of Brussels. She was fortunate to participate in various cooperative projects like in 2009 in Peru as the use of greenhouse to improve crop production at altitude; and in 2010 in the Seychelles as the identification of patterns of plant diversity. She discovered aquaponics a little by chance, thanks to Lawrence Watson, and is happy and is excited to work with the team on their projects!
Nicolas de Ville
Nicolas grew up in Brussels, Belgium. He studied a Bachelor in Bio Engineering at the free University of Brussels. He then completed a two year Masters degree in Environment. With field work experience in both Peru and Bolivia he helped design water treatment systems and distribution and supply to villages and cities. He only encountered aquaponics relatively recently and finds it an interesting alternative for sustainably feeding increasing populations. On his days off, he likes to go on music concerts and festival and likes to ride his bike.