WHO WE ARE
Founded in 2022 by four mechanical and electrical bods with a shared vision for harmonious building services engineering.
We maintain director level input across all levels of the design and delivery process, so when you work with Chord, it's the goons below who will be balancing your load and plotting the most efficient path.
ASHLEY COWDREY
DIRECTOR
Ash's career began as a construction industry apprentice in 1990. He moved into consulting and enjoyed a career that involved establishing three successful regional offices, before founding Chord with Matt, Alex, and Jim in 2022.
Ash sits on the board of Nottingham Hot Property, and is an ambassador / coach to the charity Switch Up, a role which saw him win the BBC East Midlands Unsung Hero Award in 2020… which he still bleats on about now.
Ash is a keen fan of boxing, cricket, and red wine. He’s also a closet birdwatcher, and a huge advocate for his hometown of Nottingham, where he lives with his spouse and three children.
MATT WRATE
DIRECTOR
"Wratey" joined the industry in 2003 after completing a BSc degree, back when he had hair. He went on to achieve an MSc, CIBSE national student of the year, and PassivHaus accreditation.
Matt has worked on several of the East Midlands' most prestigious construction projects, including a carbon negative office development. Matt has extensive knowledge of educational building standards, and fronts much of our work in the continuing evolution and decarbonisation of school design.
Matt is a lifelong Nottingham Forest and season ticket holder. Matt lives in Nottingham with his spouse, son and daughter.
JIM FRISBY
DIRECTOR
"Jimbo" started as an electrician in 1991 and moved into design six years later. His practical background, combined with over 25 years of design experience, is a potent combination for pragmatic design, on site co-ordination, and de-risking.
Jim has specialised experience of large scale industrial design and infrastructure solutions for high usage sites.
Jim is Leicestershire born and bred, lives in Market Harborough with his spouse, and is keen on skiing and wake-boarding, high adrenaline sports which contradict Jim’s natural allure to the sport of "sitting down with a nice cup of tea".
ALEX JONES
DIRECTOR
Alex has been an M&E consultant since 2004. Originally from Manchester, he came to Nottingham for university and never left, he now fronts some of our biggest longstanding client relationships.
Alex is particularly knowledgable in the residential and higher education sectors, bringing decades of experience to client projects.
Alex, an annoyingly keen runner and cyclist, still speaks fluent Mancunian and is a lifelong Man United fan, but resides in Radcliffe-on-Trent with his spouse and two sons.
JORDEN DAMJI
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER
Jorden was officially Chords first employee, and we’ll always love him for it. From an Architectural Technologist background, Jorden is a maestro at working out how buildings will best behave passively. He’s also in charge of keeping the director’s feet on the ground with regular public roastings. Particularly to Ash…
JAMIE CLARKE
BIM ENGINEER
Jamie (Jambo) is part of the beating heart of the MK office. An electrical engineer, REVIT master, daylight guru and jack of all trades. A shorts wearer through the deepest winter months, rumour has it he wore long trousers to a meeting once, but there is no photographic evidence.
ANGELINA STANKOVIC
MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Angelina (Ange) is a recently qualified Mechanical Engineer, and all-round shining star. Quick-witted and a key instigator of office banter, Ange is proud of her Serbian heritage, which she blames for her passionate approach to social gatherings, and… let’s say ‘legendary’ dance moves!
ADRIAN GONZALEZ
SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Adrian is our electrical engineering, footballing, and DIY genius. As a native to Malaga, Adrian has led the office into a love of all things Spanish – the culture, the wine, the beer, the food, the language. Did you know it’s an offence to put chorizo in paella? According to Adrian it’s a crime against humanity.
HARRY STANNARD
SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Harry (Hazza) is one of the legendary Stannard brothers, and a senior Mechanical Engineering maestro. Like all the Stannard’s, he’s annoyingly good at every sport, achieving maximum style with minimum effort. Not quite as good at football as his older brother Fred*
*according to their dad
ALASTAIR MCMICHEAL
BIM ENGINEER
Alastair (Ali) is our consistently stylish REVIT expert, leading the team in all elements of 3D collaboration. A lifelong Leicester City Football fan and a Mean Machine in goal, you would not relish a one-on-one.
ALEX SKIDMORE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Alex S is an Associate Director with a rare practical design pedigree. A social butterfly with the technical nous to back it up, Alex’s enthusiasm for a fiesta is infectious, making him a hugely popular member of the property and construction fraternity in the East Midlands.
SHABAZ BAZ
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Shabaz (Shib) is a trainee electrical, Revit savvy, engineer, who is no doubt en-route to a legendary career in the industry. Watch this space! Shib is an ex-boxer, and his past life of endurance training comes through in his work ethic – perpetually delivering to the highest quality.
REBECCA JACKSON
OFFICE MANAGER
Rebecca is our Office Manager, agony aunt, and fairy godmother. Tell Rebecca what you want to happen, and by the end of the week it will be so! It’s hard to imagine where we’d all be without Rebecca.
RYAN GIBSON
SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER
A Senior Mechanical Engineer, residential guru, and legislative safe cracker. Ryan might not say as much as some of the crew… but when he speaks you better be listening, because it’ll be worth hearing!
JACK PASCOE
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Jack is an electrical engineer and all-round office good guy. He’s Chord own food critic and grows his own too, from plastic greenhouse to paper plate – Jack’s your master at getting extra PV panels on the roof
ZOE FITTOCK
MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Zoe may not be the loudest member of the crew, but don’t let that fool you. She’s a Mechanical Maestro, and what Zoe doesn’t know about school design isn’t worth knowing. Zoe is very warm blooded, doesn’t like the cold, and usually wears a dressing gown in the office from September through to May - she’s merged WFH and office working beautifully.
FRED STANNARD
ASSOCIATE
Fred is a Mechanical Associate, and a great all-rounder at engineering and sport alike. In-between injuries, that is - Fred can get injured tying his shoelaces. Another of the legendary Stannard siblings, although not quite as good at football as his younger brother Harry*
*according to their mum
SIMON BENTLEY
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Simon is an Associate Electrical Engineer, and all-round technical guru. Simons laid back nature belies his prolific work ethic. He spends much of his spare time inventing weird and wonderful creations, such as slug repelling plant pots, faraday cages, and flux capacitors.
SCOTT DUNN
INTERN
Scott joined Chord as a Mechanical Engineering Intern from Nottingham Trent Uni in June. Scott made an immediate impact with the team both in terms of his technical, and social, input! While Scott is a temporary member of staff, he will never be forgotten, and we’re all hoping to meet again, one sunny day, post-graduation!
NICHOLA CHEUNG
MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Nichola joined Chord as a Mechanical Engineer in our Milton Keynes office, in June. Well-travelled, Nichola completed a Mechanical Engineering Masters degree at Swansea University, and is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Having given up student life Nicola is learning to cook, but it gets in the way of watching MotoGP at weekends.
JOSHUA VASUDEVAN
BUILDING PERFORMANCE ENGINEER
Josh joined us in September ’23 following his multi award-winning role as a Doctoral Researcher at Loughborough University. As our all-round sustainability maestro, Josh specializes in building performance modeling and energy analysis. He is also an expert in Artificial Intelligence, coding, and programming. Josh’s passion is pushing these elements to challenge the boundaries of building simulation, and to help prevent the forthcoming A.I. apocalypse. It’s fair to say he’s hit the ground here sprinting and is already astounding the team with his analytical skills (when we can keep up with him!).
OVIE OKOBAROH
APPRENTICE ENGINEER
Ovie joined Chord in September ’23 as an apprentice engineer: - learning on the job while studying at college on day release. With a genuine passion for engineering Ovie’s settled in very quickly, taking to Cad and Revit like a duck to water. A big fan of American Football and Boxing, Ovie is also fluent in Spanish – Él va a ser un ingeniero increible!
MARYNA HONTAR
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Maryna Joined Chord in March ’23 as an Electrical Engineer. Maryna is Ukrainian and has been living in the UK since 2023, although she already speaks English better than Jim. Having worked in the Industry since 2012, Maryna brings wide experience to the team - notably in High Voltage design. Maryna is the outdoors type and likes bike rides, camping and – if it gets warm enough in the UK – open water swimming.
MICHAEL TOUHEY
SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Michael joined the crew in March ’23, as a Senior Mechanical Engineer, having worked in the industry since 1999. Micheal brings specialist technical knowledge to the team, particularly in detailed design, refrigeration design, and is a cool hand when it comes to technical troubleshooting. Michael is into cooking and eating and offsets his love of both with wholesome activities like trail running, off road cycling, climbing. And going to the gym when it rains.
EYAD MAKKI
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Biog coming soon.
TOM WALKER
INTERN
Tom joined the team in the summer of ’23 as a Mechanical Engineering Intern from The University of Nottingham. An absolute knowledge sponge, Tom has impressed everyone with his quick learning skills: - Cad, Revit, duct sizing, taking the mickey out of Ash… he’s picking up all the vital requirements of a permanent Chord Crew member. Tom also likes walking – mainly to the pub, but sometimes takes on steeper challenges!