Our team in Surrey
Our team in Surrey is made up of more than 120 people – including site managers, site supervisors, engineers, machine drivers, site operatives, banksmen, maintenance staff and re-use shop assistants. We also have a team of support staff – including administrators, traffic controllers, finance and accounts staff, a project manager, a quality assurance officer and a communications manager.
Here’s some information about a few of them:
Gareth Swain
Regional Manager
Gareth is the Regional Manager for Surrey. He has worked for SUEZ since 2005 and managed the Surrey contract since 2010. Gareth is responsible for delivering a safe service and work environment for the team and the residents of Surrey who visit our facilities. Gareth works closely with Surrey County Council to deliver the service they require as well as making sure our sites are fully compliant with our operational permits and legal requirements.
With a background in Applied Chemistry and waste water treatment, Gareth has almost 30 years’ experience in the industry. Gareth is married with two teenage daughters and feels he has finally settled into life as a northerner living in the south east.
Neil Ducker
Operations Manager
Neil has been our Operations Manager since 2011, responsible for overseeing the 15 community recycling centres and five transfer and bulking facilities. He joined us in 2002 and has over 25 years' experience in the waste industry.
Born and raised in northwest London, Neil moved to Surrey and settled in the Dorking area where he lives with his wife and two children. He enjoys tennis, photography, travelling and cycle rides in the Surrey countryside with his family.
Justin Hampton
Eco Park Plant Manager
Justin joined SUEZ in 2012 with 20 years’ experience in commissioning and running a diverse range of innovative process plants. His career has spanned the fine chemical, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, and biofuel sectors and he holds a degree in Chemical Engineering with Environmental Protection from Loughborough University.
Justin grew up in Ashford Common – just a couple of miles from the Eco Park – and still has family and friends who live in the area. He enjoys photography and mountain biking.
Irene Abeal Lopez
Site Manager
Irene joined SUEZ in 2013 as a Recycling Operative but now oversees 10 of the community recycling centres as Site Manager. This involves making sure the sites, employees and visitors to sites are all safe, and that the sites comply with all health, safety and contractual requirements. Irene also manages four area supervisors as well as a team of 50 recycling operatives, charging supervisors and shop advisors.
Back in her native Spain, Irene studied Sports Journalism and previously spent time working on radio and television shows, including producing and co-presenting! Irene also loves spending time with her family and travelling.
Nesta Hibbert
Operations Administrator
Nesta joined the Surrey team in early 2017 as our Operations Administrator, based in our regional office in Morden. Nesta is the first point of contact for many of our customers, both residents and businesses, as she is responsible for answering the phone and responding to people’s questions about our services. Nesta also supports the rest of the team with various admin tasks.
Outside of work, Nesta lives in Surrey and has two children and one grandchild. She also likes to keep active, going to football matches and salsa dancing, as well as cooking and entertaining family and friends.
Kacie Thompson
Communications Manager
Kacie joined SUEZ in 2017 and is responsible for all communication relating to our contract with Surrey County Council. This involves managing all the communications for the Eco Park, including the Community Liaison Group, website and newsletters to keep residents informed. Kacie also manages marketing for the Revive re-use shops and charity scheme, as well as media relations within Surrey.
Prior to working for SUEZ, Kacie gained experience working in marketing and communications for several non-profits in Washington DC, primarily focussing on energy and environmental issues. Kacie is from the US originally but considers Surrey her second home, having moved to the UK in 2016 to complete an MSc in Corporate Environmental Management at the University of Surrey.
