ECA Officials & Senior Staff

Stuart started as an apprentice electrician in 1986 on a CITB training scheme; started his own business in 1997 and became a Director of Stromtechs Ltd in 2007.

Since joining ECA, Stuart has been Vice Chair and Chair (4 years) of the Thames Valley Branch; Thames Valley Branch representative at the Central South REC for at least 5 years; Central South representative on Council since May 2019.

Ruth is Managing Director of SJD Electrical, as well as a member of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education Construction Route Panel. She is also a member of the Construction Leadership Council’s People & Skills Network, which focuses on tackling the industry’s skills needs. She attends the Government’s Construction Skills Delivery Group as an industry representative, supporting Project Speed. In 2023, Ruth was recognised in the New Year's Honour's list and awarded an MBE for her services to apprenticeships.

For ECA, Ruth is Chair of the Skills Committee and currently involved in campaigns to increase employee engagement with schools and colleges and promote valid routes to achieve vocational competence.

Glenn is Director of Drax360 (ECA East Region member) which installs and maintains fire detection & alarm systems as well as producing it’s own site & cloud based fire alarm Compliance & Management software.
 
He has worked in the Electrical Industry since 1980, specialising in the design and installation of Fire Detection Suppression systems since moving to Gent in 1984. After Gent he then managed the UK operation of Cerberus (now part of Siemens) before starting up Wagner UK and then owning his own Fire & Security business in 2001. On selling that business in 2021 he then moved to Drax360.
 
During his career he has studied the 1st year of an ONC in Electrical Engineering, gained an HNC in Business Studies as well as ISOH qualifications.
 
Originally from East London, Glenn lives near Cambridge with his wife Brigitte. He has a daughter Isobel who lives and works in central London. When not working his time is taken up with cycling (he’s an accomplished track cycling rider, just about good enough for national events), football (Spurs supporter), skiing and travel (he & Brigitte love to visit different cities).
 
Since his Gent days Glenn has always supported the ECA, has been part of the ECA East Region for over 25 years and has been Beds & Herts Branch Chair, East Regional Chair and then ECA Council Member.
 
Glenn is passionate about quality of delivery in our industry and to achieve that by developing the next generation of people for our Industry – engineers, support people and managers.

Sean began his career with WT Parker (Now EJ Parker Technical Services) as an electrical apprentice in 1973 and progressed within the company, being appointed Managing Director in 1997, Group Managing Director and Group CEO in 2007 and Chair in 2018. He led company to being the largest independent M&E contractor in the East Midlands prior to acquisition by Edwin James Group in 2017.

Sean has been an ECA Council Delegate since 2008 and an ECA Board Director since 2012 and he also sits on the Major Contractors Forum, having previously held positions as ECA Branch and REC Chair.

Steve was appointed ECA Group Chief Executive Officer in October 2010, having previously served as Deputy CEO from February 2010.

Steve’s career consists of Director and MD positions, centred around the building services and construction sectors, including a number of non-executive Chairman’s roles within property development companies.  His former roles include MD of CORGI Services, where he was recognised by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as one of Britain’s top 200 businessmen in 2002 and 2003. 

Steve is a Chartered Director and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. He is also a Non-Executive Director of numerous industry bodies, including Chair of Compex Certification Ltd, Director and former Chair of Certsure LLP and member of the Construction Leadership Council.

Before joining ECA, Andrew spent four-and-a-half years as Crossrail’s Head of Employee Relations. Prior to this he worked for the Olympic Delivery Authority’s delivery partner, and for several years in employee relations roles at the BESA and the Engineering Construction Association.

Andrew is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a member of the advisory panel for Greenwich University’s Work and Employment Relations Unit, and a regular guest lecturer at Exeter University’s Business School.

Terry was appointed Group Financial Controller in January 2018, having joined the Association in 2013 as Chief Accountant. Terry is responsible for overseeing a small team that look after the day to finances of the Association and is based in the Sevenoaks office. Terry is also a Trustee of the Electrical Industries charity and a non-executive director of BASEC.

Terry is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and has worked as a qualified accountant for over 25 years. Most of that time has been running finance functions in a variety of industries, everything from motorbike racing to logistics and manufacturing and prior to joining ECA Terry had spent the previous 14 years in construction based companies.

Terry is a keen triathlete, proving that a lack of sporting ability is no barrier to taking part.

Having joined ECA in 2018, Rob qualified as a solicitor and mediator with extensive construction and FM experience, obtained in private practice and trade associations.  He is widely known in the industry for his active contribution to dialogue between industry players and Government on a range of business-related issues, on behalf of the engineering services sector.

Rob is also an SME Business Advisor to the Cabinet Office/Crown Commercial Services. He is an active advocate of digital business solutions and, based on his personal experience, a passionate advocate of the commercial benefits of mentoring, diversity and wider inclusion in industry.

Helen became ECA’s Director of Member Services in September 2014 and is responsible for the Regional Teams, Member Services, Marketing, Communications, PR & Public Affairs, and ECS Contact Centre Operations.
 

Previously, Helen worked for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) where she was director of strategy and communications. Prior to that, she was director of client services at CORGI and membership services director at BTS.
 

Helen is an affiliate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.  

Daniel initially joined the ECA as Head of Marketing and Digital Transformation in October 2019, responsible for all aspects of the ECA marketing strategy, with a focus on building a strong ECA brand presence across our industry. 

Daniel now works across both ECA's Membership and staff team to drive the development of cutting-edge digital initiatives.

Daniel has over 20 years of professional digital and marketing experience and has held senior positions in a range of both commercial and not for profit organisations.

Mike Smith became ECA’s Technical Director in 2019. Mike previously held a variety of commercial roles at SES Engineering Services over a 25 year period, including as the firm’s estimating and sector director. Mike has worked on projects totalling tens of millions of pounds, helping the firm grow its turnover significantly.

Born near Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East, Mike is the son of an architect who worked for construction firm Taylor Woodrow. Mike followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the construction industry as an electrical apprentice straight from school just before his 16^th birthday. Mike’s JIB electrical apprenticeship was with R & I Harrison in Leeds, which resulted in him gaining Approved Electrician status.

Mike was previously ECA President 2017/18, having been senior vice president for one year prior to that. He had held numerous other roles with the ECA since becoming directly involved back in 1999.

Jane joined ECA in December 2020. She is responsible for ECA’s public relations and public affairs strategies and operation. Jane’s team works across all policy areas, producing content for publication on ECA’s digital and print channels and in media outlets. Jane works collaboratively with industry partners on a range of communications initiatives.

Jane has over a decade of experience working in charity communications and public affairs, as well as international experience promoting renewable energy initiatives.

Carolyn joined ECA in June 2014 as Head of Education and Training. Prior to this she worked for 23 years in pharmaceuticals manufacturing in various roles with a global remit, followed by 5 years working with automotive and aerospace companies across the UK on skills projects and funding applications. She is also a trustee of the industry charity, NET.

Phil joined the ECA in 2005 and is responsible for Human Resources in the ECA Group.

Prior to joining the Association Phil worked for Air Products PLC, a global industrial gases and chemicals manufacturer in a number of senior HR generalist roles, both in the UK and overseas. This followed several years working in industrial relations with a major contractor in the UK engineering and construction industry.

Steve joined the association in 1998 and has overseen many changes in regard to systems used within the group. He manages a small team from the Sevenoaks office, who run the day to day IT operations, as well as the development team who look after the systems and websites that are used to support membership activities.

Having worked in the IT industry for many years, Steve has managed IT environments across a number of sectors, ranging from insurance, publishing and certification through to trade and membership bodies.

Steve works closely with all the companies within the ECA family and is currently the chairman to the ECA staff pension scheme.

Andy joined the ECA from Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years where he was Membership Services Manager responsible for the 35,000 members of the organisation. 

Andy’s 14 years in customer service has seen him work in Financial Services, Charity and Utility Services, with a set focus on customer service and identifying procedural improvements to enhance the customer journey. 

Phip was appointed ECA Head of Regions in April 2019. She joined ECA in 2014, and was later appointed ECA Business Development Manager (South) to primarily identify new business opportunities and different ways to reach both existing and new electrotechnical markets.

Prior to this Phip held a number of management positions within education, recruitment, sales and marketing.

Gary Parker joined ECA in 2016 and has over 25 years’ experience in electrical contracting, Standardisation and Membership organisations. He is an experienced and practical Engineer having worked in heavy industry, water treatment, medical locations and general electrical contracting.

In 2024 Tony Sidwell joined ECA as Head of Health, Safety & Environment. He is a Chartered Fellow of IOSH, a Chartered Health & Safety Professional and a Practitioner of IEMA.

Tony has worked in the Building Services industry for over 25 years holding positions with NG Bailey, SES Engineering Services and Lorne Stewart.

Previously, Tony has served as the Chair of the Joint Building Services (ECA / BESA) SHE Committee.

To see the details of all of our regional teams, you can go to our Regional Page.