About Emerald Tide
Why
At Emerald Tide we believe every complex project deserves clarity, trust and the confidence to move forward. We exist to help organisations deliver when the stakes are high and the path ahead is uncertain. Clients choose us because we bring clarity where others bring complexity, trust where others bring uncertainty and results where others bring excuses.
How
We do this by working differently from most consultancies. Many firms either sit in the boardroom or stand on the construction site. At Emerald Tide we do both. We call it boardroom to site fluency. It means we can translate complex technical detail into clear insights for senior decision makers and then make sure those decisions are delivered on the ground.
We are independent, so our advice is free from commercial bias. Clients know they can trust us to tell them what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear. We are agile, able to move quickly, adapt to changing circumstances and scale through our trusted network of specialists when projects demand it. And we are experienced in both civilian and defence environments. From life sciences campuses and energy resilience programmes to expeditionary defence engineering, we have proven ourselves in some of the most challenging contexts. That experience gives us discipline, resilience and perspective that few others can match.
What
We provide development management, engineering advisory and strategic support across real estate, infrastructure, energy and defence. Our global experience spans science and innovation campuses, highways and rail, life sciences facilities such as Moderna, energy resilience and smart grid programmes, and defence projects. Whether it is preparing a site for development, delivering resilient utilities or guiding board-level strategy, we help clients reduce risk and bring their most challenging projects to confident completion.
The team behind the Tide
James
Director
James is the kind of leader you want when the problems are complex and the stakes are high. A Chartered Civil Engineer and former British Army Major, he spent 18 years leading teams in environments where clarity and results mattered more than rhetoric. From frontline operations to shaping strategy across the Ministry of Defence and international partners, James built a reputation for turning complexity into clarity. He understands real estate, infrastructure and energy at every level, from highways and rail to life sciences, the Moderna vaccine facility and major programmes in electrical resilience and smart grid strategy. What sets him apart is boardroom to site fluency. He can brief a board in the morning, walk a site in the afternoon and know exactly how the two connect. People trust James because he delivers with discipline, with resilience and with a focus on creating lasting value.
Sophie
Director
Sophie brings the commercial edge and strategic insight that sets Emerald Tide apart. An experienced consultant and business strategist, she has worked with some of the world’s leading technology companies including Amazon Web Services and Cisco, as well as advising clients independently. Sophie specialises in technology, digital transformation and business operations, and she brings a client-focused perspective to every project. At Emerald Tide she leads on client engagement, partnerships and organisational strategy, ensuring that projects are built on strong communication and deliver clear, measurable value. Passionate about health, wellbeing and sustainable business practices, Sophie’s approach makes sure projects are not only technically successful but also resilient and future-ready.
The Meaning Behind Emerald Tide
The name came from standing with my wife Sophie at the lookout over Hill Inlet on Whitsunday Island in Australia, watching the tides push white silica sand through emerald-blue water. The scene was always moving, always changing, yet always full of energy and purpose.
We chose Emerald Tide because it reflects those same qualities. The emerald colours mean clarity, trust and resilience, the qualities clients need when projects are at their most challenging. The tide represents momentum and adaptability. It never stops moving forward, but it adjusts to whatever conditions it faces.
That is how we work. We cut through noise, adapt quickly and keep projects moving with purpose. Clients choose Emerald Tide because they want trusted partners who bring clarity when the environment is shifting and deliver results when it really matters.
The strongest projects are built on trust
At Emerald Tide we work side by side with our clients, bringing clarity and confidence to every stage of the journey. Let’s explore how we can support your next project.