People

Toby Mottram CEng. BA(Hons) MSc PhD MIET Chief Engineer

I founded eCow to make the best instrumentation possible for  monitoring cows. I gained my first degree in Engineering and Agriculture (first class Honours) from the Open University while working as a cowman. After completing a Masters at Cranfield University I helped invent robotic milking at Silsoe Research Institute and went on to develop cow breath sampling, in-line milk progesterone analysis and in 2003 the rumen pH bolus. I let the team get on with the work most of the time while I act as science coordinator for the UK’s agricultural greenhouse gas research projects for Defra. In my spare time I am studying for another degree in Computing and Statistics, walk the hills, go to the opera, sail and scuba dive.  My up to date CV is hereToby Mottram_CV_2011_3

 

Seonaid Nimmo

Product Design Manager at eCow with a BDes (Hons) in Product Design from Glasgow School of Art

My job at eCow is to take an initial idea and turn it into a feasible design concept. Once the concept has been agreed upon, I turn to prototyping to work out the detailed design of the finalised concept. My aim within the company is to make sustainable, innovative and pioneering products for a company that aims to improve cow health, industry development and reduced environmental impact. I have worked for over 2 years for eCow where my own personal interests are incorporated into the company and aid the product development process; like sewing, photography and graphic design. My job also involves customer relations, administrative data organising and technical engineering aspects. Aspects like calibrating sensors, using milling machines and operating centre lathes to create prototypes are just a few of the technical tasks I do at eCow. I have just completed an MSc in Sustainable Engineering Design Strathclyde University

Dr David L O Smith CEng MIAgrE Chairman

After an academic life in civil and agricultural engineering, in the USA and the UK, I left academe in 1999 to co-found Receptional, an internet marketing company, as director of operations. However, I have recently stepped back from that role, which allows me more time to fulfil my duties as a director at Unicorn Trails (worldwide horse riding holidays) for whom I have ridden in many places around the world, checking out the more adventurous new rides and escorting larger groups. I was invited to become a director of eCow in 2008.

In my leisure time, I practice natural horsemanship with two horses, which we keep on our land and stables at our back gate where we have old tractors and farm machinery to help with the upkeep. When the weather is not so good, I busy myself in my workshop where I build model railway locomotives.

More at: www.davidlosmith.co.uk

Sam Mottram - CEng BEng Marketing Director

Sam has recently joined us to advise on marketing and to bring his ability to speak German and French to our customers.  He studied Mechanical Engineering with French at Surrey University.

 

 

 

Jack McCubbine - I am presently studying at Exeter University and am in the 4th year of the MMath course. I joined recently to develop the website and to help visualise data by creating animations.

Hanna Miedema- Scientific Adviser - I finished my undergraduate studies in Zoology at the University of Edinburgh in 2005 and left with first-class honours. Then I went straight in to working as a Research Associate at the university. While I was working there, I completed a Masters by Research on developing behavioural and physiological methods of identifying fatigue in sheep and then a PhD. My thesis was on investigating the use of behavioural, accelerometer and heart rate measurements to predict calving in dairy cows.

After a break, to fulfil my ambitions of visiting Antarctica and breaking a world record, I went to the University of British Columbia to work as a visiting researcher with the Animal Welfare Program. Canada is great but Scotland is my home, so I came back to do some research for eCow. My current role is analysing data and editing papers for publication.




Jayne Bell-I gained my first degree in Computing and Information Systems 2:1(Hons) at Brighton University in 1995 before working in Banking and Manufacturing as a Network administrator, running a help desk and working on special projects. I then went on to complete a PGCE at Exeter University and taught ICT in secondary school until 2009 when I took a years sabbatical and travelled across South America and through parts of Asia. I have now returned to Exeter University where I am currently in my second year of a degree in Psychology. I have joined eCow to liaise with customers and provide IT support and services.

During my spare time I enjoy yoga, walking the coastal paths with my dog, sailing and scuba diving.