PROFILE - Professor Cliff Johnston
Led by Professor Johnston, Digitata Ltd provides:
- detailed knowledge of the oil and gas industry internationally, with over 35 years consultancy, contract services, research and training experience with most major international operators;
- good understanding of environmental management issues, ranging from policy, regulation and impact assessment through to definition of engineering solutions;
- understanding of wider, particularly environmental technology, market opportunities, with contacts throughout relevant industry and governmental agencies;
- 40 years academic/training experience at all levels from in-house company training to advanced post-graduate teaching, with strong interests in issues across policy - environmental science - engineering interfaces;
- proven track record in project development and management, with strong innovative / lateral thinking abilities; and above all,
- strong commitment to provision of top-level independent professional support, working for industry and government agencies.
His first significant commercial project, which also introduced him to Orkney, was as marine environmental consultant to Occidental in the planning of the Flotta Oil Terminal. This work started in 1973 and continued throughout the planning, construction and operation of the Terminal. He has undertaken several hundred major projects over a wide range of environmental and engineering subjects in the UK and internationally, with special experience in the oil and gas sector, but extending across chemical plant and distilleries to nuclear (including MOD). His work has involved extensive publication and conference presentation.
In these contract studies he has developed detailed interests in environmental risk assessment, issue identification and assessment, and methodologies for incorporating environmental and energy factors in project decision making. This has involved planning and managing of project workshops and stakeholder dialogue, often dealing with controversial issues and pressure groups.
Increasingly, he is becoming involved in high level strategic issues, particularly relating to company and agency environmental decision making - " putting the e-factor into project decision making".
He has lived in Orkney (Stromness) for over 20 years, and was involved in projects in Orkney and Shetland for 15 years prior to moving to Orkney.