Andrew began his post-graduate academic career studying the rocks and sediments left behind in East Greenland and other parts of the Arctic by one of the world's deepest glaciations. After achieving his doctorate he decided to visit the other end of the world and joined the British Antarctic Survey, with which he completed two field seasons in the spectacular mountains of Alexander Island on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Family life began to take precedence over long periods in cold places and in 1992 Andrew decided to leave the academic world and joined Hawkins where he received training in the investigation of fires and explosions, subjects that use surprisingly similar disciplines to the study of sedimentary rocks. Andrew is now one of Hawkins' most experienced fire investigators.

However, before too long, and after continued pining for rocky outcrops he realised that there was a role for forensic geology and began to take small but significant numbers of instructions relating to geology. These include the deterioration of natural building materials, failures in quarries and mines and the use of rocks and soil in the identification of fraud.

On the criminal side, Andrew has now conducted numerous geological investigations into serious crimes, the most high profile example being the Soham murder enquiry. He used soil and rock evidence to show that Ian Huntley had driven his car on the remote track where the bodies of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were found.

Andrew became a Director of Hawkins' in 2006 and is based in the Cambridge office.