After graduating, Rod worked for the engineering group TI at its Research Laboratory where he was involved in electron microscopy and related analytical techniques, eventually heading the team responsible for providing these facilities to the whole TI Group. He also worked on a number of development projects and troubleshooting activities.

Rod left TI in 1988 to join BP Research at Sunbury, to head a team working on advanced materials, mainly for aerospace applications.

Rod joined Hawkins in 1991 and has carried out several hundred forensic investigations involving engineering, fire and explosion incidents. These cases have covered a great range, from vehicle fires and small domestic incidents to multi-million pound losses in shopping malls, warehouses, factories and a film studio. Rod also deals with transport matters including road traffic accidents and railway incidents.

Rod is experienced in the legal process and has given evidence in the capacity of an expert witness in Crown, County, High and Sheriff Courts on a number of occasions.

Rod was one of the five Directors who bought the Company from its founder, Roy Hawkins in 2000 and he became Managing Director in 2001. After a very successful tenure as Managing Director he stepped down from the Board in 2006, to return to forensic investigation and he is currently a Senior Associate in the Cambridge office.