Meet The AQRA Team

Chairman

Tobias has over 15 years leading major global engineering recruitment and staffing companies. Tobias was CEO of EPCglobal, a technical staffing firm focused on the EPC sector with offices in the UK, the US, India, and the UAE. EPCglobal provided senior-level project staff to the civil, power, rail, oil and gas sectors. Tobias was also CEO of Swift Worldwide Resources, a technical staffing firm with over 3,500 employees operating from 26 office locations in 16 countries. Tobias then helped engineer the formation of Airswift a $1.3 bn company that had a diversified engineering customer base, through the merger of Air Energi and Swift Worldwide resources to form a global business with 56 office locations in 26 countries and over 7,000 employees. Tobias served as Non-executive Director of Airswift after the merger.

Fun fact: Has competed in the IronMan World Championships

If Tobias could trade lives with anybody, who would it be: Thomas Edison

Favourite food: Ceviche

Perfect Holiday Destination: His House in Silverthorne, Colorado.

US: +1 (832) 289-1366

Portrait of a middle-aged man in a light blue shirt on a black background.

Tobias

Smiling man in a white shirt against a black background.

Tom

Director - Operations

Before starting AQRA International, Tom worked in Houston, TX as the director of driver recruitment for a Texas-based delivery company, TUYA. During his time at TUYA, Tom oversaw the recruitment of over 300 Independent Contractors and transformed the recruitment process from old-fashioned paper applications to a platform-based system to help develop candidate sourcing and management capabilities. Tom manages AQRA's contracts, finances, and operations.

Fun fact: Tom had Harry Potter's (Daniel Radcliffe's) French Text Book at school, unfortunately, it didn't come with useful notes for potions and spells

If Tom could trade lives with anybody, who would it be: Anthony Bourdain

Favourite food: Velvet Taco

Perfect Holiday Destination: Favignana


tom.read@aqrainternational.com

UK: +44739535292

US: +1 (281) 845-6166

Smiling man with short hair wearing a white shirt on a black background.

Haydn

Director - Head of Civil Infrastructure

Haydn previously worked for an international recruitment firm where he was instrumental in the growth of the Civil Infrastructure team. The firm went from a general provider of Infrastructure Recruitment to one of the key suppliers in their respective markets.

Haydn has learned what values are important to prospective clients and candidates. This has made him very well suited to building and developing AQRA’s DNA. Haydn AKA "Coach" leads the team of recruitment consultants at AQRA International.

Market US Civil Infrastructure

Fun fact: Not so fun but I only have 2 fingers not broken.... Goalkeeping Injuries!! I can also recite the entire film of Forrest Gump.

If Haydn could trade lives with anybody, who would it be: Forrest Gump

Favourite food: Bubba Gump Shrimp... Or anything I have cooked

Perfect Holiday Destination: Camping in Dorset

haydn.read@aqrainternational.com

+1 (720) 259 -1433

US: +1 (832) 289-1366

A person wearing a black zip-up sweater over a white shirt, set against a plain background.

Mark

Director of Recruitment - Texas

Market: Mark leads the Texas Civil Engineering team

Fun fact: Lived in Paris for 8 Months.

If Mark could trade lives with anybody, who would it be: Jose Mourinho

Favourite food: John Dory & Crab Risotto

Perfect Holiday Destination: Southern Spain/ Portugal

mark.coramjames@aqrainternational.com

+1 (832) 460-7339

A man with curly dark hair and wearing a light-colored button-up shirt, against a white background.

Jacob

Director of Recruitment - South East

Market: Jake leads the South East civil engineering team

Fun fact: He teaches Skiing when and where he can

If Jacob could trade lives with anybody, who would it be: Didier Drogba

Favourite food: Sushi

Perfect Holiday Destination: Zermatt, Switzerland

Jacob.mn@aqrainternational.com

+1 (813) 246-4002

Portrait of a person with curly brown hair wearing a light pink button-up shirt, smiling slightly against a plain background.

David

Director of Recruitment - North East

Market: David leads the Mid-Atlantic civil engineering team

Fun fact: He can tell you any Chelsea FC Score and scorer over the last 20 years.

If David could trade lives with anybody, who would it be: Usain Bolt

Favourite food: Seafood Linguine

Perfect Holiday Destination: Maldives

david.james@aqrainternational.com

+1 (240) 200-1453

Ellie

Portrait of a person with light brown hair, wearing a black blazer and gray top.

Recruitment Manager- Mid-West

Market: Midwestern

Fun fact: Can pour the perfect Guinness.

If Ellie could trade lives with anybody, who would it be: Louis Theroux

Favourite food: Coconut curry

Perfect Holiday Destination: New Zealand
ellie.buxton@aqrainternational.com

+1 (708) 325-2699

Portrait of a person wearing a navy blue sweater against a black background.

Will

Recruitment Manager - Georgia & Carolinas

Market: Georgia & The Carolinas

Fun fact: I’m 100% from the 3-point line in NBA arenas (1 for 1 on the Miami Heat court)

If Will could trade lives with anybody, who would it be: Donald Glover

Favourite food: Lamb stew with couscous (Mum's cooking)

Perfect Holiday Destination: Sicily

will.haddadi@aqrainternational.com

+1 (404) 305 -3143

Woman with long dark hair wearing a black blazer and white shirt, against a plain background.

Áine

Senior Recruitment Consultant

Market: New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts

Get to know Áine: "I have worked as a primary school teacher for 5 years in Ireland, where I am grew up and lived until 2024. I love spending time with Friends and Family sharing great food and hiking. Travelling is something I thoroughly enjoy having recently travelled to Australia, Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur and India."

What drew you to AQRA International: The friendly welcoming team at AQRA International really drew me to the company.

If Áine could trade lives with anybody, who would it be: Beyonce

Favourite food: Fried garlic prawns, Butter Chicken with Garlic naan, Chocolate Fudge brownie with vanilla ice-cream

Favourite Movie: Up

Perfect Holiday Destination: New Zealand

aine.leahy@aqrainternational.com

+1 (646) 475 - 2399

Person wearing a black blazer and white shirt, with long brown hair, smiling, against a black background.

Lara

Senior Recruitment Consultant

Market: Illinois, Tennessee, and Alabama

Get to know Lara: " I enjoy cooking, spending quality time with friends, and doing anything in the sunshine".

What drew Lara to AQRA International: "The team work closely together and always support one another."

If Lara could trade lives with anybody, who would it be: Grace Dent

Favourite food: Tiger prawns in garlic and Chili butter (homemade bread on the side) - Tomahawk steak (rare), creamed mash, asparagus - Lemon Sorbet

Favourite Movie: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

Perfect Holiday Destination: Siesta Key, Florida

lara.erkul@aqrainternational.com

+1 (312) 549-9230

Portrait of a person with curly hair wearing a dark zip-up sweater and white shirt, smiling, against a black background.

Fred

Senior Recruitment Consultant

Market: DMV, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky

What drew you to AQRA International: Supportive and personable environment (plus Friday trips to kuma)

If Fred could trade lives with anybody, who would it be: Richard Hammond

Favourite food: Lamb Samosas, Chicken Rogan Josh Garlic naan, Espresso Martini

Favourite Movie: Lord of the Rings Two Towers

Perfect Holiday Destination: Argentina

fred.fordham@aqrainternational.com

+1 (703) 705 - 4646