The Committee

Andy is the Laboratory Director of QuAI health (pronounced “Key”) and oversees the technical aspects of the laboratory’s operations including its ongoing compliance with ISO17025 and Lab51.

Andy has been working in Toxicology since 2015 following earning a BSc in Forensic Science and an MSc in Forensic Toxicology from Bournemouth University. His career began at Alere Toxicology as an analyst in the Screening department, and during his tenure at Alere (which became Abbott in 2018), Andy worked in the confirmations department and more recently Method Development. Following this, Andy joined QuAI health in its infancy in late summer of 2022 and played a key role in building the laboratory from scratch, including the development of its QMS, analytical methods, their validation and the Lab’s subsequent accreditation.

In addition to being an Ordinary Member of the LTG Committee, Andy is the Current Web Liaison and responsible for the management of the LTG website. Andy is also a member of TIAFT (The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists).

Outside of Tox, Andy is a music fan and drummer and enjoys going to gigs, is a keen snowboarder and enjoys all forms of exercise.

Susie Davies is an accomplished professional with over two decades of experience in analytical toxicology, bioanalysis, and quality management. Currently serving as a Bioanalytical Programme Manager at Resolian, Susie oversees hybrid bioanalytical projects, leveraging her expertise in program management, quality assurance, and analytical techniques.

Susie was the acting Secretary for the LTG for 13 years, and continues to play a key role on the committee as an Ordinary Member. During her tenure as secretary, Susie organized group meetings, handled CPD applications, and coordinated events for the organization, which is recognized internationally by societies such as TIAFT and IATDMCT.

Previously, Susie held the position of LC Senior Analyst and Quality Lead at RPS Europe, where she led teams analyzing environmental compounds and upheld rigorous quality standards. Earlier in her career at Analytical Services International (ASI), she served as a Senior Analyst and Facility Quality Coordinator, specializing in toxicological analysis of biological samples and forensic case reporting. Susie also collaborated on cutting-edge research into designer drugs, presenting findings at prominent national and international forums.

Academically, Susie holds an MSc in Forensic Science from King’s College London and a BSc in Biomedical Science from The University of Sheffield. With a passion for education and knowledge-sharing, she actively contributes to the scientific community through research, presentations, and event organization.

Susie combines technical expertise, leadership skills, and a commitment to quality, making her a trusted professional in bioanalysis and toxicology.

Born, raised and educated in Liverpool, UK, Dr. Hackett received his first degree from the Royal Society of Chemistry (Grad.RSC). The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) also awarded him Chartered Chemist (CChem) and Chartered Scientist (CSci) status. He holds a MSc degree in Instrumental Chemical Analysis, and a PhD in Forensic Analytical Toxicology from Liverpool John Moores University.

Dr. Hackett is a member of LTG, SOFT, TIAFT, and a Fellow of AAFS and as well as a Fellow of the RSC. After leaving Liverpool in 2002, (where he worked for over 17 years reporting to several of HM Coroners on Merseyside) he took up the post of Supervising Toxicologist at the Center for Forensic Sciences where he worked with the Chief Medical Examiner, Director of Laboratories, and the District Attorney for Onondaga County. In this position he also testified in the Syracuse judicial area from 2003-2007. He relocated to Pennsylvania to take up research posts at NTR, and latterly UCT Inc. In 2014, was awarded Diplomate status of American Board of Forensic Toxicology (D-ABFT later Fellow (F-ABFT)).

Dr. Hackett has been a long time member of Syracuse University Project Advance having been on board since its inception, working with Prof. James Spencer on the Forensic Toxicology aspect of the workshops. In 2015-2016, Dr. Hackett held the position of Forensic Toxicology Supervisor at Office of Chief Medical Examiner in San Francisco, USA where he was certified as Forensic Blood Alcohol Supervisor by California Department of Public Health (Title 17) and testified in California courts. Dr. Hackett’s research interests lie in the area of Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) of drugs /poisons from difficult matrices such as post mortem fluids/tissues and analysis by chromatographic systems coupled to mass spectrometers. He is a contributing author, presenter and reviewer for in journals such as Forensic Science International, Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Drug Testing and Analysis, Journal of Chromatographic Sciences and conferences such as AAFS/ SOFT and TIAFT annual meetings.

Peter is a Senior Toxicologist at Abbott, where he provides toxicological advice, supports analytical service users, and delivers technical training to staff and specialist groups like Medical Review Officers. He advises employers on workplace drug testing policies and strategies and contributes to industry guidelines and standards.

A Cardiff University graduate with a BSc(Hons) in Chemistry, Peter began his career in Analytical Toxicology at Cardiff Bioanalytical Services in 1994, analyzing clinical trial and hair samples for Tricho-Tech. He spent nine years at the Health and Safety Laboratory, conducting research on chemical exposure testing and advising the government on policy. His long-standing expertise in drugs of abuse analysis in oral fluid began here and continued when he joined Cozart (now Abbott) in 2005, where he managed the oral fluid testing laboratory. He oversaw drug testing services for workplace, addiction treatment, and criminal justice sectors.

Peter has been a member of the LTG for over 20 years, serving on its committee for 10 years, including 8 as Corporate Liaison Officer. He is a Board Member of the European Workplace Drug Testing Society, contributing extensively to the EWDTS guidelines for workplace drug testing in oral fluid. A TIAFT member for 18 years, Peter has published peer-reviewed papers, including a chapter on oral fluid testing, and delivered presentations at international conferences and LTG events.

Anca Frinculescu works as a pharmaceutical analyst for TICTAC Communications Ltd, a UK based company providing drug analysis and drug information services. Anca has worked in the field since 2015 and has experience in assessing drug analysis instruments and in assisting healthcare and law enforcement agencies with their drug identification and drug analysis requirements. In addition to operating the widely used TICTAC visual drug identification and drug information system and the TICTAC FTIR spectral library of novel psychoactive substances, TICTAC owns the world’s largest collection of medicines and drugs.

Anca received a BA and MSc degree in Pharmacy from University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania in 2012 and an MSc in Forensic Medical Sciences from William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London in 2014. Currently, she is doing a part-time PhD at King’s College London, expected to be complete in 2025.

Dr. Caroline Copeland is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology & Toxicology at King’s College London and Director of the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality (NPSUM). She earned her PhD in neuropharmacology and neurophysiology at UCL and Imperial College, followed by postdoctoral research at Imperial College, where she developed bioengineering systems to study neuronal networks. Later, at St George’s, University of London, she applied her expertise to the pharmacoepidemiology of drug-related deaths, becoming Director of the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths.

At King’s since 2019, Dr. Copeland leads a research group focused on improving healthcare strategies for people who use drugs. Projects include developing wearable sensors to prevent opioid overdoses and studying drug-drug interactions to mitigate adverse effects. She has published over 30 research articles and supervised three PhD students and over 40 MSc, MPharm, and BSc projects.

Dr. Copeland serves on the Home Office Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD NPS Sub-Committee) and the Welsh National Implementation Board for Drug Poisoning Prevention. In these roles, she examines how drug policy impacts drug-related death trends.

Laura Hikin has been a Principal Clinical Scientist at the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust since 2014, specialising in both clinical and post-mortem toxicology within Specialist Chemistry. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists and has authored over 10,000 post-mortem toxicology reports, having extensive experience of complex analytical techniques and validation of methodologies to ISO standards. She is first-author of several articles and has collaborated with other experts within the field of toxicology. To re-charge, Laura loves baking a cake for the family, spending time with all the kids and walking in the peaks.

Geraldine has extensive experience in ISO17025-accredited Irish government laboratories, including The State Laboratory, Teagasc, and The Marine Institute. She has trained staff and students in analysis, method validation, interpretation, and casework reporting, specializing in revenue, customs, and toxicology. A qualified expert witness, she is also a registered chemistry teacher with the Teaching Council of Ireland.

Geraldine holds a BSc (First Class Honours), MSc in Analytical Toxicology, and a PhD in the same field, all earned while working in government laboratories. She also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Level 9) and is recognized as a Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.

Since 2017, Geraldine has been an academic at Atlantic Technological University, Ireland, teaching on Ireland’s first UK-accredited forensic science course. She also serves as Visiting Senior Lecturer at King’s College London and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London. Previously, she was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin.

With over 70 publications, Geraldine is currently authoring three books on flavoromics and metabolomics. She has demonstrated leadership in the forensic toxicology community, serving as vice chair of the UK and Ireland Association of Forensic Toxicologists and hosting The Analytical Zen Podcast. Geraldine is a founding member of the International Alliance of Clinical and Forensic Toxicologists (IACFT) and Editor-in-Chief of its magazine. She also represents Ireland in The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists.

Stuart Wheatley is currently employed as a Senior Forensic Toxicologist at DNA Legal, part of DNA Worldwide Group. His current role specialises in the interpretation and reporting of results of toxicological analysis of drugs and alcohol typically in hair, for use predominantly within family law proceedings.

Stuart gained a First Class masters degree in Forensic and Analytical Science from the University of Huddersfield in 2011 and since 2009 has been employed in several toxicology or bioanalytical facilities. Whilst the majority of his career has been spent specialising in the interpretation of hair toxicology, Stuart also has experience in the reporting of volume forensic casework under Section 4, Section 5, and Section 5A of the Road Traffic Act 1988. In addition to being a committee member of the LTG, Stuart is also a member of the United Kingdom and Ireland Association of Forensic Toxicologists (UKIAFT), the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT), and the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT), and has attended scientific meetings or conferences for all of these institutions. Stuart has a keen interest in increasing standardisation and transparency in the UK hair toxicology industry to better serve the UK courts.