Tom graduated with an MEng (Hons) Civil Engineering degree from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in 1999, having previously studied Architecture at The University of Edinburgh, graduating with an MA (Hons) before working in the United States.

His professional career as a Structural Engineer began at Buro Happold based in offices in London, Glasgow and Copenhagen, laterally leading the Danish team on projects across Europe and the Middle East, before moving to undertake research in Design Theory at the Royal Danish Academy of Architecture. On returning to Scotland in 2015, he founded Pluton Engineering Ltd specialising in timber technologies and the conservation and refurbishment of existing structures, serving as a Guardian of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings between 2018-2020.

In 2023 he joined the University of Glasgow as a full time Lecturer in Structural Design, having previously contributed to design courses at the University as an Adjunct Senior Lecturer whilst still in practice. Tom has been a Chartered Member of the Institute of Structural Engineers since 2004, is an Approved Certifier of Building Structures in Scotland (SER Ltd) and was registered as a Chartered Architect in the UK and later Denmark, between 2004-2015.

Tom currently teaches Structural Design Theory and Structural Design Project courses at undergraduate and MSc level in addition to supervising a range of MSc, MEng and BEng projects. Previously he has contributed to design courses from a practitioners perspective at The University of Edinburgh, Strathclyde University, Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen and University College London.