Roland's career began as a laboratory technician at an Esso terminal, analysing products such as gasoline, fuel oils, kerosene, solvents, diesel, gas oils, aviation fuel and lubricating oils, which were blended at the terminal. Working overseas in the Bahamas and Saudi Arabia, Roland gained a wide experience of petroleum products, water, process and trade effluents and natural gas. Analytical methods included AA Spectrometry and Gas Liquid Chromatography. He returned to the UK to join an inspection company, working as a laboratory manager and chief chemist in charge of three laboratories and later became UK and European Technical Manager for a major inspection company, overseeing the development and provision of all the analytical services offered by its European Petroleum section. He joined MTD in 1996, and has since been engaged in the investigation of contamination claims, concerning oil and chemical cargoes on behalf of a range of interests. Roland has served on various Institute of Petroleum Committees, including the Flammability Committee, and is currently a member the Sulphur Committee. He has also acted as an expert witness at hearings in the UK and abroad.