Judges
National Energy Efficiency & Healthy Homes Awards 2017
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Gary Spiers
Construction Project manager, E.On Energy Solutions
Gary Spiers career spans over 22 years, covering all aspects of management, auditing, and Installations measures within the industry.
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Andy Merrin
Commercial Director, Enerlyze Consulting
Andy is a Chartered Environmentalist and has worked in the domestic and commercial property sectors for over 20 years focusing on the energy performance of buildings and implementing strategies to decarbonise homes and offices. Prior to this Andy worked in the rail and aviation sectors in the UK and Middle East overseeing environmental mitigation programmes on major infrastructure projects such as High Speed 1 and New Doha International Airport.
Having worked with Bechtel, Arup, ENGIE and now United Living Andy has a wealth of knowledge across a wide range of energy, low carbon and environmental related topics. Andy currently leads on the delivery of low carbon housing retrofit strategies for United Living Property Services. -
Elinor Rice
Technical Director, Quidos
Elinor was employed by City Energy after completing a Master's degree in Business Economics with Finance. Elinor has been with the company as it first started utilising the Green Deal Finance Company and accessing ECO Funding. As Compliance Manager, Elinor ensures that City Energy adheres to the changing rules and regulations. She has recently become Technical Director for City Energy
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James Higgins
Partner, Ecuity Consulting LLP
As Co-Founder and partner of Ecuity, James leads on Ecuity's Insight and Strategy service which helps the organisations we work with understand and manage risk and opportunity within the energy policy environment.
A strategic thinker, James encourages business leaders to consider political issues from a commercial angle, assists in the determination of objectives and delivery of cut-through communications. An experienced campaigner James also works hands-on with clients and the Ecuity consulting team to develop persuasive narratives supported by technical and economic analysis. James's clients include market leaders across the renewable, heating and energy efficiency sectors. James has previously worked as a Parliamentary specialist for the UK's water industry regulator Ofwat. He holds a First Class Honours in Politics from Liverpool University and in 2012 graduated from the Global Energy MBA programme at Warwick Business School, the world's first energy industry focused MBA. -
Karl Drage, CEng, MEng, MIMechE, DMS, ACGI, MIOD
Chief Executive Officer, Coefficient Renewable Heating Solutions Limited
Karl Drage has overseen the installation of over 1000 ground source heat pumps, ranging from small installations to some of the largest installations in Europe. This includes a number of multi-megawatt schemes, the largest of which is a 5.4MW Hospital scheme, one of the largest renewable heat systems in Europe. He has delivered funded solutions for blue chip clients under an ESCO arrangement over a 25 year term, installed sustainable district heating systems for local authority social housing clients and constructed multivalent systems for some of the highest profile building and infrastructure developments in London and with a number of leading University clients. His Maintenance and Service business continues to work with - and remote energy monitor - installations over the life of their buildings. He established a team in the US that has gone on to complete some of the leading Sustainable Energy systems in North America and developed a business in Spain in partnership with a leading Utility Company and National Contractors.
Karl is a member of the Council of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association and previously spent four years as its inaugural Chair Person, establishing the association and influencing the early formation of the industry. Karl has been involved in the development of the MCS standard for Heat Pumps, and continues to work to develop both the market and the professional standards of the industry. -
Carl Harvey
Director, My Home Survey Ltd
Carl Harvey works as an independent retrofit coordinator at My Home Survey Ltd, a business that Carl established in 2006 and now delivers a full suite of retrofit coordination services including Pulse air permeability testing, and as the senior retrofit coordinator at Osmosis ACD Ltd overseeing the PAS 2035 process within the business and promoting best practice in the industry.
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Gregory Elliott
Independent
Gregory Elliott is Property Services Director for Vibrant Energy Matters, the largest EPC supplier in the UK carrying out over 160K instructions per year. He hass been involved in the EPC industry from conception, with over 10 years in the property sector and overseen many changes. The most exciting has being within the energy sector, having worked with Birmingham Council with the first go early EPC scheme in 2007 to one of the first Green Deal Advise Reports. Experience gained from working with most of the Big Six energy companies on several ECO projects has given him both insight and an understanding on the opportunity that ECO and the Green Deal brings to the industry.
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Bryn Kewley
Political Advisor on Energy and Climate Change to the Shadow Secretary of State for BEIS., BEIS
Bryn Kewley is a Political Advisor on Energy and Climate Change to the Shadow Secretary of State for BEIS. He works with Rebecca Long-Bailey, writing for, briefing and representing her on issues surrounding energy and climate change. Labour's Industrial Strategy includes a mission to source 60% of our power and heat from low carbon sources and Bryn has been establishing policies to fulfil this pledge. Previously he worked for the think tank E3G campaigning to make energy efficiency an infrastructure priority. An keen adventurist he's raced across the Atlantic, ridden horses in Afghanistan and driven a motorbike from the UK to SE Asia.
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Chris Poulton
Managing Director, Ofgem E-Serve
Chris joined Ofgem in early 2014 as Deputy Managing Director of E-Serve, the delivery arm of the GB energy regulator. He became Acting Managing Director in December 2014, overseeing the entire activities of the division.
Chris leads E-Serve's delivery and administration of a portfolio of environmental schemes and social programmes on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change and other public bodies. These include schemes promoting energy generation from renewable sources, energy efficiency and social programmes to protect fuel poor consumers, such as the Warm Home Discount. Ofgem E-Serve currently employs 300 people, based across offices in London and Glasgow.
Chris attends meetings of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA) and is a member of the E-Serve Board, a committee of GEMA. He is also a member of Ofgem's Senior Management Team and Executive Committee.
Before joining Ofgem, Chris worked in the retail and telecommunications sectors, most recently as Head of Operations for a virtual network operator. Prior to this he held various leadership roles in operational finance, corporate acquisition and integration, systems implementation and product delivery.
Chris graduated from Warwick University with a BSc in Biological Sciences. -
Claire Curtis-Thomas, PhD(Hon), C.Eng FIMechE FIET
Chief Executive, British Board of Agrement
Claire Curtis-Thomas became Chief Executive of The British Board of Agrement (BBA) in May 2013. Her industry experience was gained with Shell UK and Birmingham City Council Laboratories before becoming Dean of the Engineering and Business Department of the University of Wales, Newport.Until 2010 Claire was the elected Member of Parliament for Crosby, and was Chief Executive of The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) prior to joining the BBA.
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Claire Heyes
CEO, CORGI Technical Services, the AGSM & AESM
Claire has an in-depth knowledge of gas safety issues as they affect senior management in a wide range of organisations. Claire is passionate about raising awareness of these issues at all levels. Claire established the AGSM (Association of Gas Safety Managers) & AESM (Association of Electrical Safety Managers) to recognise and reward excellent gas and electrical safety managers, working together to promote safety and raise standards.
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David Clubb
Director, RenewableUK Cymru
David is a Chartered Physicist with more than a decade of experience in the energy sector. He is the Director of RenewableUK Cymru, the award-winning representative body for green construction, energy storage and renewables in Wales. His career has spanned three European countries, and both public and private sector. He has a strong interest in economics and communication, and experience in policy development and project management across a wide range of energy types.
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Frank Harris
Director, HD Services Ltd
A qualified Civil and Mechanical Engineer, Frank founded HD Services in 1984. A member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a fellow of the Geological Survey he has twice been chairman of the Well Drilling Association (WDA).
H.D. Services Ltd are an award-winning, family run company operating throughout the Southeast of England. Involved in the renewables industry since 2009, H.D. Services Ltd are one of only a handful of companies installing Open-Loop heating options for the domestic market and are specialists in their field. Recently recognised for their Pioneering work utilising groundwater as a heat source for the domestic market, Frank and his team focus on encouraging those in suitable areas to use the water in the ground under their properties sustainably, providing them with additional options such as potable supplies and grey water uses. -
Judith Kay
Co-Founder, Energy Saving Installers Association (ESIA)
Judith Kay is Co-founder of Energy Saving Installers Association (ESIA) which has been founded to fill a void of encouragement and support, particularly for SME's operating in the energy usage and energy efficiency sectors.
Judith is also a partner in a small plumbing and heating company and has been involved in many energy efficiency and fuel poverty projects and initiatives. -
Katie Searle
Senior Project Manager, Energy Saving Trust
Katie joined the Energy Saving Trust in 2007 and has an in-depth knowledge of product assurance and certification across a broad range of product categories including insulation, glazing and heating products. She graduated from the University of Greenwich with a degree in Environmental Science and began her career in insurance. Katie has previously been responsible for the set up and management of an accredited Green Deal Installer certification scheme and more recently is leading project co-ordination of a three year European funded programme developing digital tools to better inform consumer buying choices of energy efficient products.
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Dr Kerry Mashford, BSc (Hons) MSc PhD MSt (Cam) CEng FIMechE FRSA
Chief Executive , National Energy Foundation
Kerry started her professional life as a mechanical engineer in power engineering, before taking an academic post in the College of Manufacturing at Cranfield. After working independently on several long-term, technology-inspired transformational projects in manufacturing and the built environment, Kerry joined Arup as Head of Sustainable Manufacturing & Construction where she became more actively involved in integrated sustainable development and regeneration. She moved to Benoy Architects & Masterplanners as the practice's first Sustainable Development Director, before returning to a portfolio career in late 2008.Working as a consultant to the Technology Strategy Board, Kerry led the inception and delivery of a major UK programme to investigate the discrepancy between theoretical and measured as-built and in-use performance of UK buildings. She now leads the work of the National Energy Foundation, the primary objective of which is improving the use of energy in buildings through: inspiring action, increasing capacity across stakeholders, advancing knowledge through collaborative research and development and supporting the delivery of high-performing new and refurbished buildings.
Kerry holds a masters qualification in Interdisciplinary Design of the Built Environment from the University of Cambridge and in Applied Mechanics from Cranfield University and a doctorate in Design Theory and Methodology of Multi-Domain Systems from Brunel University. She is also a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
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Kilian Pender
Chief Executive Officer , The Green Deal Finance Company Limited
Kilian began his career working in investment banking at Credit Suisse where he advised on a range of transactions across various industries. Kilian subsequently moved into private equity / hedge fund investing spending time with both Blackstone and Centerbridge Partners. At these firms he focused on strategic investments across various assets classes and capital structures, with a particular focus on real estate investing.
Kilian received his undergraduate degree in economics from Trinity College Dublin and completed a masters in political economy at the London School of Economics. Kilian is also the Founder of the Greenstone Finance Company. -
Lawrence Slade
Chief Operating Officer, Energy UK
Lawrence has been involved with the energy industry since the late 1990's, prior to the creation of Energy UK, he ran the Energy Retail Association.
At Energy UK Lawrence has specific executive responsibility for all energy supply activities including Retail Markets, Smart Metering and Grids, Energy Efficiency and consumer engagement
Prior to the Energy Retail Association, Lawrence ran the Society of Petroleum Engineers where, as Regional Managing Director he greatly expanded the society's operations in the emerging energy markets of Russia, the Caspian and Africa. Before this, Lawrence served as Deputy Chief Executive and Technical Director of the Energy Institute in London. -
Lesley Rudd, CIMA CIPR
Chief Executive, Sustainable Energy Association (SEA)
Lesley is currently Chief Executive at the Sustainable Energy Association (SEA). She draws on 30 years in the energy industry. She has worked on a range of energy policy issues, across the whole energy supply chain from upstream to downstream and in a number of countries. Positions Lesley has held include; Government and Stakeholder Relations Manager, Trading Manager , and Communications Manager at BG Group; Public Affairs Manager at Microgen; and Commercial Negotiator, Commercial Manger and Audit Manager at British Gas . Lesley has a track record in leading successful campaigns for policy and regularity changes in Brussels and UK. The SEA advocates 'wrap then heat' because increasing the energy efficiency of the building fabric helps to maximise the gain from efficient heating solutions. To address one without the other leads to sub-optimal results for homeowners, investors and Government.
Lesley has a degree in Business Studies with Politics, is an Accountant (CIMA accredited) and is a member of CIPR. -
Maria Wardrobe, BSc
Director of External Affairs, National Energy Action (NEA)
Maria is currently Director of External Affairs with national fuel poverty charity NEA, responsible for a team which develops and delivers NEA's Policy Services, Research, Campaigns and Public Affairs, Fundraising and Sponsorship, Publicity, Marketing, Media, Events and Membership services within the organisation.Maria has extensive experience of campaigning at a national level, organising and speaking at regional and national events and broadcasting on local and national radio and TV. She is responsible for the Secretariat for the All-Party Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency Group (FPEEG) and is Chair of the Age Action Alliance Safe Warm Homes Working Group.
Maria has worked for NEA for 20 years. She is also a Trustee of the British Gas Energy Trust.
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Mark Weaver
Head of Business Development, Alsecco
Mark has worked in senior Sales and Marketing roles within the Construction Products sector for the past thirty years. Mark is now Head of Business Development for Alsecco, a major supplier of facades solutions and part of the International DAW Group. Mark has been actively involved for many years in the Energy Efficiency and Retrofit sector and was Chair of SWIGA, the solid wall industry guarantee scheme during its inception. Mark is presently acting Vice-Chair of INCA, the leading External Wall Insulation trade association. Cycling, football and his family are what keep Mark sane out of working hours.
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Dr Nina Skorupska
Chief Executive, Renewable Energy Association
Dr Nina Skorupska has over 25 years in the Energy Industry; Nina's career began as a fuel specialist but moved quickly onto power stations which led to her being appointed the first female Power Station Manager of RWE npower. Since that time she has led a UK Energy Trading team for RWE, followed by being RWE npower's Director of Technology Services.
She has worked in Germany as RWE Group's Director of Performance Improvement, where she went on to save them over €2 bn on operating costs. From May 2010 until the end of 2012, as Chief Technology Officer, she was an executive member of the Board of Essent N.V., the Netherlands' largest energy company, and responsible for Essent's Generation portfolio and new energy developments.
In 2012, Nina became a Supervisory Board member for DNV GL Energy in the Netherlands, a position that she continues to enjoy today.
In July 2013 Nina took the helm of the Renewable Energy Association as its Chief Executive.
In 2014 Nina joined the Board of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) and has recently been voted onto the Board of the European Renewable Energies Foundation (EREF). -
Patrick Allcorn
Head of Local Energy, Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
The local energy team has been created to help DECC support and develop energy solutions at a local level. From the community through local authority to the Local Enterprise partnerships - sharing best practice supporting strategic and project development and delivery
Previously he has been responsible for the design and implementation of the Domestic RHI. He joined that team in early 2012. Prior to this appointment he was responsibility for community energy. He set up the LEAF project that enabled over 200 communities to set up local energy schemes in 2012. Before joining DECC, Patrick worked for Transport for London and the London Borough of Croydon as well as time working as a journalist and a sustainability consultant. -
Richard Lambert
Chief Executive, National Landlords Association
Richard Lambert joined the National Landlords Association as Chief Executive Officer in October 2011. He began his career as a parliamentary civil servant in the House of Commons, where over 10 years he worked on Select Committees, various aspects of the legislative process and interparliamentary affairs. Following a brief spell in commercial lobbying, he moved into trade associations, spending five years as the Policy Director covering residential issues at the British Property Federation, then becoming Chief Executive of the British Woodworking Federation in 2002. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a former Chairman of the National Training Organisation, Housing Potential.
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Rufus Logan
Group Director , BRE Scotland
As Group Director BRE Scotland, Wales and South West, Rufus Logan is responsible for leading the growth of BRE's business in these territories. BRE Scotland and Wales has a long established record as lead provider of technical and consultancy support for both the construction industry and Government. Whilst the SW is the focus for our solar business, with the BRE National Solar Centre based at the Eden Project. Rufus also leads the team at BRE's Innovation Park in Ravenscraig, located on the site of one of the largest regeneration projects seen in Scotland. The Innovation Park opened in 2012, and offers a showcase from which architects, developers and manufacturers can trial and test new ideas before they were applied to real communities. The Innovation Park not just a demonstration of innovative buildings, but an exemplar in sustainable planning and development.
Rufus led the consortium bidding to establish and run the Knowledge Transfer Network for the Modern Built Environment (MBEKTN). Having been successful in winning this work for BRE, in partnership with Arup, CIRIA and BSRIA, Rufus was charged with establishing the MBEKTN and leading its delivery. Other work has included leading BRE's expansion to new locations, which resulted in the creation of BRE Wales and recently BRE China, and as a partner in Scotland's Hong Kong Carbon Innovation Centre. These 'national' development activities are a continuation of his career prior to joining BRE, when Rufus worked for Scottish Enterprise in Dumfries and Galloway, with responsibility for supporting Scotland's Forest Industry Cluster and a number of the region's key industry sectors. -
Simon Lomax
Managing Director, Kensa Group
Since 2007, Simon has been Managing Director of the Kensa Group. Kensa Heat Pumps is the UK's only manufacturer of a full range of ground source heat pumps whilst Kensa Contracting has been launched to provide installation services on select projects, most notably large scale retrofit schemes for social housing landlords. As Chairman of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association and a member of the MCS Heat Pump Working Group, Simon is a leading advocate on the need for more refined Government policy to support the uptake of high quality renewable heat systems.
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Stephanie Karpetas
Founder, Sustainability Connections
Stephanie has worked in the sustainability arena for over twenty years. Co-founder and director of Action Women! Community CIC, and founder and CEO of Sustainability Connections CIC, Stephanie aims to ensure that public funds are spent wisely. She works with the public sector, business and voluntary sector organisations to bring about sustainable, profitable projects that address social and environmental issues.