Judges
National Energy Efficiency Awards 2023
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Ian Rippin
Chief Executive Officer, Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
Ian is CEO of MCS, a profit for purpose organisation operating at the heart of the UK's adoption of renewable energy sources for our homes and small businesses. MCS is responsible for the national Standards that cover low carbon products and their installation, used to produce electricity and heat from renewable sources.
He started his career in telecommunications with BT and has held managing director roles for the Environment Agency's National Laboratory Service and for CSA Group's UK operations as the world leader in explosion safety and environmental product certification. His career underpins his passion for quality and the role that standards play in protecting consumers.
Ian is currently leading MCS through a period of transformational change as the organisation strives to inspire a next generation of home-grown energy, fit for the needs of every UK home and community. As well as being a member and chair on a number of certification body's governing and impartiality committees, Ian serves as an inaugural member of Liverpool City Region's Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) - Clean Growth Board. -
Andrew Edwards
Business Development Lead - Building Energy Services, Veolia
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Mark Dallen
Former Consortium & Stakeholder Manager: ECO
Mark has been in the energy industry for over 36 years and more recently in the energy efficiency obligation area for over 16 years. He has extensive experience of working with stakeholders on the planning and implementation of numerous energy efficiency projects throughout the UK. In particular, Mark has worked closely with ECO installation partners and local authorities on ECO funded and Warm Homes funded schemes to deliver energy efficiency measures to vulnerable customers in community based schemes regionally and nationally. Mark has always been a strong supporter for many years of the Regional and National Energy Efficiency Awards, as this is the ideal high profile event to showcase and support the very best practices and projects that improves people’s lives within the energy efficiency industry.
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Danny Taylor
National Sales Team Director at UKPS, Plumbase
Thirty Years Experience in Plumbing and Heating Industry
Advocate of NetZero and the reduction of fuel poverty -
Stephen Batty
HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY, PLACES & COMMUNITIES – CENTRAL REGION , Equans
Steve has worked within the Social Housing Construction Sector for over 24 years. He has a Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management background, then became Head Of Sustainability at EQUANS in 2010 to head up their low carbon retrofit strategy.
Steve now leads on the delivery of zero carbon solutions for EQUANS and has a wealth of knowledge around low carbon retrofit solutions, helping EQUANS’ clients bring retrofit schemes to reality having delivered and managed over £250m of funding to clients over the years including CESP, ECO, FIT, RHI, GHG LAD, SHDF, and ERDF funded schemes. -
Dr K T Tan
Technical Director, Viridian Solar
Dr KT Tan is the Technical Director at Viridian Solar, a UK company based in Cambridge with their renowned innovative Clearline Fusion products. He has been devoting his professional life for over a decade to developing products and technologies for the renewable sector. He started to work with solar thermal well before the PV became a mainstream renewable solution. As a Chartered Engineer, he specialises in solar PV new technologies with a particular interest in roof-integrated systems, advanced cell technologies and innovative mounting solutions. He is a member of the Industrial Advisory Panel of the Centre for Doctoral Training in New and Sustainable PV, and a member of the GEL/82 Standards Policy and Strategy Committee for PV Systems. He is also the Chair of the MCS Solar PV Technical Working Group. He graduated with an Engineering PhD from University of Cambridge.
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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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Hardy Giesler
Chief Executive Officer, British Board of Agrément (BBA)
Hardy is an experienced executive with a track record in delivering accelerated growth and performance transformation. Results have been achieved across a broad base of sectors and industries, having worked in public and private sectors, manufacturing and service industries. He has over 30 years of experience gained in more than 30 countries, particularly in EMEA, North America, Far East, Africa and the FSU.
Much of his career has been focused on the construction and infrastructure sectors, with roles including:
- Youngest member of the London Underground Engineering Board, a 5,000 people organisation, with P&L responsibility for three of the eight engineering businesses;
- Board member of Tarmac Building Products, a £500m turnover organisation. He was also MD of Tarmac Topblock, a 15-site, 700 people organisation with a turnover of £120 million;
- CEO of a specialist high voltage contractor to the Infrastructure and Transportation sectors, with clients including utilities, Network Rail, TfL and Highways England;
- MD of Capita Transport & Infrastructure, a 1,500 people organisation. Clients included Highways England, TfL, Crossrail and High Speed 2.
Hardy joined the British Board of Agrément (BBA) in January 2020. As part of his drive to position the organisation to becoming a client-centric, systems-driven business, some significant changes are being introduced. These include:
- A preferred certification partner for construction product manufacturers;
- The go-to source of information for architects, estimators and other stakeholders in the construction industry;
- A source of highly skilled and experienced technical support across the construction and transportation industry;
- Providing leadership in the construction industry around a number of areas including the drive and support for transformation and innovation around becoming a safer, quality-led industry.
Hardy’s vision for the BBA is an organisation that is client-centric, systems-led and efficient, using data insight that enables all users to make informed product and business decisions that contribute to an industry-wide environment built around quality, safety and compliance.
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Dani Putney
Quality & Risk Officer, Certsure LLP
Dani Putney has over 14 years’ experience in the Building Engineering Services Sector, working within a leading Certification Body providing UKAS accredited certification services. She has held several positions within Certsure (NICEIC and ELECSA) and is currently responsible for ensuring that accreditation is maintained for the Group’s activities.
She represents Certsure (NICEIC and ELECSA) at various industry committees including Chair of the MCS Competency Working Group, member of PAS2030 Steering Committee and participating in the Each Home Counts Work streams -
Rachel Jones
Chair, West Midlands Association of Local Energy Officers
Rachel Jones is the Chair of West Midlands Association of Local Energy Officers which is a not-for-profit organisation supporting local government officers and housing professionals with a remit for reducing all aspects of the UK’s domestic-sector carbon footprint and tackling energy poverty. Rachel is an experienced energy professional specialising in the delivery of energy efficiency measures across communities and working with UK home energy policy to achieve this. Rachel has worked with numerous local authorities and other organisations to develop and embed energy and energy efficiency into their strategic plans with a focus on home energy. Rachel has been working in the energy sector for over 15 years and is CEO of Act on Energy.
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Alan Dunn
Strategic Relationship Lead, IES Ltd
Alan leads on the delivery of innovate IES climate technology including Digital Twins to help companies decarbonise and make their buildings, campuses and cities more energy efficient. AIan is also responsible for the generation and commercialisation of new products for IES targeted at the engineering, renewables and sustainability market.
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Ian Mather
Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Robert Heath Group
Ian has 19 years industry experience bringing a wealth of sector knowledge, Starting his career in the industry at British gas where he held several roles in both the consumer and public sector teams, latterly leading on business readiness and business development for their social housing business supporting both the PH Jones team and their clients in the transition to net zero. Ian Joined the Robert heath team in February 2024 as part of them joining Daikin, where his role is to support the business and their clients in the transition to net zero. He is a qualified retrofit assessor and coordinator with a passion for the natural environment and the net zero transition.
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Steve Gapik
Managing Director , Soltherm
Steve Gapik with over 10 years’ experience in leadership positions in energy efficiency and managing obligations in British Gas, I want build on that experience in energy efficiency industry outside of utilities. I’m delighted to be able to undertake a new role as Managing Director of Soltherm and follow my passion in tackling fuel poverty, and continue the critical role improving life, health and the community outcomes and reducing carborn emissions.
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Neil Whitfield
Consultant
Neil has been in the Construction, Training and Education sector for over 40 years and has built a reputation of setting and maintaining high standards.
As the founder of OSCAR-onsite he continues to work with Certification Bodies, Awarding Bodies and National Occupational Standards in developing formal NVQ Qualifications further raising standards, this ensures that installers achieve the recognition for their skills and produce high quality installations.
Cavity Wall Extraction has been of particular interest as this is key along with property condition to ensure that the insulation performs to its optimum.
Now working as an independent consultant and a Lecturer in Further Education providing expert advice on all matters of training and development within Energy Efficiency Measures and the wider Construction methodologies.
Neil has been in the Construction, Training and Education sector for over 40 years and has built a reputation of setting and maintaining high standards.
As the founder of OSCAR-onsite he continues to work with Certification Bodies, Awarding Bodies and National Occupational Standards in developing formal NVQ Qualifications further raising standards, this ensures that installers achieve the recognition for their skills and produce high quality installations.
Cavity Wall Extraction has been of particular interest as this is key along with property condition to ensure that the insulation performs to its optimum.
Now working as an independent consultant and a Lecturer in Further Education providing expert advice on all matters of training and development within Energy Efficiency Measures and the wider Construction methodologies. -
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. -
Ian Naismith
1A Naismith Energy Assessors
After working for 14 years at Glasgow City Council as an inspector of privately let properties in multiple occupation, I decided to make use of this experience and expertise in property and energy assessment. I became a fully qualified domestic and commercial energy assessor and set up the Ian Naismith Energy Assessor business in April 2009.
Also in 2009, I became a distributor for the Utility Warehouse Discount Club, a logical extension to my main business.
Local Surveyors Direct
The Institute of Domestic Energy Assessors (IDEA)
A member of BNI Glasgow Alba Chapter
A member of Synergy Business Services Club
And when I get some time off, I’m a member of Strathaven Golf Club
And of course, I’m a member of 4Networking in Glasgow. -
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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Clint Walker
Fidura Consulting
Clint is the Founder and Director of Fidura Consulting Ltd, supporting businesses across the energy efficiency, retrofit and net zero sectors with partnerships, commercial growth and strategic direction.
Having worked across operational, commercial and partnership roles within the sector, Clint set up Fidura to offer businesses experienced support without the need to appoint a full-time senior hire. His work is focused on helping his clients build the right relationships, develop new opportunities, improve their proposition and navigate a fast-changing market.
Clint’s approach is practical, straightforward and built around understanding how businesses actually operate, not just how they look on paper -
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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Jim Lynch
Head of ASHP, Dynamis Assciates Ltd
Originally commencing in the role of Sales and Marketing Director, Jim worked for International Brands such as Jaguar, Vauxhall, Toyota, Renault, Barclays, Cable and Wireless and TJ Maxx in the UK and Europe and the USA and Bermuda before returning to the UK in 2002 when he began his career in the HVAC and Renewable Energy Industry as a Commercial Director.
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Kate Duffy
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
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Marc Stevens
Head of Compliance, TrustMark
Marc heads up the TrustMark Compliance team and is responsible for delivering a best-in-class quality assurance programme, that is not only fit for purpose now but also into the future. Working closely with TrustMark Scheme Providers and Registered Businesses, Marc and his team ensure help and support is provided on all compliance issues, whether navigating the evolving world of Retrofit and government obligations or the ongoing drive for improvement in standards for all trades working in or around the home.
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Peter Sumby
NEA-National Energy Action
Peter Sumby has worked at NEA, the national fuel poverty charity, since 1996 and has been Director of Operations since 2006. Peter is a member of NEA's senior management team and is responsible for the delivery of NEA's practical work programmes. These seek to demonstrate innovative ways of bringing affordable warmth to low income and vulnerable households and are delivered in partnership with local authorities, housing associations, the health sector, the community sector, energy company partners and others. Peter leads a team of with expertise in delivering energy advice, tackling fuel debt and delivering income maximisation services. Peter’s role involves developing strategic partnerships to enable the delivery of NEA’s programmes and to manage relationships with those national and local agencies with whom NEA needs to engage in order to deliver projects that tackle fuel poverty. Peter's role is also to ensure that lessons learned from project delivery are incorporated into NEA's policy development process in order to inform NEA's advisory role to government, local government and the wider energy sector.