Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top London based Director operating in the Renewable Energy space. If you think a Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Alfredo A. Marti
Managing Director of Riverstone Holdings
Mr. Marti is a Managing Director of Riverstone. He is based in London. Prior to joining Riverstone in 2008, Mr. Marti served in various leadership positions at BP plc, one of the world’s largest energy firms, including leading the organization responsible for overseeing the financial and operational performance and capital allocation of all of BP’s oil & gas exploration and production businesses worldwide. Other roles at BP included Head of Strategy for BP’s North America Gas business, General Manager of oil & gas production operations in Wyoming, USA, and Joint-Ventures Coordinator in Venezuela. Mr. Marti received his M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar. He also holds a summa cum laude degree in Economics from Venezuela’s Andres Bello University and a Corporate Finance diploma from London Business School.
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About Riverstone Holdings: River Stone is a private investment firm founded in 2000.
Andy Lund
Managing Director of Riverstone Holdings
Andy joined Advent International in 2011 and is located in Advent’s London office where he focuses on research and analysis initiatives to support the Firm’s fundraising and investor relations activities. Andy was previously a Director at UBS Private Equity Funds Group where he managed several fundraising assignments for leading private equity firms. Prior to attending business school, Andy spent over ten years as a pilot in the UK Royal Air Force flying Tornado fast jets and Puma helicopters in a number of operational theatres.
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About Riverstone Holdings: River Stone is a private investment firm founded in 2000.
Robin Duggan
Managing Director of Riverstone Holdings
Mr. Duggan is a Managing Director of Riverstone. He is based in London. Prior to joining Riverstone in 2007, Mr. Duggan was the founder of Commodity Optimization Ventures Ltd., a business providing advice to clients in the private equity industry, including Texas Pacific Group. Before the founding of his business, Mr. Duggan served for over 17 years in various positions with subsidiaries and affiliates of BP plc, one of the world’s largest energy firms. From 2004 to 2005 Mr. Duggan was the Vice President of European Business Optimization at Innovene, BP’s olefins and derivatives subsidiary, where he was responsible for commercial activity for olefins and refining in Europe, and also oversaw Innovene’s successful separation from BP in Europe. From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Duggan held a number of senior level positions in BP’s Petrochemicals segment, including serving as the Performance Unit Leader of the Aromatics and Olefins division, Global Business Manager of the Styrene business unit, and the Planning, Performance and Strategy Manager of the Acetyls business unit. Prior to that time, Mr. Duggan held various positions in the BP’s Upstream segment in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Venezuela over a period of 10 years. Mr. Duggan currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Cuadrilla, Enviva, Origo, Patagonia, Proserv Group, ReEnergy and Velocita, and previously was the Chairman of the Board of Seajacks. Mr. Duggan holds a degree in Biochemistry from Oxford University and a Sloan Master’s of Science in Management from Stanford University.
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About Riverstone Holdings: River Stone is a private investment firm founded in 2000.
Bob Brown
Managing Director of Riverstone Holdings
Mr. Brown is a Managing Director of Riverstone, focused on Limited Partner relations, fundraising, and communications. He is based in London. Prior to joining Riverstone in 2014, Mr. Brown was Managing Director and Global Head of Limited Partner Services for Advent International. Prior to Advent, he was a Managing Director at The Carlyle Group, where he focused on North American fundraising and investor relations. Mr. Brown joined Carlyle in 1999 and during his tenure there raised capital for the firm’s investment partnerships, including funds and coinvestments, and was actively involved in product development, fund formation and marketing strategy for these partnerships. Bob also served on the firm’s Investor Relations Coordinating Committee, focusing on new fund initiatives, capital formation and limited partner relationships. Prior to Carlyle, he was a Vice President in the Private Equity Group at Merrill Lynch from 1994 to 1999. There, he was responsible for raising private equity, real estate, hedge fund, co-investment capital and direct private placements for almost 100 transactions. Mr. Brown graduated with a B.A. from Southern Methodist University and has an M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut.
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About Riverstone Holdings: River Stone is a private investment firm founded in 2000.
Yiannis Ventikos
Co-founder and Non-Executive Director of First Light Fusion
Yiannis Ventikos is the Co-founder and Non-Executive Director of First Light Fusion.
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About First Light Fusion: First Light Fusion is an energy company that focuses on researching energy generation by inertial confinement fusion.
George Coehlo
Managing Director of Good Energies
George Coehlo is the Co-Founder and Partner of Astanor Ventures. He joined Good Energies from Balderton Capital, formerly known as Benchmark Capital, Europe, which he co-founded in 2000. Good Energies has actively invested in technology companies in all stages of development in both Europe and North America. George previously led Intel Corporation’s strategic venture capital investment outside the U.S. and, prior to that, was a founder of the group that evolved to become Intel Capital. He has served in a number of senior positions in corporate finance. George holds a B.S. from The American University and an MBA from The George Washington, D. C. University. He is a Member of the Board of Directors of the UK chapter of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs).
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About Astanor Ventures, Good Energies, PROfounders Capital: Good Energies is a New York-based investment company focused on the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries.
Martin Mayer
Director of LNG Technology of CB&I
Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers, Member of the Management Committee and Treasurer of Gas Processors Association Europe. 30 years experience in the LNG and gas processing industry (onshore and floating) in feasibility, conceptual, detailed design, commissioning, plant testing and revamps. He has worked on projects worldwide in Peru, Egypt, UK, USA, Canada, Russia, Qatar, Australia and Nigeria. As Director of LNG Technology at McDermott is their focal point of expertise and capability for LNG production and receiving facilities, responsible for assuring the validity and technical integrity of the process design content of all deliverables on projects and proposals
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About CB&I: CB&I provide technology and infrastructure for the energy industry, focusing on safety and quality standards.
Ben Watts
Innovation and Solutions Director of Engie
Ben is Innovation & Solutions Director at ENGIE UK & Ireland. In addition to this role, Ben also undertakes non-executive and advisory activities in the field of low-carbon energy technology and networks, providing a key link between industry and academia. Ben is a non-executive Director of Storengy UK and a Director of the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE), where Ben also chairs the ADE’s Strategy Board. Prior to his current role with ENGIE, Ben was Managing Director of ENGIE’s Urban Energy sector. Ben has also previously worked as an Associate with ARUP, providing energy and utility consultancy services. His expertise in low-carbon energy includes decentralised generation in all forms, low carbon heat and cooling, project origination, development and commercialisation.
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About Engie: ENGIE is a global energy player and an expert operator in the three key sectors of electricity, natural gas and energy services.
Richard Smith
Client Director of Elutions, Inc.
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About Elutions, Inc.: Energy and operational efficiency global market leader with AI solutions.
Peter Landau
Executive Director of Makomo Diamonds Limited
Mr Peter Landau is the founding director of Okap Ventures Pty Ltd and Komodo Capital Pty Ltd. Mr Landau is a former corporate lawyer and corporate advisor and has over 17 years’ experience in providing general corporate, capital raising, transaction and strategic advice to numerous ASX and AIM listed and unlisted companies. Mr Landau has project managed a significant number of oil and gas and mining and exploration and development transactions around the world including capital raisings, M&A, joint ventures and finance structures. Mr Landau is an Executive Director of various ASX and AIM listed resource companies including Range Resources Limited, Nkwe Platinum Limited, Black Mountain Resources Limited, Kaboko Mining Limited and Makomo Diamonds Limited.
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About Australian American Mining Corporation, Hipo Resources, Makomo Diamonds Limited, NKwe Platinum Limited: Makomo Diamonds Limited provides coal based energy solutions.
Charlotte Mason
Non-Executive Director of Pavegen
Charlotte is an experienced angel investor and mentor who has helped numerous companies raise seed capital from angels. Charlotte is the Director of an angel investment network supporting more than £7m of seed capital for a group of around 40 businesses. Charlotte has a portfolio of 13 investments and holds 5 board / advisory positions: a Non-Executive Director to Pavegen Systems Limited and INSEAD National Alumni Association, an Advisory Board Member to Loughborough University Alumni, an INSEAD Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Co-Chair of INSEAD UK Alumni Entrepreneur Group and is director of INSEAD’s Start-up Bootcamp. Charlotte is also an entrepreneurship Professor at Hult International Business School.
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About Hult International Business School, Pavegen: Pavegen is the global leader in harvesting energy and data from footfall.
Bala Nagarajan
Investment Director, Equinor Energy Ventures of Equinor
Bala Nagarajan is an Investment Director at Statoil Energy Ventures (SEV), a USD 200MM corporate venture capital fund. SEV was set up in 2016 to identify and invest in startups in the clean energy sector. Bala has led SEV’s investments in distributed generation and energy storage. He joined Statoil’s business development team in 2012 and has originated and executed transactions across the globe. Prior to joining Statoil he was an investment manager/entrepreneur-in-residence for a family office fund investing in clean energy and technology start-ups following on from experiences with Arthur Andersen, Citigroup and Lehman Brothers. Bala is a Chartered Accountant from India and MBA graduate from IESE Business School, Spain.
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About Equinor: Equinor is an energy company that specializes in providing oil, gas, wind energy, and solar power energy.
Martin Bloom
Non Executive Director of Renesola Pty Ltd.
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About Renesola Pty Ltd.: ReneSola is a leading global manufacturer of solar wafers and PV modules
Jonty Graham
Director, Head of Institutional Capital of Foresight Group
Jonty Graham joined Foresight Group in 2015 and currently works as a Director and the Head of the Institutional Capital team in the London office. He has over 10 years of experience. Jonty is responsible for building and managing relationships with institutional clients, through fundraising, strategy and deal co-ordination across all mandates and geographies. Prior to joining Foresight Jonty worked at Bloomberg as a Senior Relationship Manager where he focused on sales of Fixed Income Cash and Derivatives products to Investment Banks, Pension Funds, Asset Managers, Central Banks and Sovereign Wealth Funds across EMEA. He has also held roles at a merchant bank, a global real estate investor, and was a Second Lieutenant in the British Army. Jonty holds an MA in Classics and French from Edinburgh University, and has an Investment Management Certificate from CFA UK.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Hugi Clarke
Director of Foresight Group
Hugi Clarke joined Foresight Group in 2016 and currently works as a Director in the London office. He has over 19 years of experience. Hugi is responsible for developing sales, marketing and customer satisfaction for Foresight. Prior to joining Foresight Hugi worked at Octopus as an Area Director where he focused on managing a regional sales team. He has also worked as a Sales Manager at Zurich, managing a regional team. Hugi holds a BSc in Psychology from Nottingham Trent University.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Rodney Appiah
Director of Foresight Group
Rodney joined Foresight in 2016 from the Business Growth Fund where he spent 5 years providing minority growth capital and board support to UK SMEs. Prior to BGF, Rodney was an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, advising PE sponsors and TMT corporates on leveraged finance transactions and M&A activity. In his spare time, Rodney is a business advisor to a number of start-up businesses and a school governor for an East London based Academy. Rodney holds a Bsc in Economics from Royal Holloway, University of London.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Louise Chesworth
Director, Head of Institutional Investor Relations of Foresight Group
Louise Chesworth joined Foresight Group in 2015 and currently works as Director and Head of Institutional Investor Relations in the London office. She has 17 years of experience. Louise is responsible for the management and development of Foresight’s relationships with institutional investors and oversees client reporting. Prior to joining Foresight, Louise worked at Hermes GPE as an Investor Relations Manager, responsible for the group’s private equity and infrastructure clients. She also worked in IR at Gartmore Private Equity prior to the merger with Hermes Private Equity, and was previously a private equity journalist with Thomson Financial. Louise holds a BA in European History from the University of East Anglia.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
John Holden
Director of Foresight Group
John joined Foresight in November 2016 to work on deploying the Foresight Williams Technology EIS Fund and is a specialist investor in technology. John has worked in and managed technology investment teams at businesses such as 3i Group, ANGLE and Imperial Innovations, where he spent five years investing in and working with early stage technology and medtech companies, before working on his own advisory and funding businesses. John is a graduate of Durham University and has a MBA with Distinction from Cranfield University.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Suzie Ruffley
Director, Head of People of Foresight Group
Suzie Ruffley joined Foresight in January 2017 to set up Foresight’s HR function, she is a Director and the Head of People. Suzie has 14 years of HR experience and is responsible for all aspects of people strategy across the group. Prior to joining Foresight Suzie was Head of HR Operations at Royal Botanical Kew and before that held a breadth of HR roles for State Street. Suzie holds a MSc in Occupational Psychology from Liverpool John Moores University.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Ben Thompson
Group Marketing Director of Foresight Group
Ben Thompson joined Foresight Group in 2011 and currently works as the Group Marketing Director in the London office. With over thirty years of integrated communications experience both on the agency side and within financial companies, Ben is responsible for marketing activities for the group, including brand and corporate communications for all offices. Prior to joining Foresight Ben was Marketing Director at Espirito Santo Investment Bank where he focused on launching the Portuguese bank into the London market. Ben holds a BA in Music from Durham University.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Sarah Cole
Director, Institutional Capital of Foresight Group
Sarah joined Foresight in 2012 and is responsible for Foresight’s institutional client relationships. Prior to joining the firm, Sarah started her career at Barclays in corporate finance and has focused upon institutional investors and their alternative investments since 2004, establishing Citigroup’s European Capital Introductions effort, followed by 3 years in the US advising public and corporate pension funds on hedge fund portfolios totalling over $3bn, before joining Winton Capital as a VP within their UK/US institutional team. Sarah holds a BA in Politics from The University of Nottingham.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Matt Hammond
Director of Foresight Group
Matt Hammond joined Foresight Group in 2015 and currently works as a Director in the London office. He has over 20 years of experience. Matt is responsible for new infrastructure investment opportunities and enhancing investor returns by optimising financing structures within Foresight’s renewable energy infrastructure portfolio. Prior to joining Foresight Matt worked predominantly at Macquarie as a Director where he focused on infrastructure and renewable energy advisory, investing, and lending. He has also worked at Henderson, BT Alex Brown and the WHEB Group where he raised and invested two renewable energy funds investing across Europe. Matt holds a degree in Engineering (Industrial Automation) from the University of Sydney, an MA in Political Economy from London School of Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance from the Australian Securities Institute.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Yanti Falangola
Director – Head of Institutional Capital Southern Europe of Foresight Group
Yanti joined the Institutional Capital Team at Foresight in April 2016 from Cheyne Capital Management, one of Europe’s leading alternative investment fund managers. While at Cheyne, Yanti was responsible for the business development in Southern Europe and the Far East. Prior to this, he has been a fund analyst in two London based fund of hedge funds. Yanti holds a B.A. degree in Business Administration from Lynn University and a Master’s degree in International Business from Florida Atlantic University.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Beth Watkins
Director of Foresight Group
Beth Watkins joined Foresight Group in 2015 and currently works as a Director in the London office. She has over 14 years of experience in project finance, project development and law. Beth is responsible for leading the origination, execution and monitoring of Foresight’s investments in the bioenergy and waste infrastructure sectors. Prior to joining Foresight Beth worked at Balfour Beatty Investments on the development of projects to finance, build and operate new straw fired and wood fired biomass renewable energy plants and a wide range of PFI and PPP projects. Beth is a solicitor, having trained and qualified with Pinsent Masons, and holds a Law degree from Bristol University.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Charles Sheldon
Director of Foresight Group
Charles joined Foresight in 2013 after four years at management consultancy Oliver Wyman, where he specialised in Financial Services, running projects for Investment and Retail banking and Private Equity clients. Prior to that he worked at Monitor Group. Charles is a PE graduate from the University of Oxford.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Stephen Thayer
Director of Foresight Group
Stephen Thayer joined Foresight Group in 2012 and currently works as a Director and the Head of Finance in the London office. He has over 13 years of experience. Stephen is responsible for overall financial reporting and control across the group, both on the corporate and fund sides of the business. Prior to joining Foresight Stephen worked at Marks & Spencer as a Senior Finance Manager where he focused on the international subsidiaries and franchise partners plus the general merchandise supply chain and logistics. He has also worked as an Audit Executive at EY, working in their Consumer Products audit division, focusing on a number of large listed and privately owned businesses. Stephen holds an MA in Chemistry from Oxford University and is a Chartered Accountant (ICAS).
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Richard Kelly
Director & Head of New Product Development of Foresight Group
Richard Kelly joined Foresight Group in 2014 and currently works as a Director in the London office. He has over 11 years of experience. Richard is responsible for the development and launch of innovative investment products and new business divisions. Prior to joining Foresight Richard worked at Accenture as a Strategy Manager where he focused on merger and acquisition strategy across a variety of industries. He has also worked as an Intern at Oxford Capital Partners, focusing on investment business plan screening and portfolio company performance improvement. Richard holds a BA in Business & Management from Exeter University.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Carlos Rey Micolau
Director of Foresight Group
Carlos joined Foresight in December 2011. Prior to that, he covered several roles at Renewables Energy Source “RES” project developer and technical consultant in the international Renewable Energy sector with a particular focus on the Spanish and Italian markets. Based in Foresight’s UK HQ, Carlos is responsible for the origination, arrangement and execution of infrastructure investments in Southern Europe, primarily in the renewable energy sector and has led Foresight’s investments in subsidy-free solar assets in the Iberian peninsula. Carlos graduated in Industrial Engineering and Industrial Management Engineering from UPC Barcelona and is fluent in Spanish, Catalan, Italian and English.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Tom Moore
Director of Foresight Group
Tom Moore joined Foresight Group in 2014 and currently works as a Director in the London office. He has over 10 years of experience. Tom is responsible for the asset management of the global renewable energy infrastructure assets. Prior to joining Foresight Tom worked at Jubilee Financial Products as a Financial Controller where he was responsible for internal finance, operations and compliance. There he also performed advisory work for M&A transactions and corporate restructurings. Tom is a Chartered Accountant and holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics from the University of York.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Margherita Della Valle
Non Executive Director of Centrica
Margherita Della Valle, Chief Financial Officer, was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Vodafone Group PLC Board on 27 July 2018. Margherita’s previous roles within Vodafone were Deputy Chief Financial Officer from 2015 to 2018, Group Financial Controller, Chief Financial Officer for Vodafone’s European region and Chief Financial Officer for Vodafone Italy. She joined Omnitel Pronto Italia – which later became Vodafone Italy – in 1994 and held various consumer marketing positions in business analytics and customer base management before moving to finance. Margherita is a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee at Centrica Plc.
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About Centrica, Vodafone: Centrica is a multinational energy and services company developing innovative solutions, offers, and products.
Jorge Pikunic
Managing Director, Centrica Business Solutions of Centrica
Jorge is Managing Director of Centrica’s international Distributed Energy & Power business, established to deliver distributed energy solutions for large energy users as part of a more flexible energy landscape. He joined Centrica in 2010, first heading up the Group’s strategy team before taking over as Managing Director of British Gas’ Smart Metering business, where he lead the roll-out of smart meters to over one million residential customers. Born in Venezuela, Jorge is an engineer and holds a MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering. He was also a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford before joining McKinsey & Company where he advised a number of institutions in energy and other sectors. He has also worked for Procter & Gamble and PDVSA (Venezuelan national oil company), and was a Board Director of Smart Energy GB.
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About Centrica: Centrica is a multinational energy and services company developing innovative solutions, offers, and products.
Tim Clark
Managing Director of ie: music
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About ie: music, Unicef UK: Hagler Bailly offers the energy, utility, and environmental industries with management consulting and other services.
Andrew Diplock
Angel Investor & Non Executive Director of Marine Power Systems
Andrew Diplock is the Angel Investor and Non-Executive Director at Marine Power Systems.he also the Founder and Managing Director at Utility and Environmental Solutions.
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About Marine Power Systems, Utility and Environmental Solutions: Marine Power Systems Ltd (MPS) develops wave power technology.
Paddy O’Clery
Business Development Director of Amber Energy
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About Amber Energy: AMBER is a for profit cooperative with the goal of growing community based green energy generation in Ontario by engaging residents.
Matthew Boyle
Finance Director of BBOXX
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About BBOXX: BBOXX designs, manufactures, and distributes plug and play solar systems.
John Quinn
Group Director of Photonomi
John is an Electronic Engineering and Applied Finance graduate, and a serial entrepreneur in disruptive technology startups having founded or had significant leadership roles in over 10 Blue Chip startups over the last 23 years. He has been recognized by the Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2002, the UK Business Innovation Awards in 2011, several International Innovation Awards in Semiconductor and Nanotechnology from 2003 to 2011 and shortlisted for Innovator of the Year 2014 in the London Energy Awards. In the early 90’s, he established world semiconductor nanotech benchmarks for the fabrication of CD-ROM, DVD & Blu-Ray & was technology lead for the conversion of Microsoft from floppy disc to CD-ROM for the release of Windows 95. He worked for lengthy periods abroad, including Germany, the Far East, and the United States. With past Senior Leadership roles in some of the most successful semiconductor company’s such as British Telecom, Hitachi-Maxell Europe, PIONEER Japan, JVC Europe, KAO Corp Japan, Oerlikon GmbH, Unaxis USA, he brings substantial strategic Technology and Innovation Executive Leadership to the Photonomi Group. He also sits on numerous policy, technical and governmental boards on Business & Innovation and is a regular guest speaker on Entrepreneurship.
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About Photonomi: A world leading nanoscience and semiconductor intellectual property (IP) ecosystem in FEW Science Technologies, (Food, Energy & Water)
John Quinn
Group Director of Photonomi
John is an Electronic Engineering and Applied Finance graduate, and a serial entrepreneur in disruptive technology startups having founded or had significant leadership roles in over 10 Blue Chip startups over the last 23 years. He has been recognized by the Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2002, the UK Business Innovation Awards in 2011, several International Innovation Awards in Semiconductor and Nanotechnology from 2003 to 2011 and shortlisted for Innovator of the Year 2014 in the London Energy Awards. In the early 90’s, he established world semiconductor nanotech benchmarks for the fabrication of CD-ROM, DVD & Blu-Ray & was technology lead for the conversion of Microsoft from floppy disc to CD-ROM for the release of Windows 95. He worked for lengthy periods abroad, including Germany, the Far East, and the United States. With past Senior Leadership roles in some of the most successful semiconductor company’s such as British Telecom, Hitachi-Maxell Europe, PIONEER Japan, JVC Europe, KAO Corp Japan, Oerlikon GmbH, Unaxis USA, he brings substantial strategic Technology and Innovation Executive Leadership to the Photonomi Group. He also sits on numerous policy, technical and governmental boards on Business & Innovation and is a regular guest speaker on Entrepreneurship.
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About Photonomi: A world leading nanoscience and semiconductor intellectual property (IP) ecosystem in FEW Science Technologies, (Food, Energy & Water)
Alessia Affinita
Founder & Creative Director of Idea 188
Alessia has been passionately working in the advertising ir1JUSUV since 1996. Born copywriter and grown up as art director. she worked in well-known creative agencies in Italy and the UK for over 10 years. before becoming a professional freelancer. She won the Design S Art Directors Advertising Workshop in 2004. Alessia founded Ideai88 in 2008 and is enthusiastically leading the team. ty •
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About Idea 188, it’s campus: Idea 188 is driven by experienced creative freelancers. carefully selected across the world.
Andrea Ugona
Managing Director of Idea 188
Andrea has over 15 years’ advertising experience in top tier Italian and international advertising agencies in the handling department. He has acquired a profound knowledge of the most advanced communication strategies and production techniques. Since December 2010 is the managing director of MPTBOX.
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About Idea 188: Idea 188 is driven by experienced creative freelancers. carefully selected across the world.
Thomas Olsen
Managing Director of Lagoni Engineering
Thomas is the founder and Managing Director of Lagoni, a specialist consultancy firm operating within control systems and functional safety. He has over 10 years experience in this field of work, particularly within the Oil & Gas sector. Thomas began his career in 2002 after completing a degree in Electronic Engineering from DTU, a technical university in Copenhagen. He went on to complete his Masters of Science in London. Thomas founded Lagoni in 2008 and, as at 31 Dec ’16, has grown the business to a multi-skilled team and a turnover in excess of £2.5m in the latest financial year through his focus on growing a dynamic business that adapts and meets the clients needs.
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About Lagoni Engineering: Lagoni is a technical services provider with over 10 years’ operating experience in the energy sector.
Niels Kroninger
Director of Green Hedge
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About Green Hedge, Nimble & Agile Partners: Green Hedge is a leading developer and operator of low carbon electricity generation and storage projects.
George Fowkes
Co-Founder and Director of BasePower
George Fowkes is co-founder and director of BasePower, an award-winning Combined Heat and Power (CHP) developer to industrial sectors such as automotive and plastics, food manufacturing and pharmaceutical. Tailoring world-class technology and service to the specific needs of each customer, its projects create significant cost savings and carbon reductions for high-energy users at no capital expenditure or operational risk. George’s career has spanned the development of clean power, water and waste technologies in the UK and Europe. Prior to founding Basepower he was Head of Business Development at biogas developer, Tamar Energy, where he led the team overseeing five projects into construction and fifteen into development.
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About BasePower: BasePower designs, develops and finances CHP systems for intensive energy users, delivering energy security & savings.
Ed Porter
Energy Assets Director of Invinity Energy Systems Plc
Ed Porter is the energy assets director at RedT. He joined the company in December 2018 from Gazprom Marketing & Trading where he held the position of power portfolio manager, responsible for 1GW of UK assets. Prior to this, Ed held various senior positions for Gazprom, RWE npower and Innogy Renewables.
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About Invinity Energy Systems Plc: Invinity Energy Systems Plc is a company which has created a method by which electrical energy can be stored in liquid form.
Joe Warren
Managing Director of Powervault
Joe previously worked for Open Energi, helping to bring their smart grid dynamic demand product from concept to commercial reality and creating a new market in which Open Energi arrived first. He also worked as Director of Hosting Operations at Pipex Plc looking after datacentre and power infrastructure. Joe holds a BA in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University and an MBA from INSEAD
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About Powervault: Powervault aims to disrupt the energy storage market by supplying the first plug and play energy storage device
Chris Shaw
Senior Managing Director and Head of European Investment Banking of Marathon Capital
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About Marathon Capital, Shaw Kwei & Partners: Marathon Capital Management is an taxation-driven, financial and business services firm catering to high net-worth individuals.
Mark Watts
Executive Director of C40
Mark has served as Executive Director of C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group since December 2013, during which time the organization has grown from 63 to 94 of world’s greatest cities. Mark is proud to head a fast-growing team of 200 staff members in supporting bold, collaborative mayors to demonstrate that tackling climate change will deliver economically stronger and more equitable cities. Prior to joining C40, Mark was Director at pioneering engineering and design firm, Arup, and before that was a senior adviser to the Mayor of London. He believes that work should be fun, but that there is always time for music, narrowboats, and places you can get to by bicycle.
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About C40: C40 is a network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing climate change.
Peter Fraenkel
Director & Co-Founder of Gravitricity
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About Gravitricity: Gravitricity develops a novel storage technology which offers some of the best characteristics of lithium batteries and pumped storage.
Tobin Byers
Account Director of HardHat
Working in public affairs and stakeholder engagement for over five years, Tobin has significant experience devising and implementing consultation and communication strategies. Having worked with some of the country’s leading housebuilders, he has advised on consultation and political engagement on both planning applications and strategic land allocations.
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About HardHat: HardHat is a specialist communications consultancy for the property, development, energy and infrastructure sectors.
James Bird
Director of HardHat
James is a former freelance broadcast journalist, councillor and parliamentary candidate. He is a public affairs professional with a solid background in communications and a proven track record in delivering effective campaigns in public consultation and political relations in London and beyond.
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About HardHat: HardHat is a specialist communications consultancy for the property, development, energy and infrastructure sectors.
Ally Kennedy
Director of HardHat
Ally is an experienced communications professional with a background in politics, stakeholder and community engagement and media relations. Ally has worked for clients involved in house building, renewable energy and regeneration projects and sits on Remarkable’s operational board. In a previous life he worked for a major political party at their Westminster HQ and at constituency level.
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About HardHat: HardHat is a specialist communications consultancy for the property, development, energy and infrastructure sectors.
Ally Kennedy
Director of HardHat
Ally is an experienced communications professional with a background in politics, stakeholder and community engagement and media relations. Ally has worked for clients involved in house building, renewable energy and regeneration projects and sits on Remarkable’s operational board. In a previous life he worked for a major political party at their Westminster HQ and at constituency level.
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About HardHat: HardHat is a specialist communications consultancy for the property, development, energy and infrastructure sectors.
Sam Clough
Director of HardHat
With over 15 years agency experience under her belt across a diverse group of clients and sectors, Sam is used to delivering digital, social and campaign strategies to ensure clients’ business objectives are met in today’s challenging communications landscape. With a strong understanding of the principles of business growth combined with a passion for creating great content her focus is on delivering considered and integrated solutions that make an impact. Sam has worked with many clients and brands over the years including Associated British Ports (ABP), GenesisCare, Novartis, J&J and Ordnance Survey.
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About HardHat: HardHat is a specialist communications consultancy for the property, development, energy and infrastructure sectors.
David Button
Account Director of HardHat
David has five years’ experience working on public affairs and political engagement campaigns for clients across a number of sectors, including housing, property, transport, and the third sector. He has worked with clients to raise their profile with policy makers and deliver changes to government legislation and supports developers including McCarthy & Stone to deliver local stakeholder engagement programmes.
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About HardHat: HardHat is a specialist communications consultancy for the property, development, energy and infrastructure sectors.
James Mansfield
Co-founder and Managing Director of Finance Earth
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About Finance Earth: Finance Earth is a fund manager and environmental impact investment adviser.
