Speaker Biographies
Monday 21st September - Keynote Speakers
Anne Selby
Anne is the CEO of the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire Manchester and Merseyside. As a competent and enthusiastic networker and representative of TWT she has held various government appointments, including, Board Member for the NW Development Agency, Heritage Lottery Fund Regional Committee and the NW Forestry and Wildlife Advisory Committee. In Greater Manchester, Anne chairs the Natural Capital Group (Local Nature Partnership) which champions environmental matters and reports into the Combined Authority via the Green City Region Partnership.
Bethan Heatley
My name is Bethan Heatley. I am 18 and have been a part of GMYCA since Jan 19. The environmental crisis and making a change to this is a key area I am interested in. My first event was the 2019 Green Summit. Since then I have participated in several climate protests and taken part in a documentary where I created a community restaurant using food waste to feed the less fortunate. My involvement in environmental justice is largely linked with my interest for societal inequalities and helping those in the community. The things that I do in my everyday life to reduce my environmental impact include becoming vegan, limiting my plastic use and cycling to my destination instead of using a car.
Emma Howard Boyd
Emma Howard Boyd is the Chair of the Environment Agency, an Ex officio board member of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and the UK Commissioner to the Global Commission on Adaptation. Emma serves on a number of boards and advisory committees which include Menhaden PLC, The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project, and the European Climate Foundation.
She has worked in financial services for over 25 years, in corporate finance and fund management. As Director of Stewardship at Jupiter Asset Management until July 2014, Emma was integral to the development of their expertise in the corporate governance and sustainability fields.
She has worked in financial services for over 25 years, in corporate finance and fund management. As Director of Stewardship at Jupiter Asset Management until July 2014, Emma was integral to the development of their expertise in the corporate governance and sustainability fields.
Sam Evans
Head of Natural Environment, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Sam is Head of Natural Environment at GMCA, leading the Combined Authority’s work to improve the city region’s natural environment through developing strategy and policy, delivering key projects and working with a range of partners. Prior to that, Sam led the development of the Mayor’s 5 Year Environment Plan, launched at the Green Summit in March 2019.
Sam joined GMCA in October 2018 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where most recently he was Head of Strategic Coordination. Before that, Sam held various roles in the civil service, including working on local growth and devolution policy with the Liverpool City Region and designing and implementing the government’s policy on tackling bovine TB. Before the civil service, Sam was an environmental consultant, working with businesses to reduce their environmental impact and to implement environmental management systems.
Sam is Head of Natural Environment at GMCA, leading the Combined Authority’s work to improve the city region’s natural environment through developing strategy and policy, delivering key projects and working with a range of partners. Prior to that, Sam led the development of the Mayor’s 5 Year Environment Plan, launched at the Green Summit in March 2019.
Sam joined GMCA in October 2018 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where most recently he was Head of Strategic Coordination. Before that, Sam held various roles in the civil service, including working on local growth and devolution policy with the Liverpool City Region and designing and implementing the government’s policy on tackling bovine TB. Before the civil service, Sam was an environmental consultant, working with businesses to reduce their environmental impact and to implement environmental management systems.
Monday 21st September - Natural Environment Q&A Panel
Ginny Hinton
Ginny Hinton is the Area Manager for Natural England’s Cheshire to Lancashire Area Team (covering Cheshire, Lancashire Greater Manchester and Merseyside). She commenced the role in January 2020 and is based in Manchester. She has a history of association with Manchester, starting with a BSc in Environmental Management from Manchester Metropolitan University.
Ginny has been part of the Cheshire to Lancashire team since 2016 in the role of Partnership Manager, Operations Manager and also on secondment to United Utilities for a year helping to embed nature and natural capital into the water company’s Business Plan for 2020-2025.
Between 2009 and 2016, Ginny led Natural England’s Peak District team, working closely with the Peak District National Park Authority and Moors for the Future to develop partnerships with upland estates and land managers. Before this time, she worked for the Countryside Agency in Manchester and Cheltenham developing new National Trails including the Cotswold Way and the Pennine Bridleway National Trail.
Ginny has been part of the Cheshire to Lancashire team since 2016 in the role of Partnership Manager, Operations Manager and also on secondment to United Utilities for a year helping to embed nature and natural capital into the water company’s Business Plan for 2020-2025.
Between 2009 and 2016, Ginny led Natural England’s Peak District team, working closely with the Peak District National Park Authority and Moors for the Future to develop partnerships with upland estates and land managers. Before this time, she worked for the Countryside Agency in Manchester and Cheltenham developing new National Trails including the Cotswold Way and the Pennine Bridleway National Trail.
Mark Easedale
Mark is a passionate environmentalist with a personal vision to be carbon neutral and have zero waste to landfill from his home in N Wales.
After studying Chemistry at University, Mark began his career in the chemical industry, managing emissions to the environment at a top tier COMAH installation.
Poacher turned gamekeeper, Mark followed his true passion for the environment and joined the Environment Agency in 2002 as a regulator of Hazardous Waste and Chemical sites.
Mark has held a number of positions in the EA; Environmental coordinator for Liverpool’s Capital of Culture 2008, Area Manager for Merseyside, Regional Change Manager, COMAH Manager for NW England and Water, Land and Biodiversity lead for Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.
Mark has been Area Environment Manager for Greater Manchester for four years and is committed to working with government, local councils, businesses and communities to support sustainable growth and to drive environmental improvements to make Greater Manchester grow to be one of the greenest city regions in Europe.
After studying Chemistry at University, Mark began his career in the chemical industry, managing emissions to the environment at a top tier COMAH installation.
Poacher turned gamekeeper, Mark followed his true passion for the environment and joined the Environment Agency in 2002 as a regulator of Hazardous Waste and Chemical sites.
Mark has held a number of positions in the EA; Environmental coordinator for Liverpool’s Capital of Culture 2008, Area Manager for Merseyside, Regional Change Manager, COMAH Manager for NW England and Water, Land and Biodiversity lead for Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.
Mark has been Area Environment Manager for Greater Manchester for four years and is committed to working with government, local councils, businesses and communities to support sustainable growth and to drive environmental improvements to make Greater Manchester grow to be one of the greenest city regions in Europe.
Sarah Jenner
Sarah Jenner has over 20 years’ experience in the water industry in the fields of Environmental Regulation, Asset Management and Strategy Development. She is also a trustee of the Mersey Rivers Trust, a resident of Greater Manchester and enjoys running through the green spaces and river corridors of the region.
Her current role as Head of Environmental Strategy and Regulation for United Utilities carries responsibility for developing and embedding the company’s natural capital strategy as well as leading the development of future environmental improvement programmes and managing the company’s relationship with the Environment Agency.
Her current role as Head of Environmental Strategy and Regulation for United Utilities carries responsibility for developing and embedding the company’s natural capital strategy as well as leading the development of future environmental improvement programmes and managing the company’s relationship with the Environment Agency.
Jo Holden
Jo is a chartered environmentalist and leads on all aspects of sustainability for Peel L&P. In 2019 Jo published Peel L&P’s first Sustainability Five Year Plan, based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and this year undertook a natural capital assessment of the 60 hectare Liverpool Waters regeneration project.
Jo is also keen to promote the links between net zero carbon and nature-based solutions to climate change and earlier this year launched Peel L&P’s net zero carbon office portfolio with offsetting linked to tree planting in the North West. Jo is a member of the GM Natural Capital Group and the GM Environment Fund Advisory Group as well as working with other stakeholders between Merseyside and South Yorkshire who are interested in the natural capital approach.
Before joining Peel L&P in 2016, Jo worked for the Environment Agency and prior to that managed environmental matters for a large DIY retailer for 10 years, specialising in sustainable global supply chains.
Jo is also keen to promote the links between net zero carbon and nature-based solutions to climate change and earlier this year launched Peel L&P’s net zero carbon office portfolio with offsetting linked to tree planting in the North West. Jo is a member of the GM Natural Capital Group and the GM Environment Fund Advisory Group as well as working with other stakeholders between Merseyside and South Yorkshire who are interested in the natural capital approach.
Before joining Peel L&P in 2016, Jo worked for the Environment Agency and prior to that managed environmental matters for a large DIY retailer for 10 years, specialising in sustainable global supply chains.
Tuesday 22nd September - Keynote Speakers
Chris Boardman
Chris Boardman was appointed as Greater Manchester’s first ever Cycling and Walking Commissioner in July 2017 by Mayor Andy Burnham. His report, Made to Move, published in December 2017, set out a 15 step plan to transform how people get around in the city region.
He is one of the UK’s most prominent cycling and walking advocates and has been policy adviser to British Cycling since 2012.
A former professional cyclist, Chris won a gold medal in the individual pursuit at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. He also broke the world hour record three times and has worn the yellow jersey on three separate occasions at the Tour de France.
Chris launched his own range of bikes, BOARDMAN Bikes, in 2007 and is company chairman. He also worked as Head of Research and Development for the Great Britain Cycling Team from 2004 to 2012, including at the 2008 Beijing Games where the Olympic team won eight gold medals.
He is one of the UK’s most prominent cycling and walking advocates and has been policy adviser to British Cycling since 2012.
A former professional cyclist, Chris won a gold medal in the individual pursuit at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. He also broke the world hour record three times and has worn the yellow jersey on three separate occasions at the Tour de France.
Chris launched his own range of bikes, BOARDMAN Bikes, in 2007 and is company chairman. He also worked as Head of Research and Development for the Great Britain Cycling Team from 2004 to 2012, including at the 2008 Beijing Games where the Olympic team won eight gold medals.
Paul Bircham
Paul drives our commercial thinking and the development of new customer propositions and services. With over 20 years experience of driving change and developing innovative new business models within the energy, utilities and infrastructure industries, Paul is uniquely placed to offer insights on how energy companies will need to adapt to solve the challenges of a socially conscious and lower carbon economy. Paul’s current portfolio of responsibilities includes regulatory liaison, government affairs and stakeholder engagement, commercial strategy and innovation, investment planning, procurement, communications and corporate services.
Mr. Karel van Oosterom
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Kingdom
Tuesday 22nd September - Energy Q&A Panel
George Simms
George Simms is a Senior Project Manager at the Energy Systems Catapult, seeking to build projects with industry, government and third sector partners to help move closer to net zero. Since joining ESC, George has focused on building partnerships with local authorities and other partners to develop and secure funding for projects centred on decentralised energy and domestic retrofit.
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner has been working in the field of energy and sustainability for over 15 years and is primarily focussed on delivering energy efficiency and low and zero carbon energy solutions for both new developments and existing communities. He has worked with numerous local authorities to support the development of low carbon energy projects, strategies and policies and also works with developers on the design of low carbon buildings for a wide range of new domestic and mixed use schemes.
Sarah Holland
Sarah Holland is a senior energy professional and Chartered Engineer with over 15 years' experience in supporting organisations to operate in a more environmentally responsible and sustainable way. She has a background in business strategy and growth and in transforming conceptual projects into compelling investment opportunities. She is currently leading on the support provided by the Local Energy North West Hub to Greater Manchester in delivering against the five-year environment plan.
Tuesday 22nd September - Transport Q&A Panel
Nicola Kane
Nicola Kane spends much of her time thinking about what the future might hold, as her teams work to develop and deliver a long-term transport strategy for Greater Manchester running up to 2040.
Nicola is a chartered town planner (MRTPI) and qualified transport planning professional (TPP), and joined TfGM in 2014 after 15 years of working in consultancy. She has wide-ranging experience in transport strategy, policy development and travel behaviour change. She’s now enjoying the opportunity to help shape the future of transport in Greater Manchester.
Nicola was awarded ‘Transport Planner of the Year’ by the Transport Planning Society in 2017 for her work in leading Greater Manchester’s 2040 Transport Strategy.
Nicola is a chartered town planner (MRTPI) and qualified transport planning professional (TPP), and joined TfGM in 2014 after 15 years of working in consultancy. She has wide-ranging experience in transport strategy, policy development and travel behaviour change. She’s now enjoying the opportunity to help shape the future of transport in Greater Manchester.
Nicola was awarded ‘Transport Planner of the Year’ by the Transport Planning Society in 2017 for her work in leading Greater Manchester’s 2040 Transport Strategy.
Fiona Howarth
Fiona Howarth is a leading force in the electric vehicle (EV) revolution in the UK, heading up Octopus Electric Vehicles (part of the Octopus Energy Group) and championing the transition to EVs. Bringing an enthusiastic energy to the industry with a passion for teaching others about EVs, Fiona not only focuses on delivering an high-quality service but also ensuring that everyone has access to honest and reliable information. As a mother of two young girls, she looks to their future as motivation to continue work in the EV field - in hopes of positively impacting their world by combating climate change.
Greg Marsden
Greg is Professor of Transport Governance at the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds. He has researched issues surrounding the design and implementation of new policies for over 20 years covering a range of issues. He is an expert in climate and energy policy in the transport sector and is the Transport Decarbonisation Champion for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
He is the Principal Investigator on the DecarboN8 network, which brings together researchers, government, industry and communities to design solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Here he is responsible for integrating a new place-based approach to decarbonising transport.
Greg co-chairs the Commission on Travel Demand which has published influential studies on travel demand and shared mobility. He is the Secretary General of the World Conference on Transport Research Society and the Chair of the Special Interest Group on Governance. He has served as an advisor to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee and regularly advises local, national and international governments.
He is the Principal Investigator on the DecarboN8 network, which brings together researchers, government, industry and communities to design solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Here he is responsible for integrating a new place-based approach to decarbonising transport.
Greg co-chairs the Commission on Travel Demand which has published influential studies on travel demand and shared mobility. He is the Secretary General of the World Conference on Transport Research Society and the Chair of the Special Interest Group on Governance. He has served as an advisor to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee and regularly advises local, national and international governments.
Darryl Quantz
Darryl is a consultant in public health working across Public Health England and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership. He is the Integrated care system sustainability co-lead and is working to promote awareness of the impact of the climate and ecological crisis on population health and inequalities, and implement national sustainability targets. He also supports partnership working on air quality, spatial planning and population health.
Claire Stocks
Claire Stocks is an environmental campaigner and media specialist working in the fields of climate action and active travel. She co-founded Walk Ride Greater Manchester which campaigns to make walking and cycling the natural choice in GM. A journalist by trade, she spent nearly 20 years at the BBC creating content & platforms to engage audiences across News, Sport and Children’s genres.
Bruno Lapeyrie
Bruno Lapeyrie is Director of the Centre of Excellence Energy Transition-Bus and part of Keolis since September 2019. He is in charge of managing the energy transition for the worldwide bus and coach fleets of the Group.
Bruno has a 20-year track record of executive missions in engineering Companies, mainly Egis and more specifically Egis Rail and Urban transportation, completed with an experience in business and corporate development both in France and internationally.
He has also been Public Transport Authority (for rail and coaches) within the Regional Council of Occitanie in France, as Director of Infrastructures and Transport.
He graduated from HEC, a Parisian business school, with an executive MBA.
Bruno has a 20-year track record of executive missions in engineering Companies, mainly Egis and more specifically Egis Rail and Urban transportation, completed with an experience in business and corporate development both in France and internationally.
He has also been Public Transport Authority (for rail and coaches) within the Regional Council of Occitanie in France, as Director of Infrastructures and Transport.
He graduated from HEC, a Parisian business school, with an executive MBA.
Wednesday 23rd September - Keynote Speakers
Dr Adam Read
External Affairs Director, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK
Dr Adam Read is responsible for government engagement and collaborative working with CIWM, the ESA and other trade bodies in the UK and internationally.
Adam has more than 25 years’ experience in the waste sector as an academic, researcher, local authority officer and consultant. For 15 years he has supported local authorities in reviewing their services, procuring solutions, and considering alternative partnering models, from in-sourcing and joint working, to contracting, profit share options, and true open book accounting whilst a consultant.
He is a respected ‘waste management’ academic, Adam holds visiting lectureships at a number of UK Universities, including Research Fellowships at the Universities of Brighton and Kingston. He was formerly Visiting Professor at Northampton University, an honour reflecting his innovative work on public consultation and engagement in waste management services, and sits on the Editorial Board of a number of the leading academic journals, including Resources, Conservation & Recycling and the Journal of Solid Waste Technology & Management.
He has spoken widely at practical waste management conferences in the UK and across the globe, and is extensively published in the academic and practical press. He has spoken at major international conferences and is also on the Editorial Board of Sustain, a regular contributor to the CIWM Waste Management Journal, is Editorial Advisor to Resource and has had his own monthly column on letsrecycle.com and waste & resource management websites. Adam is currently an RWM Ambassador.
Adam has been ranked in the top 20 of the Resource Hot 100 most influential waste professionals for the last 8 years, and is the youngest recipient of a CIWM fellowship.
Dr Adam Read is responsible for government engagement and collaborative working with CIWM, the ESA and other trade bodies in the UK and internationally.
Adam has more than 25 years’ experience in the waste sector as an academic, researcher, local authority officer and consultant. For 15 years he has supported local authorities in reviewing their services, procuring solutions, and considering alternative partnering models, from in-sourcing and joint working, to contracting, profit share options, and true open book accounting whilst a consultant.
He is a respected ‘waste management’ academic, Adam holds visiting lectureships at a number of UK Universities, including Research Fellowships at the Universities of Brighton and Kingston. He was formerly Visiting Professor at Northampton University, an honour reflecting his innovative work on public consultation and engagement in waste management services, and sits on the Editorial Board of a number of the leading academic journals, including Resources, Conservation & Recycling and the Journal of Solid Waste Technology & Management.
He has spoken widely at practical waste management conferences in the UK and across the globe, and is extensively published in the academic and practical press. He has spoken at major international conferences and is also on the Editorial Board of Sustain, a regular contributor to the CIWM Waste Management Journal, is Editorial Advisor to Resource and has had his own monthly column on letsrecycle.com and waste & resource management websites. Adam is currently an RWM Ambassador.
Adam has been ranked in the top 20 of the Resource Hot 100 most influential waste professionals for the last 8 years, and is the youngest recipient of a CIWM fellowship.
John Scanlon
Chief Executive Officer, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK
As Chief Executive Officer of SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, John is responsible for driving forward the SUEZ group’s SUEZ 2030 vision in the UK, and for continuing to mobilise SUEZ’s newly won contracts in Greater Manchester and Somerset.
John’s industrial leadership and strategic vision has been forged over his 28-year career with SUEZ, since joining in 1991 as one of the company’s first employees in the UK. He has been an integral part of the executive committee since 2003.
John has held a variety of operational and business development roles within SUEZ, which lead to becoming Chief Operating Officer of Operations in 2015, and prior to that Chief Operating Officer of the Processing division. Before these appointments, John was Business Development Director where he was heavily involved with the first PFI contract that SUEZ won in Surrey in 1997 and became the General Manager for that contract in 2000.
As Chief Executive Officer of SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, John is responsible for driving forward the SUEZ group’s SUEZ 2030 vision in the UK, and for continuing to mobilise SUEZ’s newly won contracts in Greater Manchester and Somerset.
John’s industrial leadership and strategic vision has been forged over his 28-year career with SUEZ, since joining in 1991 as one of the company’s first employees in the UK. He has been an integral part of the executive committee since 2003.
John has held a variety of operational and business development roles within SUEZ, which lead to becoming Chief Operating Officer of Operations in 2015, and prior to that Chief Operating Officer of the Processing division. Before these appointments, John was Business Development Director where he was heavily involved with the first PFI contract that SUEZ won in Surrey in 1997 and became the General Manager for that contract in 2000.
Wednesday 23rd September - Waste & Resources Q&A Panel
Anita Okunde
I’m Anita Okunde, I’m 16 years old with she/her pronouns. Over the last year I have actively become more involved in advocating for climate change and holding governments and polluters accountable for their role in it. I started off in year 10 by asking my school to change from plastic cutlery to more sustainable materials which has made are carbon footprints smaller. Over this lockdown especially I have continued to educate myself on climate change and dedicated my time to helping other organisations such as Youth Strike Manchester and Friday for Future Digital and international in order to help them reach their goals for climate change! With climate justice there is social justice and I believe that intersectional environmental justice is an important aspect that needs to lead the youth climate movement.
Corin Bell
Corin Bell is the Founder and Exec Director of Open Kitchen MCR, Manchester’s first waste food catering social enterprise. Corin sits on the Good Food Greater Manchester Board and is a campaigner for a sustainable food future and a plastic free Greater Manchester.
Dr Dominic Hogg
Dominic Hogg is Chairman of Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd. In his twenty-five years of consulting experience, he has always sought to push the boundaries of what is possible in respect of improving management of waste, and driving a more circular economy. At a strategic level, he led a team supporting the European Commission in the revision of the major waste Directives, another which developed the Plastics Strategy, and another which provided the impact assessment for the so-called single-use plastics directive. In the UK, his work has included supporting Defra on the design of a revised extended producer responsibility scheme for packaging, designing a deposit refund scheme for Zero Waste Scotland, and a plastics strategy for WRAP Cymru. He has long been an advocate of closer links being made between climate change and waste management. A major piece for Friends of the Earth was followed by the launch of a report for Zero Waste Europe on this topic in 2015. The earlier work is now being updated for another major NGO.
Gavin Ellis
Gavin is Director and Co-Founder of award-winning environmental charity Hubbub where he leads high profile environmental behaviour change campaigns such as Leeds By Example, Neat Streets, Square Mile Challenge, Community Calling, For Fish’s Sake, Plastic Fishing and Pumpkin Rescue. Previously Gavin was Senior Client Manager and Marketing Manager at environmental charity Global Action Plan.
Wednesday 23rd September - Buildings Q&A Panel
Dr John Hindley
John is a highly effective and experienced senior environmental professional, with over 20 years practise in complex estates covering a portfolio of sustainability, carbon and energy strategy, revenue and capital development projects. He is a driven professional and strategist with a proven track record of transformational leadership in sustainability and impact, achieving a ranking of #1 within the Higher Education sector. John has a strong professional network and is currently working proactively across Greater Manchester, assisting with the development of low carbon delivery plans in collaboration with The Combined Authority and District partners, to support the GM 5 year Environment Plan.
Richard Fitton
Richard holds a PhD in Building Physics and is also a chartered building surveyor. He leads a task group for the development of international standards around energy performance. He is also active the International Energy Agency studying the use of smart meter data to provide energy efficiency data for dwellings. He holds a place on the SAP Scientific Integrity Group at the Building Research Establishment (BRE) which oversees the domestic energy model used in the UK. Richard is also the technical lead for the new Energy House 2 project, a building physics test lab.
David Kemp
David is responsible for Sustainability and Growth at Procure Plus, a Manchester based social housing regeneration and purchasing company. He has spent over 15 years working in client facing roles across public and private sector organisations delivering programmes and bespoke projects involving business support and consultancy relating to the sustainability and procurement agendas.
He is an active member of numerous regional and national initiatives including Electricity Northwest’s Sustainability Advisory Panel, the Energy and Buildings sub groups of Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Green City Region Partnership Board, the GM Low Carbon Asset Managers’ Group, the National Housing Federation’s North West Asset Managers’ Group and he was awarded Life Fellow status of the national Centre of Refurbishment Excellence.
David is in involved in developing and project managing capital investment programmes in the social housing and wider public sector, including a ground-breaking £14m ERDF project, and in strategic delivery projects and policy development at a regional and sub regional level.
Prior to working at Procure Plus, David was Procurement and Sustainable Construction Manager at Elevate East Lancashire, the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder for Pennine Lancashire, and the manager of the Procurement Programme for the environmental business support organisation Enivirolink Northwest.
He is an active member of numerous regional and national initiatives including Electricity Northwest’s Sustainability Advisory Panel, the Energy and Buildings sub groups of Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Green City Region Partnership Board, the GM Low Carbon Asset Managers’ Group, the National Housing Federation’s North West Asset Managers’ Group and he was awarded Life Fellow status of the national Centre of Refurbishment Excellence.
David is in involved in developing and project managing capital investment programmes in the social housing and wider public sector, including a ground-breaking £14m ERDF project, and in strategic delivery projects and policy development at a regional and sub regional level.
Prior to working at Procure Plus, David was Procurement and Sustainable Construction Manager at Elevate East Lancashire, the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder for Pennine Lancashire, and the manager of the Procurement Programme for the environmental business support organisation Enivirolink Northwest.
Jenny Holland
Jenny Holland is Public Affairs & Policy Specialist at the UK Green Building Council, where she has a wide-ranging policy brief that includes energy efficiency, circular economy, social value, health and wellbeing, and cross-cutting DEFRA issues including the Environment Bill. Prior to joining UKGBC she spent 15 years as Campaigns Director at the Association for the Conservation of Energy, where she oversaw many successful campaigns that led to changes in both primary and secondary legislation. Alongside Friends of the Earth, for instance, she spearheaded the campaign that led to the introduction in the Energy Act 2011 of the private rented sector minimum energy efficiency standard.
Jenny has given evidence on many occasions to Parliamentary Select Committees, and has served on a number of Government advisory working groups. She is Director of the Parliamentary Renewable & Sustainable Energy Group – and was for many years Chair of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, a broad grouping of organisations working together to eradicate fuel poverty.
Jenny has given evidence on many occasions to Parliamentary Select Committees, and has served on a number of Government advisory working groups. She is Director of the Parliamentary Renewable & Sustainable Energy Group – and was for many years Chair of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, a broad grouping of organisations working together to eradicate fuel poverty.
Thursday 24th September - Keynote Speakers
Thursday 24th September - Build Back Better Panel
Thursday 24th September - International Mayors Panel
Deborah Seward
Ms. Seward has more than 31 years of experience in public information, communications and international relations, acquired at the United Nations and externally. Prior to her latest appointment, she served as Director of the Department of Public Information’s Strategic Communications Division in New York beginning in 2011. In that role, Ms. Seward led a complex operation that developed and implemented strategies for communicating key United Nations messages; managed a network of more than 60 United Nations information centres; and sought to strengthen the coordination of communications across the United Nations system as Secretary of the United Nations Communications Group and its task forces.
Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Seward took on progressively responsible assignments with the Associated Press, serving as Chief of its Moscow bureau between 2000 and 2003, Chief of the Paris bureau from 2009 to 2010, International Editor in New York from 2003 to 2005, and Assistant Managing Editor in New York from 2010 to 2011. She also worked in Prague as an Executive Producer in the Central Newsroom of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty from 2006 to 2007.
Holding an honours degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the United States, Ms. Seward was also a Nieman Foundation Fellow at Harvard University, and is fluent in English, French and Russian.
She is married and has a daughter.
Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Seward took on progressively responsible assignments with the Associated Press, serving as Chief of its Moscow bureau between 2000 and 2003, Chief of the Paris bureau from 2009 to 2010, International Editor in New York from 2003 to 2005, and Assistant Managing Editor in New York from 2010 to 2011. She also worked in Prague as an Executive Producer in the Central Newsroom of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty from 2006 to 2007.
Holding an honours degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the United States, Ms. Seward was also a Nieman Foundation Fellow at Harvard University, and is fluent in English, French and Russian.
She is married and has a daughter.
Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham was elected as Mayor of Greater Manchester in May 2017.
Responsible for shaping the future of Greater Manchester, Andy’s priorities include ending rough sleeping, transforming Greater Manchester into one of the greenest city regions in Europe, and making Greater Manchester a great place to live, get on, and grow old.
Before being elected Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy was MP for Leigh from 2001. In government, Andy has held Ministerial positions at the Home Office, Department of Health and the Treasury. In 2008 he became Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, before returning to Health as Secretary of State in 2009.
In opposition, Andy has served as Shadow Education Secretary, Shadow Health Secretary and Shadow Home Secretary.
Responsible for shaping the future of Greater Manchester, Andy’s priorities include ending rough sleeping, transforming Greater Manchester into one of the greenest city regions in Europe, and making Greater Manchester a great place to live, get on, and grow old.
Before being elected Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy was MP for Leigh from 2001. In government, Andy has held Ministerial positions at the Home Office, Department of Health and the Treasury. In 2008 he became Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, before returning to Health as Secretary of State in 2009.
In opposition, Andy has served as Shadow Education Secretary, Shadow Health Secretary and Shadow Home Secretary.
Eduardo Vitor Rodrigues
Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues (born in Vila Nova de Gaia on March, 30 1971) is a Portuguese university professor and politician. He is an assistant professor of the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Arts (FLUP) of Oporto's University. Currently he is the Mayor of Vila Nova de Gaia, the biggest city of Porto Metropolitan Area, having been elected for the Portuguese Socialist Party in 2013 and 2017 municipal elections. He is also president of the Porto Metropolitan Council since 2017.
Xavi Matilla
In October 2019, Matilla was appointed via mayoral decree to lead the City’s urban master plan. An architect by profession, he provides a strategic vision of the city to respond to the challenges of urban planning, sustainable development, ecology, climate emergency and mobility. Within the municipal structure, he is in charge of the Management of the Chief Architect, and also act as manager of the Municipal Institute of Urban Landscape and Quality of Life. Xavier Matilla (Terrassa, 1975) is an architect from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) Barcelona-Tech, graduated in 2002. He is currently an associate professor in the Department of Urbanism and Spatial Planning at the UPC, and the Master in IERMB-UAB. He has also taught at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and at the Sert COAC School. From 2010 to 2015 was secretary of the Association of Urban Architects.
Raymond Johansen
Governing Mayor Johansen (born 1961) has lived in Oslo for most of his life. He has two adult twin-sons and is married to Christin Kristoffersen.
Johansen is educated as a plumber, but most of his working life has been dedicated to politics. At the age of 30 he was appointed to the City Government in Oslo as Vice Mayor for Transport and Nature Preservation, then representing the Socialist Left Party. Since joining the Norwegian Labour Party in 1997 Governing Mayor Johansen has served as State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under both Cabinets of Jens Stoltenberg. Johansen served as the Secretary General of the Labour Party from 2009 until 2015 when he resigned to run for Governing Mayor of Oslo.
Governing Mayor Johansen has gained broad experience from working with international development from his work as Head of Department in the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and as Secretary General for the Norwegian Refugee Council. The Governing Mayor’s interests also cover areas such as sports, and Johansen was previously member of the board of Vålerenga Football Club in Oslo.
On 21 October 2015 Raymond Johansen started his term as Governing Mayor of Oslo and leads a City Government Coalition composed of representatives from the Labour Party, the Green Party and the Socialist Left Party.
Johansen is educated as a plumber, but most of his working life has been dedicated to politics. At the age of 30 he was appointed to the City Government in Oslo as Vice Mayor for Transport and Nature Preservation, then representing the Socialist Left Party. Since joining the Norwegian Labour Party in 1997 Governing Mayor Johansen has served as State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under both Cabinets of Jens Stoltenberg. Johansen served as the Secretary General of the Labour Party from 2009 until 2015 when he resigned to run for Governing Mayor of Oslo.
Governing Mayor Johansen has gained broad experience from working with international development from his work as Head of Department in the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and as Secretary General for the Norwegian Refugee Council. The Governing Mayor’s interests also cover areas such as sports, and Johansen was previously member of the board of Vålerenga Football Club in Oslo.
On 21 October 2015 Raymond Johansen started his term as Governing Mayor of Oslo and leads a City Government Coalition composed of representatives from the Labour Party, the Green Party and the Socialist Left Party.
Carl Spector
Carl Spector has served in the City's Environment Department for over a decade. He was appointed Commissioner of the Environment Department in 2015. As Environment Commissioner, he oversees programs related to climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental protection, historic preservation, and other aspects of sustainability. Among related programs, the Environment Department includes the Air Pollution and Control Commission, the Conservation Commission, and the Boston Landmarks Commission.
Spector and his colleagues in the Environment Department are responsible for steering the City of Boston toward the goals outlined in Boston’s Climate Action Plan Update, which outlines strategies to reduce carbon emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change. The most significant and recent initiatives led by his team include Climate Ready Boston and Carbon Free Boston. Prior to his time with the City, he worked in government and private industry on energy, environment, and other matters, including at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Government Accountability Office (GAO). Spector received his B.A. in Physics from Princeton University and his M.S. in Environmental Science for the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Spector and his colleagues in the Environment Department are responsible for steering the City of Boston toward the goals outlined in Boston’s Climate Action Plan Update, which outlines strategies to reduce carbon emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change. The most significant and recent initiatives led by his team include Climate Ready Boston and Carbon Free Boston. Prior to his time with the City, he worked in government and private industry on energy, environment, and other matters, including at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Government Accountability Office (GAO). Spector received his B.A. in Physics from Princeton University and his M.S. in Environmental Science for the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Nigel Topping
Nigel Topping is the UK's High-Level Climate Action Champion, appointed by the UK Prime Minister in January 2020. Nigel works alongside the Chilean High-Level Climate Action Champion, Gonzalo Muñoz. The role of the high-level champions is to strengthen collaboration and drive action from businesses, investors, organisations, cities, and regions on climate change, and coordinate this work with governments and parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Nigel was most recently CEO of We Mean Business, a coalition of businesses working to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon economy. Prior to that he was Executive Director of the Carbon Disclosure Project, following an 18 year career in the private sector, having worked across the world in emerging markets and manufacturing.
Nigel was most recently CEO of We Mean Business, a coalition of businesses working to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon economy. Prior to that he was Executive Director of the Carbon Disclosure Project, following an 18 year career in the private sector, having worked across the world in emerging markets and manufacturing.
Estelle Worthington
Estelle is a Regional Campaigns Organiser for Friends of the Earth in the North West, supporting grassroots groups across the region to take action on climate justice and nature. She has campaigned on environmental justice issues across the region including underground coal mining, protecting a country park from road development, and getting ambitious local climate change plans. She enjoys food growing with her son in their local allotment and has recently been learning stone carving.
Alison McKenzie
Alison is Chief Executive at Wigan Council and was formerly the Deputy Chief Executive with strategic responsibility for a wide range of services.
Alison is also the GM lead CE for Culture and the GM lead CE for Environment.
Alison is passionate about public services and determined to make a difference for residents and communities. She is dedicated to inspiring the next female generation and committed to collaboration, innovation and technology.
She is a Board Member of Unify Credit Union, spokesperson for SOLACE on the digital agenda and sits on the Board of Open Data Manchester.
Alison was named in the Northern Power Women Top 50 Power list and one of the nine most influential digital leaders in Greater Manchester.
Wigan Council was named LGC Council of the Year 2019 and Northern Power Women Large Organisation.
Alison is also the GM lead CE for Culture and the GM lead CE for Environment.
Alison is passionate about public services and determined to make a difference for residents and communities. She is dedicated to inspiring the next female generation and committed to collaboration, innovation and technology.
She is a Board Member of Unify Credit Union, spokesperson for SOLACE on the digital agenda and sits on the Board of Open Data Manchester.
Alison was named in the Northern Power Women Top 50 Power list and one of the nine most influential digital leaders in Greater Manchester.
Wigan Council was named LGC Council of the Year 2019 and Northern Power Women Large Organisation.
Prof James Evans
James Evans is a Professor of Geography at The University of Manchester who studies how cities learn to become smarter and more sustainable. Over the past twenty years he has worked with over 200 organisations around the world to create more collaborative ways of working towards sustainability, including many partners in Greater Manchester. With more than 80 publications, including a recent book ‘The Experimental City’, James has been invited to speak on TV and Radio on the topic of sustainable cities. He has led the University’s involvement in major research projects to develop smart and more sustainable cities that have attracted more than £30m of research and innovation funding, including Triangulum, LOOPER and the Manchester Urban Observatory.
Sarah Price
Sarah is the Interim Chief Officer of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, working closely with the other NHS organisations and councils in the city region. The Partnership is responsible for the £6bn health and social care budget which aims to:
• Develop a population health approach across Greater Manchester ensuring that prevention and protection are at the heart of what we do.
• Continue to progress GM’s primary care strategy which sets out how more effective integrated care offered by GPs, pharmacists, dentists, opticians and the local community will be delivered.
• Standardising acute and specialist care across GM
• Develop and lead an effective commissioning system (which includes specialised commissioning) for GM that will drive performance standards and enable the 5 Year Taking Charge Strategic Plan to be delivered.
Until February, Sarah was the Exec Lead for Population Health and Commissioning, overseeing the delivery of GM’s population health plan which has invested in programmes across the city region to improve health outcomes for residents. Sarah also led on the commissioning of primary care, specialised services, screening and immunisation and health and justice support.
Previous to this, Sarah was the Chief Officer at Haringey CCG for four years. Sarah championed the development of new models of care for people in Haringey and changed the way key services are commissioned focussing on outcomes.
Before this she was the first non-medical director of public health in London in 2003 when she took up the role of Director of Public Health for Islington Primary Care Trust and the London Borough of Islington. In 2010 she also took on the role of Director of Public Health for North Central London, the senior lead on public health across North Central London and was responsible for the delivery of the transition programme for the changes outlined in the 2012 Health and Social Care Act.
• Develop a population health approach across Greater Manchester ensuring that prevention and protection are at the heart of what we do.
• Continue to progress GM’s primary care strategy which sets out how more effective integrated care offered by GPs, pharmacists, dentists, opticians and the local community will be delivered.
• Standardising acute and specialist care across GM
• Develop and lead an effective commissioning system (which includes specialised commissioning) for GM that will drive performance standards and enable the 5 Year Taking Charge Strategic Plan to be delivered.
Until February, Sarah was the Exec Lead for Population Health and Commissioning, overseeing the delivery of GM’s population health plan which has invested in programmes across the city region to improve health outcomes for residents. Sarah also led on the commissioning of primary care, specialised services, screening and immunisation and health and justice support.
Previous to this, Sarah was the Chief Officer at Haringey CCG for four years. Sarah championed the development of new models of care for people in Haringey and changed the way key services are commissioned focussing on outcomes.
Before this she was the first non-medical director of public health in London in 2003 when she took up the role of Director of Public Health for Islington Primary Care Trust and the London Borough of Islington. In 2010 she also took on the role of Director of Public Health for North Central London, the senior lead on public health across North Central London and was responsible for the delivery of the transition programme for the changes outlined in the 2012 Health and Social Care Act.
Jessica Bowles
Jessica Bowles is the Strategy Director at Bruntwood having joined the business in April 2016, a new role to support the company’s ambitions for long term growth. She is working across the Group with the teams in our existing markets to look at future opportunities and setting this in the context of the way that cities are growing and changing.
Previously Jessica worked at Manchester City Council as head of City Policy. She developed the 10 year Manchester Strategy ‘Our Manchester’, lead work on the Northern Powerhouse with Sir Richard Leese and other city leaders and took a central role in the devolution agenda. Before coming to Manchester Jessica spent 15 years in Whitehall in a diverse range of roles related to transport and local government.
Previously Jessica worked at Manchester City Council as head of City Policy. She developed the 10 year Manchester Strategy ‘Our Manchester’, lead work on the Northern Powerhouse with Sir Richard Leese and other city leaders and took a central role in the devolution agenda. Before coming to Manchester Jessica spent 15 years in Whitehall in a diverse range of roles related to transport and local government.
Additonal Speakers
Dr Angela Needle
Angela is Director of strategy at Cadent Gas where she is responsible for creating the transformational strategies for the company. Prior to that she held a range of positions at Centrica, including heading up their contracting strategy that supports 10,000 British Gas engineers. She also created and ran the business energy-services strategy, and took responsibility for all energy supply and services customer propositions. Before Centrica, lots of fun was had at Anglian Water, including managing sewer networks, heading up an R&D programme and being responsible for all thing’s energy, carbon and climate change. Angie is a big advocate of both environmental and diversity issues and a Founder of the Women’s Utilities Network.
Councillor Andrew Western
A lifelong Trafford resident, Andrew is the recently elected Leader of Trafford Council and has been a local councillor representing Sale town centre since 2011.
Andrew’s professional background is in project management, predominantly in civil engineering specialising in supporting delivery of large scale infrastructure programmes. He has also worked on IT transformation projects including at Manchester Airport Group.
Andrew’s professional background is in project management, predominantly in civil engineering specialising in supporting delivery of large scale infrastructure programmes. He has also worked on IT transformation projects including at Manchester Airport Group.
Helen Boyle
Helen Boyle is Strategic Decarbonisation Manager at Electricity North West. As the region’s network operator, it’s Electricity North West’s responsibility to lead the way in the decarbonisation of the North West through investment and innovation in energy infrastructure.
Helen is responsible for delivering the company’s Leading the North West to zero carbon plan – its commitment to spend an additional £63.5m to lead and enable the region’s transition to a low carbon economy, including the adoption of low carbon technologies as the world moves away from its reliance on fossil fuels.
Helen has more than 20 years’ experience in communications and engagement roles gained in a variety of companies and sectors in and around the Manchester area.
Helen is responsible for delivering the company’s Leading the North West to zero carbon plan – its commitment to spend an additional £63.5m to lead and enable the region’s transition to a low carbon economy, including the adoption of low carbon technologies as the world moves away from its reliance on fossil fuels.
Helen has more than 20 years’ experience in communications and engagement roles gained in a variety of companies and sectors in and around the Manchester area.
Jessica Mahoney
Jess Mahoney has six years’ experience working in the waste and recycling sector. Jess is part of the education team. She delivers virtual education session and visits at two education centres in Wythenshawe and Bolton, and jointly develops the education resources (e-learning, community packs, online resources etc) along with delivering any training or education sessions off site (outreach) for the Waste and Resources team.
Jess lives in Oldham with her husband.
Jess graduated from the MMU in 2013 with a degree in Biology. She began her career in waste and recycling as an Outreach worker on the Life plus project for the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.
Jess lives in Oldham with her husband.
Jess graduated from the MMU in 2013 with a degree in Biology. She began her career in waste and recycling as an Outreach worker on the Life plus project for the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority.
Laura Williams
Laura Williams has 10 years’ worth of experience campaigning on climate related issues in Manchester. She is particularly interested in the social justice aspects of the climate transition, incorporating democratic and equality demands in to the campaigns and projects that she works on. At Carbon Coop she is involved with marketing strategy and developing new events, projects, and campaigns. She is currently leading our involvement in mPOWER.
Sarah Price
Sarah is the Interim Chief Officer of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, working closely with the other NHS organisations and councils in the city region. The Partnership is responsible for the £6bn health and social care budget which aims to:
• Develop a population health approach across Greater Manchester ensuring that prevention and protection are at the heart of what we do.
• Continue to progress GM’s primary care strategy which sets out how more effective integrated care offered by GPs, pharmacists, dentists, opticians and the local community will be delivered.
• Standardising acute and specialist care across GM
• Develop and lead an effective commissioning system (which includes specialised commissioning) for GM that will drive performance standards and enable the 5 Year Taking Charge Strategic Plan to be delivered.
Until February, Sarah was the Exec Lead for Population Health and Commissioning, overseeing the delivery of GM’s population health plan which has invested in programmes across the city region to improve health outcomes for residents. Sarah also led on the commissioning of primary care, specialised services, screening and immunisation and health and justice support.
Previous to this, Sarah was the Chief Officer at Haringey CCG for four years. Sarah championed the development of new models of care for people in Haringey and changed the way key services are commissioned focussing on outcomes.
Before this she was the first non-medical director of public health in London in 2003 when she took up the role of Director of Public Health for Islington Primary Care Trust and the London Borough of Islington. In 2010 she also took on the role of Director of Public Health for North Central London, the senior lead on public health across North Central London and was responsible for the delivery of the transition programme for the changes outlined in the 2012 Health and Social Care Act.
• Develop a population health approach across Greater Manchester ensuring that prevention and protection are at the heart of what we do.
• Continue to progress GM’s primary care strategy which sets out how more effective integrated care offered by GPs, pharmacists, dentists, opticians and the local community will be delivered.
• Standardising acute and specialist care across GM
• Develop and lead an effective commissioning system (which includes specialised commissioning) for GM that will drive performance standards and enable the 5 Year Taking Charge Strategic Plan to be delivered.
Until February, Sarah was the Exec Lead for Population Health and Commissioning, overseeing the delivery of GM’s population health plan which has invested in programmes across the city region to improve health outcomes for residents. Sarah also led on the commissioning of primary care, specialised services, screening and immunisation and health and justice support.
Previous to this, Sarah was the Chief Officer at Haringey CCG for four years. Sarah championed the development of new models of care for people in Haringey and changed the way key services are commissioned focussing on outcomes.
Before this she was the first non-medical director of public health in London in 2003 when she took up the role of Director of Public Health for Islington Primary Care Trust and the London Borough of Islington. In 2010 she also took on the role of Director of Public Health for North Central London, the senior lead on public health across North Central London and was responsible for the delivery of the transition programme for the changes outlined in the 2012 Health and Social Care Act.
Jessica Bowles
Jessica Bowles is the Strategy Director at Bruntwood having joined the business in April 2016, a new role to support the company’s ambitions for long term growth. She is working across the Group with the teams in our existing markets to look at future opportunities and setting this in the context of the way that cities are growing and changing.
Previously Jessica worked at Manchester City Council as head of City Policy. She developed the 10 year Manchester Strategy ‘Our Manchester’, lead work on the Northern Powerhouse with Sir Richard Leese and other city leaders and took a central role in the devolution agenda. Before coming to Manchester Jessica spent 15 years in Whitehall in a diverse range of roles related to transport and local government.
Previously Jessica worked at Manchester City Council as head of City Policy. She developed the 10 year Manchester Strategy ‘Our Manchester’, lead work on the Northern Powerhouse with Sir Richard Leese and other city leaders and took a central role in the devolution agenda. Before coming to Manchester Jessica spent 15 years in Whitehall in a diverse range of roles related to transport and local government.