Adam Prescott - CTO, Nemiah

Adam brings extensive experience in AI and Big Data across FinTech, Healthcare, and Market Research. In addition to his role at Nemiah, he co-founded Leigh Works, a social enterprise and co-working space just outside Manchester. Leigh Works has served as a test bed for Nemiah’s Green Smart Building Management System - cosmos.energy - which seamlessly integrates all aspects of building and business operations. As a result, the space has successfully reduced its energy consumption by 65%.

Alastair Barton - Managing Director, Max Energy 24/7

Determined to reduce energy costs for businesses through correct procurement and installations of the correct technology, that not only assists the business but reduces energy consumption and carbon, continuing the journey to achieve Net Zero.

Alexis Massey - Group Sustainability Manager, Wernick Group

Lex is a passionate sustainability specialist with over 20 years practical experience within the private, public and 3rd sector. He is currently the Group Sustainability Manager for Wernick Group, overseeing the delivery of their Net Zero 2040 ambition and wider sustainability outcomes. He has a broad range of experience within environmental regulation, construction and other priority sector areas, energy management and cardon reduction, supply chain, ISO management systems and sustainability training.

Andrew Hodgson - Chair of Innovation Greater Manchester

Andrew has a business focus on technology driven industrial sectors and acts as a Chair/Advisor in the energy transition, circular economy and aerospace sectors working mainly with private investors. This follows a corporate career in the Steel, Aerospace and Robotics sectors. He also has a strong interest in regional economic development and the importance of Skills and Innovation in improving fair outcomes for all, having Chaired both economic development and skills boards across the North of England. Andrew was awarded the OBE for his work on the economy and manufacturing and is a graduate of University of Manchester (Economics) and holds a master’s in business from the University of Warwick.

Ali Ahmed - Business Development Lead, Energy Innovation Agency

Ali joined The Agency with extensive experience in strategic partnerships and sustainable technology solutions across both public and private sectors. With a background in Manufacturing Engineering and Renewable Energy, he brings valuable technical and commercial expertise combined with a track record in driving decarbonisation initiatives and energy management solutions. His career spans roles at leading organisations, helping partners with complex energy needs identify decarbonisation opportunities and develop credible pathways to net zero. Ali specialises in building high-value partnerships, developing innovative sustainability strategies, and delivering impactful solutions that drive positive environmental change.

Charlie Sayers-Woolhouse

Charlie is the National Key Account Manager for the multi-million GBP Aggregate, Quarry, and Building Products (AQBP) Sector at Rubix UK. He's worked for Rubix (Europe’s Largest and Leading Industrial Distribution Partner) for a little over 5 years now and in his role he's responsible for the commercial account management for all key contracts / customers within the AQBP world. He's passionate about sustainability and have recently re-enrolled as a student, this time at the University of the Built Environment where he's studying for an MSc Innovation in Sustainable Built Environments.

David Schiele - Director, Energy Innovation Agency

David joined The Agency from an innovative SME technology company, bringing extensive commercial experience across Clean-Tech, EV Charging, Renewable Energy, and Waste Management. He has led local, regional, and large-scale energy infrastructure projects, driving strategy, managing teams, and delivering high-value innovation and infrastructure projects for demanding stakeholders.

Dan Dickinson - Low Carbon Programme and Policy Lead, GMCA

Driving Greater Manchester’s transition to net zero through strategic policy, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. Former founding Development Lead at the Energy Innovation Agency, with a track record of delivering impactful decarbonisation projects across public, private, and industrial sectors. Passionate about enabling place-based climate action and scaling clean energy solutions.

Ethan Wadsworth - Director of Sales and Marketing, DiscreteHeat

Ethan leads DiscreteHeat, Dragons Den survivors and creators of ThermaSkirt – the skirting board that heats your home. 

A passionate British manufacturer, he knows what it takes to bring a truly new product to market both at home and overseas. With over a decade of experience, he has helped establish ThermaSkirt as a practical, low-carbon alternative to radiators and underfloor heating, making homes and buildings more efficient and future-ready.

Gary Bateman - Business Development Lead for Low-Carbon Housing Innovations, Energy Innovation Agency

Gary joined The Agency to support a new project with the University of Salford, focusing on research and innovation in Net-Zero and future homes. He helps innovation companies develop and scale low-carbon products and services, accelerating their access to the market.

Jens Bjørn Staff - Chief Executive Officer, Skagerak Energi

Mr. Staff (born 1967) is the Group CEO in Skagerak Energi, a Norwegian utility company, since 2020. Mr. Staff has broad executive experience from Orkla where he served as Group CFO for 6 years and Statkraft where he was Group CFO for 3 years. He has also had several executive positions in Statoil over the course of 6 years. He has previously held board positions in Isola Holding AS, Statoil, Orkla and corporate assembly in Jotun. Mr. Staff holds an MBA from the Norwegian School of Economics (2002) and an BA from the Norwegian Business School. In addition to International Directors Program from INSEAD (2022) and the Advanced Valuation program at NYU Stern School of Business (2023).

Kevin Clarke - Account Delivery Manager, Procure Plus

Kevin is an Account Delivery Manager with Procure Plus, a specialist housing framework provider who work with housing associations, councils and local authorities across the country on various housing projects.

Kevin delivered the first procurement under the Procure Plus bespoke retrofit procurement route in June 2021 and spends the majority of his working life on retrofit domestic schemes under various funding streams of varying sizes. Kevin has a particular interest in supply chain development, social value and supporting local communities in delivering innovative programmes.

Dr Lorraine Ferris - Fellow at the Henry Royce Institute, The University of Manchester

Lorraine is a Transforming Foundation Industries Fellow of the Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester where she develops projects with industry to address innovation challenges on the path to Net Zero and sustainability. She works to match industry needs to innovation capability. She has interests in sustainable materials development, circular economy, chemicals sector defossilisation, process and heat decarbonisation, and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). She was a founder of the UK LCA Regulatory Science & Innovation Network. She is engaged with various industrial clusters, developing place based decarbonisation plans.

Lorraine commenced her career in the Chemicals sector in ICI over 30 years ago, based at Wilton site with secondments to Belgium and USA. Subsequently, she has worked in consultancy and interim management roles, as Managing Director of an environmental company and as a Chemicals Sector Advisor at the Department of International Trade.

Dr Louise Bates - Director of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange, The University of Manchester

Louise completed a BSc in Biology in 2001, followed by a PhD in Neuroendocrinology which concluded in 2004, both at the University of Manchester. Louise went on initially to work in medical communications with a focus on strategic account management.  She then transitioned to business operations roles in the Pharma Industry working for Hoffmann La Roche at their HQ in Switzerland for 7yrs. Louise returned to the Higher Education sector in 2018 where she was Head of Strategic Partnerships, responsible for operational and account management of the universities strategic institutional industrial partnerships as well as the development of new relationships.  In Louise’s current role she leads the university’s function responsible for engaging with external partners, driving growth, diversity and impact from these collaborations.

Mark Atherton - Director of Environment, GMCA

Mark has been engaged as Director of Environment for Greater Manchester since 2012.  In this role, Mark provides strategic support to the Greater Manchester Green City Region Board and Partnership by leading the development and delivery of strategies, policies, research and demonstration projects for environment and low carbon work areas.

Megan Woodworth - Strategy and Business Development Lead, Kantar Advisory Partners

Megan leads strategy and business development at KAP, where she helps climate-tech startups and partners scale through market entry, strategic partnerships, and ecosystem activation across the UK, Middle East, and Africa. A Chemical Engineer by training, she brings over 12 years of experience spanning oil and gas, the circular economy, and startup leadership. Megan has worked extensively on business growth, investment readiness, and operational execution, supporting ventures to refine their market position and scale innovative technologies. At KAP, she focuses on building the strategies and business development pathways that enable climate solutions to move from potential to deployment.  

Øystein K. Sæther - EVP of Innovation and Business Development, Skagerak Energi

Øystein Kristoffersen Sæther, born in 1981, is the Executive Vice President of Innovation and Business Development at Skagerak Energi. Sæther joined Skagerak from the position of Managing Director at VARD and has extensive experience in the oil, gas, and energy industries, with a particular focus on engineering, innovation, and business development. He also has extensive experience in establishing new organizations and new businesses both domestically and internationally. Sæther holds an M.Sc. in Business Development & Finance from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh and a B.Sc. in Gas and Energy Technology from the University of South-Eastern Norway. Sæther has been an Executive Vice President since 2020. He lives in Skien, is married, and has two children.

Steve Connor - Founder & Director, Creative Concern

Steve is founder of Manchester-based Creative Concern, a leading ethical communications agency, and has over 30 years’ experience in climate and sustainability. He holds advisory and leadership roles across Greater Manchester and national initiatives and co-hosts the GoodGeist podcast, focusing on ethical and sustainable business practice.

Steve Malkin - Founder and CEO, Planet Mark

Steve is founder and CEO of Planet Mark, an internationally recognised leader in net zero certification, with over 12 years of experience in helping organisations reduce carbon emissions, achieve net zero targets and generate long-term business value.
Steve is dedicated to supporting the drive towards a net zero society, inspiring organisations of all sizes to be a force for good with his pragmatic optimism and infectious enthusiasm. Since founding Planet Mark in 2013, Steve has supported hundreds of businesses to continually reduce their emissions, make a real impact and progress their journeys to net zero with confidence and authenticity.

Tara McCarthy - Industrialised Construction Value Chain and Renovation Projects Manager, Innovation Cluster GreenWin

Tara has over 20 years of experience supporting projects that position Wallonia as a Region of innovation and resilience. For more than ten years, she has been collaborating with the GreenWin cluster, working with public authorities and private organisations. As biologist trained at UCLouvain and Eco-advisor trained in “Institut Eco-Conseil – Namur - BE”, she developed a systemic, human-centred approach to environmental issues through lifelong training . Co-founder of a NGO reducing greenhouse gas emissions, she contributed to Sustainable Climate Action Plans in Wallonia. She also helped establish citizen cooperatives in renewable energy, short-circuit power supply and housing renovation. Drawing on these experiences, Tara supports GreenWin members and partners in their transition efforts. 

Professor William Swan - Director of Energy House Laboratories at the University of Salford

Professor Will Swan is the Director of Energy House Laboratories (EHL) at the University of Salford, where he has led the energy and buildings research for more than 10 years. The labs include the award-winning Salford Energy House, a whole Victorian house in a climate-controlled chamber, the Smart Meters Smart Homes Lab and the £16m Energy House 2.0 research facility, which is currently working with Barratt, Bellway, and Saint Gobain on developing demonstrators for the new Future Homes Standard as part of a major multi-disciplinary UKRI project. He has published a wide number of papers on retrofit and building performance and has advised on a national and regional policy level, including the National Energy Efficiency Taskforce. The work of the unit has appeared on both national and international media including the Times, Guardian, Mail, BBC, Sky, AFP and CBS.