Join us on 03 December for our first Sustainable Academy Spotlight Event, where we will be celebrating past winners and shining a ‘Spotlight on Sustainability’.
This year, as a result of Covid-19 our Sustainable Academy Awards ceremony has been postponed and we will be holding our first virtual Awards event on Zoom
The event will be hosted by Sarah Hopkins, Director of Cynnal Cymru and Rhys Jones, Director of RenewableUK Cymru.
Former Sustainable Academy Awards winners and sponsors will be joining us to talk about their progress since winning and what they see as the priorities for a green recovery following Covid. We will hear from:
Sarah Williams – Wales & West Utilities – Headline sponsor of Sustainable Academy Awards
Paul Allen – Centre for Alternative Technology – winner of the Special Recognition Award 2019
Meleri Davies, Partneriaeth Ogwen – winner of Sustainability Champion 2019
Grant Peisley, YnNi Teg – winner of Outstanding Renewable Energy Project 2018
After we have heard from the panelists there will be an opportunity for you to put your questions and comments to them.
Speakers
Grant Peisley, YnNi Teg
Winner of Outstanding Renewable Energy Project 2018
Grant is a social entrepreneur, localism practitioner and sustainable communities consultant. He is a Founding Director of Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig (DEG), who has helped over 40 community groups start energy projects and a Director of Community Energy Wales, YnNi Teg and YnNi Llyn.
He is a truly inspirational and passionate advocate of sustainability and community energy in Wales. He works closely with local, rural communities who want to own their own energy generation technologies and is a real champion for organisations that lack the resources, skills or confidence to drive their sustainability projects forward.
Grant is a real driver for change and is relentless in his sustainability campaigning.
Meleri Davies, Partneriaeth Ogwen
Winner of Sustainability Champion 2019
Meleri is Chief Officer of Partneriaeth Ogwen. During the last four years, she has managed large scale projects including a local book and craft store and the community asset transfer of Bethesda library. She also led on the development of Ynni Ogwen community hydro scheme – one of Wales’ community energy success stories.
She is also working in partnership with numerous environmental organisations locally to develop the ‘Dyffryn Gwyrdd’ vision which brings together economic, environmental, social and cultural sustainability action together. The new Dyffryn Gwyrdd partnership has just submitted a 500k bid to the Rural Lottery to tackle fuel poverty, transport poverty and rural isolation through environmental action. Even if this bid is not successful, Meleri has a clear vision of bringing the community together to collectively tackle climate change.
Paul Allen – Centre for Alternative Technology
Winner of the Special Recognition Award 2019
Paul Allen has been a leading light across Wales for his work in sustainability for over 30 years, most recently through his leadership of CAT’s Zero Carbon Britain initiative which he’s guided since 2007. Rather than just highlighting the scale and impacts of climate change, Paul has worked tirelessly to bring about long term, active and positive responses to what is now termed the ‘climate emergency’.
Paul brings diverse groups together within a supportive collaborative space, and has delivered numerous publications and public events that benefit communities across the world.
Sarah Williams, Director of Regulation – Wales & West Utilities
Headline sponsor of Sustainable Academy Awards
Sarah started work in the energy industry at 18 before joining Wales & West Utilities in 2005. With over 20 years’ experience in a range of operational and managerial roles, she most recently played a lead role in the development of our Business Plan for 2021-2026, which will see us invest £400m to deliver a Net Zero ready gas network by 2035 while looking after the most vulnerable in communities across Wales and south west England. Sarah is a Management Associate member of IGEM, an executive coach and mentor. As Director of Regulation, she works closely with our regulator, Ofgem, and is responsible for the reporting of our delivery for customers and communities.