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Chris Bridgman
Chris Bridgman is a specialist in green roof design, installation, maintenance and training. His portfolio includes the construction of the largest turf roof in Europe and a world-first, fully removable/convertible green roof. Working on a range of projects, from small-scale domestic schemes and community engagement programmes to major commercial infrastructure projects, his work has been recognised with multiple UK and international awards.
Chris was the first NVQ-qualified green roof installer in Europe before going on to lead the creation of a green roof training qualification suite in the UK. He is vice-chair and executive director of GRO – the Green Roof Organisation (UK trade association) and Founder of World Green Roof Day.
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Howard Duff
Howard Duff has worked for Enterprise Rent A Car since 2000, and has held several roles during this time, both operationally and in sales. He is currently Head of Public Sector responsible for the London, South East and East Anglia regions. His main role is to work in partnership with the Public Sector on how to achieve their own travel and transportation goals, whilst also supporting Local Authorities with various initiatives that have the primary objectives of improving air quality and reducing congestion. Howard represents all of Enterprise Holdings brands including but not limited to; Rent A Car, Car Club, Flex E Rent, Accident Management, International and Exotics.
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Jo Williamson
Jo Joined NEF earlier this year and has extensive experience in sustainability. She is now working on two of the Milton Keynes Green Recovery fund projects: one is to enable building professionals to train up and be a part of the green retrofit agenda, and the other is creating a series of online training courses and webinars aimed at businesses who wish to be part of the “race to Zero”.
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Lewis Knight
After joining Bioregional in 2013 Lewis worked on the UK's first Eco Town development, NW Bicester, helping to deliver its sustainability aspirations using the One Planet Living Framework. He has helped to deliver a range of environmental projects across the wider town of Bicester and is currently a long-standing director of Bicester Green, a thriving reuse and sustainability centre.
Lewis has helped to lead the delivery of One Planet Oxfordshire, a county-wide vision for a truly sustainable future and Oxfordshire Greentech, a business network for the low carbon future.
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Liam Ronan-Chlond
Prior to joining the company, Liam worked for an MP in Manchester, followed by senior policy roles at Sheffield, Brighton and Camden Councils.
He leads on engagement and social value, ensuring that we reach communities and stakeholders in the towns and cities that we work and delivering on our commitment to deliver long term positive impact.
Liam’s role covers the direction and monitoring of social value programmes, political and stakeholder engagement, public consultation and communications across all projects.
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Professor Matthew Cook
Prior to academic life, Matthew worked for 11 years as a professional spatial planner specialising in urban regeneration and sustainability. He returned to university in 1999 as Research Assistant on a UK Government funded project and completed a doctorate in Innovation and Sustainability. Following an appointment as Lecturer at Cranfield University in 2003, Matthew joined the Open University in 2009 where he is now Professor of Innovation and leads the Future Urban Environments research team and Technology and Innovation Management qualification.
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Professor Nicholas Braithwaite
Professor Nicholas Braithwaite is Executive Dean, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at The Open University. Since joining as a lecturer in 1987, Nicholas has held various offices including periods as Head of Materials Engineering, Head of Physics and Astronomy, Director of the Centre for STEM Pedagogy, Director of the OpenSTEM Labs and Associate Dean for Academic Excellence. Nicholas was promoted to Professor in Engineering Physics in 2002 on the strength of his international research profile in plasma science together with his record of contributions to the teaching of topics in electrical engineering. In 2021, he became executive sponsor for sustainability overseeing the University’s whole institutional approach.
Nicholas will talk about The Open University vision for sustainability – opportunities for collaboration
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Paolo Barnaba
Paolo Barnaba works as a project manager at the European Relations Unit of the Province of Treviso (Italy). He has managed European projects tackling different fields such as energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, culture and digitalization, in different EU Programmes (Interreg Europe, Central Europe, Interreg Med, Italy-Slovenia, Italy-Austria etc.). Over the last few years he has focussed on projects dealing with CO2 reduction, energy efficiency and community engagement, collaborating with schools and municipalities. In particular, he has been involved in the INTENSIFY project (Interreg Europe), in the Together Project (Central Europe) and in the EduFootprint Project (Interreg MED).
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Samuel Griggs
Samuel Griggs is the Energy Manager at The Open University. He has worked in public sector sustainability for over 20 years on carbon reduction, energy efficiency, building performance and sustainable resource management. He is finalising the University’s Roadmap to Net Zero – which will achieve net zero in 2030 for Scope 1 and 2 emissions and currently net zero by 2050 for Scope 3 emissions.
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Shane Downer
Shane Downer has been at Milton-Keynes Council since 2003, working on its strategic heritage and international programme. His role has changed much and currently he works with and supports partners and networks at local, regional, and national level to deliver projects for residents, workers, and visitors to MK.
As Milton Keynes is set to almost double in population over the next thirty years, Shane supports major heritage building projects including a new City Museum, City Archive, and refurbishment of other heritage sites. The Creative and Cultural Strategy ‘Design City’ Programme is his other major work, bringing to the fore projects that celebrate the international significance of MK as the largest designed new town in Europe and ensuring a value and relevance for future planning and delivery.
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Sophie Lloyd
Sophie is the Strategic Lead for Economy and Policy at Milton Keynes Council, and heads up the Invest MK Economic Development team.
Since joining the Council in 2014, Sophie has held a number of strategic roles including in Corporate Policy and on the MK Futures 2050 programme.
Invest MK is currently leading delivery of the Council’s £3 million Economic Recovery Plan, which includes a £500k Green Business Recovery Fund focussed on building back greener from Covid-19.
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Tristan Allen
Tristan Allen puts consumers solutions at the heart his businesses and his mantra is to ‘question everything’. This led him to ‘mobility’ and most recently to the eBike and eCargo bike segment.
Believing that “If people can see how a bike can transform their behaviours, they’ll transform their behaviours” he now works within the cycling industry with his own outlet at Fully Charged Silverstone, part of the www.fullycharged.com brand.