Team
Steve Howell - Board Director/ Secretary
Steve has extensive experience of project development and management in area-based regeneration schemes with a focus on community development and cross-sector multi-agency partnership development. He is a director of two social enterprises, a lead consultant for a co-operative development agency and runs his own consultancy business.
Rob Ewers - Community Outreach (staff)
Rob spent 5 years at world-leading policy institute Chatham House, and has had roles in communications, politics, research, projects, events, and programme management. He is now a Director and Board Member for several community organisations focused on financial inclusion and social justice, and works as a Consultant for Social Enterprise."
Alan Debenham - Board Director
Alan is a retired maths teacher with extensive local political experience having served as a district councillor for over two decades, and as a parish councillor. Alan is a champion of those in need, with an interest in social housing and a committed environmentalist. Alan is the founder member of the Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust (SCCLT).
Denise Godinho - Board Director
Denise has extensive experience in the non-profit sector and has led multi-functional communications teams at international, environmental NGOs. Denise's areas of expertise include business strategy, governance, event management, income generation, stakeholder engagement and marketing.
Landa Love - Board Director
Landa Love, PhD, is a communications strategist and CSR consultant with over 20 years of experience. She serves on the Group Housing Board for Sanctuary Housing and is a Chartered Institute of Marketing Fellow.
Lawrence Creasey - Board Director
Lawrence brings significant expertise in mentoring people and management of sustainability-focused businesses. As a Rolls-Royce programme manager, he leads complex projects with precision, including strategic budget control and resource management. His experience spans community development, cross-sector collaboration, and nurturing impactful ventures that prioritise environmental and social resilience.
Neil Pomroy - Board Director
Neil has a background in systems engineering research and strategy development. He held responsibility for software development and IT across the UK, Eire and Africa. He subsequently acted as consultant to IT Directors of large public sector organisations adopting commercial practice and gained appreciation of sustainability benefits leading activities around physical asset management of railways and power stations.
Nick Harris - Board Director
Nick is an experienced sustainable finance professional, skilled at strategy, product and proposition development. He has extensive experience working in financial services organisations, consultancy and startup businesses. A contributor to industry initiatives and government, Nick has led green finance technical assistance and knowledge transfer programmes.
Terry McGivern - Board Director
Terry has 40+ years’ business management experience in private and social enterprise - including general management, finance/funding, exhibition/events management and sustainability/eco innovation. Focused over the last decade on sustainable housing/building and renewable energy sectors, particularly social/community projects, Terry is Chairman of UK Community Works CIC.
Andrea Della Corte - Associate Board
Andrea is a hands-on engineering leader with extensive experience in early-stage technology, operationalising product-market fit, and optimising lean engineering teams to achieve rapid market validation. He has a proven track record in driving efficient execution under tight resource constraints and building robust MVPs that validate customer needs and catalyse funding rounds.
Ben Evans - Associate Board
Following a masters in Climate Change Science and Policy, Ben has over five years of experience as an analyst in solar in the South West. Mainly working on commercial ground mount schemes, he has worked with varied stakeholders and has taken a particular focus on community energy schemes and projects.
Dave Farebrother - Associate Board
Dave is a Chartered Engineer and Environmentalist, recently retired after more than 35 years working in the commercial property sector as an Energy Manager and Sustainability Manager, with a focus on energy efficiency and low carbon buildings. Dave was the IEMA Environment Manager of the Year in 2007 and in 2024 he was named Sustainability Champion for the UK sports sector in the BASIS awards. Dave have also lectured in energy management at South Bank University.
Kara Ali - Associate Board
Kara is an experienced ESG professional with a background in environmental science. Working in energy management, sustainability and corporate governance, Kara focuses on developing long-term sustainability and responsible business practices.
Matthew Baker - Associate Board
Matthew is a Head of Partnerships with 20 years of experience helping companies build strategic alliances and accelerate revenue growth. Matthew specialises in driving impactful partnerships for Marketing Agencies, and Seed to Series A Climate-Tech startups, using his expertise to scale businesses and generate 7-figure ARR.
Rhys Jones - Associate Board
Rhys is an experienced Net Zero professional with a background in project management. He has worked across the private, public and third-sectors bringing an understanding of how different organisations need to transform and operate to become more sustainable.
Dr Perihan Abdelghaly - Associate Board
Perihan is a Sustainable Finance and ESG expert with over 18 years of experience across banking, finance, and consulting in the UK, Middle East, and GCC. She specialises in advancing sustainable finance practices, enhancing ESG maturity, and supporting institutions in aligning with global standards.
Roohollah Taherkhani - Associate Board
Roohollah is a Senior Researcher and Assistant Professor specialising in sustainability and construction management. With over a decade of experience, he has authored 70+ publications, led global research collaborations, and consulted within the construction industry. He is a dedicated leader, advancing sustainable practices through teaching, consulting, and innovative interdisciplinary research.
Scott Pileckas - Associate Board
Scott brings nearly three decades of dedicated service across public and nonprofit sectors. An experienced project leader and youth advocate, he’s committed to supporting vulnerable communities through roles in crisis counselling, social justice, and community development, currently serving on the Child Poverty Commission and as a Citizens Advice veteran advisor.
