Governance

NEY Net Zero Hub Board

The Net Zero Hub is governed by its Board, which is made up of representatives of each of the Hub’s partner Combined Authorities and LEPs and is Chaired by Tees Valley Combined Authority as the host authority. There is also representation from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as the Hub’s funder and 4 Advisory Members with specific technical and commercial expertise. The Board meets every two months to oversee Hub delivery, agree strategic priorities and make decisions on resource allocations.

You can find out more about the Hub’s Board members, and access their contact details and registers of interest, below.

Chris Rowell

Tees Valley Combined Authority

Chris is the Head of Net Zero at Tees Valley Combined Authority, leading on Tees Valley’s support for the industrial cluster, decarbonisation, clean energy, housing retrofit, and innovation. He has had a varied career covering mechanical engineering in the renewable energy and automation sectors, software, communications, and public policy. He was most recently an advisor to the Tees Valley Mayor. In this role he led on the development of the Tees Valley’s Freeport policy, and led the region’s bid to create the UK’s first and largest Freeport.

Chris chairs the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub board, working with the Hub Manager and team on a daily basis.

Katie Thomas

York and North Yorkshire LEP

Katie is the Senior Strategy Manager for Low Carbon and Environment at the York and North Yorkshire LEP. This includes leading on the thematic areas energy decarbonisation, moving towards a circular economy and enhancing natural capital. Katie’s recent work includes leading the development of York and North Yorkshire’s Routemap to Carbon Negative, and she has previously led the development of the sub-region’s Local Energy Strategy and Circular Economy Strategy.

Previous experience includes leading the ambitious circular economy programme in Peterborough, which aspired to create the UK’s first circular city.

Katie represents the York and North Yorkshire LEP on the Net Zero Hub board.

Noel Collings

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

Noel is the Head of Net Zero and Energy at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Noel leads the team working on the development and delivery of programmes and projects that contribute to achieving the West Yorkshire target to be net zero carbon by 2038. He is a sustainability expert with over 15 years’ practical experience of delivering carbon reduction, energy and environmental management, climate change and sustainability within local, regional and national government. Noel represents the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on the Net Zero Hub Board.

Teresa Chalmers

Hull and East Yorkshire LEP

Teresa Chalmers is the Chief Operating Officer of the LEP, being the LEP’s senior officer, and reporting to the HEY LEP Board. Teresa’s responsibilities include the delivery of the LEP’s long term strategic direction for economic growth of the region, the planning and development of strategic partnerships based on the insight of changing economic and policy environments and the overall leadership of the LEP team.

Prior to working at the Humber LEP as Exec. Director of Employment and Skills for seven years, Teresa had over 25 years working in education, training and business environments.

Maggie Bosanquet

Durham County Council

Maggie Bosanquet is the Low Carbon Economy Team Leader at Durham County Council where she leads a team managing the County-wide response to the climate emergency and net zero targets. This includes a multi-million pound electric vehicle charging infrastructure programme, whole building retrofits and renewable energy installations, energy and carbon monitoring and reporting, a programme of support for businesses, schools and community groups and a major focus on energy master planning and sustainable heat.

She leads a high level, strategic net zero partnership across the County and is actively involved in a range of knowledge sharing partnerships with local authorities and other net zero partners at local, regional and international level. Maggie sits on various boards and committees and in 2022 she was awarded an Honorary PhD (Doctorate of Science) for her work by Durham University.

Anda Baumerte

West Yorkshire Police

Anda is the Sustainability Manager at West Yorkshire Police, where she spearheads the strategic approach to sustainability and carbon reduction. Anda has more than 10 years of experience in climate and energy policy across public, private, and voluntary sectors.

Her past roles include positions in the civil service, research, consultancy, NGOs, and regulated utilities. Prior to joining the police, Anda worked in the policy team at Northern Powergrid, where she carried out an extensive stakeholder consultation on regional decarbonisation plans & priorities and led an award-nominated capacity-building programme for community energy organisations.

As an advisory member of Hub's Board, she brings expertise in decarbonisation of heat, transport, and local energy, as well as strategy development and stakeholder engagement.

Debbie Trebilco

Yorkshire and Humber Climate Coalition

Dr Debbie Trebilco is a scientist who has spent 30 years in private sector business, including eight years in the USA where she was Chief Executive of a global electronic materials company. Since returning to the UK, she has focussed on energy transition and climate change amelioration.

Debbie served on the North Yorkshire Rural Commission and North York Moors NP Trust. She is currently working with the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission's Land, (Water, Food and Farming panel) and also various Community Energy groups. She is a foundation member of Whitby Esk Energy, a community owned Hydroelectric generator on the River Esk, and is accountable for commercial negotiations.

Melanie Taylor

Just Strategy

Melanie is the Founder of Just Strategy, a Yorkshire based consultancy focussing on place-based, customer-centric net zero transitions. She’s a specialist in designing fair and inclusive sustainability strategy, services and customer journeys; incorporating customer insight and engagement, participatory governance, and customer experience optimisation.

Melanie draws on over 17 years of experience in leading energy and climate change programmes across the public sector and industry. Her career started in Local Government, where she led Climate Change and Energy for West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Subsequently, at KPMG, Melanie supported public sector clients to design and deliver complex and politically sensitive change programmes. Working in the utilities sector, she led Stakeholder Relations for Northern Gas Networks, and directed pioneering sector projects including the first Green Retail Bond and Customer Experience for Redcar Hydrogen Community.

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