We’re a small, committed team with deep roots in Bristol and a shared belief in the power of community action

Mike is the Director of Engine Shed, the University of Bristol’s flagship innovation centre.  He works to support entrepreneurs to commercialise new technologies emerging from academic research, helping to address some of the key challenges of our time.  With a keen focus on the power of community, Mike has worked to improve access to business support and grow the diversity of the founder community in the South West.

Mike has experience as a trustee, school governor and as CEO of the University of Bristol’s subsidiary company for innovation.  He also served on the Bristol Mayor’s International Strategy Board.

Peter brings a wealth of experience from high level appointments in the telecommunications sector to the role of chair of Bristol Energy Cooperative in order to ensure good governance and set its strategic direction.

Such roles include:

• Chief Executive Director of Degree2 Innovations Limited
• Chief Executive of U4EA Limited
• Chair of the 1355 Association for over three years

Helen joined BEC in 2024 as CEO. She is a huge believer in the power of community energy to tackle the climate crisis head on by harnessing people power to shift how we generate and use energy, while making sure the benefits of that shift stay local. She is excited to join the BEC family with that mission: to help steer BEC into its next phase of growth and continue to scale up its impact for the people of Bristol and the planet.

Helen brings to BEC extensive international experience in infrastructure policy and finance. She has spent more than fifteen years working with governments and multilateral investors to deliver sustainable infrastructure: reforming policies and institutions, developing investment pipelines, and bringing bankable projects to market.

Since returning to the UK with a view to making a difference in her own community, Helen has been leading the staff team of a local Bristol MP. She has a background in strategy consulting in the UK, New Zealand, and the USA and is a graduate in Physics and Economics. Outside the office she enjoys adventuring in the great outdoors and playing with her young kids.

Naomi joined BEC having trained as an accountant on a finance graduate scheme in the energy sector, and since specialised in energy and environmental investment.  She is passionate about ‘greening’ the finance sector.  In previous roles, she supported policy development to encourage greater private investment into responding to climate change and nature degradation. Outside of work, Naomi is kept busy looking after a toddler and also enjoys art, piano and running. She is an active member of her local church.

Paul has 20 years of experience working as a renewable energy engineer and manager. He worked as a director of a worker-owned renewable energy consultancy and installation business for the last 15 years and led the installation of solar and battery systems. Paul’s expertise includes system design, modelling, installation, commissioning and maintenance.

Paul has Postgraduate qualifications in Renewable Energy Systems, and Distributed Generation and has contributed to the writing of the Codes Of Practice for PV and Battery systems. Paul’s experience includes energy efficiency and renewable energy feasibility studies for community groups looking at wind, hydro and biomass as well as solar.

As well as working in the industry Paul has been a shareholder of Bristol Energy Co-operative since 2012, has volunteered for organisations such as Greenpeace, and was on the board of Bristol Energy Network.

Bilal is an FCCA qualified accountant, having started his working life in high street banking. Graduating as a mature student, Bilal joined Chubb Electronic Security as an assistant accountant, where he ascended the professional ranks to Financial Director. He spent most of his career working for outsourcing companies, servicing both public and private sector clients. He took early retirement in 2023 from his last role as a Divisional Finance Director with oversight of a range of businesses, including incubator businesses in EV charging, property technology and renewables, with total divisional annual turnover of over £1 billion.

Bola is a transformation subject matter expert with over 20 years of proven track record in delivering complex global transformation programmes and driving improved business performance for multinational companies. She is a trusted advisor offering thought leadership, negotiating change, influencing shared outcomes in leadership teams and acting as a sounding board for executive management and boards.

A proud mum of four children; an ACCA Qualified Chartered Accountant (FCCA), MIT Certified Artificial Intelligence Strategy Professional with an ongoing Doctorate Degree in Data Science with Deep technical background with expertise in delivering strategic priorities, coordinating international teams, ensuring excellent stakeholder management, and leading complex business transformations.

She has successfully led, supported and delivered multiple Mergers; Aqusitions; Separations and business transformation programs across operations in over 70 countries in Europe, Africa, APAC, US, Canada, Australia and Middle East countries.

Sandy Ruthven MBE is the CEO of Severn Wye Energy– one of the UK’s largest charities tackling fuel poverty and climate change through our energy system. It works to support those struggling with fuel poverty through advice and retrofitting their homes.

Sandy has been a charity CEO since 2006 managing large charities supporting disadvantaged communities across the UK and is a Director of Friends of the Earth in the UK. He has been Chair of Children in Need in the South West and has held a number board positions including the Chair of Youth Action Network and VOSCUR and has been a board member of the Quartet Community Foundation.

Sandy was a founder member of the Bristol Mayor’s ‘One City’ board where he initiated the plans to reach Net Zero by 2030 and worked with business, charities, communities and local authorities to tackle a range of other environmental issues.

Jo has worked in the Energy Sector in commercial roles for over 25 years. Jo held Director level positions at npower, before moving on as an independent consultant working for both generators and suppliers. In 2015, Jo established The Energy Manager, a consultancy advising businesses on their energy and water consumption, procurement, contract management and sustainability. Jo sold The Energy Manager in March 2022 and is now spending her time between consulting, volunteering and her family.

Jo is passionate about combatting climate change and developing an affordable and sustainable energy system for all.

David is a portfolio manager for the Brunel Pension Partnership, a local government pension pool. He currently manages a number of funds within the pool, notably the Global Sustainable Equity fund.

He has over 15 years’ experience working within the Investment management industry and is CFA Charterholder.

He originally graduated university with a degree in Marine Biology and has always had a passion for environmental science. He has a focus on how the investment industry can help support the transition to a greener economy and has recently completed the Certificate in Sustainable Finance from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge.

Jessica is an experienced Director, with decades in operational delivery both in the NHS and Legal sectors. Currently she is working with the community care provider in Bristol, Sirona care and health, managing their Estates and Environmental portfolio.  She is also a Trustee for an international development charity SEED, delivering a number of programmes in South Eastern Madagascar.  She is passionate about conservation, and about delivering change to reduce our carbon impact on the planet.  She has four grown up daughters and spends her spare time dog walking, hiking and paddleboarding.  She is delighted to be joining BEC at this time and looking forward to supporting the growth and new projects that are currently planned.

A passion for renewable energy and its social as well as environmental benefits led to Kat completing an MSc in Sustainability at Leeds University, focusing on the community benefits of two wind power projects.

Kat has spent over 5 years working in research roles within energy and environmental consultancy, and also has a passion for waste prevention, volunteering with food-waste prevention charities and writing about the benefits of reusable menstrual products.

Kat joined Bristol Energy Cooperative following a career break spent travelling in Asia, which included completing yoga teacher training in India.