Richard Watson OBE

Richard is the co-founder and director of Energise Sussex Coast. He was awarded the OBE in 2016 for services to the community of Sussex. Previously he worked at the Environmental Change Institute in Oxford. He is a director of the Schools Energy Co-op and Community Energy South.

Kate Meakin

Kate is an Executive Director at Energise Sussex Coast and a qualified Retrofit Advisor. She manages the operations and projects for Energise Sussex Coast, including the award winning energy advice service which helps many hundreds of residents save energy and bring their bills down each year. Kate has a background in environmental and social justice campaigns and has worked for Oxfam, Sustrans and Fair Trade Wales.

Mike Smyth MBE

Mike is a solicitor who lives in Milford, Surrey. He is the volunteer Chair of Energy4All, Wey Valley Solar Schools Energy Co-operative and The Schools Energy Co-operative. Previously he was a partner of Lawrence Graham, a major London based firm of solicitors, for more than 20 years, specialising in corporate and commercial law. He chaired Friends of the Earth Trust until 2012.

 

Richard Oaten

Richard is a local architect, based in the Old Town, Hastings. RIBA qualified for 25 years he has worked overseas, in London and the south-east as well as locally and has been involved with a large number of buildings requiring PVs, MVHR systems and low carbon developments. Richard also has an MSc (Dist) in Advanced Environmental and Energy studies from UEL and has a particular interest in sustainable design and finding new uses for redundant buildings.

Annette Heslop MBE

Annette is the Finance Director of Energy4All and has been working in the renewables industry for 20 years. She is a director of High Winds Community Energy Society & Arrochar Community Hydro Society. Annette is responsible for the professional management and administration of all the Energy4All co-ops and as finance director she leads on financial control, modelling, costing,  projections, banking and treasury. Annette acts as the Company Secretary and serves as a trustee of the Baywind Energy Community Fund.

 

Richard Fay

Richard was the Estates Support Manager at the University of Brighton Academies Trust.  He contacted the Society and other energy co-operatives to install and commission solar panels across 9 academies in East and West Sussex. Energise South installed at Baird academy, The Hastings Academy, The St Leonard's Academy, Churchwood Primary Academy and Dudley Infant Academy. He is a green minded person and always looking at how best to reduce emissions and lowering the carbon footprint of buildings. He is now a Facilities Manager for the National Trust.