Team – Community Energy London

DIRECTORS

Syed AhmedChair

Syed has close to 20 years working in the sustainable energy industry, in a wide variety of roles and organisations ranging from Friends of the Earth, the Combined Heat and Power Association, the Greater London Authority, Arup, and as a director of a trade association working in the insulation sector.

Syed established Energy for London, an independent think tank supporting London’s progress to becoming a low-carbon city. In 2014, he was seconded into the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) undertaking a review of linkages across the Government’s demand side policies. He is also a Director of the Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group (PRASEG), a Trustee for national fuel poverty organisation National Energy Action (NEA), and a policy advisor to the Green Gas Certification Scheme. In 2015 he produced a report on the opportunities for green infrastructure investment in cities for the Green Investment Bank.

To find out more about Energy For London visit: www.energyforlondon.org

Sydney CharlesSecretary

Sydney was very involved with the formation of CEL, working on the admin and website etc. She has been the Secretary of CEL since November 2017 and brings her experience of the en10ergy solar projects and HSSL projects into CEL events and strategy. Her passion for a Green New Deal has been overtaken by a passion for a green recovery from the pandemic and she responds to consultations on UK energy with this in mind, particularly Community involvement.

There are some signs that the powers that be are thinking about ‘Building Back Better’, though the messages are far from clear or adequate. Members of CEL have vital knowledge and experience of working with people in their areas on renewable energy and energy efficient homes. Sydney plans on helping to grow the Community Energy sector in London and influencing actions to enable the sector to thrive.

Tanuja PanditTreasurer

Tanuja joined the Community Energy London (CEL) board in June 2020 as the Treasurer. Tanuja has worked in the commercial sector in finance and general management, with Ford Motor Company, Deloitte, General Electric, Diageo and the BBC. Tanuja also led the International Business Leaders Forum, a charity focused on corporate social responsibility, and was the COO of the Start Network, a humanitarian NGO.

Tanuja moved into environmental sustainability work in 2016, initially running a household sustainability project as a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She joined Power Up North London in 2017 and helps to deliver its renewable energy projects.

Tanuja sees CEL as a catalyst in the decarbonisation of the UK at a time when there is greater appreciation of the climate emergency and of the power of communities to help address climate change.

Nadia SmithDirector

Nadia joined as a Director of Community Energy London (CEL) in July 2021. Nadia has worked in the renewable energy sector on a variety of projects including large scale community solar projects and exploring avenues for community energy to scale up in the urban and sub-urban environment. She has a keen understanding of wider renewable energy policy as well as practical project development and policy knowledge on solar, domestic retrofit and energy efficiency schemes for community buildings.

Nadia is also a Director for South East London Community Energy (SELCE) as well as a Project Manager for their on Sustainable Futures Project which supports schools and community buildings to transition to Solar PV & LED lighting. Nadia is keen for CEL to facilitate further collaboration and sharing learning between exiting community energy enterprises as well as supporting the development of new groups. Nadia would also like to encourage the integration of community energy into local authority climate action plans and engage local authority stakeholders further, to enable a stable policy environment for community energy enterprises going forwards.

Victoria WardDirector

One of three Directors and the community representative for Aldgate Solar Power, an exciting new Solar project supported by Repowering and the pilot for the first of many community energy projects in the City of London.
Victoria has BA(Hons) Physics from the University of Oxford, 13 years’ experience working with non-profit organisations and has strong business development and networking skills. She is currently leading operations with a community initiative to match volunteers with causes during the Covid crisis.
Passionate about a green recovery. We have the technology for a greener and more sustainable way to live. It’s time to put more of these solutions into action.
Excited to have joined the board of Community Energy London, to support the growth of CEL, inspire and encourage others to take on a range of energy projects, raise awareness and contribute to the fight against the global climate crisis at a local level.

Hannah ShortDirector

Hannah has been involved in the community energy scene for a number of years, from helping to co-found the first community energy project on a University Solar SOAS, to interning at Repowering London for 3 months, to working as the Community Energy London Officer for a year. Previously she worked at SOAS Student’s Union as the Sustainability, Governance & Communications Coordinator for 2 years, supporting student environemntal campaigns. She currently works as a campaigner at Greenpeace, and has a range of experience working in different capacities across various environmental issues.

Natasha TakharDirector

STAFF

Katherine LinsleyCoordinator

Katherine joined CEL in August 2021 as the Coordinator. Her background is in the public and charity sectors in various roles. She is one of the Directors of Croydon Community Energy and an organiser for Croydon Climate Action. Katherine is passionate about climate justice and is excited to join the team and help to grow CEL’s role in London’s decarbonisation.

Jessica DunningProject Officer

Jessica is a BA Geography graduate from the University of Birmingham and a passionate advocate for clean energy, waste reduction and sustainability initiatives. Jess first got involved in Community Energy when completing an undergraduate dissertation titled ‘A Net-Zero Future: The Role and Potential of Community Energy Groups in England’. When out of the office Jess enjoys travelling, reading and hiking.

Alex HartleyFuel Poverty Coordinator

Alex has many years of experience managing sustainability initiatives at a senior level in business and the third sector. Alex has developed programs to tackle fuel poverty and energy advice programs and is an engaging speaker and facilitator. She is passionate about ensuring people are at the centre of the energy transition and believes that climate change and fuel poverty are both social justice issues and that they must be tackled together.

Lorraine HaskellProject Officer

Tim MinshallProject Officer

Dave PowisProject Officer

Mona KhaliliProject Officer