The Big Zero Show is where you need to be if instead of talking, you want to take action when it comes to reducing your organisation’s carbon emissions. We will help you take steps to net zero right now, with solutions, products, information and advice, to start cutting your carbon effectively and cost efficiently.
Listen to thought leaders, speak to energy experts and peers, watch and learn from fellow business-people at the Big Zero Show. Your pathway to a net zero future starts here with a packed day of learning, listening and networking face to face!
Watch out as we announce speakers and sessions in the coming weeks. Our Big Zero Lectures and Pathway to Net Zero talks will be invaluable.
Senior Net Zero Consultant, Centrica Business Solutions
Luke is a Senior Net Zero Consultant in Centrica Business Solutions, he advises business on how to achieve net zero by building credible pathways to decarbonise their operations in line with their ambitions. Luke has over a decade over experience in the energy industry across a range of disciplines, including corporate energy supply, demand side response, optimisation, and onsite generation. Luke is a Chartered Engineer and holds a PhD in mechanical engineering.
Director of Estates and Sustainability, Dumfries and Galloway College
Billy Currie has been with Dumfries and Galloway College since May 2016, initially as Facilities Manager and now as Director of Estates and Sustainability. He has worked in a variety of roles across both the Public and Private sector since qualifying as an electrician, via D&G College, 20 years ago.
Billy has a passion for climate change matters, working not only on the Colleges net zero ambitions but working with partners on the wider net zero agenda. Having previously worked on environmental and energy management Billy provides a rounded insight into the impact of climate change and measures that can be taken to make organisations more carbon efficient.
Commercial Banking COO, NatWest Group
Solange Chamberlain is the Chief Operating Officer of NatWest Group’s Commercial Banking business. She leads Commercial’s Strategy and Balance Sheet Management, as well as its Digital, Learning & Transformation programmes. In addition to being the Executive sponsor for Commercial’s response to climate change, helping to drive the transition of the business and its customers to a low carbon economy, Solange is also on the board of the Group’s RBSI business.
Solange joined the NatWest in December 2019 from Lloyds Banking Group, where she held various roles in Corporate Development, Treasury, Insurance and Commercial Banking. During that time, she played a leading role in simplifying the group and supporting their return to private ownership. Solange has also previously spent time at Citigroup, Lazard and Perella Weinberg, advising financial institutions.
She takes an active role in driving equality and inclusion initiatives across the organisations she has worked, and is involved in a number of initiatives including mentoring and industry forums. Originally from France, Solange attained a 1st class honours degree in Mathematics from Imperial College London. She lives in London, and is married with two daughters.
Head of Climate Change, NatWest Group
James has spent his career working at the interface of the public and private sectors with a focus on mobilising finance. He is now committed to working on some of the most challenging global issues focusing on sustainable development and climate change. He is currently the head of climate change at NatWest Group supporting the implementation of the bank’s purpose-led strategy which includes the role of principal sponsor of CoP26. He is also a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Advisory Group for the ICAEW and a trustee for the Trust for Sustainable Living. Prior to this role, he was the head of the circular economy programme for London.
Before returning to the UK, James spent 5 years in Washington, D.C. as the Director for Climate Change at the World Bank. Prior to joining the World Bank, he was a partner in the Corporate Finance Practice of the accounting firm, EY and also worked for HM Treasury. James has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Durham and is a member of the Institute of Chartered accountants of England and Wales.
Energy Insights Channel Manager UKI + EMEA, Centrica Business Solutions
With nearly 25 years of experience within the IT sector, Mike has a reputation for building technology brands across the UK and EMEA. He's now bringing this experience to the energy sector, helping organisations harness the data-driven approach that's critical to reaching net zero. Using a combination of channel engagement and development initiatives, he continues to build a substantial technology division within Centrica Business Solutions.
Head of Sustainability, TalkTalk
Will is Head of Sustainability at TalkTalk Will and is responsible for driving the sustainability agenda within TalkTalk, a value provider of fixed line TV, mobile and broadband in the UK. Prior to the role, Will has over 17 years’ experience in building strong commercial partnerships across the TV, Film, Technology and Telecoms sectors.
Managing Director, Crystal Doors
Richard Hagan began racing to net zero since 2015, supported by the Growth Hub, and learning of Industry 4.0 from a visit to Siemens. Worried that large companies with billions to invest will soon become too competitive and took immediate action to learn and implemented saving money and planet. 2021 won the Queens Award for Sustainable Enterprise, edie.net SME business of the year and many other awards.
Last November Crystal Doors company achieved net zero for all three scopes, and now evidencing live data with monthly net zero reporting. Richard’s lifestyle keeps his personal carbon footprint under four tons, yet as a millionaire believes that the wealthiest have the most responsibility. His chapter in the recently published “Green Manufacturing” book is titled small can be radical.
Having closed suppliers accounts last year, all customers and stakeholders must first evidence a net zero pledge and strategy before doing business.
Group Head of Energy, Tesco PLC
Anna is a Chartered Engineer and holds an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) focussed on bridging the gap between design and operational energy performance of non-domestic buildings. Anna is leading the energy management strategy for Tesco to cost-effectively reduce the retailer’s operational energy consumption and spend. She played a pivotal role in shaping the Tesco’s Science Based Carbon targets as well as its underlying Renewable Energy Roadmap, which will see Tesco run off 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
Carbon Reduction Lead, BAM UK&I
Sarah is the Carbon Reduction Lead at BAM UK and Ireland – an operating division of Royal BAM group which is a large multi-national construction firm undertaking large civil engineering and construction projects across the globe. Sarah started her career as a trade operative with a small house builder before moving into a site engineering role where she completed a HND in civil engineering. She then progressed into an environmental adviser role for the Crossrail project after which she became the energy manager looking after all of BAM’s interests with regards to energy management. In 2020 she was promoted to Carbon Reduction Lead for the Civils segment of the division but has quickly expanded the role across the whole UK&I division. In this position, Sarah is leveraging her diverse background and knowledge of construction processes to drive carbon reduction on a much bigger scale and has been a key figure in leading the companies decarbonization strategy.
She has successfully completed Levels 1 and 2 of the energy institutes energy management courses and has picked up several awards and short-listings including Highly commended Energy Champion, Energy Manager Finalist and 2 further shortlistings for the women in engineering in 2019 and 2020. Besides her technical competencies, she is also a passionate diversity and inclusion ambassador helping to break down bias and championing equality throughout her day to day activities. This also extends to her participation as a STEM ambassador in which she engages with young people to stimulate interest in STEM industries.
Group Director of Sustainability, Drax
Alan has over 30 years’ experience of working with global companies and governments on sustainability. In April 2021 he joined Drax as the Group Director of Sustainability. Drax’s ambition is to be the world’s first carbon negative power station and is the largest producer of biomass for energy.
Prior to that, for seven years was in the steel and mining sectors as the Global Head of Sustainable Development for ArcelorMittal. He was Co-chairman of Responsible Steel and served on the steering board of the Initiative for Responsible Mining. Alan created and chaired the Ebola Private Sector Mobilisation Group, which was a collaboration of over 100 companies sharing best practice and coordinating the corporate response to Ebola in West Africa. For this he was made a Clinton Global Citizen honouree in 2015.
Previous to that Alan was the Sustainability Director for Business and the Community (BITC) where he oversaw all their Corporate Sustainability Programmes. He advised the Virgin Group on sustainable development for seven years. Previously he has worked with global companies as diverse as B&Q where he led their entire Sustainability programme for 10 years. He was instrumental in founding and developing the Forest Stewardship Council. He held similar roles in the Parent company Kingfisher and SABMiller, the multibillion brewery company.
For nine years he was a commissioner of the Sustainable Development Commission and introduced the concept of "choice editing" into the product policy debate. He was awarded an OBE in June 1998, in 2005 the US-based Rainforest Alliance presented him with a lifelong award and in 2013 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Society for the Environment.
Managing Director, eEnergy
Delvin has over 25 years of experience in the energy sector having worked for some of the UK’s largest utility companies. Among other roles Delvin has previously been Head of Energy Services for EDF, supporting their customers in delivering cash and carbon savings, and CEO of Anesco, an energy efficiency solutions company. He was CEO of Utility Team from 2019 until it was acquired by eEnergy in September 2021 when he assumed responsibility for the enlarged Energy Management division.
Net Zero Neighbourhood Delivery Manager, West Midlands Combined Authority
Rebecca is currently Net Zero Neighbourhood Delivery Manager in the Energy Capital team at West Midlands Combined Authority. She is working in collaboration with partners across the public and private sector to invest £2m into Net Zero Neighbourhoods projects across the West Midlands, focusing on creating a place-based delivery model for supporting communities to transition to Net Zero.
Previously, Rebecca worked at Energy Systems Catapult across several roles, identifying new commercial innovation opportunities in the energy sector, most notably developing a framework to understand the commercial opportunity of Smart Local Energy Systems.
Energy & Sustainability Lead, Coventry Building Society
Sophie is a passionate environmental professional with over 8 year’s experience in the energy & sustainability sector working for large corporate organisations.
She feels passionate that we all have a part to play because climate change is a global problem affecting each & every one of us. We are all so much more aware of the Climate crisis now than ever before & most of us are taking small actions to help. But businesses also need rise to the challenge by embedding sustainability into their business model.
Sophie leads the Sustainability agenda at Coventry Building Society, developing their decarbonisation roadmap to Net Zero by 2040. During 2021, she delivered their Carbon Neutral & Net Zero targets for Scope 1 & 2 emissions.
Business Development Director, SSE Energy Solutions
Oliver is responsible for the development and delivery of products and services to support SSE’s customers in the transition to net zero. This ranges from the purchasing of renewable electricity; to the deployment, management and optimisation of low-carbon infrastructure.
Director of Policy and Market Analysis, The DCC
Tom is an environmental geologist turned Utilities professional who, around 30 years ago, turned his back on the glamourous world of tax inspecting to dedicate himself to a career in gas, electricity, water and more recently returning to gas with Cadent. Having held a wide variety of roles in different sectors of the industry, Tom’s career has been primarily focussed on transforming businesses, expanding markets and leading the operational delivery to transform the end customer’s experience. As Director of Net Zero Delivery for Cadent Gas he is responsible for delivering their energy transition from fossil gas to blended and 100% hydrogen.
Having previously been responsible for the delivery of customer connections in gas, electricity and water, for over 20 years, he has a wealth of experience of the challenges in balancing regulatory and business performance with the delivery of customer expectations - “There are few parts of the sector where keeping a customer promise is harder”
Tom is also an enthusiastic technologist and founder and co-director of Ionyx Innovation, a technology start-up that designs and delivers niche technology solutions and digital brand consultancy focussed on using ‘human-mimicking’ technology to radically improving customer experience - “nothing tells you more about what is important to in a customer’s experience than trying to get machines to act like humans so they can deliver it”
Away from work, when not socialising with family and friends, Tom can be found on the hills, on twisty country roads on his motorbike or watching Formula 1.
Head of Flexibility, Octopus Energy
Alex Schoch leads the Flexibility team at Octopus Energy focused on developing and bringing to market next generation products and underlying technologies spanning from utility scale generation and to consumer demand. His role is pivotal in shaping the future of the environment by utilising green tech to decarbonise industries as well as domestic homes.
Throughout his career, Alex has worked has taken him across continents, and a number of industries, gaining specialist experience in growing and scaling transformative sustainable businesses. Notably, Alex oversaw the introduction of the Model S for Tesla across 10 markets, and established the EMEA Energy business for the now global green-forward business.
CEO, eEnergy
Harvey is CEO and founder of eEnergy and a proven entrepreneur, who has created number of successful businesses over the last 15 years across a variety of different sectors; Software, Internet, ecommerce and Hospitality. Harvey’s journey in the energy sector began when he co-founded energy efficiency company eLight in 2012. He then created eEnergy with the acquisition of energy management business Beond. Harvey has led the growth of eEnergy and it’s range of services through the addition of MY ZeERO, Utility Team and the launch of eCharge.
Electric Vehicle Consultant, Gemserv
Murray works closely with key businesses and technologies across the EV landscape, bringing together technology to create a great charging eco-system. With experience working for Siemens mobility and now Gemserv, he brings a wealth of insights from the mobility sector, gained from using a holistic approach in delivering PMR projects and research. He is driven in supporting the transition to low carbon mobility employing a collaborative approach.
Technical Director, NFU Energy
Since 2005, Jon Swain has been involved in all areas of NFU Energy, with expertise in technical consultancy, renewable energy and energy scheme compliance. In recent years Jon has consulted on all manner of renewables projects, especially in AD, biomass heating and CHP.
Co-Founder, Green Salon Collective
We throw out used foils and colour tubes in the regular bin given they mostly can't be recycled. We use more plastic and paper than the other shops on the high street. We even throw valuable hair cuttings into the bin.
Green Salon Collective is here to change all this!!!
Founded by environmental experts, hairdressers and eco campaigners, we are the original authority on holistic sustainability throughout the UK and EU.
Senior Solutions Engineering Manager, Geotab UK
Abhinav has spent over a decade working in R&D with OEMs, bringing with him a wealth of experience in understanding the value vehicle data gives to understanding the complexities of automotive transportation. This experience transferred naturally into telematics, where he now leads a team of subject matter experts focused on further innovating and enhancing Geotab’s solutions, and consulting on the optimum and ideal use of the Geotab Ecosystem.
Head of Strategy, Innovation & Sustainability, SSE Energy Solutions
Lamé tackles some of the big strategic questions for SSE’s customer businesses, driving the innovation and sustainability agenda.
A Fellow of the Energy Institute (FEI), Lamé has over 22 years of experience working across the energy industry value chain in several geographies. In addition to holding several instrumental positions at multinationals, she founded Alaric & Associates and co-founded ScanTech International.
Lamé won an ALLY Energy GRIT Award in 2021, as well as making Africa Oil Week and Lean In Energy’s Power List, Transition Economist’s TE100, and African Shapers’ 100 Female Executives.
CV6 6GE
Situated in the heart of the UK the Coventry Building Society Arena is within two-hour drive of 75% of the population. Easy access makes the Arena an ideal destination. With three train stations within 8 miles, Birmingham International Airport only a 20 minute drive away, and London Euston 55 minutes by train. The Arena also has its own on-site railway station.
If you’re travelling by car, Coventry Building Society Arena is just 800 yards from Junction 3 of the M6 and within easy distance of the M1 and M40.