Coventry’s Independent Climate Change Board

Margot James - Executive Chair 

WMG, University of Warwick 

Margot is Executive Chair of WMG, responsible for the strategic direction and development of WMG, at the University of Warwick. 
Prior to joining WMG Margot served as Minister of State for Digital and the Creative Industries and Member of Parliament for Stourbridge.

Cllr Jim O'Boyle – Vice Chair 

Coventry City Council 

Jim is Coventry’s Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council. Jim was elected to Coventry City Council in 2007 and is committed to creating an environment where business and innovation can succeed in order to create jobs and spread wealth evenly across the city and wider region.

Martin Reeves  

Chief Exec, Coventry City Council 

Martin has been Chief Executive of Coventry City Council since April 2009.  He was also the Chief Executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority from March 2016 to September 2017. He had previously been with Bedfordshire County Council for three and a half years as Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Executive. 

Martin Sutherland  

Chief Exec, City of Culture 

Prior to joining the City of Culture Trust, Martin spent 10 years as the Chief Executive of Royal and Derngate theatres in Northampton. The City of Culture Trust is entering into the legacy phase with a further 2-year commitment, with all activities having a green futures focus. 

Ian Marshall  

Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Chief Operating Officer, Coventry University 

Ian is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Operating Office. Ian’s responsibilities include student recruitment and admissions, information technology services, timetabling, and marketing and external affairs. Sustainability features as part of a wider portfolio at the University. 

Chris Ennew  

Provost, University of Warwick 

Professor Christine Ennew OBE is Provost at the University of Warwick where she supports the Vice-Chancellor in the academic leadership of the University. A key aspect of her role is leading the development and delivery of the University’s academic strategy, ensuring that Warwick remains competitive and relevant within higher education and beyond. 

Clive Robinson  

Sustainable Development Manager, University Hospital Coventry 

Clive has been the Sustainable Development Manager at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust since April 2010 and the Chairman West Midlands NHS Sustainability Network since October 2014. The NHS has been on a sustainability journey for the last 15 years primarily due to the impact on the population. 

Mike Lewis - Pathway Lead, Low Emission Development working group

Chief Executive Officer, EON 

Michael has 30 years' experience in the energy industry and was responsible for pioneering E.ON's drive into renewable energy in general and offshore wind in particular. He is passionate about driving towards a zero-carbon economy and helping all customers, from residential to large businesses to cities, achieve net zero.

Chris Lovatt - Pathway Lead, Low Emission Development working group

Chief Operating Officer, EON 

Chris is E.on UK’s Chief Operating Officer for Energy Infrastructure Services, leading a team that leads on the role out of smart meters and the provision of energy efficiency measures. EON are also delivering new energy solutions such as heat pumps, solar and battery storage plus electric vehicle charging systems. 

(Anthony) Tony Evans  

Chief Executive, Sarginsons 

Tony’s worked extensively in global manufacturing and is the CE of a local Foundry. Sarginsons are a leading example of how SMEs can decarbonise and is a long-time collaborator with the local council. 

Corin Crane

Chief Executive, CW Chamber 

Ed Green - Pathway Lead, Nature Based Development working group 

Chief Executive, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) 

Ed has been the CEO of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust since May 2014 and is passionate about bringing wildlife back to Warwickshire and empowering communities to take action for nature. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is supported by over 26,000 members and over 600 volunteers.

Audrey O'Connor  

Heritage & Environment Manager, Canal and Rivers Trust 

Audrey O'Connor is the heritage advisor for the Canal and River Trust, a charity that look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways 

Neil Griffiths  

Strategic Enabler for Sustainability, West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) 

Neil has been working on opportunities through the WMFS’ extensive activities focused on prevention and protection for the City of Coventry as a Strategic Enabler for Sustainability. Its role is to work with the public and businesses to assist climate change and can support reaching the heart of the community. 

Mariama Ceesay  

Social Enterprise Programme Manager, Coventry University (CU) Social Enterprise 

Mariama has been working with Coventry University’s social enterprise for over five years. It maximises Coventry University's role as an anchor institution by finding ways of benefitting the local community and achieving true social value through social enterprise. 

Matthew Rhodes 

Director, Camirus 

Matthew has supported low carbon business for the last 20 years. Matthew is heavily involved in the LEP and the Combined Authority. He is the Chair of Energy Capital which finds better ways of working with infrastructure providers to deliver zero carbon. 

Sophie Mason  

Energy & Sustainability Lead, Coventry Building Society 

Coventry Building Society is aiming to be carbon neutral by the end of the year. CBS has worked with the council for several years, particularly on social value and they are looking forward to working collaboratively particularly supporting education and schools. 

Sarah Windrum 

Chair of the CWLEP, Coventry Warwickshire LEP 

Sarah has been a Board Director for the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) since 2016 driving the development of digital creative clusters with national and regional stakeholders. She became CWLEP Chair in April 2021 leading the public private partnership to implement the Strategic Reset Framework and transition to delivering on the Net Zero and Levelling-Up ambitions of Central Government. 

Louise Woollen  

Environment and Sustainability Manager, West Midlands Police 

Louise is relatively new to the position of the Environment and Sustainability Manager at the West Midlands Police. The West Midlands Police are keen to have an environment strategy in place and are currently engaging widely to shape the strategy with the aim to set net zero goals from a policing point of view. 

Lizzie Frost  

Carbon and Net Zero Programme Director, Severn Trent Water 

Lizzie is the Carbon and Net Zero Programme Director for Severn Trent Water. Severn Trent is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 as part of its triple pledge on carbon. It supports the need to adapt and take action to cope with future weather changes. 

Suzanne Ward - Pathway Lead, Resilient Development working group

Environment Agency

Suzanne is an Environment Leader with a demonstrated history of working in the environmental services industry. Suzanne is Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency covering West Midlands Combined Authority and Warwickshire.

Clare Wightman, Pathway Lead, Equitable and People-centred Development working group

CEO, Grapevine Coventry and Warwickshire

Clare is CEO of a national award-winning social action charity, Grapevine Coventry and Warwickshire. She is committed to putting people, relationships and collaborations at the heart of this work. Open-hearted collaborations solve problems and open up opportunities - for people, for organisations and for systems. We need that more than ever.

Josie Bamford, Pathway Lead,Equitable and People-centred Development working group

Commissioning Director for Coventry City of Culture Trust

Josie is leading the development and delivery of a commissioning model that demonstrates the impact Arts and Culture can have in supporting the city’s climate strategy. Focussing on communities, co-creation and capitalising on the momentum post City of Culture she is committed to partnership and collaboration for real, long-lasting change.

Russ Hall - Pathway Lead, Circular Economy Development working group  

Principal Engineer – Circular Economy and Sustainable Manufacturing, WMG, University of Warwick  

Russ is the lead contact for circular economy and sustainable manufacturing at Warwick Manufacturing Group.  Russ works with manufacturers in all industrial sectors to help reduce emissions, improve energy efficiencies and highlight opportunities for resource efficiencies.