MICROGENERATION - BIOGRAPHIES

Chair: Dave Sowden was appointed in 2003 as the first Chief Executive of the Micropower Council, an organisation he co-founded with Lord Ezra consisting of over 25 companies, Trade Associations and environmental groups to advocate the role that small scale low and zero carbon technologies can play in the Energy Policy Mix. Since 2001, he has also run the UK government’s work programme to remove regulatory barriers to the uptake of microgeneration. He is also the founder and owner of JDS Associates, a consultancy specialising in strategies for regulatory and public policy change in the sustainable energy sector, and in 2006 he was appointed by the Energy Minister to a board of government advisers on renewable energy policy. His early career was spent in the UK electricity industry, specialising in regulation and government policy, both in the UK and in Brussels.

He is an electrical engineer by training, holds an honours degree in Electrical Engineering, an MBA from the University of Warwick and is a Member of the Institute of Director, the Institute of Engineering and Technology, and the Energy Institute.

Sir Robert Smith MP,

MP for Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine

Occupation:  MP

Education:  Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood; Aberdeen University - BSc

Experience:  Family Estate Manager until 1997

Council Experience:  Aberdeenshire Councillor 1995-7

Parliamentary Experience:  2005-06 Shadow DTI Spokesperson, 2001-6 deputy chief whip

Marital status/children:  Married, three daughters

Interests:  Hill walking & sailing

"Following a career in Finance, Chris returned to his studies and obtained an MSc in low energy architecture. This lead to him joining BRE in 2002 working on various projects until 2003 when he was asked to lead the team which successfully launched and then managed the DTI's Clear Skies programme. This was the first Government grant scheme covering a range of renewable energy techniologies. This work has meant Chris has developed a detailed understanding of small scale renewable energy systems from both technical and market perspectives. He has since helped the EST develop the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and is working upon the development of the UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme to take over from the installer and product registration schemes established under Clear Skies."

Terry is responsible for the development and management of the Scottish Enterprise Energy Technology Centre (ETC). The ETC, based in East Kilbride, provides a national service to support the development, testing and commercialisation of sustainable energy technologies. Prior to joining Scottish Enterprise Terry ran a product development and innovation advisory service in Glasgow, and before this worked in engineering and manufacturing companies in roles aimed at improving their product development performance. Terry has BEng, MSc & MPhil engineering degrees from Strathclyde University.

Victoria Willis , Strategy Manager Renewables, Energy Saving Trust

Victoria has been at the Energy Saving Trust for 6 years, firstly as Scottish Energy Efficiency Manager and more recently as Strategy Manager for Renewables. Her main responsibilities are policy research and influence, as well as strategic development on renewables for the Energy Saving Trust. She sits on the microgeneration group of the Renewables Advisory Board to DTI.

Prior to this, she was a senior researcher at the Association for the Conservation of Energy. Her educational background is BSc. Physics, MSc. Environmental Technology and an MBA.