My life before Ashden

I've always loved the natural world - at university I studied Zoology and Psychology. After graduating I worked in a clothes retail company and then as a photographer of portraits and landscapes. In the late 80s I became increasingly aware of the problems and strains humans were inflicting on the natural world. In 1990 I set up the Ashden Trust with my husband to help support those organisations that were addressing social and environmental problems. As we became more aware of environmental problems it was increasingly evident that few people were talking about or demonstrating what the solutions looked like in action. For many years we supported a range of work in East Africa that brought modern light from renewable sources and clean cooking facilities to remote communities. In the process we saw the life-changing impact these technologies were having on people’s lives and learnt a lot about the sector. Inspired by what we saw I established the Ashden Awards in 2001 to highlight the transformational impact sustainable, clean energy has on people’s lives and the local and global environment.

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

insulating my home and double glazing my windows; making the most of our large south facing windows for passive solar gain; using solar water heating and energy efficient appliances; throwing out my tumble drier; growing and eating delicious vegetables (and cutting back on meat); reducing my work and holiday travel as much as possible; and when I'm not on the train or the tube I drive a peaceful Prius!

The next step on my journey is…

to get solid wall insulation

When I’m not at work you’ll find me…

walking in beautiful landscapes, sailing on gorgeous seas, and relaxing in whatever sun I can find.

My life before Ashden

Before Ashden I was the Chief Executive at London Cycling Campaign pursuing two passions: sustainable travel and a love of two (non-motorised) wheels. Before that I was a senior manager in the National Health Service. I did, however, start my career as a griddle chef at Little Chef – a chain of motorway service stations.

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

retrofitting my own home to be much more energy efficient. I have installed solar panels and a wood-burning stove to keep it toasty in the winter. I’m also a total bore on lighting (ask my colleagues). I can probably answer any question you might have on LED lighting. It rocks, it really does - LED bulbs have the equivalent power and light quality of an old-style 100 Watt bulb using just 7 watts. Ask me if you want to know more! Oh, and like many of my colleagues, I cycle to work most days too.

The next step on my journey is…

to try very hard not to fly and to instead discover great parts of Europe by sleeper train. I think high speed train travel will eventually replace short-haul flights. It‘s much more civilised and you get to see beautiful scenery too.

When I’m not at work you’ll find me…

on the water possibly – I love sailing; up a mountain; with my feet up, a glass of wine to hand with a good book in front of the afore mentioned wood burning stove.

My life before Ashden

Before coming to the Ashden I headed up the Development function for two other charities - most recently at The Sixteen, a world class choral ensemble, and the PHG Foundation which brings together public health and genomics. Before that I spent several years as the CEO of CamSight - the Cambridgeshire charity for visually impaired people, and Strategy Director of London-based environmental charity Global Action Plan. In 2006 I studied for an MBA from the Judge Business School (with a special charity bursary from The Monument Trust) and have a degree in Philosophy from Girton College, Cambridge.

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

being vegetarian, composting, reducing energy consumption at home and by not owning a car (which admittedly isn't difficult in Cambridge).

The next step on my journey is…

to give up air travel in favour of the train wherever possible. It's a major challenge, but I've made a start this year with a cross Europe train trip to Cologne.

When I’m not at working you’ll find me…

When I'm not working I love spending time with friends and am on a number of Trustee Boards including the Humanitarian Centre in Cambridge and Cat Care International.

My life before Ashden

After studying French and Politics at the University of Nottingham, I travelled to Senegal where I worked as an English teacher. I also volunteered for several women’s NGOs, spanning UN-level advocacy to distributing micro-loans to women’s groups. I then worked for Oxfordshire County Council promoting sustainable travel, before going to Cambridge University to do a Master’s in International Development.

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

convincing my landlord to reimburse me for insulating my loft (it can be done!); cycling, walking, or running nearly everywhere; and re- and free-cycling.

The next step on my journey is…

to buy more LED bulbs for my home, wear a woolly hat through the winter and, in the very long term, hopefully buy an eco-home.

When I’m not at working you’ll find me…

baking, drinking coffee, chatting, or watching David Attenborough.

My life before Ashden

After spending half of the 1990s working on social and economic development projects in the Middle East I moved back to London where I worked in a small consulting company focusing on poverty reduction and corporate sustainability in developing countries. Most recently I spent eight years at the Ethical Trading Initiative, raising awareness among retailers of the importance of protecting workers’ rights in their supply chains. Working at Ashden is an exciting opportunity for me to join the dots between people and planet.

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

trying very hard never to buy bottled water — according to the WorldWatch Institute it’s up to 10,000 times more expensive than tap water! I also wash my clothes at 30 °C, recycle as much as possible and gave up my car several years ago.

The next step on my journey is…

learning a lot more about how to make my home more energy efficient — it’s a typically draughty Victorian building. I’ve started by installing insulation in my loft but I know there’s a whole lot more I could be doing.

When I’m not at working you’ll find me…

like Robert, I’m also singing! I’m in a pop choir (think ‘Glee’ for adults) and have been known to take part in flashmobbing various spots in London…you have been warned.

My life before Ashden

I have been working at the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts for fifteen years and working on Ashden since it began in 2001. Before then I worked at the Mental Health Foundation.

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

recycling at home, using low energy light bulbs and leaving the car at home and walking wherever possible.

When I am not working you’ll find me…

playing tennis, running (not very fast!) or watching my son play football.

My life before Ashden.

I graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in Politics and Philosophy, got a taste for press and public campaigning while working at Bristol City Council, and later travelled to London to study public relations. I was lucky enough to get a job at campaigns consultancy Communications INC where I worked alongside scientists and advocates on a range of marine issues including shark finning, overfishing, marine reserves and high seas governance.

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

Using public transport to get around, turning off lights and appliances when not in use, and embracing the great British stay-cation.

The next step on my journey is…

Learning how to make vegetables taste nice so I can cut down on meat in my diet.

When I’m not at work you’ll find me…

Attempting yoga, playing board games with friends and (slowly) learning to code.

My life before Ashden

My interest in environmental work began at Georgetown University where I unwillingly ended up an environmental studies seminar and ended up loving it! I then worked in Mexico on sustainable forestry projects and sustainable water development for the Water Advisory Council. A master’s in social development at LSE got me to London, and, eventually, after doing some consulting for renewable energy companies in England, I started at Ashden.

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

doing lots of little things: using public transport, using less water around the house, cutting down on electricity and gas consumption and buying locally sourced food and products when possible.

The next step on my journey is…

to get back on my bike and make the flat I rent more energy efficient, probably starting with the light bulbs.

My life before Ashden.

My life before Ashden was pretty varied. Most of it was spent as Head of Marketing for Nationwide Building Society, but I have also worked a lot in the arts, including spells at BBC Wales (Cardiff Singer of the World Competition), English Touring Theatre and running the world’s uber choir, The Sixteen. My interest in living a greener lifestyle came after visiting the Centre for Alternative Technology in the early 90’s – a wonderful place which I have been visiting ever since!

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

giving up driving a car! It has really changed my lifestyle, I am no longer to be seen stocking up the car-boot in the supermarket car park - now it’s the market (London’s Broadway preferably) and a lovely walk home. It’s a lot healthier too!

The next step on my journey is…

to reduce my energy consumption. Top of my wish list is a wood burner! But I am also interested in the wider agenda – I want orchestras, choirs and the arts world in general to become much more sustainable and am hoping to do something positive about this during 2012.

When I’m not at work you’ll find me…

singing! Having given up managing a professional choir I am now singing myself - not just any choir but the renowned English Chamber Choir, the busiest non-professional choir in the UK.

My life before Ashden

I originally trained as an Electronic Engineer, completing my degree and PhD at Leeds University, and also gaining some work experience in the nuclear industry. After five years working in silicon chip design, I decided that the future of our energy supply was a bigger issue, and retrained in renewable energy at Reading University. I did some work for Ashden during my course, and was delighted to join the team when I’d completed my studies.

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

heating our house entirely from wood and solar thermal, supplying some of our electricity from solar PV, working from home, shopping locally and not having a TV.

The next step on my journey is…

a difficult one, we’ve already done the easy and medium tasks to cut our energy use. The next steps are getting into the blocked off cavities in our dormer roof to insulate them, insulating the flat roof sections, and eventually installing external insulation – we’ve already filled the cavity wall.

When I’m not at work you’ll find me…

in the woods with a chainsaw. We’re fortunate to own a few acres of coppice woodland, which we manage ourselves to supply all our own wood for home heating. As it’s coppice, the trees grow back rapidly to be harvested again in about 15 years, and the management is good for biodiversity. It’s also great fun and very satisfying work.

My life before Ashden

I joined Ashden in September 2008 and was pleased to learn how much sustainable energy is at the forefront in the UK and the developing world.

And I am still learning a lot! Now that we’re working with Eurostar for a Sustainable Travel Award I’ve discovered all about the innovative green travel projects in Belgium (where I moved from a long, long time ago). As a native Flemish speaker I particularly enjoyed spending time speaking to potential applicants in Belgium this year.

I am trying to live more sustainably by…

leaving the car behind as much as possible, but with two kids who have to be ferried around all the time it’s not so easy!

Also, I like organising house-swap holidays all over the world – a sustainable way to travel!

My life before Ashden

Following a brief stint fundraising for various charities and an even briefer time in the private sector after uni, I realised that using money to achieve something positive rather than trying to make money was much more my style. I spent nearly 5 years at the Department of Health working on a health research capability that aimed to make research using routinely collected data in the NHS easier, faster and more cost effective, promoting ‘the health and wealth of the nation’. When this great programme came to an end in 2012 it gave me the chance to re-evaluate what I was doing, and the opportunity to get involved with a sustainable energy charity was too good to miss!

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

cycling everywhere I possibly can and failing that, walking or using public transport. I try and do all the little things as much as possible – my housemates know my aversion to plastic bags well! Food waste is a big bugbear as well; I make sure I never get in a situation where I have to throw food out.

The next step on my journey is…

to try to get a sustainable yield from my balcony and window sill veg gardens. Tomatoes and peppers take care of themselves with plenty of water, but I have lots to learn about the root and brassica families.

When I’m not at work you’ll find me…

reading, learning about the natural world and the environment or knitting – my knitted zoo is starting to reach impressive proportions!

My life before Ashden

My first passion in life was art and design – I studied textile design – but my path to working at Ashden started when I travelled to Borneo many years ago and saw the destruction of the rainforests with my own eyes. It ignited a desire in me to do something to protect our environment. Since then I have worked largely in the voluntary sector in the fields of environment and communication. Four years at Media Natura, an environmental communications agency, were followed by a few years at the Media Trust where I was Communications Director. A short career break to do a course in horticulture and have a baby then led to Ashden where I have worked since 2005.

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

reducing our domestic energy consumption. We live in a ‘hard to treat’ Edwardian house in London. With solid walls, leaky sash windows and an antiquated heating system making it more efficient has been hard work. But, over the last year we have reduced our energy consumption by 30% through DIY secondary glazing, enthusiastic draught-proofing, energy efficient light bulbs and appliances and behaviour change. We also use the car as little as possible, choosing public transport or walking wherever we can.

The next step on my journey is…

to reduce our energy consumption further. With solar panels installed at the end of 2011 I hope that our electricity use will go down even more and we plan more insulation in our quest to go even lower. And on my wish list of course is a wood burner!

When I’m not at work you’ll find me…

Spending time with my daughter, reading (I’m a member of two book clubs!), walking in Kew Gardens and pottering about in my garden.

My life before Ashden

My previous life was as an academic working on renewable energy. I started as a lecturer in Applied Physics at the University of Swaziland – that’s really where I became convinced of the need for better and more sustainable energy solutions.

I’m trying to live more sustainably by…

checking my household carbon accounts each year. Nerdy though it sounds, it really shows where we’ve achieved big changes (cutting gas use through insulation, reducing car use etc) and where we have stood still despite our efforts (electricity).

The next step on my journey is…

to get my head round the climate impact of my own household consumption (ie: the goods and services that we buy). It bothers me that the national talk of the ‘need for GDP to grow’ ignores the climate impact of that growth. And, on a more practical level, having done all that we can with insulation, we’re starting to double glaze our house!

When I’m not at work you’ll find me…

quilting. I’d put it aside for half a lifetime, but re-joined a quilting group last year, and I’m now quietly obsessed. It’s a good way to make an attractive insulation material too, so that you can turn the thermostat down.