Career Path in Energy Management: Lessons Learnt

Career Path in Energy Management:

Lessons Learnt

Rhea Campbell-

Smith

Sustainability

Coordinator

Bourne Leisure

Joel Kirby

Energy and

Environmental

Manager

The Celtic Manor

Resort

Joanna Marshall-

Cook

Senior Sustainability

Manager

University College

London

Mohammad Rafique

Energy

and Environment

Officer

Surrey Police

Panel Chair

Suki Gilliland

Networks Energy Manager

Vodafone

Suki GillilandNetworks Energy Manager

Vodafone

Facilities

Management

Energy

Management

System

Energy

Performance

Contract

Consultancy &

Energy

Projects

Electrical

BEng

Volunteer

Overseas

Data

Analysis

ProcurementEnergy

MSc

Background

Networks Energy Manager

Telecoms Sector

Large Complex Organisation

Plenty of Opportunity!

Challenges & Opportunities

External Focus

Climate Crisis!

Organisations are changing

Focus on Budget and Climate Change

Technology is changing the way we

do things

Data Analytics and AI

IoT

People are interested in what

we do!

Suki GillilandNetworks Energy Manager

Vodafone

Thank you

Joel KirbyEnergy and Environmental Manager

The Celtic Collection and ICC Wales

Background Following 6th Form I attended The University of Exeter to study BSc Physical

Geography.

I then completed a Masters at The University of Bristol in MSc Climate Change Science and Policy.

Worked as a kitchen assistant during my Masters and for around 6 months following graduation.

After I’d received my Masters degree I applied for multiple different roles in the Environmental sector, mostly for consultants but also applied for various funded PhD opportunities.

Invited to interview as an Environmental account Manager for Energy Cost Advisors working entirely with The Restaurant Group (TRG).

Made redundant from my position at TRG and a few months later managed to get the Job as Energy and Environmental Manager at The Celtic Manor Resort.

My Current Role Extremely varied role but basic responsibilities include:

Run the day to day waste management across all properties.

Monitoring utility consumption, identifying in-efficiencies and developing projects/

initiatives to reduce these.

Manage the daily running and maintenance of the Building Management Systems for

all of our properties and develop future control strategies/ upgrades on the system

Manage both the energy and waste budgets for all of the Collection’s buildings.

Manage and procure contracts for waste (both dry waste and wet waste),

electricity, gas and water for the portfolio.

International Convention Centre Wales

More recently Celtic Collection opened The International Convention Centre

Wales on the 24th September 2019. My role now expands to this property, as

well as additional properties on the horizon.

Challenges & Opportunities

Challenges:

Lack of understanding of the role

Common assumption is that we’re there just to ‘switch things off’

Annual tussle for budget

Operational commitments of the day to day

Opportunities:

The growing climate change concern

The demand for environmental improvements placed on the business by clients and guests

The varied and growing portfolio at The Celtic Collection and ICC Wales

Joel KirbyEnergy and Environmental Manager

The Celtic Collection and ICC Wales

Thank you

Mohammad Rafique

Energy and Environment Officer

Surrey Police

Background I started my career as Leather technologist in 2006. Whilst studying and later doing

the job in this sector, I was devastated by looking at the environmental pollution it

causes throughout it’s lifecycle.

That inspired me to do higher study in Environmental Conservation.

After completion of my study I had the opportunity to work in Royal Mail as

Environmental Lead to implement Environmental Management System following ISO

14001 guidelines.

Whilst doing the job I have had hands on experiences in environmental compliance,

prioritising environmental issues and continuous improvement plan e.g. energy and

water consumption, waste and hazardous materials management.

I also developed myself with professional qualifications.

After 6 years of experiences in this sector, I moved on to my current role as Energy

and Environment Officer in Surrey Police in 2016.

My Current Role Environmental compliance

Energy and water supplies and waste services contract management

Forecast and manage environmental budget

Environmental data analysis

Setting up environmental objectives and efficiency targets

Energy and Environmental auditing and risk assessment

Develop 5 years consumption reduction plan

Deliver behavioural change programme

Deliver energy and environmental projects liaising with internal and externalstakeholders

Performance reporting against the targets

Envision and incorporate effective environmental strategy and management systemsacross the Surrey Police estates in accordance with ISO14001:2015 guidance.

Challenges & OpportunitiesChallenges:

Old aged buildings - make energy efficient and at the same time comfort for

the users.

Operational changes and organisational priorities e.g. Building for the Future,

Agile working

Opportunities:

Developing the short term strategy according to the use of the buildings

Be part of the estates review programme to make energy savings

opportunities

Mohammad Rafique

Energy and Environment Officer

Surrey Police

Thank you

Rhea Campbell-Smith

Sustainability CoordinatorBourne Leisure

Background

• Studied at the University of the West of England 2014-2018

• Graduated with a 2:1 BSc Honours degree in Environmental Resource Management !

• February 2019 had work experience with Bourne Leisure’s Sustainability Team.

– Energy management in practice; reporting and compliance

– Importance of data

– Team behaviour and training

• Attended EMEX 2018!

– Listened to many talks

– Networked; met the Utilities Management Trainer for Bourne Leisure!

• May 2019 had a series of interviews at Bourne Leisure

• June 2019 became Bourne Leisure’s Sustainability Coordinator!

My Current Role

• Six months into the role! Visited 7 sites to date!

• Responsibilities include:

– Co-ordinating projects within the team.

– Produce reports; enables business to make key decisions on varying energy management aspects, enables managers on sites to focus on specific areas for consumption savings.

– Compliance; Managed the compiling of our ESOS evidence pack.

– Day to day contact for site queries; data issues, usage queries, questions on training.

– Strategy planning, asked to lead!

– Co-trainer for energy management platform.

• Benefits:

– Work in a team where everyone wants to do the right thing.

– Work in a role where I’m encouraged to use my passion for becoming more sustainable on a daily basis.

– Development of skills such as presenting to, and with different individuals.

– Role is adaptable to how I see it should be.

• Highlights for me! (All of the above PLUS)

– Actually getting my job

– Participating in high level meetings to influence change.

– Being able to make a difference every day

Challenges & Opportunities

• Challenges

– Getting an energy management job!

• I hadn’t had any opportunity for work experience, and found it very difficult to get into.

• Lots of ‘Entry level jobs’ wanted 1-2 years experience!

– Data related issues

• Data is crucial in my role as it’s the basis on which decisions are made!

• Technical issues can cause major disruptions.

– Engaging people

• Large team, makes engagement tricky but not impossible!

• Team training and the Sustainability conference help with this

• Opportunities

– The ability to really make a difference in your field

– Networking at conferences; and building relationships in the sector

– The never ending opportunity to learn and grow

• Energy management is growing and changing, you are always building your knowledge no matter how long you’ve worked for.

Rhea Campbell-Smith

Sustainability CoordinatorBourne Leisure

Thank you!

‘If we all do a little, then no one has to do a lot.’- Bourne Leisure Sustainability Mantra

Joanna Marshall-Cook

Senior Sustainability Manager

University College London

Career Path in Energy Management:

Lessons Learnt

Rhea Campbell-

Smith

Sustainability

Coordinator

Bourne Leisure

Joel Kirby

Energy and

Environmental

Manager

The Celtic Manor

Resort

Joanna Marshall-

Cook

Senior Sustainability

Manager

University College

London

Mohammad Rafique

Energy

and Environment

Officer

Surrey Police

Panel Chair

Suki Gilliland

Networks Energy Manager

Vodafone

DISCUSSION & QUESTIONS