OUR TEAM

Directors

Chair

David Bacon is a Net Zero Consultant with Atkins, a leading engineering services provider. He has taken a career pivot into the sustainability sector following completion of a MSc in Global Sustainability Studies at University of Exeter. Previously he worked in the aerospace manufacturing sector in commercial and business development roles for over 14 years. David is passionate about ensuring a fair and just energy transition.  In his spare time he loves to explore and find new places in the beautiful Devon countryside and along the coastline with his family.

Operations and Maintenance Director

James Rowan is a Chartered Energy Engineer, and a Renewable Energy Specialist working for South West Water. There, he helps to deliver renewable energy projects relating to the organisation’s net zero ambitions. Through his career as both a consultant and embedded within organisations he has worked across various energy and sustainability sectors. He strongly supports empowering communities to take control of energy supplies

Company Secretary

Peter Dempsey is a professional Project Manager delivering Net Zero and decarbonisation projects in the South-West and nationwide. His roles include at the Environment Agency, the Met Office, Energy Systems Catapult, and currently Bristol City Council. By joining the ECOE team he’s keen to understand better the delivery of successful energy projects that can help to improve people’s lives.

Health and Safety Director

Mark Allen is an environmental consultant on recycling, energy and waste management, mostly for local councils. He provided consultancy support to ECOE for the PV2 share issue and nine solar installations. He also worked as an ECOE Energy Advisor from December 2017-November 2018. ‘We need to insulate every building, support householders in a just transition away from energy poverty, as well as providing local clean energy,’ he says.

Other Directors

Andy Extance is a science journalist with bylines in outlets including The Guardian and New Scientist. He is chair of the Association of British Science Writers, and director of editorial company Exeter Empirical. Before that Andy was group leader at Cornwall-based pharmaceutical lab Tripos Discovery Research, including operational management within a £90 million contract. He believes ECOE fights climate change while helping with every day issues.

Jen Cook is a solicitor with specialist knowledge of non-standard corporate structures, commercial law, procurement processes and large project work. She has worked in private practice, but spent the majority of her career working in-house for local authorities. She enjoys projects which make a difference to local issues including for schools and local authority service delivery and wants to use her knowledge to improve local provision.

Martin Shaw works in the software industry, leading the customer facing teams working with the HR and Operations functions of his employers’ customers. He has also delivered management and leadership training. He is a self-confessed electric vehicle (EV) and green tech geek. He believes decentralising energy generation will put more power in the hands of the consumer to decrease their impact.

Non-directorial roles

Operations and Maintenance Co-ordinator

Dan Grey moved to Exeter over 15 years ago to become a weather forecaster at the Met Office after a spell working for UKAEA. After several years working shifts, he became a service manager responsible for services to government agencies. Dan left the Met Office after almost ten years, gradually becoming a climate change and clean energy activist. Dan joined ECOE in June 2025 as Operations and Maintenance Coordinator.