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.
Finance Director
Ionna Trofimova-Elliot brings over 20 years of experience leading finance and strategy departments in engineering, real estate, energy, and other sectors. She has been a partner at BorderlessRenewables since 2017. She is currently doing a PhD in energy transformation at the University of Exeter. She joined Exeter Community Energy because she believes that humans have a simple duty – to preserve nature.
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.
Other Directors
Emma Sueref is the Head of Built Environment and Property Impact Initiatives at Oxygen House Group. She holds a BSc in Environmental Science, an MSc in Environmental Consultancy, and is a RICS Chartered Surveyor. Passionate about sustainability and the built environment, Emma is one of edie’s “30 Under 30” and a Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). She is on the RICS SW Board.
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.
Stephen Wood is a Civil Servant with the Department for Work and Pensions. He has a Diploma in Folk and Traditional Music. Stephen is a Union Representative for the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union since 2015, negotiating on behalf of front-line workers with management and organising union activities and collective bargaining actions. He is passionate about addressing poverty, sustainable energy generation and energy security.
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.
Non-directorial roles
Healthy Homes for Wellbeing Project Manager
Tara Bowers is an entrepreneur with 25 years experience of working in the ‘eco’ sector. As well as running her own organic food business, Tara worked with Basingstoke Transition Network, Hampshire Women’s Enviroment Network, Hampshire Renewable Energy Co-op and since moving to Devon has worked with 361 Energy before joining ECOE. In her spare time she champions conservation, biodiversity and sustainability.
Operations and Maintenance Co-ordinator
Margaret Pickering has a Psychology degree, but worked in IT project management roles, initially for BT and Oxfam. In 2007 she and her partner renovated a rectory in Cornwall, and ran it as a guest house. They retired to Exeter in 2017. Since then she has been involved in voluntary work. Margaret joined ECOE in January 2020 as Operations and Maintenance Co-ordinator. She also supports other ECOE projects, including Healthy Homes for Wellbeing.
