Natalie Boswell
Natalie leads on Regional Development for the North East & Yorkshire for Lloyds Bank, with the objective of building stronger ...
Natalie leads on Regional Development for the North East & Yorkshire for Lloyds Bank, with the objective of building stronger and more sustainable regional economies through collaboration and thought leadership. Focus areas include supporting businesses with productivity, international trade, access to finance and net zero transition.
Natalie joined Lloyds Bank in 2013 after graduating from Leeds University and has spent 11 years in customer-facing relationship management roles, supporting businesses across various sectors deliver their strategies and growth ambitions.
Natalie sits on the Board of the West Yorkshire Manufacturing Advisory Group, is a member of West Yorkshire Innovation Network and the WYCA Private Members Group.
She has recently been awarded a 1st class MBA from Henley Business School.
Tracy Brabin
Mayor
West Yorkshire
Greg Clark CBE FAcSS
Greg Clark is Chair of Connected Places Catapult. He is a British and Irish writer, Board Chair, Non-Executive Director, ...
Greg Clark is Chair of Connected Places Catapult. He is a British and Irish writer, Board Chair, Non-Executive Director, and advisor on cities, mobility, built environment, and urban innovation. He is the author of 10 books and 100 reports on cities, mobility, real estate, climate, urban economies, investment, and place leadership, and has worked with 400 cities around the world.
He is Chair of Connected Places Catapult (CPC), the UK’s national innovation accelerator for transport, cities, and place leadership, and Chair of the Cities Commission for Climate Investment (3Ci), which convenes local leaders and investors to find innovative means to capitalise a just urban transition. He is a Board Member of Transport for London (TfL). He chairs TfL’s Land and Property Committee, which oversees TfL’s property company, Places for London. He is a Senior Advisor to New London Architecture, and Hon Prof of cities and innovation at Strathclyde University. Greg is also chair of the UK Government’s Secure Connected Places Advisory Group. He was previously Lead Advisor, Cities & Regions, Office of Deputy Prime Minister (2004-2010), Executive Director, London Development Agency, Chief Executive of the London Enterprise Agency, Managing Director of Greater London Enterprise, and he teaches regularly at LSE and University College London. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS).
Greg is Hon Global Fellow at the Urban Land Institute (ULI). He is the former chair of the OECD LEED Forum of Cities and Regions (1996-2016) and former Global Fellow on cities at the Brookings Institution. He has advised the World Bank, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and the HSBC Group on cities, sustainability, and financial innovation. He is currently working with the Inter-American Development Bank on the future of the cities of the Amazon, where 47,000,000 people live. Greg has chaired more than 20 International Advisory Boards and Committees for Cities; including New York, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, Mumbai, Vienna, Oslo, Barcelona, Turin, Toronto, Auckland, and Cape Town. He is a member of the WEF Global Future Council on Cities & Urbanisation, and a member of the Bloomberg NEF Council on Cities.
Greg regularly hosts and moderates global gatherings on cities, sustainability, real estate investment, and innovation. He is an expert advisor on the BBC World Service Series, My Perfect City, and co-host of The DNA of Cities podcast.
Polly Cook
After ten years working in different commercial roles within the private sector, Polly joined Leeds City Council in 2006. During ...
After ten years working in different commercial roles within the private sector, Polly joined Leeds City Council in 2006. During her time at the council, she has worked across a variety of areas leading projects to deliver transformation as well as working on key infrastructure projects such as the city’s energy from waste plant.
She has led the team working on the council’s response to the climate emergency declaration made in 2019, securing £35million of grant funding per year to deliver housing and public sector estate retrofit as well as electric charging infrastructure. She has oversight of the large city centre district heating network (Leeds PIPES) that has been installed and is already heating nearly 2000 flats and numerous civic buildings, with further expansion planned.
In April 2023, Polly became Chief Officer, Climate, Energy & Green Spaces, taking responsibility for 4000 HA of greenspace, several key visitor attractions as well as bereavement services whilst continuing to provide oversight of the city’s climate and air quality agendas.
Oliver Coppard
Mayor
South Yorkshire
Matt Ferretti
As Head of Partnerships, Matt focusses on collaborating with Local Authorities and the finance industry to develop innovative financial solutions ...
As Head of Partnerships, Matt focusses on collaborating with Local Authorities and the finance industry to develop innovative financial solutions designed to ‘unlock’ private capital to support energy-efficiency improvements in the built environment.
Matt is leading the pioneering partnership between the GFI and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, aiming to deliver solutions designed to offer attractive sources of finance for owner-occupiers and the privately-rented sector in the region.
Prior to joining the GFI, Matt spent 13 years working at global banks, holding senior positions at Santander and Lloyds.
Emma Fletcher
Emma is the Low Carbon Housing Director at Octopus Energy. Her career has centred on leading high impact, high innovation ...
Emma is the Low Carbon Housing Director at Octopus Energy. Her career has centred on leading high impact, high innovation projects in real estate, with a particular focus on housing, energy performance and green energy production. Her practical experience includes starting her career in rural surveying and estate management moving into award-winning housing and regeneration developments.
Emma is a passionate advocate for change, community resilience and sustainability solutions for all. She established and led the UK’s first fossil fuel-free district heating scheme in her village, Swaffham Prior. Her work regularly features in trade, national and international press & media.
Phillip Hodgson
Phil focuses on collaborating with Local Authorities to enhance procurement exercises and enhance the citizen experience by securing effective contracts. ...
Phil focuses on collaborating with Local Authorities to enhance procurement exercises and enhance the citizen experience by securing effective contracts. His responsibilities span a diverse range of commoditized goods and services, including energy, construction, ICT, and people services. Phil strongly believes that positioning procurement at the core of projects is crucial for achieving optimal outcomes.
Phil is MCIPS qualified and is presently pursuing a Master's in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the University of Hull. Prior to joining CCS, he garnered valuable experience as an ICT services vendor and in financial services. Additionally, Phil served as a patient governor at Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust and held the position of a Royal Navy submariner.
Zoe Jennings
Head of Climate Investment
3Ci
Kate Joseph
Chief Executive
Sheffield City Council
George Mansbridge
A Chartered Town Planner by profession, George has spent the last thirty years working on complex housing and regeneration programmes ...
A Chartered Town Planner by profession, George has spent the last thirty years working on complex housing and regeneration programmes across the North East of England and in Scotland.
For the past fourteen years, George led the delivery of a broad range of front line Council services as the Corporate Director for Regeneration and Environment at South Tyneside Council including almost two years as the Head of Paid Service, leading the Authority through the Covid pandemic, and putting in place the framework for recovery and growth.
George recently took up a new role with the North of Tyne Combined Authority as part of the senior executive team managing the process of transition to the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority. George’s specific responsibilities at the Combined Authority include the development of Portfolio policy, governance and delivery planning alongside the integration of key overarching themes such as low carbon, digital and health and wellbeing. This involves close collaboration with the constituent local authorities, the creation and nurturing of strategic partnerships and ongoing dialogue with Government Departments. All of this with the clear objective of ensuring that the new Combined Authority hits the ground running in May 2024 and is delivering on its vision and ambition to improve lives.
Hailing from the North West of Ireland, George is now very settled in the North East of England and enjoys spending time with his family and watching Sunderland Football Club.
Natasha Nauth
Natasha is a Commissioner for the Yorkshire Climate Commission and serves as the Director at NatWest, where she is responsible ...
Natasha is a Commissioner for the Yorkshire Climate Commission and serves as the Director at NatWest, where she is responsible for delivering banking solutions to corporates across Yorkshire. Recently, she played a pivotal role as the climate lead in developing the bank's first sector-by-sector transition plans and actively engages in originating energy business. With over 20 years of experience in the banking sector, Natasha's career began as an accountant, progressing to the role of treasurer. She has a rich background, having previously worked in the investment bank on specialized solutions for global clients, involving transactions across various sectors and products such as carbon, equities, credit, rates, FX, hybrids, and commodities. Additionally, Natasha is deeply involved in working with SMEs in the region on ESG education, contributing to a sustainable and environmentally conscious business landscape.
Karen Oliver-Spry
As Manager of the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, Karen leads the strategic delivery of the Hub as ...
As Manager of the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, Karen leads the strategic delivery of the Hub as a regional partnership organisation funded by government to support local authorities with the development and mobilisation of net zero schemes. Previously Karen spent 8 years managing capital investment programmes exceeding £150m at the HEY and formerly Humber LEPs.
Karen brings determination, rigour and attention to detail to her work and cares passionately that the best possible net zero outcomes can be achieved for the North East and Yorkshire.”
Lorna Pilmott
Lorna has over 30 years’ experience in developing and delivering major infrastructure projects. An architect by profession, she has worked in both the private and public sector throughout her career, engaging with central and local government to solve challenges in infrastructure. She has led schemes when in a multinational contractor, central government grant organisations to big four consultancy and government Arm’s Length Bodies. Her most recent roles were at the Great British Rail Transition Team and as Sponsorship Director for Phase 2 at HS2. Lorna started her new role as Managing Director of the Local Authority function in the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) in July 2023 and is continuing to develop offerings for advisory and lending services across the UK’s four nations, working directly with local authorities, devolved governments, the private sector and government departments to accelerate the impact UKIB can make to Net Zero and regional economic growth.
Lorna has over 30 years’ experience in developing and delivering major infrastructure projects. An architect by profession, she has worked in both the private and public sector throughout her career, engaging with central and local government to solve challenges in infrastructure. She has led schemes when in a multinational contractor, central government grant organisations to big four consultancy and government Arm’s Length Bodies. Her most recent roles were at the Great British Rail Transition Team and as Sponsorship Director for Phase 2 at HS2. Lorna started her new role as Managing Director of the Local Authority function in the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) in July 2023 and is continuing to develop offerings for advisory and lending services across the UK’s four nations, working directly with local authorities, devolved governments, the private sector and government departments to accelerate the impact UKIB can make to Net Zero and regional economic growth.
Richard Rothwell
Richard has been heavily involved in the Green agenda over the last 4 years at Leeds Building Society and has ...
Richard has been heavily involved in the Green agenda over the last 4 years at Leeds Building Society and has forged links with industry bodies such as the GFI, BSA, E3G and government departments such as DESNZ. Likewise, he’s networked with competitors and peers, participated in panel discussions to understand key issues and ways to innovate in a brand-new space for the industry. This understanding has helped bring new products to the market for LBS such as A-C EPC mortgages, a unique innovative carbon offset pilot benefit to customers and a market first enhanced Green affordability for new build A/B rated property.
Steve Turner
Steve is based at the Connected Places Catapult where he is Director of 3Ci - the Cities Commission for Climate Investment. ...
Steve is based at the Connected Places Catapult where he is Director of 3Ci - the Cities Commission for Climate Investment. Working with the Advisory Board he has overall managerial responsibility for the implementation of the 3Ci’s strategy and operations working closely with leaders from cities, industry, finance and government.
As a recognised leader in innovation and sustainability he has over 25 years of experience working in both the public and private sector. Previously, he was Digital Cities Leader for Arup where he delivered sustainability focussed technology strategies for some of the largest developments in the UK, Europe and the Middle East, representing £billions of investment.
He has held several senior positions across local government, primarily in London and Manchester. As Head of Low Carbon Economy in Greater Manchester he established the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area and a joint venture alongside the Green Investment Bank. He also established the city’s widely admired sustainability innovation programmes, Triangulum and CityVerve.
