Chair – Lord Haworth (Non-Exec)

Lord Haworth has recently retired from the post of Secretary of the Parliamentary Labour Party. He has a clear focus upon environmental and energy issues. He entered the House of Lords in 2004 and holds the position of Chair of Water Power Enterprises. He is responsible for overseeing corporate governance, representing the interest of stakeholders and helps to maintain an overview of renewable energy.

Non-Exec Director - Steve Walker, BSc (Hons)

Steve Walker is currently the Internal IT Audit Manager of the John Wood Group plc. Wood Group is a leading international energy services company, employing more than 38,000 people worldwide and operating in 50 countries Steve has 31 years of varied International Business, IT and Project Management experience, having been variously a CIO for Wood Group, the Operations Director of a US based software company and the Group IT Manager of textiles, paper and plastic extrusion companies over the years. He has also written about IT and business issues and delivered presentations at a variety of conferences and seminars. His time as Chairman and President of the UK and European HP User Groups respectively gave some insight into acquiring support, grants and funding from those not yet convinced of the return! On green issues he describes himself as ‘a devout sceptic’, convinced that alternative energy sources are needed and will be developed, but also convinced that they need to be practical, affordable and realistic.

Doug Everard: Managing Director

Responsible for:

• Business and operational strategy development
• Investor engagement
• Management team leadership
• Commercial “sales” support and negotiations

Doug is an independent management consultant who has worked for over twenty years in the energy sector, developing, managing & advising on power projects and technologies, with large & small companies, public & private sector; he has held a number of CEO/Board positions. A Mechanical Engineer by training, Doug was founding Chief Executive of the New & Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC), (visiting Professor at Newcastle University), developing technology companies & national testing facilities for renewable energy. Before that, he worked in various senior positions in industry, developing and running renewable energy and waste businesses, including two of the earliest commercial wind-farms in the UK, and held senior project management positions within the power station division (conventional gas and coal) of Alstom, having started his career in the defence industry.

Dave Slee: Technical Director

Responsible for:

• Supply chain development and technical support to operations
• Site commissioning and handover, including CDM and safety policy
• Commissioning and operation of power plants
• Technical lobbying & Trouble-shooter
• Line management and mentoring of tech. staff
• Cross check technical offer

David is an experienced, practical energy industry consultant. A practicing electrical engineer, he began his career delivering high value capital equipment for both military & commercial marine projects where first of type equipment had to be delivered within specification, on time and in budget. He moved into the public sector managing the delivery of test centres & R&D programmes to public-private partnerships such as NaREC, ITI Scotland and Scottish Enterprise. Most recently David has guided SEGEC to build the technical scope and develop commercial linkages for a £200m offshore wind farm/test centre with €40million EU funding.

Helen Walker: Commercial Director

Responsible for:

• Commercial support
• Seeking finance
• Developing site designs and gaining consent
• Construction and commissioning of power plants
• Supply chain management
• Authority to commercial & technical offer

Helen is a founding director of h2ope. Before Water Power Enterprises, Helen was founding director of an Internet Company - successfully sold to a French plc. As Group Production Director & Company Secretary, her experience included project management, governance and high growth within an SME. Her career also includes manufacturing for the pharmaceutical industry, managing multidisciplinary teams in discrete international locations for clients like Heinz and Proctor & Gamble.

Steve Welsh: Sales and Development Director

Responsible for:

• Prospecting for new sites
• Engaging with Stakeholders
• Site feasibility & commencing consent process
• Seeking community finance
• Strategic lead through Gate 1
• Authority to commercial & technical offer

With over 25 years in community development, Steve is the founding member of Water Power Enterprises, with the vision and experience to harness community involvement in the development of hydro sites and thereby help reduce carbon emissions.

Danny Ballam: Project Manager

Danny is a civil engineer experienced in site supervision, construction contractor management and cost control, responsible for driving our projects through financial close, construction and into operation.