Martin Heath (Old Basing, BES Coop) – Technical Advisor
Iain James (Bramley, BES Coop) -Technical Advisor
Martin Biermann (Chineham) – Liaison
Steve Brown (Old Basing, Old Basing PC) – Liason
Keith Oborn (Bramley, Bramley PC) – Chair & Liason
Vanessa Richards (Silchester) – Secretary & Liaison
Laura Wilson (Community Energy South) – Advisor
Jan Wright (Bramley) – Publicity
Bios
Iain James – Technical Advisor
Iain qualified as an engineer in the aircraft industry, then spent time in process engineering until joining Mars in the mid-eighties. There, he led several engineering projects in the UK, mainland Europe, the US and Japan. Moving into plant management, he studied the Toyota production system and implemented one of the first lean manufacturing initiatives in the food industry. Iain then managed projects implementing change in many other Mars plants.Iain has played a major role in designing and delivering many solar PV projects, both domestic and comercial. He has carried out a number of feasibility studies for organisations such as Dundee University and London Fire Brigade. He is also a certified trainer of NLP, a National Observer (motorcycle) with the IAM and a keen cyclist
Martin Heath – Technical Advisor
Martin has a background in complex and new technology due diligence and financing. Until recently he was a Partner at KPMG where he led a large team of engineering and financial specialists who worked with clients assessing the commerciality of new technologies and raising finance for technology implementation. For example, he advised the European Commission on the feasibility of a satellite-based GPS system (Galileo) and high definition TV, a consortium of banks on a multi-billion $ investment in satellite communications systems and companies such as Vodafone, IBM, Apple, British Telecom and Motorola on their technology strategy. Martin also set up KPMG’s low carbon management group which advised clients on reducing their environmental impact. Martin has a long history in renewables producing his first research paper on biomass energy conversion in 1980. Since retiring from KPMG he has help found two community energy co-operatives. He has a first-degree BSc in Economics and Physics, and MBA (specialising in financial strategy) and an MSc in Environmental Strategy (specialising in renewable energy systems). Martin lead Bes Co-op work in the RSL feasibility studies for three sites.
Keith Oborn – Board
My academic background is a degree in Physics, but like so many people 40-odd years back I fell into computing by accident.The last 25 years before retirement was spent in the Internet Service Provider business, doing systems architecture, technical consultancy, and often fire-fighting, with major telecoms companies around the world. I have been keenly interested in renewable energy and climate change issues for many year. At home we have run a ground source heat pump for 16 years, and are about to take delivery of our third successive electric car. All our domestic energy is sourced from renewable electiricy generators. Now I am retired I have some time to spend on this interest, in between skiing, flying gilders and endless DIY!There is a huge opportunity for us to use the “Community Benefit” concept to help deliver more renewables, and return the financial and other benefits to the people in our area.
Vanessa Richards – Board
A chartered mechanical engineer and graduate of Cambridge University, Vanessa has been a company director and manager for over 25 years. For the past 10 years she has been Chief Operating Officer of NorthRow, helping to build the company from a start up of just 2 people, to a company with multi-million pound turnover and over 30 members of staff. Since leaving NorthRow in 2021, she has followed her passion for environmental issues, setting up and chairing a voluntary community group, Sustainable Silchester, and as a founder of Loddon Community Energy.
Martin Biermann (Chineham) – Liaison
Born in Manchester and after leaving secondary modern school at 14 entered an indentured engineering apprenticeship. Thereafter moved into product design drawing office and from thence to sales in a heavy engineering company.
I then enjoyed a mixture of experiences including unemployment, local government (Berkshire CC), civil service (Department of Trade), export sales and culminating in self-employment in the print industry, launching a partnership with my wife in 1988. This is ongoing, although at a diminished level of activity. Also served for over 20 years as an elected member of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (including 12 months as mayor).
Chartered production engineer.
I have been maniacal about environmental protection for many years and now seeking a way to become more rational. Less conventionally, have buried a large rainwater collecting tank in garden, disposed of family car and become a committed user of e-bikes.
Steve Brown (Old Basing, Old Basing PC) – Liason
I was born and brought up in NE London until I attended Queen Mary College, London University, where I gained a degree in Physics. Following gaining my teaching qualification in Worcester, I taught in Hampshire and Surrey as a science teacher and latterly as Deputy Head of a Hampshire school. Following retirement, I tutored in the Education Department at Reading University. I have been a trustee of a local educational charity until it became part of a larger body, and have been a Parish Councillor for Old Basing and Lychpit for four years. I live with my wife locally and have family in Chineham and Kingston upon Thames. My free time, when not looking after grandchildren, is largely taken up with my allotment and with sailing.
Jan Wright (Bramley) – Publicity
I followed my dream to become a writer and had my first article published in 1997, it was then that my hobby of photography became an asset and I started to write feature packages (pictures and words) for both national and local magazines and newspapers. With print media in decline my hobby became my main source of income in the mid 2000’s and I expanded into other genres of photography from weddings and portraits to parties and corporate shoots.It was shooting a corporate conference that led me to work with the Demographic User Group (DUG). Using the organisational skills I had gained from running my own business and the various voluntary roles I held in school governance including the role of Chair, I took up their offer to work part time taking the lead in the communication with Members and organising meetings, courses, and general administration which also included web design and maintaining a social media presence. My role had grown by 2013 to the point where I was made a co-director of the organisation, a role I still hold today. I still do assignments and weddings, but only when time allows. My voluntary roles now consist of web design and management for local organisations, social media administration and running a cub pack. In what is laughingly known as my spare time, I enjoy gardening, various creative arts and learning new technology. I am currently looking into obtaining Adobe accreditation for Photoshop.