I am a climate, sustainability, and public policy leader with almost two decades’ experience delivering environmental change across local government, regional government, and the environmental sector.

My work focuses on turning ambitious policy into practical outcomes. Over the course of my career, I have led programmes spanning climate change, transport decarbonisation, energy transition, waste and circular economy, urban greening, and organisational transformation, while building coalitions across government, industry, academia, and civil society.

Prior to my current role as a Climate Change & Decarbonisation Lead, I spent almost a decade at the Greater London Authority advising Assembly Members on transport, planning, environmental and economic policy before serving as Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm at the London Borough of Hackney. There, I helped lead one of the UK’s most ambitious local environmental transformation programmes.

Climate Change & Decarbonisation

Climate change has become the unifying theme of my professional career.

I have developed climate strategies, adaptation plans and decarbonisation programmes, advised senior political and organisational leaders, and collaborated with partners across multiple sectors to accelerate climate action. More recently, my work has focused increasingly on climate resilience and adaptation, helping organisations understand and prepare for the environmental risks associated with a changing climate.

I currently lead work on climate change and decarbonisation within local government, combining strategic leadership with practical implementation.

Transport & 21st Century Streets

Much of my work has focused on the role transport plays in shaping healthier, greener, and more prosperous places.

As Cabinet Member for Transport and Public Realm in Hackney, I oversaw one of the UK’s largest programmes of School Streets and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, expanded active travel infrastructure and supported measures designed to reduce transport emissions while improving public health and neighbourhood quality.

This work was informed by my development of the 21st Century Streets approach, which argues that streets should be viewed not simply as routes for moving vehicles, but as multifunctional public spaces capable of delivering cleaner air, lower emissions, biodiversity, climate resilience, public health benefits, social connection and stronger local economies.

Energy

My experience spans energy policy, decarbonisation, and organisational energy management.

In Hackney, I established Hackney Light & Power, the borough’s first publicly owned energy generation company in more than a century, helping to position the council at the forefront of local energy innovation. I have also supported wider initiatives relating to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the transition to a low-carbon energy system.

Waste & Circular Economy

I have led a number of pioneering waste and resource-management initiatives.

These include introducing residual waste restrictions that diverted approximately 6,000 tonnes of waste from incineration annually, supporting London’s first estate-based reverse-vending machine, bringing the first local authority-hosted Library of Things to Dalston, and serving as Chair of the Members’ Recycling Working Group at the North London Waste Authority, where I successfully advocated ending the non-European export of recyclate from constituent boroughs.

Greener, Healthier Places

I have a longstanding interest in the relationship between nature, public space, and quality of life.

My work has included delivering the UK’s largest urban tree-planting programme, expanding drinking-water infrastructure, reducing pesticide use, promoting urban greening and biodiversity, and supporting the creation of healthier, more resilient neighbourhoods.

Public Policy, Media & Thought Leadership

Alongside my executive and political leadership experience, I contribute regularly to public debate on climate, transport, and environmental policy.

I have been interviewed by BBC London News, BBC Radio London, The World Tonight, TalkTV and other media outlets, and have written on topics including transport, green infrastructure, climate change, and energy policy.

I am also a frequent conference speaker and panellist, having recently spoken at events hosted by the Climate Change Advisory Group, Kellogg College Oxford, Transport Scotland and the Town and Country Planning Association.

Across X and Bluesky, I engage an audience of more than 46,000 followers interested in climate action, sustainability, and public policy.

Selection of Publications

March 2024 – Contributor and introduction co-author: Scorecards Successes: What factors enable climate action within U.K local authorities, Climate Emergency U.K

September 2023 – Contributor/editor: Greening Up. From fights to rights: making it the default to re-green our streets and squares, Create Streets

November 2022 – Rishi Sunak says he wants to make the UK a ‘clean energy superpower’. His record suggests otherwise, Big Issue

September 2022 – ‘London’s mayor talks the talk on climate. Pity he doesn’t walk the walk’, Architects’ Journal

August 2022 – We can make our streets greener, happier, and safer. This is how, Big Issue

July 2022 – 40C heatwaves are now reality. It’s time to transform our cities, Big Issue

June 2022 – Greening the city needs to happen – why are the police standing in the way? Architects’ Journal

November 2021 – Where is Government support for pesticide-free towns and cities? Pesticide Action Network

February 2021 – There is no ‘war on cars’ in London, but perhaps it is time for one, London Society

November 2020 – You Have No ‘Right’ To Drive a Car through Our Neighbourhoods, Even If It’s Electric, Huffington Post