John Pontin OBE (Founder and Chair)
I helped set up The Converging World. The whole idea inspired me to invest in our first wind farm in India. My background is in business, and, like increasing numbers of business people, I want my money to do good.
Global North and Global South partnering to provide clean energy, to avoid the most carbon and to provide a charitable fund to alleviate poverty.
Ian Roderick (Co-Founder, Trustee)
Ian is the director of The Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Systems, an independent think tank for environmental, social and economic issues – promoting the ideas of E. F. Schumacher, author of Small is Beautiful. Ian started his career at the Building Research Establishment before heading up strategic forecasting for Rank Xerox. He co-founded a software development company, Quantec plc, and ever since this was sold he has pursued interests in systems thinking, environment, and social justice. Ian was President of the UK Systems Society from 2005-2008. He is on the board of the UK Systems Society and Initiative Homes Ltd. He is also a published co-author with John Pontin of the Schumacher Briefing “The Converging World.”
Wendy Stephenson (Director)
Wendy Stephenson is a renewable energy engineer with over 15 years experience in the environment and climate change sector. Wendy worked overseas for more than 5 years in oil & gas before returning to the UK as head of Environmental Affairs for EEF based in Westminster. She is former Chair of the manufacturers’ climate change group and was on the executive board of the European Steel Federation. She has also worked with community groups and local authorities to support them in tackling climate change, is the author of the West Somerset Climate Change Strategy, and co-author of the carbon neutral strategy for Exmoor National Park.
Dr Rob Brown (Trustee)
Rob’s experience is in the leadership and delivery of public service reform, with a career that spans social-enterprise and local government as well as 13 years as a senior partner in the Government practice of PA Consulting Group. Rob has taken early retirement from PA to develop a portfolio of interests around innovative approaches to creating better public outcomes. Rob is on the Board of several charities and social enterprises.
Claire Williams - Finance + Operations
A qualified Chartered Accountant, FCA, Claire leads on the finance and operations for the UK team. With the experience gained from her 10 years at a large accountancy firm, Claire has enjoyed spending the last 9 years within organisations to use her finance knowledge to specifically help Charities, Community Interest Companies and Social Enterprises to achieve their purpose.
A former Director of Bristol Green Capital Partnership and Trustee of other Bristol based Charities, Claire is passionate about global habitat protection and strategies for combating climate change.
Sayan Deb - Programmes and Partnerships
Sayan is an advocate for environmental protection and sustainability. With a bachelors degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Arizona and a masters in Sustainability Planning and Environmental Policy from Cardiff University, he strives to dilate the concept of sustainable development for building climate resilient communities through proper management of impact finances towards high quality social and environmental improvement activities.
