Climate Change Bill
Speakers
Rachel Solomon Williams Rachel Solomon Williams has been leading policy development on the Climate Change Bill since May 2007. She joined Defra through the Fast Stream in 2002, and over the last six years has worked in several different policy areas, including having led the coordination of the environmental indicators for the new local government performance framework. Once the Bill receives Royal Assent she will be taking forward work on implementing carbon budgets. |
Tim Yeo MP Tim has been MP for South Suffolk since 1983 and is one of only 30 Conservatives to have won each of the last six elections. Tim was a member of the Thatcher and Major governments, serving in the Home Office, Foreign Office, Department of Health and Department of the Environment. In his last Ministerial post, as Minister of State for the Countryside and Environment, he reformed planning law, helped to develop climate change policy and established the now thriving Energy Saving Trust. Tim was a member of the Shadow Cabinet from 1998 until 2005, when he resigned in order to speak freely about issues such as the environment. During his time in the Shadow Cabinet he served as Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Shadow Secretary of State for Public Services, Health and Education, and Shadow Secretary of State for Environment and Transport. In 2001 as Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Tim played the leading role in exposing the Government’s mishandling of the Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic. Since December 2005 Tim has been Chairman of the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee. |
Tom Cumberlege
Prior to joining the Carbon Trust in May 2006, Tom worked in financial services for 5 years and before this taught English in Japan for 2 years. He studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and graduated with a BA Hons in International Politics and International History. |
Dr Doug Parr Dr Douglas Parr came to Greenpeace UK in 1994 to head up the Science Unit. Doug's main focus is the many issues surrounding science and policy. He is particularly interested in nanotechnology, and is also currently working on issues such as genetically modified crops/food, marine biodiversity and climate change. As our chief scientist, he supervises the science and information functions within the organisation. Doug was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Chemistry from Oxford University in 1991. He produced a number of papers relating to ozone layer and ground-level air pollution issues. After completing postdoctoral research he worked for Friends of the Earth, focusing primarily on global atmosphere issues and also on urban traffic campaigns. In 2002, Doug initiated and helped organise the Greenpeace and New Scientist debates held at the Royal Institution. The series of debates provided an open platform to discuss science, society and new technologies. He has since commissioned the report "Future Technologies, Today's Choices", initiated and jointly sponsored NanoJury UK and has become a major civil society spokesperson on new technologies and society. |
Cllr Paul Bettison, Leader, Bracknell Forest Borough Council Paul was elected to Sandhurst Town Council in May 1991, and to Bracknell Forest Borough Council at a by-election in October 1991. He rose first in the Town Council, becoming Deputy Mayor in 1992 and Mayor from 1993-1995. In 1996 Paul was elected Leader of the Conservative Group (then in opposition) at Bracknell Forest. In the elections in May 1997, Paul led the Conservative Group to victory, gaining the distinction of being the only Conservative Leader in the country to wrest power from Labour. Under Paul’s leadership, the Conservative Group at Bracknell Forest managed a “seamless” transition to unitary status in 1998, and following many innovative local government initiatives, he led his Group to further gains in May 2000, 2003 and 2007 with swings to the Conservatives of twice the national average. Paul is active within the LGA, and is firmly committed to local government representation at the highest level. From 2000 to 2002 he was Chairman of the LGA’s Housing Executive and oversaw the introduction of many innovations in Bracknell Forest’s housing service. Paul believes fervently in local authorities’ power of community wellbeing and asks, ‘What could be more fundamental to anyone’s wellbeing than the roof over their head?’ From 2002 – 2004 he chaired the LGA’s Rural Commission and Executive, and was successful in persuading DEFRA that local government can play a key role in the delivery of the rural agenda in the post-Haskins era. He currently chairs the LGA Environment Board and also sits on the LGA Executive. Paul was, for five years, the Local Government Association e-Government Champion and is the Conservative Party’s National spokesman on local government ICT matters. He has been on the Board of Directgov, Government Connect, and of the National Opportunity Card since 2005. A firm believer in self-help for local government, Paul spent 18 months as a peer mentor to the Leader of the Conservative Group of Hackney LBC, and performed the same task for the Leader of Walsall MBC for 5 years. Paul has worked with Swindon Borough Council, Kingston upon Hull Council, North East Lincs Council, Plymouth Borough Council, Trafford MBC, Northampton Borough Council, Milton Keynes Borough Council, Southampton City Council and the Isle of Wight Council. He is the National Lead Conservative Member Peer at the Improvement & Development Agency (IDeA). |
Toddington Harper Toddington Harper is Managing Director of The Low Carbon Economy (Ltd), an organisation that assists the transition to a sustainable low carbon economy by connecting people and businesses with relevant low carbon information, products, services and business opportunities. He is also CEO of Fuel Cell Markets Ltd an organisation he co-founded in 2002 which assists the market-introduction of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies and works closely with the key providers of these technologies globally. Toddington has given speeches and presentations at numerous events worldwide to both the private and public sector. In the UK this has resulted in relationships with numerous business leaders, and meeting many Members of Parliament including the Prime Minister, several representatives of the House of Lords, and a recent invitation to Buckingham Palace courtesy of a senior member of the Royal Family. |
Steve Woollett Steve Woollett has worked in the video conferencing and the visual communications industry for over ten years, seven years with market leader TANDBERG. He is currently responsible for all business within the Public Sector in the UK and Ireland. Steve also has a Degree in Public Policy. |