Group Members

I have been working for over 25 years in the fields of environmental management and sustainability and I am passionate about helping find practical ways we can reduce our environmental impacts in ways that benefit of both organisations and individuals.

In 1999 I started working with FirstGroup one of the UK’s largest public transport providers in a consultancy capacity finally joining the Group in 2008 in the role of Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) before returning to consultancy in January 2013. During this period I have developed an in depth understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with delivering more sustainable transport solutions. I was involved in developing the company’s Climate Change Strategy, developing the sustainable supply chain programme with the purchasing function and all CSR related communication. While at FirstGroup I was also closely involved in industry initiatives working to deliver more sustainable solutions and promote the benefits of public transport such as the Sustainable Rail Programme and the UK Bus industry Greener Journeys initiative. Based on my experience I can add value to projects looking to build the necessary partnerships to develop more integrated travel solutions and have a good understanding of the travel issues and business benefits to organisations looking to improve travel management.

As CEO of the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association I represent members working on sustainable transport and renewable energy projects, including many universities and local authorities in Scotland. Hydrogen offers zero tail-pipe emissions, and if the hydrogen is produced using renewable energy then the CO2 emissions are also effectively zero.

I see my role on the 2020 Transport sub-Group being to help identify where and when we can deploy these technologies in a cost-effective and environmentally beneficial manner, along with the necessary behavioural changes needed to deliver the 2020 targets.

Colin has managed Transform Scotland, the Scottish national alliance for sustainable transport, since 1998 and has, in that time, published widely on all aspects of sustainable transport policy and practice. He is currently a member of the Policy Group of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, a member of the Board and Executive Committee of Friends of the Earth Scotland, and was for three years (2009-12) a Board member (and Treasurer) of the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E, one of the ‘Green 10’ organisations).

Colin sees his role on the group as promoting the interests of walkers, cyclists and public transport users, and making the case for measures that will reduce the need to travel (such as demand management measures).

Axeon is Europe’s leading independent designer and manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Such vehicles are zero emission at the point of use, and even with the current UK grid mix produce lower CO2 emissions than ICE vehicles. With Scotland’s proposed higher proportion of renewables in the grid the widespread introduction of EVs could help the Scottish government meet its CO2 reduction targets. I’m keen to help the Scottish government introduce these technologies in the most appropriate way.

David Densley, Head of Sustainable Transport with SSE. I am involved in sustainable transport initiatives within SSE, in particular the trials of electric vehicles and the infrastructure to support their wider scale adoption. I am also involved with the UK Hydrogen mobility platform which plans to identify the routes to a roll out of hydrogen infrastructure. I see my role as providing technical and commercial advice on supporting EV deployment based on our experience of several projects, and in participating in further projects to support both EV and hydrogen vehicles.

Role: arms-length role, as an official from a government agency, but to facilitate

• read-across of the group’s direction and work to Scottish Government policy
• links to parallel initiatives in relation making the transition to low carbon transport. e.g., work by the Public Sector Climate Action Group as well as by Transport Scotland delivery bodies such as EST

Paul Nelson Managing Director of Allied Vehicles Ltd in Glasgow who are manufacturers of taxis, wheelchair adapted vehicles and electric vehicles. We have particular experience of the issues surrounding the electric vehicle market and the taxi part of public transportation.

As Environment Sustainability Manager for the RBS Group, my role is to help the bank reduce its operational environment impacts, encourage the development of ‘Green’ products and services and help report our environment performance externally. One of the biggest challenges in reducing our environment impacts will be to reduce our emissions from business travel. We have set ourselves a target to reduce our business travel emissions by 50% by 2020. My role within the 2020 Transport Sub-Group can be to give the perspective of a large corporate organisation and the challenges it faces in encouraging staff to reduce business and commuter travel, also to explore any financial products and services which can help aid more sustainable travel solutions.

I am accountable for the Operational, Commercial and Marketing elements of the East Scotland business covering 9 depots across Fife, Perth and Strathtay. My responsibilities include revenue development, budgetary control, service quality and delivery and matters relating to bus policy within local and national government.

My role within the Group is as delegate for Sir Brian Soutar. My contribution is to represent Stagecoach Group and to engage with as many organisations as I can to assist them in reducing their carbon footprint through the encouragement of the use of public transport. Our own commitment as an organisation to the aims of the group are well documented through numerous innovative initiatives aimed at reducing our carbon emissions.

Gemma Rankine was appointed as Contract and Commercial Governance Manager within General Services in 2010 and reports to Peter Brady, Head Of Business Services.

Responsible for the implementation and delivery of all Business Services and Facility Management Services, Fleet Management and associated maintenance contracts, in line with the Iberdrola One Corporate Centre Model.

Primarily responsible for managing the UK contracts and delivery team, which consists of 30 FTE, to ensure contractual performance is achieved at all times. Management of all commercial aspects of the contracts, to deliver in line with the agreed contractual terms, financial budgets, (of approximately £24 million) and strategic goals of both the department and the wider Iberdrola organisation.

In addition to the above, I am required to ensure that all services and contracts within my remit, are fully aligned to the Iberdrola General Services Model and Scottish Power’s business objectives, which requires a great deal of stakeholder engagement within ScottishPower and Iberdrola. Management of all performance management outcomes via Group wide KPI Reporting, (Customer, Finance, Environmental, Health and Safety, Service) ensuring the “One Corporate Centre” targets are managed and year on year improvements demonstrated.

Bob was born in Dunoon, 1961 and was brought up in Aberdeen and Ayr before studying civil engineering at Strathclyde University, Glasgow 1978-82 where he gained a BSc (Hons) in civil engineering In April 2011 Bob took on the role as Head of Transportation and Environmental Services with approximately 1300 staff and a budget responsibility of around £125m. In September 2001 Bob joined Fife Council as Head of Transportation Services with responsibility for 530 professional, technical and admin staff covering all areas of roads, transportation and engineering services with a budget responsibility of some £80m. Previously in 1995 he was appointed as Director of Roads for Angus Council.

He began his career with Lothian Regional Council in Edinburgh in 1982 as a Graduate Civil Engineer and progressed to Assistant Director of Transportation, a post he held between 1993 and 1995. Bob was awarded a PhD in Civil Engineering (construction management) after part-time study between 1988-1994 again from Strathclyde University, Glasgow.

John joined the environmental sector after he had completed 13 years in the Royal Navy, where he served as an Aircraft Artificer, working on helicopters, Sea Harrier aircraft and gas turbine engines. He left the Royal Navy in 1993 to attend the University of Abertay Dundee. Having obtained a BSc (Honours) in Environmental Technology, John secured employment in East Lothian Council’s Environment Protection Unit in 1997 and worked on a diverse range of tasks that included: the implementation of the air quality strategy, creating the Council’s contaminated land Strategy, monitoring bathing water quality and investigating noise complaints.John joined the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in 2001. Whilst he is primarily employed as a Local Air Quality Management Specialist, (liaising very closely with the local authorities and other external partners, in relation to all matters associated with the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), John has also regulated the activities of a large wastewater treatment plant, played a lead role in developing SEPA’s ability to monitor noise, and has co-ordinated several in-depth studies.

After gaining a BSc in Botany at the University of Edinburgh in 1997 followed by a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Durham in 2001 Steve worked as a Senior Research Associate and Undergraduate Tutor at Durham University whilst carrying out research into the biochemical factors underpinning bruising in potatoes. After a change of location in 2006 Steve returned to the bus industry (having been a bus driver during University vacations) initially as a driver with Lothian Buses before moving to the position of Scheduler in 2007, then becoming their first Environmental Manager in 2009 – a role which successfully combines his interests in the bus industry with his scientific background. From 2010 Steve has taken on the additional responsibility for managing Lothian Buses’ CSR work. The company has developed an active schools engagement programme working with children from nursery to secondary school age targeting workplace skills and helping children with special educational needs become independent travellers.

He has successfully led Lothian Buses to become the 2012 Best Green Large Company in Scotland and the 2012 VIBES Transport award winners.

Ian is the Manager for Scottish Transport at the Energy Saving Trust (EST) with responsibility for providing support and advice to organisations to improve the efficiency of fleet operations and to create more sustainable travel. This includes delivery of Transport Scotland funded programmes. In doing so he has worked with numerous organisations providing support and advice to organisations ranging from local authorities, businesses of all sizes, schools and fleet owners and operators.Prior to joining the Energy Saving Trust Ian worked in the Scottish Government’s Scottish Energy Efficiency Office (SEEO) helping Scottish companies and other organisations gain the benefits from reduced running costs through energy efficiency and waste minimisation initiatives that his office promoted. Prior to the SEEO he worked in other Scottish Government departments dealing with a range of issues including Sustainable Development delivery, sponsorship of non-government organisations and administration of European grants for food processing.

David Spaven has spent his working life in and around the rail freight industry. Following 18 years as a freight marketing manager with British Rail, since 1993 he has been a rail freight consultant – currently the Principal of Deltix Transport Consulting, which was established in 2004. David has also been the Scottish representative of the Rail Freight Group since 2011. In the last two years he has written three books about railways, including Waverley Route: the life, death and rebirth of the Borders Railway.

I’m an active player in the transition towards a low carbon economy. I run a blog www.carbonhorizons.com to connect and share with others in this arena. The well-established Edinburgh University MSc Carbon Management program has empowered me with the tools, knowledge base and networks to contribute to this expanding industry space. My research and entrepreneurial interests lie predominantly with E-mobility, Solar PV, Transformation of the grid, Forestry Carbon/Sustainable Development and advances in Natural Capital Accounting. My previous dissertation was with the Carbon Disclosure Project focusing on disclosure with large utilities and the opportunities of exploiting this growing and important data source. My Current research is with Scottish Power and is aimed at exploring emergent business models utilising Electric Vehicles and their ties to the grid. There is much work to be done on the demand side of the Low Carbon Economy and the work of the 2020 Climate Group is crucial in forging ahead with our ambitious national emissions reduction targets. I’m more than grateful to be a part of such a dynamic and ambitious organisation and my research interests are very aligned with our current Transport Challenge pledge. uk.linkedin.com/in/warduku/