The people behind the heat network
Lothian Heat is built by a team of local and international experts who believe affordable, community-owned heat is not just possible — it is necessary.
The Board
The Lothian Heat board brings together expertise in sustainable finance, heat networks, community energy and regional development. Board members serve as directors of the CIC and are responsible for its governance and strategic direction.
Gemma is a senior leader in sustainable development, finance and policy, focused on mobilising finance and innovation to deliver scaled solutions that work for people and planet. She has contributed to national and international policy through roles on the Green Heat Finance Taskforce, the Scottish Taskforce for Green and Sustainable Finance, and the Board of WEAll Scotland. Her background includes mission-led finance roles at the Scottish National Investment Bank, the Finance Innovation Lab and IIPP, alongside a PhD exploring finance for people and planet.
Kaz is a chartered accountant who qualified at KPMG and has worked in audit, risk and systems automation at Aegon. He is currently Energy Lead at Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Network (ECCAN) and Project Development Manager at Energy4All. He serves on the boards of several charities and is a trustee of Community Energy Scotland.
Michael is a heat networks and district energy specialist with over 32 years’ experience. He has authored project development guidance for developers in the UK, Canada and the USA, and is a non-executive director of Manchester Energy Network. He is a former founding Director of Aberdeen Heat and Power, a nationally recognised example of using district heating to tackle fuel poverty.
Bobby is Manager of the East Lothian Climate Hub, one of 24 Climate Action Hubs covering every corner of Scotland, and leads on national priorities for the Hub Programme. His background spans community organising and futures practice, and he has received the University of Edinburgh Changemaker award and BE-ST’s Accelerate to Zero Community Champion award.
Ralph began his career as a tech journalist and was part of the first wave of the web, launching a leading search engine brand across Europe. He is currently Chair of East Lothian Community Benefits, Vice Chair of the Association of East Lothian Community Councils, and a Board Director of the Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers.
Our Team
Lothian Heat’s staff team manages day-to-day delivery across our programmes, working closely with the board, community partners and the Expert Advisory Group.
Ellen leads Lothian Heat's Warm Homes programme in East Lammermuir, supporting households in off-gas rural communities to explore and adopt low-carbon heating solutions. Her work spans community engagement, coordination of technical feasibility work, and management of community benefit funding.
Expert Advisory Group
The Expert Advisory Group brings together individuals generously contributing their time, insight and experience to support Lothian Heat CIC during its early development. Members act in a voluntary, advisory capacity.
Senior fundraiser and leader with a 30-year track record across national politics, charities, higher education, health and sport. Delivered East Lothian Council's award-winning heat strategy that underpins Lothian Heat's vision. His networking and persuasive skills have been instrumental in building Lothian Heat's team.
Professorial Fellow in Social Studies of Energy, leading research on local energy systems, sustainable heat and low-energy buildings. Advises government and regulators including Ofgem/Innovate UK and SSEN DSO Advisory Board.
Chartered civil engineer with 20+ years in energy strategy and district heating. Led the Scotland Heat Map for the Scottish Government; formerly Head of Business Development at Vattenfall Heat UK.
Clean heat specialist since 2008. Helped deliver the world’s largest 90°C ammonia heat pump. Supports clean heat projects globally as Group Sustainable Development Director.
Expertise across Community Energy Scotland, Parliamentary campaigns and Edinburgh’s Festivals. Led community engagement for Porty Community Energy’s heat network project.
Senior energy systems specialist with 15+ years across government, regulation and industry. Former Scottish Government; PhD in electrical engineering; associate with Regen.
Founder-director of Porty Community Energy, working to bring community-owned heat to Portobello and Craigmillar.
25 years providing economic advice in Scotland, with 100+ business cases and economic impact assessments including in energy and renewables.
Led climate and clean energy work since 1990. Associate Fellow at Chatham House; OBE for services to green energy, finance and climate change. East Lothian-raised.
Specialist in sector-coupling heat networks with Scotland’s renewables and industrial waste heat to decarbonise heating and eradicate fuel poverty.
Strategic brand consultant and creative director with 25 years’ experience across charities and publicly listed businesses on brand, positioning and communications.
Former CEO of the Chartered Banker Institute. Author of Green & Sustainable Finance: Principles and Practice, a global standard text for finance professionals.
Delivered the Scottish Government’s district heating loan fund, warm homes fund and biomass support scheme. Over 25 years in housing and environment; trustee of CHEF.
Over 15 years delivering clean energy projects from inception to shovel-ready and developing business cases for emerging energy technologies. Currently Development Lead for GB Energy.
Conservation Accredited Architect (RIBA). Officeholder for EdinBRIC, Board member for the Kings Theatre Redevelopment, immediate past EAA President and co-founder of EALA Impacts.
Focused on building physics and triple bottom line sustainability. RICS Scotland Sustainability Group member; sole Scottish representative re-drafting the RICS Whole Life Carbon Professional Statement in 2022.
Launched Heat Network Scotland at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, bringing together industry, academia, communities and government to develop heat networks in Scotland.
Leads work on co-benefits of climate action at ECCI. Lead Author, IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change.
Senior leader in financial services and programme delivery, most recently leading Climate and ESG strategy at an investment bank across ECB, CSRD and NFRD frameworks. Based in East Lothian.
Engineering background with long-standing commitment to community-led development. Led SCCAN; Chair of Community Energy Scotland. Co-founder of Sustaining Dunbar and East Lothian Climate Action Network.
15 years in energy decarbonisation and low-carbon heat across the UK and Europe, supporting local authorities and governments to deliver inclusive, locally grounded heat projects. Based in East Linton.