E4SV.ORG - Key Persons


Dr Anna Clements

Job Titles:
  • Chief Engineer
Anna has more than 5 years' experience of energy access and efficiency technologies, community engagement and development in East Africa. She is a champion of environmental sustainability, diversity and community empowerment. She is a graduate of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Dr Bernie Jones - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director
Bernie has more than 15 years' experience of working at the interface of technology and international development. He is passionate about creating equality of opportunity, and sustainable impact. He previously worked at the Royal Society, Shaw Trust, UNESCO and British Airways. He is a graduate of the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh.

Dr John Holmes

Job Titles:
  • Senior Adviser
John was co-leader of the original Smart Villages research initiative, from 2014 - 2017. A graduate of Brunel University, Imperial College London and the Univeristy of Cambridge, his expertise includes research management, science and development policy, environment and energy. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford.

Dr Laura Allerston

Job Titles:
  • Head of Business Development
Laura has more than 10 years' experience in the clean energy industry, with the last 5 focusing on energy access opportunities and international development. She has a particular interest in sustainability and circular solutions. Her degrees were obtained from the Universities of Birmingham and Hull.

Dr Terry van Gevelt

Job Titles:
  • Adviser
Terry is Associate Professor of Urban Sustainability and Lee Kong Chian Fellow at the College of Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University. Terry is an interdisciplinary social scientist focused on bridging the sustainability science-policy divide. His current research programme focuses on communicating the impacts of complex and uncertain climate impacts to diverse stakeholders; and examining how technical solutions to sustainability challenges operate within the wider social, economic, and institutional context. Terry holds degrees from the University of Warwick and the University of Cambridge.

Frances James

Job Titles:
  • Development Engineer
Frances brings to team an interest in engineering development with communities as an active partner and strong basis in structural engineering, having previously worked for both Arup and Atkins. She is driven by ideas of equality and sustainability and has an interest in WASH projects, having previously worked in this capacity in Zambia, Panama, and in refugee camps in Greece. She holds an MEng in Engineering Design from the University of Bristol.

Jim Cohen

Job Titles:
  • Advisor

Laurie Kent

Job Titles:
  • Development Engineer
Laurie Kent has a background in UK agriculture and passion for sustainable and holistic farming practices. He graduated from Harper Adams Universities ‘Automotive Engineering Off-Highway' BEng and has experience in the design of heavy duty machinery. He's worked building bespoke expedition vehicles for Mercedes Unimog, agricultural equipment and off-grid systems. When he's not working he'll be out riding his bike!

Lee Kong Chian

Job Titles:
  • Fellow at the College of Integrative Studies

Martine Robson

Job Titles:
  • Finance Manager
Martine brings more than 10 years experience of financial and administrative management to the business. A graduate of Herriott Watt University, her particular interests include gender, education and sustainable entrepreneurship.

Natasha Wilson

Job Titles:
  • Engineering Project Manager
Natasha is dedicated to crafting impactful solutions grounded in a deep understanding of social contexts and community needs. Armed with a MEng from the University of Cambridge and complementary studies in anthropology and business strategy at Harvard, she channels experience from fast-paced technical consulting and a multinational development NGO.

Prof Deepak Nayyar

Job Titles:
  • Advisor

Prof Howard Alper

Job Titles:
  • Advisor
Prof Howard Alper (Advisor) - Science Advisor to the Governor General of Canada; former Chair, Canada Science Technology and Innovation Council

Prof Lord Alec Broers

Job Titles:
  • Advisor

Prof Peter Nolan

Job Titles:
  • Advisor

Prof Sir Brian Heap

Job Titles:
  • Senior Adviser
Based at Cambridge and past President of the European Academies Science Advisory Council, and former Master of St Edmund's College, Cambridge, Sir Brian was one of the originators of the Smart Villages concept and initiative. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and its former Foreign Secretary and Vice-President, an honourary Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society, and past Director of Research at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Now an Associate of the Development for Develoment Studies at the University of Cambridge, Sir Brian's interests include international engagement in science, sustainable development and science advice for policy makers.

Richard Hayhurst

Job Titles:
  • Communications & Media Engagement, Policy

Sandy Evans

Job Titles:
  • Procurement & Development

Zoë Slattery

Job Titles:
  • Engineering Project Manager
Zoë brings to the Smart Villages team an enthusiasm both for innovative technology and sustainable development. As a graduate of Cambridge University's ‘Engineering for Sustainable Development' MPhil, she has a passion for understanding how engineering can be applied in challenging contexts to create sustainable solutions, and for accurately measuring the impact of such projects.