Gary Braybrooke

Chief Executive

Gary Braybrooke is the founder and CEO of the Energy Efficiency Association

Kenneth Campbell

Chairman

Kenneth is the Chairman of the Energy Efficiency Association

David Wilkins

Head of School: Engineering and Construction

Dave began his career as a CITB apprentice before moving into teaching Carpentry and Joinery part-time at Barnfield College in 2000, later joining full-time in 2002. He taught and assessed NVQs while completing a CertEd and participating in the Subject Learning Coach programme. In 2008, Dave became Head of Construction at Bedford College, where he earned a Master’s in Education focused on Strategic Leadership and Management. He coached new staff and aspiring managers, and following the 2018 merger with Tresham College, joined the senior leadership team as Director of Construction and Building Services. In August 2022, Dave was appointed Vice Principal at Bedford Campus, overseeing strategic leadership and curriculum areas including Construction, Engineering, Science, Computing, and Motor Vehicle. He has led major projects such as the £11m Wellingborough Campus renovation and the £4.5m Offsite Construction Training Centre. Dave has been active in BACH since 2008, serving as National Chair from 2019–2021, helping shape national construction training policy. He has also driven initiatives like Heritage projects, Apprenticeships, and Higher Education programmes. Most recently, he developed the College’s strategy for Skills Competitions and partnered with WorldSkills UK to embed skills excellence into teaching and staff development.

Ian Rippin

Chief Executive Officer

Ian is CEO of MCS, a profit for purpose organisation operating at the heart of the UK’s adoption of renewable energy sources for our homes and small businesses. MCS is responsible for the national Standards that cover low carbon products and their installation, used to produce electricity and heat from renewable sources. Ian is leading MCS through a period of transformational change as the organisation strives to inspire a next generation of home-grown energy, fit for the needs of every UK home and community. He started his career in telecommunications with British Telecom (BT), culminating in leading BT’s offshore operations in India. Over the last 15 years he has held leadership roles focused on organisational turnaround and restructuring, including for the UK Environment Agency’s National Laboratory Service and for the Canadian Standards Association’s UK operations as a world leader in explosion safety and environmental product certification. His career underpins his passion for quality and the role that standards play in protecting consumers. Ian is a member of the UK government’s Green Jobs Delivery Group, Solar Industry Taskforce and the Electrification of Heat Taskforce.

TBC from Department for Education

To be confirmed

Jane Thomas

CEO and Co Founder

Jane has 17 years experience in the energy efficiency industry. Previously, she was business development and account manager for E.ON's Obligation Partnership Team where she worked closely with social housing providers and contractors delivering eco funded energy efficiency projects. She is now co-founder and CEO of Women in Rising Green Careers.

Maria Gonella

Managing Partner

My vision is to create lasting impact by expanding access to high-quality, practical education that leads to meaningful and sustainable careers. As the UK transitions to a net-zero economy, education must play a central role in building a skilled and competent workforce. Founded in 2021, Quantum Training, a division of Quantum Group, was established to help address the UKs green skills gap. Building on over 28 years of low-carbon expertise, we design accredited training through purpose-built renewable energy and retrofit training facilities across the UK, covering technologies such as heat pumps, solar PV, battery storage, EV charging, and sustainable retrofit.

Rebecca Waterfield

Director of Business Services

Rebecca works as director of business services at South and City College Birmingham, she is passionate in making sure local employers have access to the right talent and skills to fill recruitment gaps and able to access a plethora of short upskilling courses to prepare the workforce to be able to deliver retrofit and green work projects now and in the future. South & City College Birmingham has also been working in partnership with Birmingham City Council’s Net Zero team to facilitate opportunities or supply chain to meet their one contractors and support in bidding for and being successful in gaining work. Rebecca will be talking about Innovation in education through collaboration to support the local economy be ready for and rise to the retrofit revolution.