Our Team

Paul King – Chief Executive

Paul became the first CEO of the UK-GBC in May 2007. Previously he worked for WWF-UK where he was Director of Campaigns, and formerly Campaign Director for WWF's One Million Sustainable Homes campaign and co-founder of One Planet Living ®. Paul is Chairman of the Zero Carbon Hub and is a member of the Zero Carbon Homes 2016 Task Force. He is a member of the Technology Strategy Board's Low Impact Building Programme Steering Group and the Igloo Regeneration Sustainability Committee. He was previously a member of the Low Carbon Construction IGT, Sustainable Buildings Task Group, Code for Sustainable Homes Steering Group and the Egan Review of Skills for Sustainable Communities. On an international level he is a Board member of the World Green Building Council and Chairs the WorldGBC International Policy Task Force and WorldGBC Europe Network.

John Alker – Director of Policy and Communications

John has been working at UK-GBC since shortly after its launch in 2007. He leads on policy, government relations, campaigns and PR, working closely with the rest of the senior management team on the development and implementation of UK-GBC's overall strategic plan.

Prior to joining the UK-GBC John led political communications on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and sustainable homes campaign for the environmental charity WWF-UK. He has also previously worked as an MP's researcher and speech-writer in the House of Commons and in commercial public affairs.

John can be contacted at: john.alker@ukgbc.org

Jane Dennyson - Director of Business Development

Jane has joined UK-GBC to lead on business development, membership, events and the education and training programme.

She is responsible for ensuring that UK-GBC has a sustainable and diverse income and is committed to maximising value to members.

Jane comes from a marketing background and has spent the last seven years working within the property and construction sector in Edinburgh and Croydon to attract investment into urban regeneration projects.

Jane started her career marketing responsible tourism projects in East Africa.

Jane can be contacted at jane.dennyson@ukgbc.org.

Peter Griffiths - Head of Finance and Operations

Peter is a Chartered Accountant with considerable NGO and charity experience. Prior to joining UK-GBC he spent four years working in sub-Saharan African microfinance for a UK-based charity.

Peter started his career in London before relocating to spend 15 months working in Hong Kong.

He holds an MSc in Development Economics and strongly believes in the importance of sustainability for the future success of the UK economy.

Peter can be contacted at peter.griffiths@ukgbc.org

Jenny Buckland – Member Relations Manager

Jenny has been fully involved with the UK-GBC since its inception in early 2006.

She has a background in administration and event management, and joined the UK GBC from BRE where she worked as a Special Projects Manager within the Environment Division.

Jenny is responsible for overseeing membership services and ensuring the satisfaction and engagement of our members.

Jenny can be contacted at: jenny.buckland@ukgbc.org.

Rob Fordham – Membership Services Officer

Rob is an experienced Membership Services Officer having previously worked for two major national membership organisations.

He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the membership, offering service support to new and existing members as well as supporting business development in recruitment and events. Rob is the first point of contact if you have any queries regarding membership.

Rob can be contacted at: robert.fordham@ukgbc.org

Jennifer Hirsch – Business Development Officer

Jennifer joined the team in 2010 as Business Development Officer, focusing on business development, communications and marketing strategy for expanding the UK-GBC’s influence and growing the community. Before working for the UK-GBC, she worked in corporate responsibility.

Jennifer has a Master’s degree in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in Conflict Resolution and Political Science.She is an avid believer in business-led positive change in sustainability and society. She has experience facilitating sustainable development projects in a wide variety of environments, from working with the corporate membership in the UK-GBC to the Andes in Peru.

Jennifer can be contacted at jennifer.hirsch@ukgbc.org

Joanne Wheeler – Senior Policy Advisor

Working closely with her colleagues in UK-GBC's Policy and Programmes team, Jo leads on policy in a number of areas. Current areas of focus include the Green Deal for non domestic buildings and the CRC-EES, the Localism Bill, Zero Carbon and Allowable Solutions, European policy and helping to develop the newly established World GBC European Network.

Jo joined UK-GBC in 2008, after a stint working and travelling overseas. Prior to this Jo was at environmental charity WWF for 7 years.

Jo holds an MSc in Development Planning, Environment and Sustainable Development from UCL, and has worked in the field of buildings and urban policy for a number of years, both in the UK and internationally.

Jo can be contacted at joanne.wheeler@ukgbc.org

Anna Surgenor – Senior Technical Advisor

Anna joined the team in May 2010 and leads on the measurement and reporting of sustainability impacts from the built environment. In her technical capacity Anna focuses on industry related issues including the development of a sign posting online platform of building performance related information, developing master classes with the STEP team and industry related issues including sustainable community infrastructure, rating tools and other data issues. Anna sits on the World GBC Rating Tool Committee.

Her previous roles involved technical development of international rating tools at the NZGBC and BRE Global. Anna has also worked in the ODA's Environment and Sustainability team on the London 2012 Olympic Games. Anna can be contacted at anna.surgenor@ukgbc.org

Rebecca Avery – Communications Manager

Rebecca became UK-GBC's Communications Manager in May 2011. She works on UK-GBC's digital and CRM strategies, on PR and media relations and on a range of related marketing and communications activities for both members and UK-GBC's other audiences.

Prior to joining UK-GBC, Rebecca was the Marketing Manager for the London Development Agency where she worked on the organisation's stakeholder engagement strategy. While there, she also carried out marketing activities for a range of specific projects from regeneration initiatives in East London to employment programmes to help Londoners back into work.

Earlier in her career, Rebecca worked in various marketing and project management roles in the technology and higher education sectors.

She can be contacted at rebecca.avery@ukgbc.org

Christina Milovancev – Events and Marketing Manager

Christina joined UK-GBC in May 2011. As the Events and Marketing Manager, she works on the scoping, management and delivery of the Events Programme to further UK-GBC's mission. This includes delivering a range of events and marketing programmes including workshops, seminars, conferences and large events such as Ecobuild in London and throughout the UK.

Prior to starting at UK-GBC, Christina worked in urban planning, property marketing and development and holds a MSc in Contemporary Urbanism from the London School of Economics and a BA in Urban Studies from UC Berkeley.

Christina can be contacted at christina.milovancev@ukgbc.org

Richard Twinn – Events and Programmes Assistant

Richard is part of the events team. After initially joining UK-GBC as an intern in December 2010, Richard became an established part of the team to assist in delivering the events programme and task groups.

His role is primarily focused on coordinating the logistics for events and providing administrative support for task groups.

He is a recent graduate from Sussex University where he studied history and politics. 

Richard can be contacted at richard.twinn@ukgbc.org

Ian Reeves – Consultant: Events and Marketing

Ian oversees the UK-GBC's events programme and specialises in major events such as Ecobuild. He has worked with UK-GBC from its inception. Before working with UK-GBC, Ian managed major events and collaborative workshops for several large organisations and agencies including WWF where he met Paul King. His focus on excellence and delivering a fantastic customer experience has helped motivate the teams he has managed and worked alongside, and at the UK-GBC this vision, coupled with keen attention to detail, has ensured a successful and entertaining events programme. Ian's background is in marketing and business development, and he has held Director and Board positions with the London based WWAV Rapp Collins direct marketing agency, and the Nationwide Building Society group of companies. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Direct Marketing.

Ian can be contacted at: ian@ireeves.com

Cat Hirst – Sustainability Training and Education Programme (STEP) Manager

Cat joined the team in March 2011 to lead on the UK-GBC’s Sustainability Training and Education Programme (STEP). Cat manages the strategic development of the existing STEP courses: Introduction to the Built Environment, and Sustainability Leadership in the Built Environment. She also works on development of our education portfolio, playing an active role in planning our Masterclasses and creating learning resources.

Cat previously worked as an Associate Director for a global engineering firm, and has worked as a sustainability consultant for a number of years, both in the UK and internationally.  

Cat can be contacted at cat.hirst@ukgbc.org.

Shelly Dewhurst – Sustainability Training and Education Programme (STEP) Officer

Shelly coordinates the Sustainability Training and Education Programme (STEP) and is working alongside the STEP Manager to expand the programme. She holds a BSc in Environmental Management and Sustainability and has worked in environmental education for over eight years. Shelly recently joined us from the At-Bristol Science Centre, a leading hands-on interactive science museum where she worked as a project manager and a consultant for the Science Learning Centre developing and delivering bespoke training courses.

Shelly can be contacted at shelly.dewhurst@ukgbc.org.

Richard Griffiths – Policy & Campaigns Consultant

Richard joined the team in May 2011 as a consultant with a particular focus on our work on existing homes, including policy development related to the Green Deal and leading UK-GBC's input into the Great British Refurb Campaign. His previous roles include as a senior policy adviser and international climate change outreach team leader at the Department for Energy and Climate Change; and as communications officer at Earthwatch Institute.

Richard holds a BA in economics and an MSc in environmental technology. 

Richard can be contacted at richard.griffiths@ukgbc.org.