2026 Featured Speakers
Net Zero Week 2026 online conference is now closed. The below speakers are a selection of expert guests who appeared in the 2026 agenda.
Ron Garan
OPENING ADDRESS | Net Zero Week 2026
- Job Title: Former NASA astronaut and author
Ron Garan is a former NASA astronaut, decorated F-16 combat pilot, humanitarian, and keynote speaker who spent 178 days in space across two missions, logging more than 71 million miles in 2,842 orbits around Earth. During his time aboard the International Space Station, he conducted four spacewalks and gained a perspective that reshaped how he sees leadership, collaboration, and our responsibility to the planet. He is the author of Floating in Darkness and The Orbital Perspective. Ron speaks worldwide on sustainability, innovation, and what it takes to solve our greatest challenges together. *You can buy Ron Garan's latest book, a must-read, using the link below.
Abbie Badcock-Broe
WEBINAR | Leading Net Zero Under Pressure: Unlocking Collective Intelligence
- Job Title: former Head of Corporate, UK and Decarbonisation Strategy
- Organisation:National Grid Group
Abbie Badcock-Broe is an industry strategist with two decades of experience shaping the future of the UK energy system. Known for cutting through complexity, she specialises in system wide problem solving across decarbonisation, system operation and long range planning. Formerly Head of Corporate, UK & Decarbonisation Strategy at National Grid, she has led major strategic shifts and built enterprise wide foresight capabilities. A Royal Academy of Engineering Policy Fellow, Abbie is a regular voice on the main stage at leading industry forums
Chantelle Brandwood CEnv
WEBINAR | Net Zero in Action: Chartered Environmentalists Leading the Way
- Job Title: Founder
- Organisation:Eco Action
Chantelle Brandwood is Founder of Eco Action and a Chartered Environmentalist, specialising in carbon management and ISO-aligned life cycle assessment. She helps organisations turn complex net zero ambitions into practical, defensible strategies, combining over 20 years of commercial experience with rigorous environmental analysis. Recognised as SocEnv Rising Star 2025, Chantelle cuts through challenges to deliver clear, actionable outcomes.
Anna Bright
WEBINAR | Let’s go beyond carbon – how being sustainable can benefit your business
- Job Title: Chief Executive
- Organisation:Sustainability West Midlands
Anna has been Chief Executive at Sustainability West Midlands for over 10 years, and has worked in sustainability for almost 30 years. Anna has a private sector background in waste management and is on the Council for Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. Anna was a Trustee for the Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust for six years.
Paula Carter
WEBINAR | Leading Net Zero Under Pressure: Unlocking Collective Intelligence
- Job Title: Director
- Organisation:Inicio Success
Paula Carter, Director and Founder of Inicio Success Ltd, is an accredited change and transformation specialist with over 25 years’ experience helping organisations align strategy, people and processes. She partners with leaders to embed sustainable, people centred change and translate sustainability goals into practical action, supporting organisations to navigate complex transitions while building strong cultures and long term resilience.
Leanne Case
WEBINAR | Leading Net Zero Under Pressure: Unlocking Collective Intelligence
- Job Title: Chief Executive
- Organisation:Vzir Consulting
Leanne Case is a sustainability and leadership strategist, former diplomat, and founder and ex-CEO of Dubai’s Future Energy Forum. She chairs the Sustainability Challenge Group at Cadent Gas and has over 20 years’ international experience in engineering, energy and infrastructure. Known as the “Architect of Possibilities”, she helps traditional industries use collective intelligence to lead major change with more confidence, less risk and greater impact.
Dr Victoria Hands
WEBINAR | Getting organisational buy-in for clean energy and low carbon strategy
- Job Title: Director of Sustainability
- Organisation:The Open University
Dr Victoria Hands is a sustainability expert who empowers individuals and organisations to discover and adopt regenerative practices so they can transform their actions for sustainability. She promotes, trains, and coaches the implementation of long-term, preventative, inclusive, collaborative and integrated approaches. Victoria oversees OU policy, governance, data, reporting and implementation, and clarifies roles and objectives to ensure progress is aligned with the University's sustainability ambitions.
Nick Hay
WEBINAR | Reclaiming Net Zero
- Job Title: Communications and Stakeholder Lead
- Organisation:Net Zero Tracker (Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit)
Nick is communications and stakeholder lead for the Net Zero Tracker, shaping strategies that connect the Tracker with journalists, NGOs, policymakers, campaigners, and corporate networks. Nick is also the director of Storied, a specialist communications practice focused on accelerating systems change through credible storytelling.
Mike Hemsley
WEBINAR | Reclaiming Net Zero
- Job Title: Deputy Director
- Organisation:The Energy Transitions Commission
Mike Hemsley is Deputy Director for the Energy Transitions Commission, a diverse coalition of public, private, non-governmental and academic stakeholders aiming at accelerating energy transitions globally. He is responsible for managing the delivery of the ETC's analytical and regional programmes, and support for the ETC’s members. He previously worked at the UK’s Committee on Climate Change – an independent advisor to the Government – where he led the CCC's Carbon Budgets team, bringing together the CCC's analysis on sectoral emissions and leading work on cross-cutting decarbonisation policy to recommend the UK’s Sixth Carbon Budget (2033-37).
Fred Henderson
WEBINAR | Getting organisational buy-in for clean energy and low carbon strategy
- Job Title: Commercial Growth Manager
- Organisation:Ecosia
Spearheaded the development of Ecosia's B2B acquisition channel. Helping organisations to embed sustainability in their everyday operations, one search at a time.
John Lang
WEBINAR | Climate Trunk and the age of climate whataboutism
- Job Title: Founder
- Organisation:Climate Trunk
John Lang is the founder of Climate Trunk, a visual guide to making sense of climate and energy. He co-founded the Net Zero Tracker at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit and founded Consult Climate and Kiwis in Climate. A New Zealand-qualified lawyer, he specialises in climate science, policy and public communication, with degrees from University College London and the University of Otago.
Anya Ledwith CEnv
WEBINAR | Net Zero in Action: Chartered Environmentalists Leading the Way
- Job Title: Founder & Director
- Organisation:Eshcon
Anya Ledwith has a mission to make environmental management the business norm. Founder of award-winning consultancy Eshcon and a Chartered Environmentalist, Anya works with start-ups, fast growth and corporates on ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, SECR carbon reporting, verification, Net Zero, carbon neutrality and ESOS energy audits. Mixing passion, expertise and engagement to help clients realise the opportunities.
Maria Madara
WEBINAR | Getting organisational buy-in for clean energy and low carbon strategy
- Job Title: Associate
- Organisation:KaurMaxwell
Maria Madara is an Associate Solicitor at KaurMaxwell, a B Corp certified law firm committed to using business as a force for good – balancing people, profit and purpose to drive meaningful impact. KaurMaxwell was one of the first six law firms in London to achieve B Corp status. As part of B Corp certified organisation, Maria is actively engaged in embedding sustainability principles into organisational practice, reflecting KaurMaxwell’s dedication to responsible business and its role in the wider movement towards a low-carbon future. With a practice that spans across employment law, insolvency & restructuring and civil litigation, Maria brings a sharp understanding of how organisations can align governance, policy, and culture to meet ambitious strategic goals. At this webinar, Maria will share practical insights on how employers can move beyond climate ambition and translate net zero commitments into real organisational action.
Sophie McCool
WEBINAR | Getting organisational buy-in for clean energy and low carbon strategy
- Job Title: BSc Natural Sciences student
- Organisation:The Open University
Sophie McCool is a final-year BSc Natural Sciences student at The Open University, with a focus on environmental science, sustainability, and climate policy. Alongside her studies, she has worked as a research assistant supporting projects with Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) and has contributed to climate and human rights research through the WIP Academy. She is particularly interested in helping communities and organisations engage more meaningfully with sustainability and climate issues, especially through education, communication, and local action. Alongside research and policy interests, Sophie also leads a community garden project in her work in a care home in Northern Ireland, including facilitating intergenerational nature-based workshops and planting for biodiversity.
Gary Pattison
WEBINAR | Embedding PAS 2080 across infrastructure and supply chains
- Job Title: Certification Team Manager
- Organisation:BSI Group
Gary Pattison is a technical expert and assessor at BSI, specialising in the built environment with a focus on digital construction and information management. With a Master’s degree in Physics, he helps organisations improve quality, efficiency, and compliance through effective data management and the application of industry standards and best practices.
Sarah Ridgeon
WEBINAR | Net Zero in Action: Chartered Environmentalists Leading the Way
- Job Title: Policy and Communities of Practice Officer
- Organisation:Society for the Environment
Sarah is Policy and Communities of Practice Officer at Society for the Environment (SocEnv), an umbrella body responsible for championing and registering environmental professionals. Her role involves leading SocEnv’s special interest groups and policy centred projects, including coordinating the influential Soils and Stones project and collaborative Environmental Policy Forum (EPF).
Luke Robinson CEnv
WEBINAR | Net Zero in Action: Chartered Environmentalists Leading the Way
- Job Title: Senior Environmental Manager
- Organisation:Costain
Luke is a Chartered Environmentalist and Senior Environmental Manager at Costain. He works across major UK infrastructure projects, leading practical environmental delivery, enabling regulatory compliance and progressing sustainability initiatives. His work includes supporting lower carbon delivery while promoting decarbonisation within the wider context of sustainability. Last year, Luke was included in South Yorkshire’s Top 30 Under 30s.
Mark Sommerfeld
WEBINAR | Where next for CCUS - Delivering Industrial Decarbonisation
- Job Title: UK Director
- Organisation:Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA)
Mark is UK Director of the Carbon Capture Storage Association. He leads efforts to advocate for a robust policy and regulatory framework to advance the UK’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) sector. With over a decade of experience in the energy and environmental sectors, Mark has worked closely with renewable energy developers, government ministers, civil servants, energy suppliers, grid operators, financiers, and traders. Before joining the CCSA, he worked as Deputy Director of Policy at the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), where he championed renewable and clean technologies across power, heat, and transport. Notably this included leading policy initiatives for BECCS development in the biomass power, waste-to-energy, and anaerobic digestion sectors. Mark holds degrees from Cambridge University and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
2026 Principal Sponsor
