Our Team

Elizabeth Mandeville

‘As a Co-operative OVESCO is made up of its voluntary directors, employees and investors; by working with all of them we can make a difference’.

I was Formerly Research Manager in an IT consultancy, with specialist areas including home automation and energy load management systems. An active member of a local charity, a number of community groups and the Transition Town Lewes movement, I am working with the community to raise awareness and promote practical steps towards a low-carbon future.

Chris Rowland

‘Working for OVESCO has been my passion for the last ten years and I believe community energy gets people involved in their own energy use’.

I have been employed by OVESCO since 2007. I managed the Lewes District Council micro-generation grant scheme for three years, which allowed OVESCO to fund an office in Lewes. Since then I have managed two Local Energy Assessment Funds, mentored 12 community energy groups to set up as new benefit societies and helped set up Community Energy South in 2014.

I am also a director of Meadow Blue Community Energy CBS, Merston Renewable Energy CIC, and a strong supporter of Community Energy England as well as the Transition Town movement.

Nick Rouse

‘I have worked all my life as a engineer and we have the skills to build a future powered by renewable energy alone’.

With a BSc in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Nick has worked for over 30 years in the electronics and electrical engineering industry. As Chief Engineer and Head of Design/Development for Telcon Ltd he worked on the design and development of the company’s products, principally electrical current and energy sensors, many of which are used in the renewable energy industry around the world.

Nick has wide ranging technical skills in energy conservation and power generation and his own home is fitted with PV, solar thermal and a ground source heating plant. Nick has an MSC form the Centre for Technology in Wales.

Howard Johns

‘I am convinced we have all the energy technology and money we need to implement the climate solutions we need and we can make that happen now’.

Howard is the author of energy revolution an energy engineer, entrepreneur, business leader and activist. Following completing a degree in energy technology and environment in the early 1990s, Howard became a campaigner, about energy and climate change.

Moving from saying no to the problems, Howard set about building solutions, eventually founding Southern Solar a national solar energy company, and OVESCO one of the first locally owned renewable energy cooperative in the UK. At the same time he chaired the trade body representing the UK solar industry campaigning around energy policy in the process. Howard is a currently Managing Director of Encome Energy Performance UK Ltd and Chair of the Board of Trustees at 10:10.

Jan Hunter

‘I am strongly committed to OVESCO’s work with renewable energy and its community investors’.

With a background in policy-related social and educational research and evaluation of public services, I worked for 12 years as a senior manager at the Audit Commission, inspecting and evaluating the management and delivery of public services and the use of public money. I have also worked with schools and local authorities as a consultant, been the chair of governors of a Brighton primary school, and am involved in a number of local community organisations.

Ollie Pendered

‘OVESCO is working towards a happy low carbon future where we can balance locally owned renewable energy with demand and supply.’

I joined OVESCO having set up the Barcombe Energy Group back in 2011 and have worked alongside the team here to help share the OVESCO model to groups around the region. I also chair the Community Energy South network and am currently the sector’s representative with Community Energy England.

As well as developing community energy projects with OVESCO I am a Big Energy Saving Champion, providing much needed independent energy bill advice particularly for the fuel poor and vulnerable. You may have met me over the past five years at one of our Community Energy Cafe events across the region.

Paul Bellack

‘I built an eco home in 2005 in Lewes where I live with my wife and 2 daughters. I have been actively engaged in community projects and am passionate about renewable energy and the environment’.

Paul worked for many years as an investment fund manager before setting up his own property company which he still runs. In 1998, Paul joined 2 other entrepreneurs who had just set up the Ethical Property Co, which is now is one of the largest social businesses in the UK, owning and/or managing a total of 23 Centres across England, Scotland and Wales, and providing office, meeting, event and retail space to over 1000 organisations each year. He continues to be a non-executive director. Paul is also a non-executive director for both  Ethical Property Europe and The Social Justice and Human Rights Centre Company Limited.

Patrick Crawford

‘I have been working to combat Climate Change since 2006 and I believe communalities can make a real difference’.

I have been in Partnerships and as Business Development Manager with CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) working with businesses, investors and universities; and supporting the community of Lewes as Director of the Lewes Pound CIC since 2009. With the help of the other OVESCO directors and my willingness to learn I am delighted to be part of the guidance and inspiration that is OVESCO – delivering carbon saving projects, advising others and developing new partnerships and initiatives for the benefit of Lewes District and beyond.