Professor Peter Roberts, Chair
Peter is currently Professor Emeritus of Sustainable Spatial Development at the School of Earth & Environment, University of Leeds and is the Chair of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. He lives in Kirklees and is a trustee of the local Kirkwood Hospice. Peter was previously a board member of the Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust and has a wealth of experience in chairing a range of organisations. His research and professional interests cover a range of topics, including strategic planning, regeneration, housing and community development.
Councillor Aafaq Butt, Vice-Chair
Aafaq Butt is the councillor for the ward of Heckmondwike in Kirklees council. He holds cabinet responsibility for Culture and Greener Kirklees.
Shahana Adeeb, Commissioner
Shahana is a supply chain professional with diverse qualifications in life sciences, chemistry, law, education, logistics and supply chain management. Her international career spans social service, voluntary initiatives, mentoring, teaching, corporate environments, and academic research. She also serves as an Associate at the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission, and is a Kirklees Local Authority School Governor at Moldgreen Community Primary School. She lives in Huddersfield.
Professor John Allport, Commissioner
John is Professor of Automotive Engineering at the University of Huddersfield, where he is Director of the Applied Interdisciplinary Engineering Research Group. He joined the University in 2013 after 30 years in industry, working in a variety of roles across different sectors all around the world. His current work focuses on energy efficiency and emissions reduction, including energy from waste, solar power and process efficiency. John is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Manager, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and an active promoter of engineering in schools.
Kiran Bali MBE JP, Commissioner
Kiran is a global organisational leader and activist in the areas of environmental justice, women’s empowerment, interfaith understanding, and peacebuilding through multidisciplinary approaches. She is the Global Chair of the United Religions Initiative which promotes cooperative action. Tackling climate change through advocacy and empowering grassroots communities with knowledge and tools, she launched the Global Hindu declaration on climate change, and leads several local initiatives.
Tim Chapman, Commissioner
Tim runs Othersfield Sustainable Communications, a public relations consultancy focusing on low-carbon technologies and the energy sector. He has 28 years' experience in business journalism and communications, including 15 years at the University of Sheffield's manufacturing research centres. He lives in Huddersfield.
Richard Clifton, Commissioner
Richard is an independent carbon verifier with 16 years’ experience within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, auditing carbon emissions across various energy-intensive industries. He previously worked in the heavy clay industry at Hepworth Building Products for 30 years, initially concentrating on energy efficiency and then moving into production and process management. He retired in 2020 and now volunteers with an environment group maintaining areas and improving biodiversity within the community.
Jimmy Dickinson, Commissioner
Jim is head of the Longley Farm family of businesses, which operate in the UK, Estonia, Australia , Uruguay & Brazil. He is also Constable of the Graveship of Holme and a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society. As an engineer working in food and farming, his relevant interests, at both an international and local level are: renewables, emissions, sequestration, built and natural environment, drainage, effluent, transport, heat & power, packaging & waste, agriculture and nutrition. He has a particular interest in a sustainable future for the Holme Valley area and works with several local organisations.
Chris Herring, Commissioner
Chris is one of the pioneers of Passivhaus construction in the UK. He co-founded the sustainable building company now known as 21 Degrees, and was joint managing director for 25 years where he oversaw pioneering work on Passivhaus construction, supply chain and advanced energy-efficient retrofit. He was a founding director and chair of the UK Passivhaus Trust, chair of the Association for Environment Conscious Building, and chair of the International Passivhaus Association Affiliates Council.
Karen Hill, Commissioner
As an environmental engineer, with over 15 years’ experience in the water industry, Karen is passionate about creating a better future for everyone on the planet. Her many years of involvement with Fairtrade, including sitting on the Kirklees Fairtrade Steering Committee, has given her a greater awareness of the global impact of our changing climate. Karen co-leads an initiative helping Christians, churches and their leaders to be good stewards of the earth. She has been instrumental in her local school being awarded Bronze Eco School Status.
Jennifer Hirst, Commissioner
Jennifer has over 10 years’ experience working within the field of environmental strategy and compliance within the manufacturing industry. Jennifer’s engagement looks to provide a closer working relationship on sustainable matters between Cummins Turbo Technologies and the community in which they operate.
Bill Macbeth OBE FRSA, Commissioner
Bill is the Managing Director of the Textile Centre of Excellence in Huddersfield. He has held senior skills policy positions at the national and local level and is active in European education and sustainability policy. He is a Director of the UK Fashion and Textiles Association, and represented the UK on the Euratex Director Generals’ Group in Brussels. Between 2000 and 2003, Bill served as President of the European Regional Information Society Association, and is a trustee of the Cobbett Environmental Trust.
Stephen Moore, Commissioner
Stephen is a City Manager for CityFibre, leading on several of the business's West Yorkshire investments. CityFibre's £4bn national full-fibre rollout will see 8 million homes with futureproofed connectivity set to transform the way residents live and work. Stephen is a Civil Engineer by profession, a Smart City advocate and a Digital Board Member for the Leeds City Region LEP.
Tony Newham, Commissioner
After 28 years with HSBC Bank in commercial and corporate banking, Tony set up his own business to operate a commercial finance brokerage in Huddersfield in 2007. This business is now one of the largest of its kind in Yorkshire, liaising with regional and national SMEs to assist them with their funding needs. Tony has held a lifelong personal interest in meteorology and climate and will use his contacts and knowledge of business to foster, encourage and promote a route for more sustainable practices.
Abdul Ravat, Commissioner
Abdul currently oversees development and asset management at the Abbeyfield Society, managing supply of quality housing and capturing good design to meet the housing, care and support needs to older people. He has previously worked with the Housing Corporation / Homes & Communities Agency and has a wealth of experience working within the social housing sector. He is member of the Independent Schools Appeals Panel, and an Ambassador with National Training Awards.
Gideon Richards, Commissioner
Gideon Richards runs a sustainability and renewable energy consultancy from within Kirklees and has worked in these sectors for two decades. Gideon believes by working together, the Kirklees district can meet its targets and contribute to not only reducing the impacts of climate change locally but also create a prosperous and vibrate society.
Stuart Sugarman, Commissioner
Stuart is the Managing Director of CHS, a company owned by Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Trust to provide services such as procurement, estate, facilities and medical engineering. He is also the Trust's lead on climate and sustainability. He was previously chief executive with a local council in Lancashire. As a lawyer in the private sector, he has acted for a wide range of commercial and public sector clients on a variety of environmental land use, climate and planning issues.
Tom Taylor, Commissioner
Tom has over 30 years' experience of working in the third sector, including as CEO of Kirklees charity Northorpe Hall Child & Family Trust, supporting young people’s mental health. A qualified youth & community worker, Tom has a keen interest in how sustainable, just communities can work in practice. He worked with others in his community to create and sustain Highfields Community Orchard, and has been active in other local environmental campaigns, practical action and community organisations.
Dave Wilde, Commissioner
Dave is countryside officer for Denby Dale Parish Council, focusing on increasing biodiversity in the parish and beyond by working with community voluntary groups and schools. As a specialist in raising awareness of sustainable development, he recognises the importance of integrating environmental projects with people and prosperity.
Jialin (Snow) Wu
Snow is a reader at Huddersfield Business School and director of the SURGE (Sustainability, Responsibility, Governance, and Ethics) research centre. A passionate advocate for climate resilience, she integrates behavioural science, social psychology, and digitalisation to drive sustainability solutions. She lives in Huddersfield.
