Smart Cities, Smart Energy - Speaker Profiles

Julia Evans, Chief Executive, BSRIA Julia took up the role as CE BSRIA in May 2014 and is involved in the development of BSRIA’s future growth and prosperity. Prior to her role at BSRIA, Julia was the CE of the National Federation of Builders.

During her time at the NFB, Julia has worked to secure more favourable conditions for members in a number of areas including public sector procurement, utilities, access to finance, health and safety, training and innovation.

She has also forged close links and partnerships across industry and was the founder of the Alliance. Julia has also maintained a high public profile as a leading spokesperson and commentator on the industry, the economy and Government affairs in the UK and Europe.

Bill Wright ECA After taking early retirement from the John Lewis Partnership in 2009, Bill Wright is now an independent consultant on energy and sustainability matters. He is Head of Energy Solutions at the Electrical Contractors Association promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency to ECA members. He has lectured on energy matters at London South Bank University at degree and Master’s level.

He is past Chairman of the Electrical Safety Council and has been a trustee of the ESC for over 8 years. He is currently a non-executive director of Ascertiva Group, the wholly owned subsidiary of the ESC. He is also on the Institution of Electrical Engineers committee which produces the IEE Wiring Regulations.

Bill has a wide interest in lighting and was Master of the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers, a City of London Livery Company for those involved in the lighting industry and electrical installations for the years 2013/4

He was previously the Corporate Energy and Environment Manager and Chief Electrical Engineer of the John Lewis Partnership, covering both Waitrose supermarkets and John Lewis Department stores. He was responsible for the procurement and efficient use of all utilities, with a budget of over £40M. He was directly involved in the planning, building and engineering design to ensure new buildings and refurbishments incorporated sustainability in their construction.

His early career was spent with the MoD at various research establishments including the National Gas Turbine Establishment where he was Head of Test Services Section.

He has an MA in engineering from Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He is also a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the IET.

Ant Wilson, AECOM Ant is recognised as one of the UK’s most influential building services engineers with considerable experience in low and zero carbon systems, façade engineering and green measurement tools. Ant Graduated in engineering from the University of Bath and is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), the Energy Institute, AECOM and the Society of Façade Engineering. He is also a Member of the Society of Light and Lighting. Ant has received a number of prestigious industry accolades: he holds a silver medal for his contribution to CIBSE, has been recognised by the IMechE for outstanding contribution to building services and construction and named the first ever winner of an Engineering Ambassador award from the Association for Consultancy and Engineering. Ant has provided input into various high profile projects including the Carbon Neutral Lab, Sainsbury’s Greenwich Superstore, Halley 6 research facilities, INTEGER (Intelligent and Green) projects, offices, schools and residential schemes. He has also been involved on various government research projects and has helped in the development of Part L of the Building Regulation for the last 15 years. He is an experienced speaker, facilitator, chairman and trainer. Ant has worked on a wide range of construction, software and research projects. Ant is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Ambassador and really enjoys speaking to students about the how we can enhance and sustain the worlds built and natural environments.

Zoltan Karpathy, BSRIA Zoltan Karpathy studied Marketing Communication in Budapest, Hungary. He started to work in the building services market research sector in the UK in 2004.

Since joining BSRIA in November 2010 as Principal Consultant, he has been involved in various world-wide air-conditioning, components, renewables and heating studies, as well as European legislation updates.

Zoltan was overseeing BSRIA’s studies and the UK heat pump data collection service before his appointment as Senior Manager for BSRIA WMI’s Intelligent Buildings and Homes Team early in 2013.

In 2013, Zoltan carried out the In-depth North American Building Controls and Automation Systems (BACS) study, as well as managing the North American and European Home Automation studies.

In 2014, Zoltan managed successfully BSRIA’s World BACS study program (incl. ) and was also involved in the CABA Market Sizing North America study. Languages: English, Hungarian (mother tongue), Romanian, German (intermediate).

Tony Day, International Energy Research Centre (IERC) Tony joined the IERC in December 2012 from his role as Professor of Energy in the Built Environment at London South Bank University and Director of the Centre for Efficient and Renewable Energy in Buildings. He has extensive research and industry consultancy experience in energy technology analysis, as well as measurement and verification of energy systems performance and strategic energy policy development in the UK.

During his career to date, he has been responsible for developing innovative energy research facilities, new commercial services, and best practice guidance that can respond to the fast changing needs of the energy sector. As a Chartered Engineer he is a problem solver, with a keen understanding of business practice and of the processes for energy policy development.

He is currently leading the Task Group for the European Standard for Energy Audits in Buildings, was Chair of the UK Solar Energy Society 2010 – 2012, and has an extensive publications record in the field.

Professor Brain Norton Professor Brian Norton has led DIT for nine years. He has played a full role in developing and promoting DIT in national and international contexts. He is the author or co-author of six books (including a sole-authored major advanced text) and over 400 papers including 170 in learned journals. He has supervised nearly forty doctorates and serves as Associate Editor of “Solar Energy” the premier international journal in the field and on three other editorial boards.

Professor Norton has chaired of the World Renewable Energy Network, The Northern Ireland Business Education Partnership and the BSI Technical Committee on Solar Heating and represented the UK university sector on the Board of the Foundation for the Built Environment, which owns the UK Building Research Establishment. He was a ministerial appointee to the Construction Industry Training Board and chaired its Audit Committee. He is currently Chair of the Board of Action Renewables, which is responsible for developing renewable energies in Northern Ireland. He has been an invited plenary speaker to major international conferences and to Ministerial meetings.

He has a BSc (Hons) in Physics from University of Nottingham and MSc and PhD degrees, in Engineering Experimentation and Applied Energy respectively, from Cranfield University and DSc from the University of Nottingham. He is a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering, the Energy Institute and the Institution of Engineers of Ireland. He is a Chartered Engineer (both in the UK and Ireland) and Fellow, Higher Education Academy. Among his awards are the Napier Shaw Medal of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), the Roscoe Award of the Energy Institute and the Honorary Fellowship of the CIBSE, the highest honour for his professional discipline. Previously he was Professor of Built Environmental Engineering at University of Ulster (UU) is an Honorary Professor of UU. He is an Honorary Professor of Harbin Institute of Technology, University of Ulster and University of Houston.