About Nesta

Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

‘Confusing’, ‘time-consuming’ and ‘painful’ - that’s how many people who’ve made the switch to low-carbon heating describe the process. What products, services and business models could take the hassle out of decarbonising homes? Join Nesta's A Sustainable Future mission Director, Madeleine Gabriel and a panel of expert speakers as they discussed how we can make it easy for everyone to understand their options, find out what’s right for their homes and take action.

This event was the second event in the Making the Switch Towards Cleaner, Greener Homes event series. Explore the four other events in this series by visiting the event home page.

Speakers

Stew Horne, Head of Policy, Energy Saving Trust

Stew is Head of Policy at Energy Saving Trust. Energy Saving Trust is a trusted, independent voice, with over 25 years’ experience of providing advice and support around home energy efficiency, low carbon transport and renewable energy generation. Stew has worked in energy policy for over a decade. He previously led Citizens Advice’s energy infrastructure work, wining Charity Times “Campaigning Team of the Year” in 2018, and earlier delivered consumer policy at the energy regulator Ofgem. Before that he worked in central government across a wide range of consumer policy areas such as digital television switchover and nutritional labelling on food.

Matthew Lipson, Business Leader for Consumer Insight, Energy Systems Catapult

Matthew Lipson is Business Leader for Consumer Insight at the Energy Systems Catapult. He helps bring industry, academia and Government together to speed up carbon reductions in the energy sector. Matthew has spent the last 20 years working with businesses and Universities for DECC, the Committee on Climate Change, the Energy Technologies Institute and Orange (amongst others) to design energy policies and commercial propositions that people love. He is now applying his experience to help others design delightful, intuitive low carbon product and service experiences. Matthew helped set up Fair Future a programme using low carbon innovation to help ensure everyone can afford to enjoy a net zero future. Find out more about his team’s work at: http://www.peoplelab.energy/

Sue Davies, Head of Consumer Rights and Food Policy, Which?

Sue Davies is Head of Consumer Rights and Food Policy at Which?. This includes leading Which?’s work on sustainability, as well as trade, food, consumer product safety and wider consumer protections and rights. She has represented consumer interests on a range of national and international committees and is currently a member of the government’s Strategic Trade Advisory Group (STAG). She was the Chair of the European Food Safety Authority from 2012-2016 and has been awarded an MBE in recognition of her work on food safety.

Nathan Gambling

The BetaTalk Renewable Energy Podcast Host, Plumbing Heating Lecturer/Consultant and Training Specialist