Who's Who
My name is Andrew Kythreotis and I’m a senior lecturer in political geography at the University of Lincoln, and a current Lincoln Climate Commissioner and SELCAN member.
I teach and research around the broad themes of climate change and the environment and how its policy, politics and governance is constructed around local, regional, national and international agendas. https://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/3d0cb367-6396-40c5-a75d-f06d660faea8
I think the key to tackling climate change involves strong network and partnership working across local communities. I co-founded the Lincoln Climate Commission in 2019 but understand that you need to move beyond singular places to tackle climate change, as urban and rural Lincolnshire has different priorities and impacts related to climate change. When given the opportunity to get involved with SELCAN, it seemed an ideal opportunity to join a dedicated and like-minded team of private, public and third sector colleagues – all with different skills – that could co-produce and drive forward a Greater Lincolnshire agenda on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
My name is Robert Watson, I'm a shopkeeper and parish councillor living and working in Sutton-on-Sea.
In partnership with my son, we run our high street hardware shop. My father started the business back in 1966. We are a small business focusing on the needs of our local community.
https://near.st/shop/watson-home-hardware
Since I became involved with the business, I have tried to minimise its impact on the environment. However, there is only so much that we can do individually. SELCAN gives us an opportunity to work with others to combat the huge threat of climate change. I also live 100 metres away from the North Sea.
My name is Phil Callow, I’m an IT professional based in Spalding. I love snowboarding, kayaking, playing hockey for Spalding Hockey Club and church activities.
I setup an IT company back in 2005 called Ark ICT Solutions Ltd. We supply a whole wealth of IT services and connectivity solutions to education and business customers across the East Midlands. Employing over 40 staff, we are one of the biggest discrete IT support companies in the region. https://www.ark.me.uk.
I have always had a passion for renewable energy and through a new building project for my company, was lucky enough to create a building with energy saving at the heart from ground up. When given the opportunity to get involved with Selcan, it seemed a great way to join with likeminded people to help move the green agenda forward, while sharing my skillset.
My name is Luke Bamforth, I am an environmental scientist with a policy background. I love the outdoors and spending time in nature, either hiking or climbing.
I am a Policy Officer with the Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership, working closely with our Partners to enhance nature through the planning system, including biodiversity net gain, and to highlight nature’s value for health and wellbeing. Alongside this I also lead on our climate change and natural capital work streams.
Details on the GLNP can be found at: www.glnp.org.uk
Climate change and the natural environment are tightly interwoven with impacts on one being felt by the other and both impacting people and their lives. It is important that we work together to meet these dual challenges while improving the benefits this has for our society.
My name is Mat Owen, and I have worked within the food supply chain since I moved to the area 25 years ago. I love nothing better than a long walk in the countryside or watching Arsenal win.
I am an Operations Manager for The FreshLinc Group, a Third-Party Logistics service provider based in Spalding. My role involves overseeing the Warehousing operations and the Technical / Food Safety Management Systems that ensures the safety, legality, and quality of the products we deliver.
Having been involved in the food supply chain for over 20 years I am aware of the environmental impact it has. Given my role and the organisation I work for, the decarbonisation of surface transport is a top priority and one that I am passionate about. The opportunity joining SELCAN gave me to knowledge share with people from many different professional backgrounds and to potentially have an impact on the sustainability of our local area was one I simply couldn’t let pass by.
My name is Sally-Anne Hurn. I am a Chartered Accountant based in Boston, Lincolnshire. I love spending time with my family and am also a local school governor.
I work for Duncan & Toplis Limited, a firm of accountants and business advisers with 11 offices throughout the East Midlands. I advise sole traders, partnerships and companies, and love to help businesses grow and achieve their ambitions.
In 2023 I was appointed as the firm’s sustainability lead, and consequently have been involved in all things ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) related, including calculating our carbon emissions and chairing webinars to increase knowledge in this area.
Duncan & Toplis | Audit, Accountancy, Tax, and Business Advisers (www.duncantoplis.co.uk)
I have a genuine interest in this area and I’m passionate about creating a sustainable future for generations to come. The actions of Duncan & Toplis in these areas will ensure that Lincolnshire attracts the right individuals to our workforce and creates savings to businesses. I am looking forward to working with SELCAN to drive strategic thinking and contributing to projects that both reduce carbon emissions and increase climate resilience across South Holland, Boston and East Lindsey.
My name is Libby Kerman, I am a Sustainability professional based in Yorkshire. I have a keen interest in photography, dogs and long walks in the countryside!
I am Sustainability Manager for Lincolnshire Housing Partnership (LHP). We are a Registered Social Housing Provider, with 12,000 homes across the East Coast of Lincolnshire. I focus on our Net Zero Roadmap, decarbonisation funding programmes, ESG Strategy, and all other engagement activities on sustainability and reducing our impact on the environment.
Following my Geography degree, I developed an interest in sustainable development and the impacts of climate change. Engagement with SELCAN allows me to utilise my knowledge on these subject areas, whilst also ensuring LHP are engaging with local stakeholders to strengthen our links to the region’s climate ambitions.
My name is Caroline Illingworth. I was brought up in Grimsby but have lived in East Lindsey for over 25 years, and I love to be out in the fresh air, walking in the countryside or tending my garden. I am also a science geek, with a background in astronomy and meteorology, so the big skies of Lincolnshire are perfect!
I am the Operations and Delivery Executive Manager for the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP). I lead a team coordinating our strategic advisory boards, our comms function, and all aspects of corporate performance reporting, governance and assurance. I also lead on energy and green economy. Prior to that, I spent 21 years as a meteorologist with the Met Office.
https://www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk/
My previous career in meteorology left me in no doubt about the impacts of climate change, and I have sought out and initiated projects within the GLLEP that support sustainability, green economy and energy transition. There are so many environmental, economic, community and social benefits we can bring to our area by supporting such projects, and I am passionate about providing that support and helping to spread the message. I’m keen to learn from experts on the SELCAN group and find new ways to collaborate further.
My name is Rebecca Mills, a sustainability professional with experience working in the Energy and Higher Education Sectors. I live in Nottingham and enjoy outdoor activities like walking and cycling.
I’m Head of Sustainability at the University of Lincoln, responsible for the impact that the University’s operations have on the environment and finding opportunities for the University to make a positive impact via its teaching and research activity.
I am passionate about building collaborative partnerships to address the climate and ecological crisis. It’s not something that can be addressed by any single person or organisation so I’m excited to join SELCAN to see how we can work together as a group to implement positive change in the region.
My name is Ellie Feistner, I am a masters by research student at the University of Lincoln.
My research project explores how students perceive and use the green spaces at the University of Lincoln’s Brayford Pool campus. From this I hope to discover how the university green spaces could best be improved to provide numerous social and environmental benefits and increase students’ connection to nature.
I believe the key to addressing climate change is through promoting the uptake of sustainable behaviours in individuals, businesses, and communities. Becoming more sustainable can be challenging and confusing with guidance and information often differing between regions. I am therefore involved in SELCAN as it is a great opportunity to work with like-minded individuals to create a hub of localised knowledge, specific to those in the south-eastern Lincolnshire area, to support this region in adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.
My name is Stuart Dawks, I am the CEO of PECT an environment charity based in Peterborough. I recently moved to Lincolnshire with my family, and we are enjoying the many walks and open spaces in the area.
I have worked at PECT for over 8 years in various roles, most recently as CEO.
I am responsible for all aspects of the organisation from the overarching strategy, partnerships and finance stability as well as leading a passionate and dynamic team.
There has never been a more pressing need to make changes to how we live and interact with our local environment. We are in a climate and biodiversity emergency, which require changes from individuals, businesses and governments.
PECT has been delivering climate behaviour change programmes for over 30 years, and I hope as part of the SELCAN group I can share some of that knowledge and support positive changes in the area where I live.
My name is Paula Finlayson, I am the Vice Chair of the SELCAN group, and work for Sustainable Direction Ltd as a Project Manager
I work with companies to help then move in a more Sustainable Direction, this includes undertaking Carbon Footprints, Life Cycle Analysis, producing Carbon Reduction Plans, looking at areas where they can reduce their carbon emissions and helping companies obtain environmental standards such as PAS2060 and ISO14001
I believe it is very important for people in every business, sector and industry to work together to tackle climate change and not just leave it to Government Policy. We as individuals may not be able to have a global impact but by changing behaviour and promoting understanding in our local area of South East Lincolnshire we can feed into a bigger global picture.
My name is Andy Lawrence and I am Port Director at the Port of Boston, having worked at the port in various guises for over 40 years.
I am responsible for all aspects of the running of the Port, which includes marine and navigation, Ship Stevedoring operations, warehousing, transport and forwarding.
The port is involved in international trade, as part of the supply chain to serve UK Plc, involving differing modes of transport which are sea, road, and rail. Within this , there are already some more environmentally friendly methods compared to others and work is already being done in this respect. However, there is still a lot of opportunity to improve with wider joined up thinking to piece the jigsaw together for a greener future.
My name is Graham Marsh, I was born and brought up in Belchford, a village set in the Wolds.
I attended Banovallum Secondary School before joining the Army, Royal Engineers, I joined Lincolnshire Police in 1974 retiring in 2005 at the rank of Inspector.
I retired form formal employment in 2005, I was elected to represent Alford area in the 2005 election on Lincolnshire County Council, having the portfolio for Adult Social Care.
I was elected in 2015 to East Lindsey District Council, where I am currently Deputy Leader with portfolio responsibility for Carbon Reduction, Community Safety and Leisure and Culture.
Part of my Portfolio responsibilities are around Carbon Reduction within the council, I have a genuine concern about climate change and believe all Local Government organizations have a responsibility to work with businesses and local communities to find solutions which will reduce our carbon footprint and have a positive influence to ensure we leave this wonderful plant of ours in as good a condition we can for the following generations and use our natural resources in a sustainable way.
My name is Freddie Chambers, I am Joint Group Managing Director for Lindum Group Ltd, an employee owned, Lincolnshire based, Construction company established in 1956. Through 12 trading divisions, Lindum provides a range of services including construction, refurbishment, property maintenance and repair, waste recycling, bespoke joinery, security, plant hire and fleet maintenance, new homes, joint ventures, land and development. My role involves responsibility for business development, HR and PR, along with the day-today operation of the Group jointly with my brother, Ed Chambers and the support of the Executive Board of Directors. https://www.lindumgroup.com
I have known Lindum all my life, with my grandfather, John F Chambers, starting the business and my father, David Chambers, being Chairman since 1991. Growing up in Lincolnshire and being involved in the construction industry has given me an appreciation of our environment and how important it is to help protect it for future generations. By joining SELCAN I have an opportunity to share knowledge and gain further understanding with people from many different professional backgrounds
My name is Graham Allen. I have had a career spanning 40 years in Financial Services and for the last 32 years I have been the Managing Director of Corporate Money Matters Ltd, a bespoke Business Consultancy and Finance Brokerage.
During the last 21 years, I have held Directorial or Consultancy posts for a number of UK-based companies specialising in Finance, Sustainable Energy and Agricultural Technologies. In addition to this, I have held Consultancy roles for 5 International, European-based companies, specialising in Sustainable Energy Technologies.
I currently have a broad range of business interests, and was recently a mentor on the Barclays Eagle Lab AgriTech Accelerator at the University of Lincoln. I am currently a Small Business Ambassador for the University of Nottingham’s Business Network and one of my companies is a contributor to the VTTESS Project for alternative heating in the UK. I hold directorships in 5 UK Companies, one of which purely consults on Sustainable Energy.
CSR: I also provide talks in my role as UK volunteer ambassador for Mines Advisory Group the International Landmine clearance charity (MAG).