Meet Us


Dr Gabriel Gallagher
BEng (Hons) PhD CEng FIMechE MCIBSE
Managing Director
Gabriel is a Chartered Engineer with over 24 years experience and practical application of engineering, commercial delivery and innovation in the decentralised renewable energy sector. Gabriel has a comprehensive background beginning with a Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship with the MoD, going on to study Engineering at Cardiff University, working as researcher at the International Flame Research Foundation in the Netherlands and returning to Cardiff to study for his PhD in Heat Transfer and fluid Dynamics before founding Sustainable Energy Ltd. Gabriel has acted as principal consultant for the design and implementation of many of the UK's leading district heating, cooling and renewable power projects. Gabriel is a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and the Energy Institute and a Chartered Member of CIBSE.

Chrissy Woodman
BEng (Hons) CEng PgC AAT IMAPS MEI
Director

Chrissy Woodman
BEng (Hons) CEng PgC AAT IMAPS MEI
Director
Chrissy is a Chartered Energy Engineer with 20 years experience of low carbon heat and power projects. Chrissy has held key delivery roles for the implementation of hundreds of renewable heating and power projects including development of technical specifications, procurement support, contract administration and Principal Designer role for large district heating projects. Chrissy also provides technical compliance support services for a number of blue chip companies including RHI, ROCs, CHPQA and Metering and Billing Regulations compliance. Chrissy has secured over £25m of grant funding for heat network construction projects and gained planning approval for a number of large renewable projects and regularly advises on permitting and licensing. She is an Incorporated Member of the Association for Project Safety.

Dr Penny Challans
BEng (Hons) MSc PhD CEng MIMechE
Senior Consultant

Dr Penny Challans
BEng (Hons) MSc PhD CEng MIMechE
Senior Consultant
Penny is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and CIBSE Heat Network Consultant with a PhD that focused on pyrolosis and gasification for EfW and biomass. Penny has extensive knowledge in the technical and financial assessment of district heat networks and her skills and experience are key to Sustainable Energy's masterplanning and feasibility studies including detailed technology assessments and techno-economic modelling. Penny also has in depth knowledge of carbon intensity methodology and assessments and has developed numerous complex MS Excel tools for data analysis, technology sizing and economic assessments. Penny has overseen numerous district heating projects for local authorities and BEIS Heat Network Delivery Unit. She has extensive knowledge of complex energy demand modelling, technology assessments, technical and financial modelling, detailed reporting and presenting.

Omied Khakshour
BEng (Hons) MSc CEng DipNDEA MIMechE
Senior Mechanical Engineer

Omied Khakshour
BEng (Hons) MSc CEng DipNDEA MIMechE
Senior Mechanical Engineer
Omied is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, a CIBSE Heat Networks Consultant and Non-Domestic Energy Assessor (Level 3 and 4). Omied has 15 years experience of the detailed design of district heating schemes including full network modelling, detailed hydraulic systems schematics, functional controls specifications and equipment specification. Omied has undertaken technology assessments, sizing and specification for a range of energy centre technologies including biomass, heat pumps, CHP and solar and has provided design review and client engineer support for the construction and commissioning of many low carbon heat networks. Omied regularly undertakes early stage feasibility assessments for low carbon heat and power projects which includes site surveys, energy demand assessments, techno-economic modelling, concept design and business case reporting. Omied is also a STEM Ambassador and provides training and mentoring to a number of external organisations as well as SEL staff

Lee Evans
BSc (Hons) MSc CEnv MIEMA
Associate

Lee Evans
BSc (Hons) MSc CEnv MIEMA
Associate
Over the last 15 years, Lee has overseen the delivery of numerous carbon management, renewable and district energy projects for multinational businesses, local authorities, government organisations, NHS Trusts and universities. Lee has in depth knowledge of masterplanning and feasibility for district heating schemes and has managed many large consultancy projects to a value of over £3M. He joined Sustainable Energy from The Carbon Trust where he oversaw feasibility and design projects resulting in the identification of over £5M of energy savings and secured over £10M of project funding for low carbon projects. Lee is a Chartered Environmentalist and has delivered presentations and lectures to many diverse audiences including CIBSE, BIFM, MSc and MBS students at Cardiff University and Bangor University.

Paul Woods
MA MSc CEng FEI FIMechE FCIBSE
Associate

Paul Woods
MA MSc CEng FEI FIMechE FCIBSE
Associate
Paul is a Chartered Mechanical and Energy Engineer specialising in district heating, CHP and sustainable energy for buildings. As Technical Director for two major consultancies he oversaw the design and construction of many CHP and district energy projects. He has also provided advice to Government both on the potential for district heating in the UK and on the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. More recently he has held senior roles within ENGIE, responsible for the strategic development of their six major district energy schemes and for the operation and development of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and ExCel London district heating and cooling companies. Paul is also well known for his work as author of key industry guidance including CIBSE’s AM12 - CHP for Buildings and the ADE/CIBSE CP1 - Code of Practice for Heat Networks.

Matthew Crawford
MEng AMIChemE
Design Consultant

Matthew Crawford
MEng AMIChemE
Design Consultant
Matt has a Masters degree in Chemical Engineering and is a CIBSE Heat Networks Consultant with extensive experience of design and specification of buried heat networks, low carbon energy centres, thermal substations for building connections and secondary/tertiary system upgrades. Matt has also delivered detailed techno-economic feasibility studies and commercialisation support for large scale heat networks including a number of heat pump projects for housing developments comprising mine water source, sewer source, air source and ambient loop networks.

Rhys Jones-Mathias
BEng (Hons)
Project Engineer

Rhys Jones-Mathias
BEng (Hons)
Project Engineer
Rhys is a CIBSE Heat Networks Consultant with significant experience of design and specification of buried heat networks, energy generation plant and heat network building connections, and has provided the client engineer role and project management support for pre-construction, construction and commissioning phases of heat networks. Rhys has also managed and delivered detailed techno-economic feasibility studies for large scale heat networks, undertaken detailed project development and provided commercialisation support and detailed business cases.

Adrien Grubb
MEng (Hons)
Consultant

Adrien Grubb
MEng (Hons)
Consultant
Adrien is a CIBSE Heat Networks Consultant with extensive experience of managing and delivering detailed techno-economic feasibility studies for large scale heat networks, and detailed project development and commercialisation including a 12MW town centre network. Adrien regularly provides technical and commercial support to heat network customers, including specification of connection plant and secondary/tertiary upgrades and negotiation of heat tariffs. Adrien has developed complex techno-economic modelling and technology sizing tools and developed outline and final business cases to secure funding for a number of high profile heat network projects.

Rhys Sully
MEng (Hons) CEng MIMechE
Project Engineer

Rhys Sully
MEng (Hons) CEng MIMechE
Project Engineer
Rhys is a chartered engineer and CIBSE Heat Networks Consultant with extensive experience of design and specification of buried heat networks, low carbon energy centres and thermal substations for building connections. Rhys has provided technical support during construction, commissioning and activation of district heat networks including a 3MW WSHP energy centre and over 6MW of building heating interface capacity, including NEC4 contract compliance. Rhys has undertaken 3D modelling in REVIT for heat generation infrastructure for a number of high profile heat network projects and provides Principal Designer role for pre-construction and installation of heat networks.

Sarah Philip
BEng MSc
Consultant

Sarah Philip
BEng MSc
Consultant
Sarah holds a BEng in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, and an MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering for University of Surrey. She has been working on feasibility studies and design aspects for heat networks in Bedminster, Old Market, and Redcliffe, gaining experience in reviewing the compatibility of buildings connecting to heat networks, substation design and issuing associated tender documentation. Sarah also supports with reviewing external design submission compliance against our specification. Her areas of expertise include the design and specification of thermal substations, design compliance, heat exchanger sizing software and in-house hydraulic system sizing

Joseph Pitkethly
BEng (Hons) AMEI
Consultant

Joseph Pitkethly
BEng (Hons) AMEI
Consultant
Joseph has a BEng in Energy Engineering from University of East Anglia. He has been working on a number of feasibility processes across the company, for proposed heat networks in Wakefield, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Carlisle, South Kilburn and Bedminster, gaining experience in a multitude of areas including; building heat demand modelling, techno-economic modelling and heat generation technology assessment. Joseph has used his experience on heat network projects to build his skills in 3D modelling of heat network energy centres and building substation connections, and generation of outputs required for tender scope of works documents. His areas of expertise include a wide range of experience using ArcGIS mapping software, engineering software including AutoCAD & Revit, and hydraulic modelling of heat networks using NetSim in a wide range of applications

Alexis Ciunek
BEng (Hons) MSc AMIMechE
Consultant

Alexis Ciunek
BEng (Hons) MSc AMIMechE
Consultant
Alexis graduated from Swansea University with a BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering, she subsequently went on to achieve a MSc in Sustainable Energy and Environment from Cardiff University. Alexis is an energy consultant at SEL with wide-ranging experience of energy demand modelling, network route assessment, energy tariffs and technology sizing. Alexis has worked on a number of city centre techno-economic feasibility and DPD projects for clients including Wakefield City Council and Royal Borough of Greenwich Council. Alexis has also worked on a number of large scale planned developments, including Filton Airfield and Welborne Garden Village. Alexis has provided key project deliverables including data analysis, report writing and detailed GIS outputs where she has demonstrates great organisational skills and a high level of attention to detail.

Ian Hegarty
BEng (Hons) MCIBSE
Senior Project Manager

Ian Hegarty
BEng (Hons) MCIBSE
Senior Project Manager
Ian is a highly experienced and versatile Mechanical Engineer and CIBSE member with broad experience of designing, installing and commissioning large scale biomass, CHP and heat pump projects. Ian has a vast knowledge and practical experience of setting to work, commissioning, diagnostics and testing of complex heating systems including PLC programming and SCADA systems. Ian has overseen the connection, commissioning and activation of many thermal substations for building connections to heat networks including development of network controls and data collection strategy . Ian holds professional certificates of competency in a number of controls platforms including PLC, SCADA, Niagara / Tridium and OSS. Ian provides key commissioning support to SEL's heat network projects.

Denise Seager
Administration Manager

Denise Seager
Administration Manager
Denise is a key member of the team and manages all administrative activities of Sustainable Energy, including accounts receivable and payable, project costing, office management and payroll. Denise has over twenty years experience of finance and accounting and has excellent management and organisational skills

Rocky Jones
Morale Officer

Rocky Jones
Morale Officer
Rocky the greyhound joined in 2018. In his previous role as a professional sprinter he developed a strong drive and focus which he now brings to his role as staff morale officer at Sustainable Energy. Rocky has been present at many important meetings about feasibility, master planning, technical design and implementation of low carbon energy projects. Rocky’s key strengths include sleeping, stretching, sniffing, leaning and more sleeping.