The Centre for Sustainable Energy’s board of trustees has been strengthened by the appointment of three new members following a rigorous selection process.

Barbara Hammond MBE (photo: left) is a recognised leader in community energy and sustainable development. Rachael Mills OBE (middle) is a leading figure in the heat networks and sustainability sector. And Dr Sarah Nelson (right) is an economist specialising in climate change, sustainability and environmental policy.

Shantha Shanmugalingam, Chair of the trustee board said “I’m delighted to welcome Barbara, Rachael and Sarah as new Centre for Sustainable Energy trustees. They bring a wealth of expertise and experience in so many of the areas where CSE is looking to support communities and households. Ensuring a just transition has never been more important, and I look forward to working with them and the exceptional CSE team to achieve this”.

More on the three new board members below, and you can read short biographies of all our trustees here.

Dr Barbara Hammond MBE

Barbara is a recognised leader in community energy and sustainable development and has served as founder and chief executive of the Low Carbon Hub since 2012. Through her leadership, the organisation has grown into one of the UK’s most influential community energy enterprises, delivering renewable energy projects, energy efficiency programmes, and innovative partnerships that support the transition to a low-carbon future.

Barbara’s career spans government, international climate policy, and community-led sustainability initiatives. During a decade in government, she led the UK’s renewable energy programme before working alongside Sir David King to advance international climate change policy and engagement.

In recognition of her contribution to community energy, Barbara was awarded an MBE in 2015 for services to community energy development.

Rachael Mills OBE

Rachel is a leading figure in the heat networks and sustainability sector, with over two decades of experience supporting organisations to deliver low-carbon, customer-focused energy solutions. She is co-founder and director of Chirpy Heat, an independent consultancy that helps social housing providers improve the performance of communal and district heating systems, and of SE², a sustainability and stakeholder engagement consultancy established in 2004.

Rachael is also a co-founder of District Heating Divas, a thriving international professional network that supports women working in heat networks and champions mentoring and career development opportunities.

In recognition of her commitment to energy efficiency and advancing diversity and inclusion within the industry, Rachael was awarded an OBE in 2024.

Dr Sarah Nelson

Sarah currently serves as Senior Analyst at the Climate Change Committee, where she leads economic analysis on adaptation, decarbonisation, and the role of finance in supporting net zero. She recently delivered the economy and finance work for the CCC’s Well Adapted UK report.

Sarah brings extensive experience in climate and sustainability consulting. She previously held senior roles at Oxford Economics and Vivid Economics (McKinsey & Company), where she worked on energy transition, corporate environmental impact and industrial strategy. Her expertise spans quantitative modelling, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and environmental economics.

Sarah is passionate about bridging gaps between climate policy and local communities and volunteers with mentoring programmes and to deliver climate education in schools.