Chair: Clara Torre
Clara is the YEN Chair in the South West region working as a Mechanical Engineer at Buro Happold. In 2020, she graduated from UWE, Bristol with a B.Eng (Hons) in Architecture and Environmental Engineering, and joined the YEN committee to grow her network and involvement in the region. In her role as the YEN Chair she hopes to create a welcoming committee, where all members are valued.
Keen to promote a healthy and comfortable environment in the buildings we design and occupy, Clara is passionate about sustainable design and realises that working together is the only way we succeed. She believes being part of the YEN Committee offers a great opportunity to grow professionally and to add value to our careers, CIBSE as an organisation and the Construction Industry as a whole. Clara is open to ideas and expanding her network, and encourages others to join through LinkedIn and saying hello at events.
Vice-Chair: Lewis Breslan
Lewis’ background is in consulting, working as an Apprentice Mechanical Design Engineer for Atkins. He is currently studying on the degree apprenticeship programme at Bristol UWE, with the goal of graduating with a BEng in Building Services Engineering and applying for Incorporated Engineer status with CIBSE. One of the main reasons Lewis joined the committee was to raise awareness of Building Services and to increase the presence of young engineers in the industry from the Exeter region, as well as organising events for networking and technical development.
As an advocate for the apprenticeship route, Lewis looks forward to engaging with other young aspiring engineers. As a CIBSE Certified Low Carbon Consultant, Lewis’ passion in the industry is centred around delivering holistically considered designs, working in close collaboration with design teams to achieve Low and Zero Carbon buildings. Lewis also has a keen interest in building performance and energy modelling, and modern digital design tools such as Revit and IES, to bring designs together. He aspires to complete a master’s degree in either Low Energy Building Services or Renewable Energy Systems, and also intends on becoming certified as a Passivhaus Designer.
Honorary Secretary: Louis Kimber
Louis is a Consultant Mechanical Degree Apprentice for Atkins in Bristol and is currently in the 4th year of his Building Services Degree at the University of West of England (UWE). Louis joined the YEN committee in September 2022 with the aim of expanding his network in the Building Services industry whilst also helping to organise events and mentorship programmes for younger engineers.
Louis recognises the importance of our roles as young engineers in the drive for a net zero future and wants to use the YEN platform to inspire the upcoming engineers in the industry to share his enthusiasm for achieving these goals. Since becoming a Certified Passivhaus Designer and being involved in multiple net zero projects with Atkins, Louis has continued to pursue his passion for sustainable Building Services and hopes to continue to do so through YEN.
Communications Officer: Rebecca Ellul Vincenti
Rebecca is the acting Communications Secretary for CIBSE YEN South West. She joined the committee in the summer of 2022 and is responsible for authoring the CIBSE South West Regional Newsletter. Rebecca has been working as a Sustainability and Mechanical Design Engineer at CPW, UK, Bristol since early 2021, with a keen focus on designing Net Zero Carbon design.
Prior to joining the CPW team, Rebecca attained her BEng (Hons) in Architecture and Environmental Engineering, from UWE, Bristol; certified by both the RIBA and CIBSE. Rebecca furthered her professional development by attaining an Energy Auditors Certification, completed with REWS, Malta. She continually shows interest in broadening her knowledge, aptly rooted in sustainability and environmental technology, for insight, innovation and opportunity.
General Member: Ebony Stephenson
Ebony studied Engineering Design (MEng) at the University of Bristol, specialising in Mechanical engineering. She was first exposed to the building services industry during her year in industry placement as part of her degree. She now works as a mechanical graduate engineer and is learning so much!
Ebony realised there was a lot of scope for learning and education within CIBSE YEN, especially given their close links with the universities and industry leaders. Her motivation for joining the committee, is to help facilitate those opportunities for learning and collaboration.
General Member: Alex Penhallurick
Alex is currently an Apprentice Electrical Design Engineer for Services Design Solution after joining in Sept 2018. Alongside his apprenticeship Alex is due to complete his final year of his BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering this year. Alex joined the CIBSE YEN Committee in order to push the presence of the committee further into the South West and engage with more like minded engineers.
Alex is passionate about sustainability and is hoping to further his knowledge in this by completing a Masters course within the next year.
General Member: Nathan Kelly
Nathan is a Graduate Building Services Engineer working for QODA Consulting in their Bristol office. He graduated with an MEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bath in 2022, and between his industrial placement and first months at QODA has worked on projects across a range of sectors.
Nathan has developed a keen interest in low carbon design since working on Passivhaus and net-zero projects, and hopes that being on the committee will offer the opportunity to highlight the importance of MEP design in reducing carbon consumption, through networking and mentoring