Technical Symposium 2024 Speakers

Ben Abel

Ben is Technical Director and Head of R&D at Hilson Moran, responsible for leading all R&D activity and running a team of specialist R&D focused consultants working both within HM and externally with manufacturers and academia. His role is to ensure a high quality and consistent approach is applied to all work produced across the business while developing innovative and progressive designs. Ben has over 20 years experience within the building services industry. His main area of expertise is in building physics and computer modelling where he is highly skilled in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Dynamic Thermal Modelling (DTM). He is a member of the CIBSE Building Simulation Group and also involved with LETI (London Energy Transformation Initiative. In 2021 he received the CIBSE Carter Bronze Medal for research on domestic overheating as part of a team including members from Loughborough University and Inkling

Jake Adamson

Jake Adamson is a Consulting Engineer at FairHeat. With a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nottingham, he joined FairHeat in 2021 via the Graduate Scheme. In the last 3 years, Jake has gained experience in projects involving new build and existing heat networks, excelling in retrofitting projects and contributing to significant improvements in operational efficiency. He was recently selected to be part of the team working on Technical developments for the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS). Jake also engages in industry initiatives, presenting research, publishing articles and promoting career opportunities to young engineers in district heating. Recognised for his contributions to the industry, Jake was Highly commended as a rising star by UKDEA in 2023. Jake is actively pursuing CIBSE chartership.

Filipa Adzic

Dr Filipa Adzic - Postdoctoral Research Associate at University College London within the Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering Department (CEGE). She was involved in several projects focusing on reducing the risk of COVID-19 virus transmission, including the award-winning AIRBODS project and the UK Government’s Event Research Programme. Research experience encompasses field studies, experiments and computational fluid dynamics modelling, with a focus on indoor air quality and ventilation. Filipa is also a voting member of the CIBSE Natural Ventilation Group.

Meysam Akbari Paydar

Meysam Akbari Paydar holds a BSc in Architectural Engineering and an MSc in Architecture and Energy from the University of Tehran. Before commencing his doctoral studies at UCL, he served as a researcher at the Energy and Light Department of the Road, Housing & Urban Development Research Center (BHRC) in Iran. Throughout this period, he actively contributed to various national projects, such as compiling a new edition of the Iranian Building Regulation on Energy Conservation (Code No.19) and developing a Green Building Rating Tool for Iran. Currently, within the scope of his PhD project, Meysam is concentrating on dynamic simulations of smart buildings and the integration of smart services into the architectural design process.

Raed Alshammari

I am Raed Alshammari. I hold a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Sustainable Energy System. I am currently pursuing my PhD in Energy and Environmental Engineering at the University of Reading. I am dedicated to pioneering research in designing, analysing, and implementing Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB). My academic pursuit centres around the complexities of Sustainability Assessment Methods, focusing on optimising these frameworks to more accurately assess and direct the environmental impact of building construction and operational practices.

Zsolt Bako-Biro

Zsolt holds BSc and MSc in Building Services and MSc in Construction Management. He earned his PhD in 2004 at the International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy (ICIEE), Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in the topic of Ventilation, Indoor Environmental Quality and Human Performance. Completed his PostDoc research at the University of Reading by completing a major research study on Ventilation in Schools and Cognitive Learning Performance of Primary School Children.He has held senior positions in the industry using his knowledge in development and modelling of low carbon products for natural ventilation and low energy cooling. Qualified to fully understand the operational implications of building systems and their impact on the energy performance, indoor environmental quality, human comfort, health and productivity. Team player in academic research and industrial R&D projects, managing own engineering consultancy since 2014.

Ashley Bateson

Ashley is Sustainability Director at Hoare Lea and provides consultancy on sustainability strategies and net zero carbon development across a range of project types. He is past Vice-President of CIBSE and active in the CIBSE HVAC Systems Group. He is chair the New London Architecture 'Net Zero' Expert Panel and works on the design panels for The Design Commission for Wales and Cambridge Quality Panel.

Rowan Bell-Bentley

Sarah, Rowan and Maria are building services engineers in the Arup Buildings group. Over the past 4 years, they have specialised in the embodied carbon of building services. Last year, they authored the Services chapter of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) report on Halving construction emissions today. To honour the commitment made at COP26 to carry out WLC assessments on all building projects, Arup has developed a global tool called Zero. The trio was responsible for developing the building services embodied carbon information for high level assessments.

Satish BK

Dr Satish BK is a Senior Lecturer at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University. His primary research focus is the sustainable built environment, and his research interests lie in how homeowners’ aspirations can inform sustainable strategies in architectural design. His research goes beyond measuring technical performance in the building and examines how the behaviour of buildings is qualified to represent this in the wider social and cultural contexts. His recent work focuses on the impact of ventilation on the health and well-being of ethnic minority households while racing towards the 2050 carbon target. He has published and presented nationally and internationally. This paper is part of the outcome of the RIBA research-fund project “My House, My Rules: Examining the impact of cultural behaviour on air quality in British Asian homes”.

Sarah Bousquet

Sarah, Rowan and Maria are building services engineers in the Arup Buildings group. Over the past 4 years, they have specialised in the embodied carbon of building services. Last year, they authored the Services chapter of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) report on Halving construction emissions today. To honour the commitment made at COP26 to carry out WLC assessments on all building projects, Arup has developed a global tool called Zero. The trio was responsible for developing the building services embodied carbon information for high level assessments.

Thanks to the work they have led and coordinated, Arup has won the CIBSE 2023 Building Performance Awards in the Embodied Carbon Consultant category.

Roderic Bunn

Dr Roderic Bunn has a track record in researching the performance of non-domestic buildings, from their energy and carbon dioxide emissions to measuring the wellbeing and satisfaction of occupants. Between 1995-2001 Dr Bunn led the ground-breaking PROBE building performance evaluation research project. This research was instrumental in popularising post-occupancy evaluation (POE) and motivating fabric airtightness standards and energy measurement techniques in the UK Building Regulations. He is known for devising and co-authoring the definitive industry guidance on Soft Landings and a number of industry guides, including CIBSE TM61:2020 Operational performance of Buildings, CIBSE TM62:2020 Operational performance: Surveying occupant satisfaction, and the POE section in the forthcoming revision to TM57: Integrated School Design. He is a Silver Medallist of the CIBSE and a recipient of the Carter Bronze Medal. He currently runs the UCL built environment MSc course on Post-Occupancy Evaluation and is an Associate with consultancy Inhabit.

Tom Burton

Tom Burton, a Lead Engineer at FairHeat, with over five years of experience in district heating, specialising in both legacy and design projects. His expertise includes high competence in various technical areas such as boilers, CHPs, hydraulic design, BMS, control strategies, HIUs, and tertiary systems. Tom has completed internationally recognised research projects, contributing significantly to the field. He was shortlisted for the CIBSE Young Engineer of the Year Award 2020. Tom holds an MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge and is a CIBSE Chartered Engineer.

Laurence Childs

Laurence is a PhD student at UCL, interested in using data-driven techniques to understand the real requirements for heating our homes with heat pumps. The work presented at this symposium was conducted while seconded at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Andrew Cripps

Dr Andrew Cripps has been responsible for the design and delivery of the technical aspects of the Heat Network Investment Project and the Green Heat Network Fund since 2018, including the assessment methodologies and processes, data management and reporting on benefits. This has built on his previous work of over 30 years in construction research, design, planning and policy for energy and sustainability with AECOM, Buro Happold and BRE. He joined Triple Point in 2021.
Andrew is a Chartered Physicist and Engineer, has degrees in Physics and Applied Maths, is a Visiting Professor at Loughborough University and is an Affiliate member of CIBSE.

Claire Das Bhaumik

Dr Claire Das Bhaumik is a Chartered Engineer, a CIBSE Fellow and a member of the NABERS UK Independent Design Review Panel. She has over 20 years’ experience in the use of dynamic simulation software packages and is an expert in Building Physics. She is also a CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessor and acts as an independent expert for The European Commission under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

Tony Day

Tony is currently an independent consultant specialising in low carbon solutions in the built environment. Tony started his career in hospital engineering before joining London South Bank University to teach and research building services engineering. At LSBU he established the MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems, and was instrumental in setting up the Centre for Efficient and Renewable Energy in Buildings (CEREB). After a short spell in industry with Team (EAA Ltd), in 2012 he joined the newly established International Energy Research Centre (IERC) at the Tyndall National Institute in Cork as Executive Director. Here he built a successful research team with a focus on strong industry collaboration in areas such as smart grids, peer-to-peer energy trading, low carbon buildings, and enhanced deployment of low carbon solutions.

Susie Diamond

Monica Donaldson-Balan

An experienced building performance engineer and architect, Monica has over a decade of multidisciplinary expertise in managing and delivering large scale projects with a focus on zero carbon and sustainable design. Currently an Associate Building Physics Engineer at Mott MacDonald, Monica’s expertise lies in developing energy and carbon reduction strategies through the use of data driven assessment methodologies, stakeholder engagement, and by integrating design solutions that bridge different sectors. Monica holds an MSc in Architecture, Urbanism, and Building Sciences from Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands.

Max Douch

Max is a mechanical design engineer with over 5 years’ experience. He has worked on projects throughout London and the South East in a variety on sectors. Project work includes 50 Finsbury Square, a mid-storey Cat A office refurbishment targeting Net Zero design, alongside Cat B fit outs for a variety of large London offices including Aviva at 80 Fenchurch Street and Bank of New York Mellon at 160 Queen Victoria Street. Smaller projects completed include the award winning Mitchell Building and the all-electric Burgess Park Sports Centre. He has a keen eye on the future, and harbours a particular interest in sustainable design, evident through his aforementioned completed projects and feasibility studies on future works, including historic City landmarks.

Sean Ehlen

Sean Ehlen is a Technical Design Engineer with a keen interest in Renewable Energy. With 3 years experience since university, he has developed knowledge and experience regarding green hydrogen and heat pumps, with the purpose on enabling Rinnai UK to excel in the commercial heating and hot water industry. With a Master's in Mechanical Engineering, he excels design of complex problems which can be applied to practical applications.

Esam Elsarrag

Dr Elsarrag has multidisciplinary experience gained over a period of 30 years through consultancy and research in energy, buildings & energy and building services providing solutions to complicated technical and engineering problems. He delivered energy efficiency and carbon solutions, sustainability frameworks and simulation models to a variety of clients and have undertaken energy systems and renewable energy feasibility assessments. He developed novel energy solutions, energy strategy programs and decarbonisation strategies including costing for well reputed developers/clients. In addition, he conducted comprehensive research with well reputed universities to solve major problems related to climate change, energy and systems, embodied carbon, water, carbon capture and indoor environment. He developed unique energy frameworks and sustainability standards, energy and decarbonisation strategies and algorithms, which is approved and implemented in prestigious projects. The combination between research and industry has served him well to develop novel, bespoke solutions as and when such solutions were required.

Huda Elsherif

Dr Huda Elsherif is a built environment consultant at Calfordseaden with a background in architecture, sustainability and building performance research. Her PhD focused on exploring a practical design framework for climate appropriate housing in Sudan. Recently she has applied her expertise to a live project for a 10-person accommodation unit in an Eco-village in Tanzania. Working alongside Simmonds.Mills architects. She used project data logger measurements provided by the architects to help validate her computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling of the project, advising on design changes during the build to further improve thermal comfort performance. She has published a number of her conference presentations on thermal comfort and has written a chapter for the Routledge Handbook for Resilient Thermal Comfort

Christelle Escoffier

Dr. Christelle Escoffier is a senior associate and the air quality group technical lead at Hoare Lea. She has more than 20 years of experience in air quality consultancy. She is passionate about improving air quality for people and the environment. Through her career, she has worked on many aspects of air quality from monitoring and modelling air quality impact of industrial projects to specifying air quality technical recommendations for ventilation design of built environment projects in a variety of sectors.
She is a member of the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM), an associate member of the American Society of heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and a member of the CIBSE air quality working group.

Richard Fargus

Richard Fargus began his career working at the Building Research Establishment (BRE) where he was involved in research into intelligent control and monitoring of HVAC systems using neural networks and other advanced software algorithms. During this time he obtained a degree in Electrical and Electronic engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and a DPhil from the University of Oxford. After leaving BRE he specialised in the development of BMS solutions for integrating VRF and Split air-conditioning systems into BMS, as well as developing bespoke control interfaces for a number of air-conditioning manufacturers. Richard is currently Managing Director of Voytech Systems which specialises in the design and development of BMS control solutions that combine conventional wired BMS control with wireless LoRaWAN monitoring and control devices.

Siu-fung (Alex) Fung

Alex Fung is a Doctoral Researcher at the Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, University College London (UCL). His research interests include Building Data Science, Building Performance Simulation, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Alex obtained his undergraduate degree in Building Services Engineering and master’s degrees in High-Performance Building and Environmental Management and Engineering from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). With extensive experience as a building services engineer on various complex construction projects in Hong Kong, he served as an instructor at the PolyU Industrial Centre prior to his doctoral studies. Alex is a UK Chartered Engineer and holds full membership in ASHRAE, CIBSE, and IET. Passionate about inspiring the next generation in STEM fields, he currently serves as the Honorary Secretary for the CIBSE Benevolent Fund Trust and co-chair of Young Engineers in the ASHRAE UK Chapter.

Stephanie Gauthier

Stephanie is an Associate Professor in Energy and Buildings at the University of Southampton. Her research focuses on human behaviour modelling in relation to energy, building physics and thermal comfort. Her research projects include infrastructure systems and health, flexible demand-side management trials, low carbon technologies uptake in UK homes and trials of technologies in district heating networks. Stephanie teaches building physics and statistics on MSc courses and is a design tutor on civil engineering undergraduate courses. Within the newly funded UKRI Centres for Doctoral Training on AI for Sustainability, she is leading the theme ‘AI for Sustainable Energy and Buildings’. Stephanie is an active member of the research group Annex 79; part of the International Energy Agency Energy in Buildings and Communities Programme. Stephanie is a member of the Women's Engineering Society, an Affiliate member of CIBSE, a Chartered member of RIBA, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Aaron Gillich

Professor Aaron Gillich has worked for the past 15 years across industry, academia, and government. His research centres on the links between technical and policy solutions to decarbonising existing buildings. He has led a number of research and demonstration projects for low carbon innovations in heat pumps and heat networks. His interests also include retrofit programme design and market transformation strategy.

David Glew

Roger Hitchin

Following a long career in HVAC, energy and building physics, Roger is now a self-employed consultant. His activities include supporting the involvement of the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero in the International Energy Agency’s collaborative technology programme on Heat Pumping Technology. In particular with the UK-led international collaboration “Retrofitting Heat Pump Systems in Large Non-domestic Buildings”. He is also chair of the informal “Heat Pump Liaison Group” that is hosted by CIBSE and chaired the steering committees for AM17 and the new version of TM51. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Bo Han

Bo Han, a PhD student specializing in automatic control of HVAC system and numerical simulation of heat and mass dynamics. His research aims to optimize the system operation efficiency and implement preventive conservation measures in heritage sector. Before his PhD study, he has three-year work experience in a HVAC manufacturer, focusing on technical support for VRF and Heat Pump systems. With a deep understanding of industrial needs and academic research, he endeavors to bridge theory and practice, fostering impactful advancements in low-carbon emission HVAC applications.

Khalid Hassan

A Building Services Engineering graduate from London South Bank University with a Master's degree distinction, I excel as a Project Consultant. Proficient in buildings performance, HVAC, and Building Energy Analysis, my current emphasis lies in energy conservation and renewables feasibility studies. As a seasoned smart buildings engineer, I boast exposure to IoT technology and cloud-based Digital Twins. My expertise extends to the decarbonization of buildings, communities, and cities, employing physics-based Digital Twins and calibrated models. Contributing significantly to sustainable practices, I integrate cutting-edge technologies into building services engineering, aiming to shape a greener future.

James Healey

Aya Heggy

Aya Heggy is a PhD candidate at London South Bank University, concentrating on the critical issue of decarbonising the heat network market. With a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, her academic pursuit is anchored in advancing sustainable heating solutions. Aya's research ambitiously targets the incorporation of low-carbon technologies into heat networks, scrutinising this integration through technical, economic, and social lenses. Her ultimate aim is to foster the transition towards sustainable heating systems, a goal that aligns with global decarbonisation efforts.

John Henderson

John Henderson is a Principal Consultant at Sustenic Ltd, an organisation working with housing providers to help them navigate the journey to net zero using data insights and technical expertise in retrofit. He is a physicist with over 20 years’ experience of developing building energy models and analysing energy data, and the practical application of this knowledge in policy and industry contexts. Prior to joining Sustenic, he led BRE’s work on the Standard Assessment Procedure and the Home Energy Model and provided technical and policy advice on building energy use issues to national, regional and local governments.

Elinor Huggett

Elinor leads the global Real Estate Sustainability team at Deloitte, responsible for driving sustainability standards in office spaces occupied for the firm, in support of their published WorldClimate goals. This work focuses on fit out and operational sustainability, with Deloitte leasing the majority of their 3M+m2 space. Her background is in environmental design and engineering, and she came to the role at Deloitte to deepen her understanding of client side and operational topics after spending many years in design roles, notably at Foster + Partners and Max Fordham. She holds a BSc in Mathematics, and an MSc in Environmental Design and Engineering, and is a Chartered Engineer with CIBSE.

Francesca James

Francesca James is a Consulting Engineer at FairHeat, with two years of experience in district heating, focusing on both existing and new build design projects. She has worked on various site audits, performance reviews, diagnosis, and retrofit design projects, including city-scale district heating designs. Francesca has been influential in developing company processes through her research, advocating for young female engineers in the industry, and winning the CIBSE Young Engineer of the Year Award 2023.

Francesca holds an MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge and is working towards Chartership with CIBSE.

Steven Johnson

Steve is an experienced technical director at Hilson Moran with over 30 years experience. Steve studied Building Services Engineering Design and Management at Reading University before joining Max Fordham and Partners in 1996. Steve carried out MEP designs for a range of projects including the Cold War Museum at RAF Cosford, and a new study block at Benenden School. On joining Hilson Moran in 2004, Steve led their sustainability team, leading many projects such as the Principal Place office through to blocks of flats in Wembley to the restoration of 184 Shepherds Bush Road. In 2020 Steve was made a Technical Director responsible for technical excellence across their sustainability and energy teams.

Phil Jones

Phil is one of the leading energy consultants in the UK with over 40 years’ experience on energy efficiency across the built environment. He is a specialist in 4th & 5th generation Heat Networks.

He is lead author of CIBSE/ADE CP1 (2020) Heat Networks Code of Practice and is currently advising DESNZ on the development of a Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme to regulate minimum standards across the sector. Phil is also lead editor of the major 2023 update to the BESA HIU Test Standard.

Henrique Lagoeiro

Henrique is a research fellow at London South Bank University, where he investigates how the exploitation of waste heat through heat pumps and district energy can be key for decarbonising cities. Current winner of the prestigious Ted Perry Award, Henrique was also the 1st place winner at the 7th DHC+ International Awards and voted Best Young Energy Efficiency Researcher at the World Sustainable Energy Days 2022.

Geoffrey Levermore

Geoff Levermore, emeritus prof of the built environment at Manchester University. He has been involved with the IPCC on climate change (Fourth Assessment report), contributing to the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the IPCC. He has been involved with the CIBSE Weather Guides and currently gives keynote talks, lectures and researches the urban heat island of Manchester.

Jill Leung

Jill is an accomplished sustainability engineer who has been driving meaningful change in the field since joining Arup in 2018. With a primary focus on decarbonization projects, Jill has played a pivotal role in guiding businesses through the transition towards corporate decarbonization, ensuring the implementation of science-based targets. Her expertise extends to providing sustainable design consultancy for new development projects, as well as retro-commissioning in existing properties.

Equipped with a master's degree in data science, Jill brings a unique and valuable skill set to her work. Her specialization in data management, time series AI, and blockchain enables her to analyze and interpret complex sustainability data with precision and insight. Jill harnesses the power of data science to develop innovative solutions that support the integration of sustainable practices across diverse industries, including developing data quality assessment framework.

Jill's professional achievements are a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication. In 2021, she emerged as the winner of the 1st Advancing Net Zero Ideas Competition, showcasing her ability to generate groundbreaking ideas that pave the way for a carbon-neutral future. Her exemplary work garnered recognition when she received the Project of the Year award for retrofit projects from the CIBSE HK Branch in 2023. Furthermore, Jill's remarkable abilities were acknowledged by the International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada in 2022, where she was honored with the titles of Best of Innovation and Best Woman Innovator.

Ying Yan Li

Ying Yan Li completed a BEng in mechanical engineering in The University of Hong Kong and holds an MSc in Built Environment: Environmental Design and Engineering from University College London. The education background enabled her to have a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms regarding the built environment and sustainability. She is interested in evaluating energy performance and performing energy benchmarking of buildings. She is keen on exploring ways to stimulate decarbonisation of the built environment and enable the building stock to move towards UK’s 2050 net zero target.

Emily Mansfield

“Emily has over a decade of experience in domestic and non-domestic building projects, and is responsible for the management, generation, and co-ordination of energy assessments, ensuring full compliance is achieved against the current legislation.

Specialising in producing Energy Performance Certificates for various structures, Emily also advises design teams on strategies and solutions to achieve compliance with Building Regulations and planning policies. From Energy Strategies to Sustainability Statements, Emily conducts diverse assessment to support planning applications for new developments. Her portfolio ranges from single houses to large-scale mixed-use projects, including high-rise developments.

Emily holds Passivhaus certification and acted as the Passivhaus Consultant for the award-winning Hartopp & Lannoy Point residential development in Hammersmith and Fulham. The landmark development won the Best Affordable Housing Development (£20m+) award at the Inside Housing Awards.”

Ant Marsh

Ant works is a senior engineer in Arup's specialist Building Performance and Systems team based in Sheffield. He has several years’ experience of conducting post-occupancy evaluations (POE), undertaking independent research, and using advanced data analytics to optimise the operational performance of buildings.

Sahar Mirzaie

I'm an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Sustainable Built Environment, specializing in building performance modelling, carbon reporting, and LCA. I previously worked at arbnco Ltd as the Product Manager of Emerging Technologies, developing state-of-the-art energy-efficient software solutions for commercial buildings. My research focuses on sustainable construction, low-carbon innovations, and the application of computer science in these areas. My PhD explored the impact of BREEAM, BIM, and Soft Landings on building lifecycle performance. I have experience in sustainability consulting and thermal modelling, and I am a LEED Accredited Professional.

Farhad Mofidi

Farhad has over twelve years of extensive experience in building engineering, energy efficiency, and sustainability. His expertise spans net-zero carbon design, operational energy and carbon analysis, digital twining, building science, simulation, and the nexus between built environments and human well-being. Leading the optimization of net-zero carbon buildings, he focuses on reducing life-cycle operational and embodied carbon, contributing to the transition to net-zero-carbon built environments. Farhad held positions as a Senior Sustainability Consultant and Research and Development Manager in Building Science in the UK. His Research Associate Fellowship at the University of Bath involved serving as an Energy Manager for a multi-million-pound humanitarian project. He earned his PhD in Building Engineering with distinction at Concordia University, Montreal, receiving the best thesis award and global media recognition for his research published in influential energy and buildings journals. Farhad also holds an M.Sc. in Sustainable Energy Systems from the University of Edinburgh, UK.

Katherine Morris

Katherine is currently a research associate at London South Bank University engaged on the DESNZ ‘Heat Pump Ready’ stream 2 project. This research is assessing the thermal performance of real homes to develop evaluation tools for prediction of heating system energy performance. This follows the completion of the MSc in Building Services Engineering (LSBU, 2023) which stimulated an interest in contributing to the Net Zero challenge. Prior to starting the Masters course she had a 25 year career in construction (onshore wind farms, water industry process plants, mixed use developments, high rise buildings, structural steel, bridges) with project management responsibilities for project delivery including design coordination, subcontractor management, project and programme management and latterly expert report writing for construction dispute resolution.

Martin Murray

Martin has 40 years’ experience as a Practicing Architect, Lecturer and Passive House Designer. Prior to setting up in independent practice in 1996 he worked in practices across Ireland, the UK and the USA. As a Fulbright scholar he completed studies in Urban Design, at Rice University, Houston, Texas, winning the William Dunlop Darden Medal for his master’s thesis. His work has been exhibited at the Royal Academy London, and his architectural practice has been involved in a wide variety of project types from Commercial to Residential, Conservation to Exhibition Design, Urban Design and Sustainability. In 2023 he completed his Ph D studies at Ulster University, Belfast, researching optimal approaches to low carbon design strategies

Sahar Nava

Sahar is a sustainable design specialist, and a Doctoral Researcher and Design Tutor at Bartlett, UCL. Sahar has a particular interest in a holistic approach towards sustainability, addressing the broader environmental and socioeconomic impacts of design. Sahar's research aims to explore a framework for stakeholder engagement in the process of assessing and analysing the lifecycle sustainability of buildings. Their research questions the equity and authenticity of the current methodologies and practice of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies, and scrutinises the integration of a participatory approach to Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis (LCSA) for decision-making on housing estates' regeneration schemes.

Since starting architectural education in 2001, Sahar has worked on a wide range of projects, of different scales and sectors. Sahar implements and integrates sustainability measures across teaching and design projects. She has nationwide and international experience leading teams on global projects. Sahar's technical expertise enables them to push innovation in design and sustainability in different contexts. Sahar is well-versed in interpreting different stakeholders’ needs, and confidently leading design dialogues and iterative presentations.

In their free time, you will find Sahar exploring the latest developments in AI to assist with design and analysis; playing the piano; experimenting with arts and crafts; hiking; and practising yoga.

Sheila Owuor

Sheila Owuor is a Registered Architect with a background in Architecture, Environmental Design and Innovation. She has a strong passion for sustainable design and innovative solutions that promote human well-being and environmental conservation. Sheila has a strong skill set in Environmental Design, 3D Visualisation, Interior Architecture, Urban Design, Project Management and Construction Documentation. She is a graduate of the University of Nairobi, where she earned her Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (RIBA II equivalent) and Master of Architecture - Environmental Design. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, reading and volunteering in environmental conservation initiatives.

Joanne Patterson

Austin Perry

Austin Perry is a 2nd-year PhD student at the University of Miami's College of Engineering in Miami, Florida, USA. With a professional background in sustainable development and disaster resilience, Mr. Perry brings a wealth of practical experience to his academic research. His research focus lies in enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure systems against both natural and man-made hazards. Currently, Mr. Perry is funded by the International Code Council, where his contributions will advance onsite sewage disposal code standards. His work specifically aims to incorporate considerations for the anticipated challenges posed by climate change impacts, population shifts, and socio-economic constraints. Through his academic work, Mr. Perry strives to make meaningful contributions to the fields of engineering and sustainable development, fostering a resilient and adaptive approach to infrastructure challenges.

Emmanouil Perisoglou

Giorgos Petrou

Usman Qayyum

Usman Qayyum, a final-year Ph.D. student at Brunel University London, earned his MSc. in building services engineering from the same institution. His dedicated focus lies in the research field of CO2 air-to-water heat pumps. In his current project, Usman is investigating the feasibility of employing CO2 as a working fluid in domestic heat pumps.

Akos Revesz

Mark Reynolds

Before joining FairHeat in September 2019, Mark studied a Masters’ degree in Chemical Engineering at Newcastle University and gained experience as a Project Engineer in the facilities and energy department of BASF.

As a Consulting Engineer, Mark is often visiting client sites and working to design and model cost effective measures to increase heat network efficiency on both new build and retrofit projects. In 2021, Mark was invited to participate in the CIBSE Technical Symposium with his research on the use of PV and solar thermal on urban heat networks.

Through his work, Mark has acquired a wide-ranging interest in the energy sector and is working towards becoming a Chartered Engineer.

Drew Rich

Drew Rich, a Ph.D. student at the University of Miami, focuses on water resources in the built environment. Over seven years at the university, he earned his undergraduate degree in 2021 and seamlessly transitioned into his Ph.D. Drew's leadership roles include serving as President of Chi Epsilon, the Civil Engineering Honors Society, and Men’s Club Basketball. As the CAE representative for the Ph.D. Advisory Council, he contributes ideas for enhancing the College of Engineering for graduate students. Drew's research journey began at the University of Miami's SUSTAIN Tank, developing eco-friendly sea walls. His Ph.D. explores coastal waterway eutrophication and issues related to water supply, sanitary drainage, and venting systems in the built environment. Currently involved in three ICC Standard Development committees, Drew provides valuable insights on Water Reuse, Pipe Sizing, and Onsite water treatment systems, shaping international standards.

Vincenzo Antonio Rossi

Vincenzo Antonio Rossi is a Field Data Coordinator at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, where he is actively engaged in the Home Energy Model project. Simultaneously, he is a Research Associate at Loughborough University while completing his PhD in Urban Energy Modelling and Optimisation. Rossi's background lies in Architectural Engineering, and his research focuses primarily on building physics, performance, and data collection. He also explores topics such as fuel poverty and the social sustainability of retrofit solutions, with the objective of contributing to the sustainable decarbonisation of the UK's building stock.

Shweta Salvankar

Shweta Salvankar, an esteemed sustainability specialist, has recently joined Harley Haddow's team in Manchester. Her appointment marks a significant step in expanding the firm's sustainability initiatives. With a rich background in sustainable building practices across the UK and India, Shweta has garnered recognition for her expertise, including the CIBSE Young Modeller Award and a gold medal in Timber development UK's Climate-responsive design. In her new role, she leads the Building Performance and Sustainability division, focusing on energy-efficient building design through advanced simulation methods. Shweta's certifications include Passivhaus and BREEAM in-use, and she is a qualified AECB assessor.

Mahsa Sayfikar

I am a mechanical engineer, currently working as a Research Associate as part of the Urban Energy Research Group at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. I received my BSc in mechanical engineering in 2009 and my MSc in energy engineering in 2012, and I am currently in the last year of my PhD studies in construction. For my PhD research, I am working on occupancy representation in building performance simulation of non-residential buildings. I am also working on the Horizon 2020 funded project “crossCert”, which focuses on cross-assessing EPC methodologies across ten European countries. CrossCert is part of a cluster of Next Generation EPC projects and aims to enhance the next generation of EPCs across Europe.

Adam Selvey

I have always known from an early age that I wanted to be an engineer within the construction sector. My passion for this is because my family are in various parts of the industry and as a child, I became fascinated with documentaries about buildings.

The first step in my career was to consciously leave school at 16 years old to undertake an electrical design indentured student apprenticeship, with building services contractor, How Engineering. I believe that it was this desire to be an engineer working within the construction industry, coupled with the decision to leave school early, that has led to me taking my career seriously. In the later part of my studies, I have spent 6 years travelling back and forth to London Southbank to gain my MSc and BEng (Hons), even though I lived in Birmingham.

Leela Shanker

Leela Shanker is Design Lab Director with WAP Sustainability. Based in New York, she advises the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (U.S. Department of Energy) as technical expert and contributes to the American Institute of Architects’ Decarbonization Subcommittee and Carbon Leadership Forum NY chapter. Through the GreenLight Alliance - an international network of lighting professionals progressing industry-led standards, research and advocacy - she founded the Lighting Industry Life Cycle Assessment Incubator while practicing as a lighting designer with consulting engineering firm BR+A. She holds a M.Arch (Hons) and MFA - Lighting Design from Parsons School of Design and Bachelors of Law and Commerce from Sydney University. As Founder of non-profit, Flint Collective NYC Inc, her work has been awarded by the IES with a Special Citation for Lighting as a Tool for Social Impact. She is a current member of the Social Architecture track of the New Museum’s NEW INC incubator.

Lucy Sherburn

Lucy Sherburn is a Lead Engineer at FairHeat, with over four years of engineering experience in the district heating sector. Her skills encompass acceptance testing, site audits, performance reviews, and design projects, contributing to the development and operation of efficient, low-carbon heating networks. Lucy recently played a key role in the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS), focusing on the technical aspects. In recognition for her industry contributions, she was shortlisted for the CIBSE Young Engineer of the Year Award 2021 and Decentralised Energy Awards Rising Star 2023. Lucy holds an MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sheffield and is currently working towards MCIBSE CENG.

Aashika Shibu

Aashika is an architectural designer and sustainability consultant passionate about creating environmentally responsive buildings. With a masters in Environmental design from UCL, she has experience working in energy modelling, Passivhaus design strategies, SAP calculations, and Whole Life Carbon Assessments. Her experience ranges from projects of large international towers to independent dwellings assessing their performance and assessing their design through 3D modelling.

Evelyn Soong

Evelyn Soong holds an MSc (Smart Energy and the Built Environment) from University College London, specialising in smart energy technologies and modelling at the UCL Energy Institute. Complementing this, she has also earned a BSc (Project & Facilities Management) from the National University of Singapore.

Currently working in Singapore for the public sector, she advocates for sustainable practices within the agency’s extensive portfolio of over a hundred industrial buildings. In her role, she employs data analysis to identify actionable opportunities, develops and implements strategies to enhance sustainability in building operations. With a keen interest in the intersection of data, sustainability and building operations, Evelyn looks forward to discussing the transformative potential of data-driven approaches to creating a more efficient and sustainable built environment.

Sayuri Sumithrarachchi

Sayuri Sumithrarachchi obtained her master’s in construction management with distinction from City, University of London. This paper was produced following her master’s research project. Her undergraduate degree is in electrical engineering from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. She has over 9 years of experience in design and delivery of Building Management Systems (BMS) and her interests lie in BMS optimizations, intelligent buildings and users and building systems integrations.

Marlena Swan

I am a doctoral researcher at Building Energy Research Group, Loughborough University. Before pursuing my PhD I worked as an architect on a variety of projects across residential, commercial and education sectors. The aim of my research project, partially funded by DESNZ, is to identify effective, practical, and affordable retrofit packages that reduce both energy use and summertime overheating. The research will use digital models of UK dwelling archetypes calibrated and validated with measured data collected from existing dwellings to ensure the reliability of the results.

Yikang Tong

Yikang is a building energy modeler from ADAM Architecture specializing in sustainability design, with expertise in building energy modelling and life cycle analysis. He is dedicated to optimising energy efficiency in buildings and promoting environmentally friendly practices within the industry. Yikang holds a Bachelor of Architecture Built Environment from the University of Nottingham and a Master degree in Smart Building and Digital Engineering from UCL. Yikang is a certificated BREEAM Advisory professional.

Rana Traboulsi

Rana Traboulsi is a chartered Associate Public Health Engineer at Arup, with a passion for creating sustainable water and drainage solutions for buildings. With a deep understanding of the intersection between public health, environmental sustainability, and engineering, she actively integrates principles of whole life carbon reduction and water scarcity management into her work.

Through her expertise, she strives to advance holistic approaches to building design that minimise environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Rana holds a Masters’ degree in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development from Imperial College London.

Chris Tsang

Dr. Chris Tsang is a University Fellow (Lecturer) at the University of Salford, where he brings a wealth of expertise in assessing building performance. Previously, he served as a Research Fellow at Leeds Beckett University, leading the thermal bridging modelling work on the DESNZ funded DEEP project. Holding a PhD in Built Environment from Loughborough University, his research focused on energy simulations for retrofitting residential buildings in China. His expertise lies in developing comprehensive models to evaluate building performance, with a particular focus on energy efficiency, retrofitting, and moisture resilience.

Freddie Valletta

Freddie Valletta is a senior engineer at FairHeat, a specialist consultancy who are the leading experts in the successful delivery of high performing heat networks. He has over seven years’ experience in the heat network sector and at FairHeat, Freddie heads up a team of engineers specialising in quality assurance of design and onsite activities on new build heat network projects.

Freddie has particular interest in operation and performance of HIUs and through this he developed an acceptance testing process for dwelling level HIUs, that is now industry standard practice as per CP1 (2020). He also sits on the BESA HIU Technical Committee for the UK HIU Test Regime as the Technical Lead and Secretariat.

Brogan Watkins

Brogan Watkins is a Sustainability Analyst at Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM). His focus area of work is net zero implementation across LGIM’s real estate portfolio. He previously worked as a Sustainability Consultant at Hoare Lea where he was first involved with Bryn Bragl, His areas of expertise are energy, carbon and circularity. Brogan’s experience as a design engineer and consultant on several low carbon residential developments has led to him becoming a member of the CIBSE Homes for the Future Group. He was on the task group for the Future Homes Standard – Ready for Net Zero report. Brogan is also a contributor to New London Architecture where he’s presented on Energy Positive Homes at the London Festival of Architecture.

Stephen Watson

Stephen Watson is a lecturer in building energy at Loughborough University. His research uses large monitored datasets, often to develop empirical models. Previous work has been on predicting national electricity demand under widespread use of heat pumps, developing energy demand and generation models of “Active Buildings”, assessing overheating in the EFUS dataset, estimating financial and CO2 savings from hybrid heat pumps, and others. He lectures on thermodynamics, control systems and building energy modelling.

Zhichu Wang

Zhichu Wang is a dedicated third-year full-time PhD student at the University of Hull, UK, specializing in the innovative field of machine learning applications within data centre cooling systems. His research focuses on performance forecasting and optimisation, aiming to enhance efficiency and sustainability in data centres worldwide. Prior to his current studies, Zhichu earned an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida, USA, and a BEng in Energy and Power Engineering from Southeast University, China. Through his academic journey, Zhichu has developed a robust foundation in both theoretical and practical aspects of mechanical and energy engineering, preparing him to tackle complex challenges in his research. He attends CIBSE Technical Symposium 2024 with the goals of presenting his recent findings, networking with fellow academics, and absorbing new ideas and developments in his field. Zhichu welcomes opportunities for collaboration and can be reached at [email protected].

Grete Wilson

An Engineer in Arup's North Fire Engineering Team in Edinburgh, Grete is a pivotal figure contributing to the team's success. With a degree in Structural and Fire Safety Engineering from the University of Edinburgh and an Associate Membership in The Institute of Fire Engineers (AIFireE), she provides essential fire safety advice to clients and architects, aligning design aspirations with sustainability goals.
Her role involves project management, collaboration with design teams, and overseeing deliverables. Grete's expertise spans all project stages, from concept to construction, covering new builds, retrofits, and refurbishments.
Actively applying research skills, she enhances the value of both commercial and research projects. As a member of the internal fire and sustainability skills team, Grete plays a key role in integrating fire engineering into low carbon solutions for the race to net zero.

Xiaoxiong Xie

Dr Xiaoxiong Xie specialises in analysing the connection between outdoor and indoor environments. His expertise lies in urban- and building-scale modelling, particularly examining the effects of global warming and urban heat islands on city dwellers. His work has implications for both building energy and the public health sectors.

Muhammad Yasir

Muhammad Talha Yasir works as Energy and Products Engineer at EECO2. He has experience in providing energy efficiency advice to pharmaceutical clients to help them achieve their decarbonization targets. Muhammad has done bachelor’s in civil engineering from University of Engineering and Technology and completed master's in energy and sustainable building design from De Montfort University in 2023, giving him a robust background in structural design, building sustainability, building physics, and energy analysis. Proficient in IESVE modelling for thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis, Muhammad excels in comprehensive building performance assessment. With a passion for sustainable design and a keen eye for building performance optimization, Muhammad is working to contribute towards innovative solutions that prioritize energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Feride Şener Yılmaz

Feride Şener Yılmaz (PhD) is a research assistant Dr Istanbul Technical University Faculty of Architecture. She has been graduated from Gazi University Department of Architecture in 2006 and recieved her MSc degree from Istanbul Technical University, Environmental Control and Building Technology MSc Program in 2009. She completed her PhD in ITU Building Science Program in 2014. She has relevant technical consultancy expertise for national and international projects in the building sector for the disciplines of architectural lighting design, visual comfort, daylighting, building energy performance, energy efficient building design, green building sertification systems, building energy performance modelling and simulations. She has national and international publications relevant to her fields of expertise.

Hua Zhong

Hailun Xie

Dr Hailun Xie is a KTP associate with CIBSE and University of Exeter. He is currently working on the revision of weather files using the latest climate projections from UKCP18. Previously, he worked as a research fellow with University of Exeter on lifecycle assessment and optimization of floating offshore wind farms. He holds a PhD in Computer Science, with expertise in machine learning, optimization, climate risk modelling, and built environment.