Meet the Team
Development
Matt Partridge
Development Director
Matt has been involved in the UK wind energy development sector since graduating from the University of Southampton in 1994 (BSc Hons Geography). Following graduation, Matt held a number of positions at National Wind Power (now npower-renewables) for over 9 years, until late 2003. Subsequently, Matt was Director of Gamesa Energy UK until May 2007, followed by 2½ years at Ecotricity where he held the position of Head of Strategic Wind Development. Matt has also been an elected member of the Board of RenewableUK (formerly BWEA) since early 2007.
Simon Pipkin
Wind Assessment Manager
After graduating from Southampton University with a BSc in Geography in 2002, Simon has accrued 5 years experience in the wind industry. Initially involved with finding new sites and assessing their viability, in recent years he has led many large wind projects throughout the UK. Managing a portfolio of several hundred MWs his main focus has been on site acquisition and planning issues.
Matt Olley
Project Developer
Matt graduated with a BA(Hons) degree in Town and Country Planning in 1999 and completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Town Planning in 2000, both from Coventry University. Matt became a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in July 2002 and has 10 years of planning experience including time at the Planning Inspectorate, in planning consultancy and latterly working in the residential development sector leading major residential and mixed-use development projects.
Sophie Hartfield
Project Developer
Sophie graduated from the University of Gloucestershire in 2006, where she studied Geography and Environmental Management. She is an associate member of the Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment. Sophie has experience in energy trading, sustainable biofuels and more recently the wind industry. Sophie started her career in energy trading, working within coal and power settlement. She then worked on sustainable biomass as representative for the British Standards Institute in Europe. Sophie has also worked in the wind industry for 18 months. She has handled many sites in various stages of the planning process, her particular interests are community liaison and engagement.
Jim Wood
Project Developer
Jim is a Chartered Landscape Architect (BSc (Hons) MLA, MLI) and has specialised in the design, development and assessment of wind farms since 2000. Jim was a Director of landscape consultancy Lovejoy and subsequently Capita Lovejoy. He has been involved in the development, assessment and consenting of a number of the largest wind farms in the UK, and has worked extensively at all stages of wind farm development and particularly the co-ordination of design and project management of Environmental Impact Assessment.
Tracey Siddle
Project Developer (FITs)
Tracey has been working in the wind industry since early 2007 in various development management roles. Her previous post was focused on new site acquisitions in England and Wales. Since joining REG Windpower in 2010 she has taken responsibility for developing a portfolio of small to medium wind sites focusing on those falling under the Feed-In Tariff mechanism as well as pursuing various UK solar farm projects. In addition, she is currently studying Business Management with the Open University.
Owen Saward
Project Developer
Owen has worked as an Environmental Planner since 1996, in both the public and private sector. He has worked in major project teams for a number of Local Planning Authorities in the UK and for six years was Director of his own multidisciplinary planning practice in the south east of England. He is a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) and Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), as well as an Associate of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (AIEMA), a Licentiate Member of the Landscape Institute and a Professional Arboriculturist (M.Arbor.A). Owen brings to REG particular specialism in landscape planning and ecology.
Sergio Zappulo
Project Developer
Sergio graduated from the University of Sussex in 2002 where he was also awarded an MA in Environment, Development and Policy in 2005. He has worked in the wind industry since 2005 working for both a consultancy and a developer before joining REG Windpower in 2011. He has worked on all stages of wind farm development, and has a particular interest in aviation issues. Sergio's career in renewables began in the developing world where he explored the potential of small-scale biodiesel production in rural Zambia.
Melvyn McKeown
Technical Manager
Melvyn has worked within the wind energy sector since 2003. Before joining REG Windpower he worked for an environmental consultancy and a developer. Melvyn supports the development team by undertaking and managing a variety of technical assessments as well as graphical and visualisation works.
Will Whittington
Technical Analyst
Will graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in Renewable Energy BSc(Hons) in 2008. This degree has provided Will with a good solid understanding of the technical and environmental issues covering a broad range of renewable energy technologies. Since graduating he has been working in the wind energy sector, specialising in technical and visual assessments from the initial stages of the project through to forming part of the Environmental Impact Assessment.
Construction/Operations
Neil Harris
Construction and Operations Director
Neil is a Fellow of Institute of Structural Engineers and a specialist in the construction and operations of wind power projects. He has been active in the UK renewables industry since its inception. From founding Oceans Engineering in 1987 (subsequently sold to Scott Wilson), he has advised on wind projects ranging in size from single turbines up to hundreds of MWs, both in the UK and abroad. Neil has advised the DTI on wind turbine towers and foundations and holds the patents for a number of specialist structural solutions.
John Mills
Head of Construction Management
John has worked as a Quantity Surveyor in the Construction Industry for over 30 years in the UK and overseas, he was a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and has worked extensively in the renewables sector since the early 90s. John has project managed and run the construction of many MWs of wind projects across Europe.
Steve Higman
Head of Operating Projects
Following a career in the Royal Air Force as an Airframe & Engines technician, Steve joined B9 Energy O&M Ltd, the biggest independent operation and maintenance company in the UK, and gained extensive technical knowledge of the operation of wind turbines in a number of roles. From 2007 to 2010 he was the E.ON Account Manager and then became B9 Regional Manager for England & Wales overseeing the operation and maintenance of many different turbine types for a number of customers.
Steve Nicol
Operating Projects Supervisor
After an extensive career in the aviation industry as an Airframes & Propulsion technician, with the Royal Air Force initially, then as a civilian contractor working for the Royal Navy, Steve joined B9 Energy O&M Ltd in 2008. During his time with the company he gained extensive operational and technical knowledge of a variety of wind turbines in his initial role as a site technician, progressing in the same year to the operations and maintenance manager for 4 commercial wind farms based in Cornwall.
Terry Warr
Electrical Engineer
Terry is a recognised specialist in the management, engineering, design, construction and commissioning of generation, transmission and distribution electrical projects with particular expertise in the associated protection and control schemes. Terry has been actively involved with the Wind industry for well over a decade and is now responsible for all electrical power grid connections and the engineering, design, construction and commissioning elements of the wind farm internal electrical power infrastructures.
Michael Jones
Assistant Electrical Engineer
Michael graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2010 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Electronics. During this time he developed an interest for the Electrical Engineering side of his course. Coupled with his final year project of simulating and determining power system faults he is well placed to learn from and assist Terry Warr in all electrical power aspects from planning through to commissioning.
Andrew Penfold
Assistant Construction Manager
Andrew has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and started his career as a site engineer quickly progressing to project engineer, managing turnkey, construction, utilities and power projects for the US Department of Defence. Andrew is experienced in the transportation and installation of heavy plant equipment for conventional power generation and distribution, and has gained experience in the renewable energy sector through working on some of the UK largest offshore wind farms currently under construction.
Neil Crudgington
Project Manager
Neil has worked extensively across the renewable energy sector since 2005; Involving experience as a wind and biomass project developer and operations manager for 5 wind farms, managing a development portfolio of Anaerobic Digestion projects across England and Wales and as a business development manager on wave and tidal energy research project with the University of Exeter. As a REG Project Manager Neil offers a broad range of experience across renewable energy technologies, wind project development and operations.
Administration
Carey Green
Head of Office Administration
Carey joined REG Windpower in 2007 and heads up the administration team. Carey’s interest in renewables stems from completing a BTEC Sustainable Tourism course when she was the general manager of a holiday park in Cornwall. A former accounts manager for the University of Oxford, Carey has also held a number of managerial roles within the hospitality industry.
Tyra Bown
Office Administrator
A Cornishwoman born and bred, Tyra joined REG Windpower in February 2010 and helps ensure our Truro office runs smoothly. She also has 20 years of experience in the catering industry behind her. The skills she acquired in this sector are put to good use as Tyra plays a vital role in organising school visits, open days and events at our operational wind farms.
Louisa Austin
Office Manager
Louisa graduated with a degree in Business Studies BA (Hons) from Bournemouth University in 2004. Since then she has honed her administrative skills in a range of different sectors including sustainable transport. She has always been interested in protecting the environment and joined REG Windpower in 2011. It is Louisa’s role to ensure the smooth running of our Bath office.
Ian Lawrence
Communications Manager
Ian has been involved with renewable energy projects across the country since 2008. He joined the company in 2011. Ian is the contact for any media enquiries regarding REG Windpower projects.
