Gaynor Hartnell, CEO of the Renewable Energy Association has many years of experience in the renewable energy industry and  is respected in both government and industry as one of the country’s leading policy experts.  She has had a direct interest in Biogas since 1998 when she ran the Landfill Gas Association, (later renamed the Biogas Association) and co-coordinated the Confederation of Renewable Energy Associations (CREA), an umbrella group of RE trade associations.  Gaynor was involved in the formative stages of the REA, and became its first executive in 2001.

David Collins runs the REA Biogas. He joined the biogas industry in 1998 after 4 years running an energy technology transfer project between the Scottish government and Vietnam and previously 14 years as a directional drilling supervisor in the international offshore oil and gas industry, latterly founding a directional drilling company operating in the UK and overseas. He then took the decision to leave the fossil fuel industry, taking an MSc in Environmental Technology & Economics, gaining practical AD experience working alongside Greenfinch Ltd and was involved in some of the early AD projects in the UK. He went on to found REA Biogas in 2004 and was actively involved in campaigning for recognition of AD by government and for many of the incentives that have resulted in the expansion of the industry. David co-wrote the Digestate Standard for Scotland and now runs the Biofertiliser Certification Scheme for the industry.

Chair for 2010/2011 - John Baldwin - John is a former President of the SBGI (Society of British Gas Industries) and is a member of the Steering Group of Biomethane for Transport and has been active in promoting the option of biomethane fuel injected into the gas grid and its use as a vehicle fuel. Prior to learning about renewable natural gas, John’s background was fossil gas, with 20 years working in all areas of the gas chain from upstream E&P with BG Group (Commercial Manager on the Armada Project), Transco (Manager, Network Development) and as MD of BG Energy Services Ltd. Whilst in Transco in 1995 John was responsible for the commercial and technical regime for entry of gas into the Transco system and it is developing these rules to apply for small biomethane flows which will be John’s role within the REA.

The former Chair of REA Biogas, Michael Chesshire, is now on the Board of the REA. Michael is Technology Director at BiogenGreenfinch. As the founder of Greenfinch Ltd, Michael developed the business into the leading UK AD technology provider before it merged with Biogen . He brings over 30 years of process engineering experience and expertise to the new business. Michael is a well known and respected figure within the anaerobic digestion industry. He is a founder and former Chairman of REA Biogas and is a visiting Professor at Southampton University.

Our Vice Chair is farm owner and biogas operator Owen Yeatman, former president of the Dorset National Farmers Union and Managing Director of Biogas Nord UK Ltd, which is currently developing AD plants in the UK.

Ciaran D Burns MSc AIEMA. Joined the REA in April 2010 to support the Biofertiliser Certification Scheme. Ciaran gained a BSc in Pharmacology at University of Liverpool and an MSc in Environmental Technology including renewable energy engineering wastewater treatment and pollution microbiology.

Virginia Graham – CEO of Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd (REAL) – the Biofertiliser Certification Scheme is part of REAL, which is in turn owned by the REA. Virginia has extensive experience in sustainable energy policy. With a background in politics and economics, Virginia was for six years to the end of 2005 Director of Environmental and Social Affairs at Ofgem. Part of her remit was to administer Government Climate Change programmes including EEC, RO and CCL exemptions for renewables and CHP.  Virginia has used her wide experience to set up the REA Green Gas Certification Scheme.

Paul Thompson – Head of Policy at REA. Paul’s work includes lobbying politicians, civil servants and NGOs, as well as trying to rebalance the debate on biofuels in the media. Also specialises in Carbon Accounting, Renewable Energy Directive, Sustainability Reporting, Energy crops, Renewable Transport Fuels Group

Tricia Wiley - was formerly with AEA technology, Ofgem, the Sustainable Development Commission and the Environment Agency. Tricia’s work includes the following policy issues:

• Biomass content of waste
• Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)
• Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC)
• Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP)
• Renewable heat mapping
• Renewables Obligation
• SRF RDF (in relation to determining biomass content)