Commissioners
The York Climate Commission is made up of Commissioners from across a wide variety of sectors, who volunteer a portion of their time to our work.
Chair
Dr. Matthias Ruth is Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of York. He holds a MSc in Economics from the University of Heidelberg, and a PhD in Geography from the University of Illinois, where he trained in engineering and biology. Professor Ruth spent over 30 years at universities in the USA and Canada, and served as Vice-President for Research and Innovation at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on natural resource use, industrial and infrastructure systems analysis, and environmental economics and policy. He has published 20 books and over 150 papers and book chapters in the scientific literature. He works globally with academic journals, organisations, scientists and policy makers.
Councillor Kate Ravilious is Executive Member for Transport and a science journalist. Originally, she trained as an earth scientist and holds a Masters in Earth and Atmosphere Science from the University of Reading and a PhD in climate science from University College London. After completing her PhD, she built a career in science journalism, writing news and feature stories for national and international media, covering all aspects of science, but with a strong focus on environment and climate science. She has a wealth of contacts with experts all over the world.
Email: Cllr.kRavilious@york.gov.uk
Councillor Jenny Kent is Executive Member for the Environment and Climate Emergency for CYC. Having studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford, Law at City University, London, and Dispute Resolution at the Centre for Conflict Resolution Santa Monica, she has worked as an Editor for McGraw Hill Energy Desk, Editor for a startup app tackling diabetes, a Barrister at 14 Gray’s Inn Square, London and Park Court Chambers, Leeds and taught in the York University Law Department. For the last six years, she worked with the Against Malaria Foundation, top-rated Charity by Give Well Charity evaluator every year since 2009 and a leader in the Effective Altruism movement.
Email: Cllr.jKent@york.gov.uk
Paul is the Group Chief Executive of Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT). Having previously been a Director General in the UK Government working on the national response to the COVID-19 crisis. He has held Director General roles at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Education (DfE) and was Deputy Chief Executive for Policy and Organisational Strategy at the Ministry for Children in New Zealand. He has also held senior roles in HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, a local authority, and has worked throughout his career on economic and social policy issues and public service reform.
Shaun is Head of Carbon Reduction at City of York Council, with responsibility for realising the council ambition for York to be a carbon neutral city by 2030. Previously, Shaun specialised in smart energy planning and solutions at the Greater London Authority and low carbon heat networks at the Royal Borough of Greenwich. He started his career in sustainability 15 years ago providing environmental advice to businesses in the North West. He has Masters in Environmental Management & Sustainable Development and is an Associate Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.
Email: Shaun.Gibbons@york.gov.uk
Chair of the Future Economy of York Working Group
Sam Perry is the Green Bargaining Officer for the Yorkshire and Humber Trade Union Congress. His work focuses on empowering workers to take an active role in planning the just decarbonisation of their places of employment; ensuring that the future economy of our region is green, fair, and democratic; and ensuring that workers’ interests are properly reflected in regional policy development. His especial passion, from a background in union activism and social housing delivery, is in making the case for socially responsive and massive growth of energy efficiency retrofits to homes.
Email: sperry@tuc.org.uk
Chair of the Health and Climate Working Group
Peter Roderick is the Director of Public Health for the City of York Council, overseeing public health services in the city and acting as the Council’s chief advisor on health issues. He is interested in improving all aspects of human health, including helping people live healthy lives, improving the health of communities, tackling the wider determinants of health including poor housing, poverty, the commercial determinants of ill health, and declining planetary health, as well as protecting residents from health hazards, including the effects of climate change.
Email: peter.roderick@york.gov.uk
Chair of the York Educators for Climate Action Working Group
Georgia has a background in geography teaching, with more than 20 years experience of teaching in a range of secondary schools across the Yorkshire region. She now leads the geography teacher training course (PGCE) at the University of York and also supports undergraduates and postgraduates taking the Sustainability Clinic module, where they work with organisations in the region to take actions to become more sustainable. Georgia is keen to bring educators of all phases together, to share ideas regarding climate action, sustainability and connecting with nature to ensure that young people are developing the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to take meaningful action, which can bring about positive changes.
Email: georgia.ramsay@york.ac.uk
Chair of the Transport Working Group
Andy D'Agorne has been a City of York councillor for 20 years and served as Executive Member for Transport between 2019 and 2023. He is now retired but actively involved in York Bus Forum, York Environment Forum, York Cycle Campaign and the York Civic Trust Transport Advisory Group. He has worked in Education as a Careers Advisor at York College and has been an active trade unionist and environmental campaigner in York and Sheffield. As a Geography graduate and longstanding Green Party member, he is passionate about tackling climate change and boosting jobs through switching to active travel and improving home insulation and renewable energy.
Email: andydag@talktalk.net
Chair of the Connecting with Green Spaces Working Group
Holly Hennell is the Manager of York Cares, the employee-volunteering charity and the Community Impact Manager of Aviva, York. Her roles involve engaging, inspiring and motivating others to participate in social action. She is committed to asset-based community development, working with local stakeholders to address local community needs. She has a passion for connecting people and places. She has a keen interest in the environment and in raising awareness about urban green spaces in York and the benefits of nature on wellbeing.
Email: holly.hennell@york.ac.uk
Chair of the Buildings & Retrofit Working Group
Jamie is a retired senior HR professional with significant experience in organisational development and culture change in large organisations across the private, public and professional services sectors. Latterly he worked on developing integrated care systems with the NHS and local government. He is a qualified higher education teacher, and was a trustee of University of York Students Union 2016-2022. He has been a director of York Community Energy since 2021 also qualifying as a retrofit adviser, and a trustee of St. Nicks Environment Centre since 2022. His current passion is connecting people and communities to take climate and nature action.
Email: jamieenvmt@gmail.com
Alexander joined York Minster as Director of Works & Precinct from real estate provider Savills in 2017 as a Planning Team Director. Previously he work for over 10 years with the global finance network at Deloitte. He is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with a career based in the heritage sector. His role at the Minster involves overseeing the restoration and conservation of the cathedral and its 56 precinct properties. He is developing a Neighbourhood Plan for this 8ha city estate, with sustainability at its heart. The plan’s implementation includes a new refectory, public park, and facilities associated with the new Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills & Estate Management.
Email: alexm@yorkminster.org
Chair of the Waste and Circular Economy Working Group
Dael began his work in sustainability in 2022, when he raised concerns about recycling at his job. This quickly led him to take a role in his company's sustainability team, where he found himself empowered to implement changes and develop the processes already in place. He rapidly progressed to leading the team, taking on more responsibility and finding a passion for driving a more sustainable industry. During the course of his endeavours, he joined events hosted by the Green Business Forum and York Climate Commission, while championing his employer to become leaders within the industry. Eventually, he took up his current role as Chair of the Waste and Circular Economy working group.
Email: daelrobinson3@gmail.com
