Chris has over 30 years’ experience in financial services with a background in retail, corporate banking and strategy roles.

He is responsible for the development and delivery of a comprehensive sustainability strategy and net zero outcome for Danske Bank's UK operations. This includes, a focus on responding to both the risks and opportunities arising, along with developing solutions to help Danske customers make the transition to a net zero future. This work has seen Danske reduce its own scope 1 & 2 emissions by over 70% and led to Danske receiving multiple industry awards and recognition.

Chris regularly contributes to articles and publications focusing on driving sustainability action across Northern Ireland and has spoken on the topics of sustainability and climate change at a variety of local and national conferences and events.He is also a member of both the BITC NI Climate Champion Steering Group and the Belfast Retrofit Delivery Hub Steering Group.

Andrés von Fellenberg van der Molen is an international sustainability consultant, lead auditor and hospitality specialist with more than 30 years of hotel industry experience and over a decade focused exclusively on sustainability, compliance and operational efficiency.

He advises hotels, tourism organisations and certification programmes on ESG strategy, CSRD readiness, environmental management systems, resource optimisation and sustainability assurance. His expertise spans ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 9001, ISO 45001, EarthCheck, Green Claims compliance, Double Materiality Assessments and hospitality-specific sustainability frameworks.

Combining extensive operational hotel experience with technical auditing expertise, Andrés helps organisations translate complex regulatory requirements into practical actions that reduce costs, improve performance and strengthen long-term resilience. He is recognised for his pragmatic approach, focusing on measurable business outcomes rather than sustainability theory.

Marie Cowan is the Director of the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and a senior leader at the British Geological Survey.

Marie chairs Northern Ireland’s Geothermal Advisory Committee and co-established the £17M PEACEPLUS GEMINI geothermal partnership advancing low-carbon heat on the island of Ireland. She is Vice-President of the Royal Irish Academy for Membership and Sustainability, and an elected member of its Council. External advisory board member to University College Dublin and the University of Leeds. A founding member of the UK Geoscience Strategic Alliance, she champions skills for this £50bn sector.

She was awarded the Geological Society of London Energy Medal in 2023.

Jacqueline leads the world's longest-running resource matching programme, Industrial Symbiosis, as Director of Northern Ireland for International Synergies. The programme delivers average monthly savings of £60,000, reduces carbon emissions by 320 tonnes, diverts 70 tonnes from landfill, and supports over 15 new companies each month on their journey to Net Zero through circular economy innovation and supply chain collaboration.

Holding a degree in Sustainability with Climate Change, Jacqueline has over 25 years' experience helping organisations embed sustainability and climate action. She has pioneered sustainability roles across multiple sectors, becoming the first Sustainability Advisor for a UK or Irish port (Belfast Harbour) and UK construction company (GRAHAM), and later lead sustainability initiatives at Blenheim Palace, supporting its ambition to become the world's first carbon-neutral palace and 10,000 acre landed estate.

From leading HSBC's global citizen science water programme to developing ESG reporting for Radius Housing and assessing buildings under BREEAM and Passivhaus standards, Jacqueline is an award-winning sustainability professional integrating sustainability into business practice with passion and charm.

Jenda has had an international career spanning pharmaceuticals, financial services and workplace savings. She brings extensive experience in business development, strategic growth and client relationship management.

As Head of Growth Operations, Cushon, Northern Ireland, Jenda is responsible for leading regional growth strategy and operational delivery for our auto‑enrolment pension business. She plays a critical role in driving employer adoption, building and managing key distribution partnerships, and ensuring our frontline team consistently delivers exceptional results.

Jenda’s role blends commercial acumen, operational excellence, and people leadership. She represents the company at a regional level, shaping Cushon’s presence in Northern Ireland and ensuring our pension solutions reach employers in a compliant, scalable, and customer‑centric way.

Gareth is a Partner in EY’s Assurance practice and specialising in sustainability strategy and reporting and financial audit.

He has over 20 years’ experience working across both the private and public sectors with experience across a range of industries.

He is passionate about the contribution that business can make to sustainability, driving positive impact in the communities in which they operate and wider society.

He enjoys working in collaboration with his clients to design innovative solutions to the issues that they face.

Steve is Director of Policy & Research at Cushon, with more than 30 years’ experience advising organisations on pensions and workplace savings in the UK and internationally. His career spans employee benefits with particular expertise in defined contribution pensions, flexible benefits and proposition development.

At Cushon, Steve works at the intersection of policy, regulation, industry and proposition development, helping shape the future of workplace pensions and ensuring that the needs of savers remain central to how the market evolves. His focus is on making pensions more relevant, engaging and effective for employees, while helping employers deliver greater value from their workplace savings arrangements.

Steve is a regular contributor to the pensions and wider employee benefits debate, writing and speaking on issues including pensions adequacy, value for money and the changing role of workplace savings. 

Martin is a seasoned environmental professional with nearly three decades of diverse experience spanning local government, pan-European projects, academic research, and the private sector. His career has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of a wide range of environmental disciplines.

As former Director of the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy, Martin gained deep expertise in applying a systems-based approach to complex challenges, specialising in the development of integrated energy islands and circular economic systems.

Most recently, as Director of Energy Transition at Encirc, Martin draws on this systems-based expertise to secure reliable supplies of green gas and power for the business, navigating a fast-changing and increasingly competitive commercial energy market. This role continues to demonstrate his ability to drive sustainable innovation by connecting technology, policy, and environmental stewardship.

Ben Craig is Head of Partnerships and Business Development at Carbonfit, a Belfast-based sustainability technology company supporting organisations to measure and improve carbon and energy performance.

Ben has experience working with businesses across Ireland and the UK to identify opportunities for carbon and cost reduction, including through circular economy innovation. At Carbonfit, he works with organisations across a portfolio of more than 300 businesses, supporting measurable emissions reductions, energy savings and Carbon Reduction Planning.

He also lectures on net zero at the Institute of Sustainability Studies and previously built a triple-bottom-line coffee company.

Outside work, Ben is a keen open-water swimmer and surfer, having previously reached #4 in the world in kayak surfing.

Keelin leads Business in the Community’s Environment Team, working with businesses across Northern Ireland to turn sustainability ambition into meaningful action.

Since joining Business in the Community in 2006, she has worked with hundreds of organisations to support their sustainability journeys. Today, she leads key environmental initiatives including Business Action on Climate, the NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey, and work supporting businesses to protect and restore nature and biodiversity.

A trained IEMA Environmental Auditor, Keelin brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to her work. She is passionate about helping organisations see sustainability as an opportunity to strengthen their business, support their communities and contribute to a more sustainable future for Northern Ireland.

Peter Glover is the Network Innovation Manager at NIE Networks, leading the development and delivery of innovation projects that support the future electricity network in Northern Ireland.

With over 20 years' experience in the utility and energy sector, Peter leads innovation activities spanning network flexibility, digitalisation, low-carbon technologies, asset management, and network planning.  His focus is on turning innovative ideas into practical solutions that accelerate the energy transition and deliver benefits for customers and the wider electricity system.

Louise McGrath is Founder and Managing Director of Deenamic, a regulatory science and technology business helping organisations navigate sustainable innovation and compliant market access.

A medicinal chemist and toxicologist, Louise has almost 20 years’ experience delivering scientific and regulatory programmes across international markets. Her work focuses on circular and bio-based value chains, helping businesses translate complex sustainability and regulatory requirements into practical action, including product transparency and Digital Product Passports.

Louise is also an elected ISME representative on the Chemicals Stakeholder Network and will lead a workshop on inclusive digital and regulatory pathways at the Global Bioeconomy Summit in October 2026.

Bob Salisbury is the founder of The Field of Dreams, author of the book of the same name, and a finalist in the 2026 All-Ireland Sustainability Awards.

A former head teacher and Professor in the School of Education at the University of Nottingham, Bob moved to Northern Ireland in 2001. For more than 20 years, he and his wife Rosemary have transformed the land around their County Tyrone home into a thriving conservation area of lakes, woodland and meadows, celebrating the Irish countryside and its wildlife.

Bob has a longstanding interest in leadership and motivation and is also a keen gardener, photographer and angler.

Adrian Fitzpatrick, a Chartered Environmentalist, with almost 30 years’ experience in the Northern Irish environmental sector is Sustainability Manager at National Museums NI.

Adrian is a graduate of geography with an MSc in Environmental Management from Ulster University.

Adrian’s role within the Museum includes the calculation of the Museum’s carbon footprint and reporting to DAERA on mitigation and adaptation; Chairing the Environmental Sustainability Working Group; Co-ordination of Green Tourism Certification across four museums; Contributing to sustainability at a national level through the National Museum Director’s Council and Fit for the Future; Working collaboratively with colleagues to deliver All-Ireland Pollinator Plan actions and progress the restoration of long-established woodland.

With a strong interest in hedge laying Adrian has been a Director of Hedgerows Ireland since June 2021 and won the regrowth prize for the 2021 All-Ireland Hedge Laying Championship in Offaly.

Simon Todd is Co-founder and Managing Director of Causeway Energies, a company focused on accelerating geothermal energy deployment across Ireland, the UK and internationally. He has more than 30 years of experience in the energy sector, spanning geology, operations, leadership and business development roles.

Simon is also a Non-Executive Director of Senergy Innovations and an Adjunct Professor at University College Dublin. A recognised advocate for geothermal energy, he works with industry, government and research organisations to advance clean, secure and affordable heat solutions and accelerate the role of geothermal energy in the transition to net zero.

Ryan Daly is Managing Director of Daly Renewables and Director of Renewables at b4b renewables. An Environmental Engineering graduate from Ulster University, he has spent more than 17 years designing, installing and delivering renewable energy solutions across domestic and commercial sectors in Northern Ireland.

Ryan is widely recognised for his expertise in geothermal heating, heat networks and integrated renewable energy systems and led the design and installation of Northern Ireland's first geothermal district heating scheme in Randalstown. His work focuses on helping organisations reduce carbon emissions while improving energy efficiency, resilience and long-term sustainability.

Dr Aoife Braiden is Managing Director of Research Management & Logistics (RML) Ltd. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Earth Science, a PhD in Palaeobiology, a Diploma in Business Studies and a Professional Diploma in Project Management.

With more than 20 years' experience in research management and development, Aoife has worked across academia, government and industry, developing and implementing research programmes, innovation initiatives and science-for-policy activities. More recently she has focused on ensuring scientific evidence supports policy development and increasing the impact of research in areas of geothermal energy, including the SEUPB-funded GEMINI project, Earth sciences and climate transition.

Damian Mitchell is a Director of Bangor Marine Ltd, which is delivering the landmark Queen's Parade regeneration project in Bangor, one of the largest waterfront regeneration projects on the island of Ireland. He is a Chartered Surveyor with more than 25 years' experience in real estate development and investment across the UK.

Damian has led major transactions spanning office, hotel, residential and industrial sectors and has extensive experience working with councils, statutory authorities and government departments on complex regeneration projects. He is recognised for his strategic approach to development and investment and has played a significant role in attracting institutional capital into Northern Ireland.

Gillian is a sustainability and ESG consultant, working with businesses on strategy development, training, engagement and reporting. 

She has worked in the responsible business and sustainability space for most of her career – spending 22 years with membership organisation Business in the Community NI before leaving in 2019 to establish her own business. 

With clients across the construction, manufacturing, agri-food, tech and public sectors, she has a wealth of experience in guiding organisations through the big picture thinking needed to understand sustainability and embed it across their operations. She also offers training in sustainability, carbon literacy and a range of other topics designed to support companies in engaging employees on their sustainability journey. 

Gillian is an external assessor for BITC’s CORE Standard for Responsible Business, a B Corp Consultant, and an independent auditor for Diversity Mark’s Gold Award.

She is passionate about nature and in 2025 joined the Board of Ulster Wildlife.