Simon Mcwhirter Email & Phone Number

Swansea, Gb

Co-chair of the Built Environment Taskforce at the Climate Action Coalition alongside Coalition Chair Chris Skidmore. https://coalition.climateaction.org/ The Climate Action Coalition, launched by Secretary John Kerry in June 2024, was established with the sole purpose of unblocking the policy barriers to deliver the objectives set out by Paris Agreement in 2015. With about 40 per cent of global emissions coming from the built environment, and with global trends towards greater urbanisation, progressing climate action to decarbonise buildings – and making them more resilient for a future warmer climate – will be an essential global step to reduce emissions and tackle climate change.

London / Swansea

In view of the continuing growth of UKGBC’s mission, as well as a changing political landscape, I'm delighted to take on the new role of Deputy Chief Executive – further increasing our focus across international, national and local political and policy work.

London / Swansea

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) is a charity, focussed on delivering a sustainable built environment. It is part of the World Green Building Council, with a presence in over 70 countries, and works collaboratively to influence industry practice and government policy. I will lead the policy and political advocacy with national, devolved and local government, as well as managing corporate communications with members, media and the wider industry. I'll also have oversight of UKGBC’s portfolio of place-based projects, local networks and social value programme.

The National Retrofit Hub is a nonprofit organisation that brings together all those involved in the retrofit sector to share their expertise and work together to enable a National Retrofit Strategy to be delivered.Retrofitting homes is vital for the UK to achieve its energy security, fuel poverty and climate change goals. In 2021, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) published the National Retrofit Strategy, a twenty-year blueprint for how the construction industry can work with Government to retrofit the UK’s 28 million existing homes. The strategy identifies the urgent need for greater collaboration across the sector and coordinated leadership to achieve this goal.

Scotland / Hybrid

Delighted to be providing strategic, industry-driven guidance and direction to the wonderful innovators at BE-ST

Strategic advisory role focussed around advice to industry and government on the regulatory, policy and technical approaches needed to deliver zero carbon, zero waste, and biodiversity and environmental net gain in the built environment (both buildings and infrastructure), and to identify the commercial, jobs and export opportunities that such a clean growth economy provides.

Scotland, United Kingdom

Advisory role to Scottish Government to help develop a portfolio of innovative financial solutions for building owners in Scotland to ensure that by 2045, our homes and buildings no longer contribute to climate change, as part of the wider just transition to net zero.

Bishopston, Swansea

NED covering commercial expansion for a social enterprise with a twin focus - the delivery of beautiful sustainable buildings, while working with disadvantaged groups to deliver hard skills in construction training and reskilling. Those groups include brain injury rehab patients, mental health patients, youth offenders, refugee and asylum seekers.

Strategic advisory input to DESNeZ team and Ministers on delivery of the government’s ambition to reduce total UK energy demand by 15% from 2021 levels by 2030, across domestic and commercial buildings and industrial processes. Particular focus on the role of the private sector and the stimulation of investment.

Gower

Business development, communications and project management consultancy. eg.s • Growth strategy and implementation for Welsh start-ups across a variety of sectors including property and food. • Strategy and delivery of multi-partner public and political engagement campaigns • Comms, branding and BD input to early stage establishment of home energy retrofit company• Comms strategist for Westminster and UN-focussed campaigns

Uk

The Active Building Centre’s vision is to transform the UK construction and energy sectors through the deployment of Active Buildings, powered and heated by the sun, contributing to both vehicle electrification and decarbonisation.The Active Building Centre’s mission is to create an independent national centre, to convene industry, academia and government to enable the deployment of Active Buildings.I'm heading up politics, comms, marketing and engagement for the team.

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Futureground strives to create positive impacts through a better built environment.We help organisations to design, build and curate buildings and places where people can thrive in a changing world. Creating positive impact through a better built environment.We do this by bringing new, creative and realistic solutions to help solve our biggest social and environmental challenges. Fresh thinking, not box-ticking.Our outcomes-led approach is based on experience, knowledge and meticulous research. We harness novel cross-sector expertise to provide strategic advice, technical know-how and delivery support services.

Mumbles, Wales

Managed ops components of the launch phase of Gower Ice Cream - including brand and web creation, and routes to market

I worked for HAB Housing, the progressive residential development company established by Kevin McCloud (of Grand Designs). HAB stands for Happiness Architecture BeautyI was the overall head of sales, communications and customer service. • Responsibility for sales strategy and, delivering consistent sales growth ahead of the local markets in which we operate• HAB brand-building and management, corporate profile and communications strategy.• Corporate lead on market analysis, research and strategy.• Media and advocacy responsibilities. • Member of Operations Board for day-to-day delivery of business objectives. • Involved in the planning, design and delivery of award winning schemes in Swindon, Stroud, Oxford and Winchester.

• Media spokesperson and external advocate with Government, business and the third sector.• Housing policy analyst including four years on the government’s Zero Carbon Task Force.• Sustainability Board member of BRE Global and on the Existing Homes Alliance steering group. • Member of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Low and Zero Carbon Hub.• Design manager of One Planet Living products, incl. award winning film, events and book.

News-gathering and all aspects of reporting, story generation and production - for The Sun, the Daily Star, Daily Express and Geographical Magazine. Multiple front page stories and was a contributing writer to ethical living handbooks and a celebrity biography.

New York

Corporate account management and tax strategy and implementation.

London

Expatriate tax management

Ma (Oxon), Jurisprudence

Llm, International Economic And Business Law