About Us
Dr Erica Russell
I have more than 30 years’ sustainability experience across the private (B2B and B2C) and public sectors. I have managed new product development programmes, undertaken strategic resource planning, developed and directed multi-stakeholder EU business sustainability programmes, and I am highly experienced in facilitating workshops.
I have been involved with climate change issues since 2006, when I co-led the South East Sustainable
Business Programme, developing SEEDA's Sustainable Business Strategy and Low Carbon Footprint Action Plan. My recent work has focused on carbon reduction to support net zero strategies, low carbon procurement and supply chains, and carbon finance in both the private and public sectors.
Examples of recent work include contributing to both the LETI London Design Guide and the 2019 Embodied Carbon Primer - a carbon baseline for the Surrey Climate Commission (2020-21), and a University of Leeds led project providing carbon/cost options and operational planning for Surrey County Council. I have also helped develop the highly successful £33m Kent County Council LoCASE low carbon programme for SMEs.
Currently I am working on UK sub-regional climate governance challenges in preparation for COP26. I am also developing a carbon reduction pathway for a global construction company and supporting the public sector in supply chain carbon reporting.
I am skilled in taking complex ideas and problems and bringing them to a understandable and local level, inspiring and involving communities to be part of the delivery and success of their Climate Thinking.
I am a member of the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Manufacturing (FRSA), and a Practitioner Member of IEMA (PIEMA)
Solène Dawson
I have a master’s degree in International and Anglo-American Law, with specialisms in project management methodologies and bid writing. I now have more than 14 years’ experience in developing, managing and assessing publicly funded projects.
I worked within the public sector, leading the Medway Council European Funding team from 2011 to 2014 and continue to provide support for other local authorities.
Since September 2014, I have also been the lead consultant at SFD Europe, providing support on project management, stakeholder engagement and leading on designing project action plans that meet local authorities’ strategic aims and financial limitations
My work has a strong focus on public benefit, supporting community level projects and working with charities and local groups to develop fundable ideas. I have developed projects focused on social enhancement, waste reduction and increased energy efficiency for residents. I offer support and guidance to local authority procurement teams on the inclusion of social value requirements.
I believe in the upskilling of people, so coaching is a natural element of all my work; I thrive on motivating individuals to help manage change.
I am bilingual French/English.