Our Directors
Frank Callus
Frank worked in secondary education for twenty-four years, ten of them as Deputy Head in the South Wales valleys. After a few years working within the local authority he was seconded, as Strategic Programme Manager, to the Welsh Assembly Government’s Heads of the Valleys Programme [2007-12]. The programme was responsible for the social and economic regeneration of the north Gwent and Glamorgan valleys following the closure of the Ebbw Vale steelworks. Some of the work of this programme included the initial Arbed scheme, improving public housing stock with renewable energy systems, and the creation of the British Gas Skills Academy in Tredegar. Following early retirement he worked as a Cluster Manager for the Community First programme in Bridgend. He maintains an active interest in education and training as well as issues associated with economic and social regeneration.
Tony Cooke
Tony has been closely following the development of Community Energy groups for several years and is a member of Bath and West Community Energy, Brighton Energy Co-op, Brixton Solar and Osney Lock Hydro. As cross-college “sustainability champion” he worked with the estates manager of Coleg Glan Hafren to make the college’s operations more sustainable. This included organising and gaining funding for voltage optimisation equipment for the 3 main college sites, reducing electricity consumption by over 6%. He has a Master’s in Software Engineering. At Coleg Glan Hafren and then Cardiff and Vale College, he was a lecturer in computing until retiring from that in 2014 to spend more time on developing Community Energy.
Ceri John Davies
Ceri worked in Welsh Government as a civil servant focusing on policy development in a number of portfolio areas Key achievements include delivering the iconic 5p Carrier bag charge for Wales, establishing the Climate Change Commission for Wales, delivering the Green Jobs strategy for Wales, devolution of the Wales and Borders Rail Franchise in 2005 and the Vibrant and Viable Places Regeneration Strategy. Since leaving the civil service he has served as CEO of the Community Benefit Society Indycube, a provider of co-working spaces and services for the freelance and micro business community as well as working in the policy and public affairs field. Ceri has volunteered with a number of environmental charities serving for 8 years on the board of Keep Wales Tidy, and currently sits on the board of the Sherman Theatre.
Emrys Barnes
Emrys grew up in Penarth, and now lives and works in Cardiff. He graduated with a BA(hons) from Warwick University, where he was president of the yoga society and founded the university’s first secular meditation network. He went on to complete an internship with Oxfam Cymru as a campaigns and communications assistant, using different approaches to engage the public with Oxfam’s work, including social media and event management. He currently works for the Arts Council and maintains an interest in community arts and engagement.