We are excited to introduce a new addition to our Switch2 team: our new Sustainability Manager, Cathy Olphin.
Cathy joined Switch2 in April this year and has an impressive background in environmental science and a proven track record in implementing sustainable practices, across construction and property sectors.
We asked Cathy to share with us a little bit about herself and her new role here at Switch2.
Tell us about yourself
I strongly believe that climate change is one of the most pressing challenges that we collectively face and am passionate about playing my role in avoiding irreversible environmental damage.
I attended my first climate action day at 15 and from then I knew this was where I wanted to focus my career. I studied Natural Sciences at university where I learned about the environment on a molecular scale all the way up to an ecosystem level. Most of all, I learnt that scientific progress alone is sadly not enough to combat climate change and that technological innovation needs to be in tandem with cultural, social and economic changes.
From there, I started working with the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation on their Eco-I NW project. This project brought together SMEs and academics to develop economically and socially robust low-carbon innovation. During this time, I started my PhD, investigating how academics and businesses can better work together to develop environmental solutions.
When that project came to an end, I began working in the Property sector, directing companywide ESG activities. I established ESG strategies across multiple joint venture initiatives, developed engaging school intervention programs and organised too many charity events to count. From this, I gained a great deal of hands-on experience which I apply every day in my role at Switch2.
In my spare time, I have a little allotment plot which I love to visit with my dog. I always feel most at home when I’m surrounded by nature!
What made you want to get involved with Switch2?
Heat networks play a critical role in the UK’s sustainability agenda, with the built environment contributing a substantial 38% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Alongside generally having a lower carbon footprint per kWh than conventional heating systems, heat networks enable the use of alternative heat sources which would otherwise go to waste. The heat produced from data centres, industrial processes or the incineration of non-recyclable waste can all be repurposed by heat networks. It’s also a really exciting time for heat networks as they move towards becoming a regulated industry and face a huge scaling up over the coming decades.
While a great deal of attention has been paid to decarbonising of electricity, I felt that heating didn’t always get the same level of attention and resource. With Switch2 being a market leader in residential heat networks, I saw a huge opportunity for me to contribute to the national low-carbon agenda. The opportunity for carbon savings across the industry is immense and I wanted to play my part in realising this potential.
Switch2 is really leading the way in heat network decarbonisation, being a provider of the HNES scheme and offering Optimise which aims to improve system efficiency with data-driven measures.
What have you been working on so far?
There’s been a huge amount to get stuck into, from achieving Silver Carbon Literate Organisation accreditation to supporting our Optimise service, which seeks to provide targeted, data-driven insights into maintenance to help networks run more efficiently.
I’ve also been doing a lot of work in the ESG space, working with our ESG steering group to write up an ESG report to showcase our work to date. I organised an office fit-out for a youth employability initiative in Brent; it’s been really rewarding to support the local communities where we deliver heat network solutions. I also took part in the Bradford Dragonboat Festival - it’s fair to say this was a little different from my day-to-day work but it was a fantastic experience for a brilliant cause and great to connect with the local community.
How are you settling in so far?
Really well! Everyone on the Switch2 team is lovely and have made me feel right at home. There’s been a lot to learn – heat networks are definitely not simple!
I have also been getting a lot of help from my little rescue dog Ralphie, who we like to think of as Switch2’s new Sustainability Assistant!