Board members
Chris Coonick (Technical Director)
Chris moved to Wadebridge with her family in 2014 and has been involved in WREN ever since. She has been working in the renewable energy industry since 2010 following completion of a Masters in Renewable Energy and the Built Environment at the Centre for Alternative Technology. With a background in Electrical Engineering, she has supported a number of local businesses and organisations to develop renewable energy projects. Chris now works for the Governments Innovation & Research Agency, funding next generation technologies, products and processes. As a STEM Ambassador for Cornwall and member of Exeter University's Clean Energy Industrial Advisory Group, Chris is passionate about giving the next generation an opportunity for a sustainable low carbon future and encouraging women into engineering roles.
Tony has a long-standing interest in environmental issues. Professionally he worked as a manager and service developer with economically and socially excluded people (offenders, substance misuse, mental health) and so is especially interested in the social justice aspects of energy policy.
Rick retired from the Metropolitan Police in 1994 and moved to Cornwall. He attended St. Austell College as a student for 6 years studying Art Design and Photography and is a former president of Wadebridge Camera Club. He joined WREN and was a volunteer in the Energy Shop from its inception until its closure. He became a board member in October 2017.
Amanda was voted onto Wadebridge Town Council in August 2011, and is a mum to three young children. She was a volunteer in the old Energy Shop for some time, and is interested in the positive benefits that renewable energy can bring to the local community. She hopes that one day all energy will be clean energy.
Marcus joined the board at the end of 2019, with a particular interest in electric vehicles.
Kevin is a physics graduate and qualified accountant. He worked for the international oil company Shell for many years, latterly specialising in process improvement and change management, before retiring to Wadebridge. He joined the board in 2014 as communications director, later taking on the responsibility for finance. Having acquired solar panels, an electric car and a domestic storage battery, he is now contemplating how to better insulate his house.
Operations
Leonie read Law at the University of Nottingham, practiced as a solicitor in Reading, and has since then held a variety of administrative and related posts.
Simon is a tree planting, certified cycling enthusiast/bore. He would love to see more people, young and old utilise this most efficient, healthy and environmentally friendly form of transport. Born and raised in Cornwall, he has spent nearly all of his adult working life as a professional photographer travelling far and wide but now prefers to remain closer to home with his family near Wadebridge. With 3/4 of his home energy usage being generated by the sun having installed solar panels almost 10 years ago, he is keen to promote both the financial and environmental benefits that can made by embracing locally sourced renewable energy.