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Our Board

Rachael Singleton (Chair)

A former Environmental Policy Advisor, Rachael Singleton is a Behavioural Scientist in the NI Innovation Lab. Here she applies psychology to the design and implementation of policy and to approaching societal challenges; from COVID transmission to debtor behaviour. Bringing an understanding of human behaviour and what influences it, she designs practical, fit for purpose interventions. Further to this, she is a PhD Researcher at Ulster University, researching pro-environmental behaviour change on beaches (more information here). In her PhD, she is formulating and testing a new blended behavioural and user-centred design approach aimed at improving engagement in policy development. Rachael is delighted to be involved in anything that engages a deeper understanding of human behaviour, and in particular where this can lead to better environmental and societal outcomes.

Dr Nuala Flood

Dr. Nuala Flood joined Queens University Belfast as a Lecturer in Architecture in 2014. Prior to this, she was a post-doctoral researcher in the telecommunications department, Trinity College Dublin. In 2014, she completed her PhD in participatory design for sustainable urban development at Trinity College Dublin and in 2004 she received her BArch from University College Dublin. From 2004-2010, she worked in a number of award winning architectural practices, as a registered architect. Her research interests include design and co-design methods, participatory design and participatory urbanism, ecotopian visions, architectural pedagogy, live projects and self-build methods.

Dr Ian Garner

Ian has worked professionally in the field of environmental management for most of his career. After 20 years working in the chemical industry he joined WRAP in 2003 to head WRAP’s Northern Ireland delivery for its funders and partners and established WRAP Northern Ireland as a key resource efficiency delivery body for the public sector. He has worked in the fields of materials resource management, industrial waste management, environmental management system development, wastewater treatment, contaminated land regeneration, chemical manufacturing and production process research and development. He has a PhD in Applied Microbiology from the University of Strathclyde and is a Chartered Environmentalist, a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager and a Chartered Biologist.

Andrew Cassells

Andrew's public sector career spans some 25 years which has included senior management positions at Belfast City Council, Stirling Council, Magherafelt District Council and most recently the position of Director of Environment & Property with Mid Ulster District Council. He is currently a Senior Waste Advisor for the Strategic Investment Board. Whilst Andrew’s council career has predominately focused on the provision of technical services such as Waste Management, Street Cleansing, Grounds, Building and Vehicle Maintenance he has also managed Cemeteries, Roads and Procurement. Andrew has also worked as an environmental consultant for Jacobs. 

Andrew holds an honours degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and spent fourteen years with British Coal prior to entering local government in 1993. In 2008, Andrew graduated with a master’s degree in Sustainable Development from the University of Stirling. Andrew is a Chartered Environmentalist and a corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Waste Management.

Dr Susann Power

Dr Susann Power is a Lecturer in Hospitality Management at Ulster University Business School. Prior to joining the department, Susann held the following academic posts: Lecturer in Business Ethics at the University of Surrey, and Teaching Fellow in Marketing at Ulster University Business School, where she was also appointed to Course Director for the MSc Marketing programme. Susann has ample industry experience; first, as Policy Initiatives Manager at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), and further as Operations Manager at environmental charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. At WTTC, Susann was responsible for the successful execution of the coveted Tourism for Tomorrow Awards – a global, sustainable tourism award. Susann also holds a PhD in Sustainable Tourism from the University of Surrey.

Alan McVicker

Alan works for the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) as a Strategic Adviser and Head of the Council Support Unit. He joined SIB in 2008 to head up the waste Programme Delivery Support Unit (PDSU), supporting local and central government on the residual waste infrastructure programme. Between 2015 and 2019 he chaired a Circular Economy Steering Group seeking to establish Circular Economy principles on the NI Programme for Government. This work has led to SIB supporting central government since late 2019 in the development of a Circular Economy Strategic Framework for Northern Ireland. As Head of the SIB Council Support Unit, he leads a team supporting councils in the delivery of their capital programmes, with a particular emphasis on waste, sport & leisure, asset management and regeneration.

Prior to joining SIB, Alan lived and worked in Scotland for 20 years, where he was Scottish Director with the Shanks Group plc (now Renewi plc) and has worked for Scottish Futures Trust as an Associate Adviser on several large waste PPP projects. Alan is a Chartered Waste Manager and was Chair of the NI Centre of CIWM from 2013 – 2015. Alan is also a Gateway Reviewer with the NI Centre of Excellence. In late 2019, he undertook the Prince of Wales Business and Sustainability Programme at University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and now has access to a global network of sustainability leaders.

Keith Patterson

Keith has worked for the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) for over 15 years, and is currently a Sector Specialist in waste and recycling. He has a background in both the private and public sectors, including in local government where he was responsible for the development of waste strategies and front-line service delivery. At WRAP, Keith employs an evidence-based approach to the development of resource management strategies, behaviour change campaigns, tools, and resources which maximise the value and use of materials.

Keith holds a Master of Environmental Management from Ulster University and an MBA from the Open University. He is a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), Chartered Waste Manager (MCIWM), and ISWA International Waste Manager.

Robert Clements

Robert Clements is the Head of Sustainable Development for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and leads on the Housing Executive’s Sustainable Development Strategy. He also manages the Home Energy Conservation Authority statutory functions for Northern Ireland. He currently leads a series of EU funded projects aimed at delivering innovative low-carbon retrofit solutions alongside householder education and empowerment. 

Robert has worked in social housing for over 20 years. His focus is residential energy efficiency, decarbonisation and mitigating fuel poverty through a just transition. 

Robert is a certified Passive House Consultant. He graduated from Ulster University in 1993 with a BSc (Hons) in Building Engineering and Management and is professionally qualified via the Chartered Institute of Building.

Andrew Benfield

Andrew Benfield currently leads on transport energy issues at the Department for the Economy, as part of the Hydrogen and Advanced Technologies team.

Before moving to Northern Ireland in 2018, Andrew spent 16 years at the Energy Saving Trust, working with the UK and devolved governments on climate change and energy policy implementation. He managed the national network of energy advice centres in the early 2000s and set up the first area-based insulation scheme in Scotland in 2010. In 2014, he transformed the Trust’s transport work as the creation of the first electric vehicle advice programme placed them at the vanguard of the EV rollout. From 2016 to 2018, he delivered major EV infrastructure planning projects for London’s black taxis, Heathrow Airport and ran Uber’s first trial of EVs. 

His work has always involved helping individuals and businesses to decarbonise their energy consumption, demystifying difficult behaviour change or complex technical solutions to make them simpler to understand and easier to do. Andrew lives in Belfast with his partner and two children.