Meet the team

  • Alister has worked in the Anaerobic digestion area for over 20 years having started his career at Thames Water and progressing onto senior project development roles at Biogen and Ørsted. Alister is responsible for the upstream sourcing of biomethane from developing new and further expanding existing sites. Alister is a keen cyclist and resides on his family’s farm in Oxfordshire.

  • After graduating from Imperial College Wye, Andy entered the organics recycling sector. For the last 18 years, Andy has worked in agriculture, land spreading, recycling and contracting. Andy focuses on liaising for feedstock agreements and digestate management, overseeing the application digestate whilst focusing on compliance and product development. Outside of work, Andy has his own livestock farm in Kent and enjoys spending time with his family, country pursuits and off road motorsport.

  • Charlie joined Acorn Bioenergy in December 2019 having worked in the development, construction and operation of Anaerobic digeston CHP and Biomethane plants for the previous two years. He focusses on greenfield plant development, project management and plant acquisitions. Charlie has a BA from Exeter University in ancient history and archaeology and is an enthusiastic pilot.

  • Daniel has more than a decade of experience in renewables, across various energies and countries. Most recently he led downstream commercial and energy management activities for Air Liquide’s biomethane business in the UK. Daniel is responsible for downstream and innovation at Acorn, including the upgrading and commercialisation of biomethane and green CO2, and our virtual pipeline. This feeds a passion for sustainability and the environment dating back to his geography studies at Cambridge University. Outside of work, Daniel likes playing the piano and swimming in the sea.

  • David has worked in the Anaerobic digestion area since 2008 (with a short diversion into other sustainable businesses). Before that he worked as a senior manager for Thames Water for 5 years, an engineering consultancy for 6 years and for process contractors. David came through the apprenticeship scheme, to an engineering degree, a Postgraduate Certificate, and an MBA in Engineering Management. He is a PRINCE2 Practitioner and a Chartered Engineer. David’s strengths are in the project management, engineering, and delivery of large complex process plants and infrastructure. Outside work he is a keen outdoor swimmer and triathlete.

  • Emily joined the Acorn team at the start of February 2023 as Financial Controller. Initially training in audit, she then moved departments to assist SMEs in managing their finance functions, implementing processes and providing CFO work. In her free time, Emily plays tag rugby and enjoys walking and sewing.

  • Fred joined the Acorn team in 2021 straight from graduating Edinburgh University with an MA in Politics. While completing his degree he spent a year studying at Paris’ SciencesPo where he developed an appetite for renewable energy (and pastries). In his university holidays he rarely stood still, working for a political think tank and communications specialist in Botswana, a hedge fund in London as an equity research intern, and a fishing estancia in Patagonia. Fred initially joined as a graduate trainee and has since moved to a permanent position within the upstream business development team.

  • Harry joined Acorn in early 2023 as a Graduate Engineer after completing an MEng Civil Engineering degree at Newcastle University. He developed a passion for decarbonising the hard-to-electrify sectors while writing his dissertation on the hydrogen economy. After graduating, Harry spent time in Kenya, where he designed an irrigation system for a refugee settlement. Harry is a keen sportsman, often on a bike or football pitch outside work.

  • Jamie was first involved in anaerobic digestion in 2014 in the construction and operations of AD sites in the Southwest for Greener for Life Energy. Jamie gained a degree in Agri-Business from Harper Adams University and returned to the AD industry to undertake roles in the Feedstocks and Sustainability team as well as Business Development for Ixora Energy. In December 2023, Jamie moved to South Lincolnshire and joined the Acorn Bioenergy Feedstocks team. Outside of work Jamie spends most his time on the farm with the occasional weekend off for rugby and shooting.

  • Juan has an MSc in Civil Engineering with an MBA in International Business and Oil & Gas Engineering. With more than a decade of international experience in renewables and construction in Qatar, Jamaica, Japan and the UK, he is passionate about delivering challenging and complex projects such as Anaerobic plants. Outside of work, Juan likes playing chess, reading, travelling and hanging out with friends.

  • Keith has more than a decade of international experience in renewable power generation. Mostly with Mainstream renewable power, sustainable paper production, and green and blue hydrogen power. He is currently the Project HSEQ manager with experience in other sectors including, brewing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. He has also been a regulator as permitting manager for the environment agency. Keith has wide ranging qualifications in Health and Safety, Environment and sustainability, Quality, and engineering. Outside of work, Keith plays cricket, table tennis and squash, and is also an oenologist.

  • Mehtaab is a Chartered Engineer with a Master’s in Chemical Engineering. After spending some time as a process engineer in the water industry, he joined Biffa to optimise their food waste Anaerobic digestion facilities and then moved into a site operations role. Mehtaab’s core experience lies within Biomethane grid injection, gained whilst with Air Liquide, where he was managing the daily operations of nine remote biomethane injection sites with a total injection capacity of 7,300 m3/h. Mehtaab’s passion and interest lies within the renewable energy sector and biomethane. Outside of work he is keen on keeping fit, gardening, and perfecting his Texas style low’n’slow barbeque technique.

  • Milo joined Acorn in October 2023 as the company’s Financial Controller. Training as a generalist Chartered Accountant, his previous firm was a practice specialising in High Net Worth individuals and associated companies, charities and other interests. In his spare time, he enjoys dinner parties and playing tennis.

  • Nathan started his career with a mechanical apprenticeship then moved into the biogas industry as a mechanical design engineer for Uniflare designing flare stacks. During his time here he gained experience of landfill gas sites, anaerobic digestion plants and sewage treatment works. Outside of work Nathan’s life revolves around motorcycles being a keen competitor in motocross and classic racing.

  • Neil joined the Acorn Bioenergy team in April 2024, having started his career within the Renewable Energy and Waste Management sector almost 15 years ago. He led and managed both Operational and Engineering teams and large-scale operational portfolios for industry players such as Agrivert and Severn Trent Green Power.

    Neil has specialised in the Biogas Sector, primarily focusing on large scale Food Waste and Energy Crop anaerobic digestion facilities alongside portfolio scale Renewable Energy Technologies such as Wind, Solar and Hydro assets.

    He has also managed a broad range of assets and technologies across both the Waste Management and Recycling Industry such as GW and IVC Composting.

    Outside of work Neil enjoys spending time at home on his smallholding with his family and also enjoys country pursuits such as Shooting and Horse Racing when the opportunity arises.

  • Nick has over 20 years of experience in providing business support and in project and site development within the composting, recycling, renewable energy and Anaerobic digestion sectors. In recent years he has secured planning and managed the development of 15MW of Solar Farm capacity and 7 large Anaerobic digestion plants across the country including two biomethane sites injecting into the gas pipe network. A farmer’s son, Nick now lives in Brighton with his family where he enjoys running along the coast, sea swimming and live music.

  • After completing a BSc in Environmental Management, Roger started in operations in the Anaerobic digestion sector in 2013, since then has worked for major players within the Anaerobic digestion industry, Agrivert, Olleco and Severn Trent Green Power. He’s managed sites ranging from 2.4Mw CHP to 7Mw gas to grid plants, both industrial and agricultural. In 2020, diversified by joining Air Liquide within their maintenance department to support BGSE’s biomethane, CNG and LNG refuelling operations in the UK. After spending a brief time in sales, he joins Acorn Bioenergy as Operations Process Engineer to support the technology, engineering, delivery and ongoing operation of Acorn’s Anaerobic digestion and CNG portfolio. Roger spends time at home on the farm, playing guitar and weightlifting.

  • Sahana joined Acorn in December 2023 as a Permitting Manager with 10+ years’ experience in Environmental Permitting and related compliance to environmental regulatory obligations. Before joining Acorn, she worked for a car manufacturing company in Sweden as an Environmental Co-ordinator, responsible for all environmental-related concerns and EMS certification. Outside office hours, Sahana spends time with her family, gardening and listening to music.

  • Sarwar joined the Acorn Bioenergy team in August 2024, as Head of Strategy and Integration. Sarwar brings to Acorn over 30 years of experience as an energy transition focused business leader and investment professional with a background in Energy & Infrastructure M&A, principal investments, structured finance, business management and strategic planning. He has lived in, and worked with major global institutions across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the United States.

    Sarwar has been actively involved in the UK and European Biogas Sector for several years, having previously founded RF Bioenergy, through the acquisition, development, operations and management of commercial scale Food Waste, Energy Crop and Agricultural Waste derived Bioenergy facilities, alongside other recycling and renewable energy technologies. Sarwar has an MEng in Chemical & Process Engineering from Imperial College London, and has completed the Business Leadership Program at London Business School.

    Sarwar’s passions in life, outside of bioenergy, revolve around his family, playing musical instruments, tropical gardens, travelling, supporting Arsenal FC and masquerading as a keen chef and mixologist. He is an avid environmentalist with a lifelong commitment to sustainability and the circular economy.

  • Shrey joined Acorn in 2024 as a Feedstock and Business Development Analyst. After graduating from UCL with MSc in Management, he worked for a UK biogas investment platform where he focused on financial modelling, valuations, due diligence, operating cost optimisation and strategic decision-making across the various projects in the UK and Europe. Shrey is a cricket enthusiast and likes playing guitar outside of work.

  • Simon has 19 years of EC&I experience in the oil and gas and power generation sectors. He started work in a small company retrofitting control systems for gas turbines and has since led large DCS projects from design through to on-site commissioning while working for an OEM. For the last six years, Simon has worked at a UK power station helping to improve reliability and cyber security as well as supporting maintenance and operations. Outside work he enjoys brewing country wines, walking and foraging in the countryside.

  • Sophia is a Chartered Town Planner with an MSc in Spatial Planning and degree in Law. With almost 20 years of experience in the development sector she has led on a number of high profile and strategically significant mixed Use and Infrastructure projects within the UK. Sophia has worked in both global consultancy and clientside roles on diverse and challenging projects before joining Acorn in April 2024.

    Outside of work Sophia enjoys spending time with her family, travelling and gardening.

  • Steven began his career in architecture and started working in anaerobic digestion back in 2007 producing AD Plant layouts and detailed mechanical design with AutoCAD and 3D mechanical software. He has been involved in a varied range of projects throughout the British Isles with links to agriculture, distilleries, waste water and food waste. Outside the office, Steven enjoys cycling, walking, tennis and the occasional outing on his kayak.

  • Will joined the Acorn team in March 2024 as Legal Counsel. He has previously spent 10 years advising on a broad range of construction and project development-related matters, including for EDF’s nuclear new build division, for Atkins/SNC-Lavalin and for a global private practice law firm. Outside of work, Will is a keen gardener, baker and cyclist.