Board Biographies
Andy Vickery is the current Chairman of DEBI joining the board in 2002. Andy works as the Environment Manager for the large Waste Management Company – Devon Waste Management Ltd (DWML). DWML run a large landfill site in North Devon, 4 waste transfer and waste processing/recycling stations for commercial wastes and 23 civic amenity and recycling centres for bulky household waste across Devon.
Andy is responsible for the Environmental Management of theses sites in terms of licence or permit compliance, this includes the environmental monitoring at all of DWML’s facilities, which includes surface and ground waters, together with the monitoring of potentially polluting parameters such as leachate and landfill gas. He is also responsible for the companies Quality Management System, Health and Safety management and Insurance provisions.
Andy has been involved in Waste Management within Devon for the last 30 years, since starting in 1977 with Devon County Council as a “Specialist Waste Disposal Trainee” and has worked in most areas of waste disposal and management gaining a wide range of experience in this important issue that affects all businesses in Devon.
David Underwood is the Deputy Director of Technology at the Met Office responsible for delivery of the technological solutions required to meet the needs of all Met Office customers in government and commerce, including MoD, CAA, DEFRA, EA, DFT, HA, DCMS, DoH, Cabinet Office, ODPM, DFID, FCO, Home Office and numerous FTSE 100 companies. Dave previously ran the Met Office Public Sector and Civil Aviation Businesses and up until 1998 worked with CAA and National Air Traffic Services. David was educated in Kelso, Scottish Borders and has a BSc Maths Glasgow in 1984 and MSc Operational Research Strathclyde Business School in 1985.
Ian Harrison runs his own property business and also a property consultancy. He was formerly the estates manager for Hanson Aggregates Ltd in the SW of England. He lives in Exeter City Centre and is Chair of Newtown Ward's Community Association.
Steve Morris works as Environment Manager for Alcoa Investment Casting and Forged Products, formerly Howmet Ltd. He joined the company in 1998 as an IT and Business Analyst before making the switch to his present role in 2004. Steve’s previous experience is in a variety of organisations and occupations including manufacturing, banking, auditing, business analysis, and objective 1 & 2 funding.
Alistair Handyside until recently, worked as a senior executive in hi-tech firms before setting up his own business, a consultancy, which covers a variety of fields. He provides corporate due-diligence for venture capital companies, assists with company fund-raising and turnarounds, provides interim management services and non executive roles.
Currently he is Chief Executive of Salcombe Dairy, a traditional Ice Cream maker, which makes him extremely popular with all his children’s friends, Director of Premier Cottages, the leading independent cottage group in the UK, and is a committee member of EASCO, the English Association of Self Catering operators. In addition to this Alistair offers consultancy services on how to get the most from holiday cottage businesses and he frequently gives talks and training on sustainable tourism.
Steve Grant is News Editor of the Western Morning News, a position he has held since November 2004. He started his career at the Chard & Ilminster News in Somerset before joining the Evening Herald in Plymouth, where he held various positions including Business Editor and Local Government Correspondent. After a brief stint working on motoring magazines he became Chief Reporter at the Bristol Evening Post until joining the WMN.
Mark Hodgson MBA MCMI MIEMA FRGS. Mark has extensive experience in the low carbon "green business" and economy sector. He is involved in the West of England's Low Carbon Initiative assessing low carbon economy issues and opportunities across the public sector , business, environmental goods and services sector and supply chains in the area. Other projects include, Derby Low Carbon Superfast Broadband Rollout, Exeter's Low Carbon Business Network and various supply chain initiatives. Previously he has been involved in Devon and Dorset's Business Carbon Reduction Plans, Dorset's Green Knowledge Economy Strategy and SW Climate Change Strategy. He developed and ran Renewable Energy 4 Devon and the highly successful Envision SW which worked with over 1000 businesses in the SW saving businesses over £12m pa through low carbon activities. He has worked specifically with well over 150 businesses on many areas from resource efficiency to bringing low carbon innovative products and social enterprises businesses to market. He is a registered OGC/LGID Local Improvement Adviser on economy, environment and partnerships. Internationally he has worked in Africa and Asia and for DFID on sustainable development and climate change issues.
Peter Morgan Peter is the Environmental officer for Paignton Zoo. In this role he is responsible for environmental improvements and the running of the environmental management system at Paignton Zoo and the organisations other sites Newquay Zoo and Torquay’s Living Coasts. Originally an electronics engineer Peter decided to change his career path after working on environmental projects in Ghana. On returning he studied Environmental Management at Bristol University and since Peter has been working within the environmental sector involved in urban regeneration and advising the developers of a sustainable town extension in the South West. With an interest in sustainable buildings, renewable energy and reducing the environmental impact of businesses Peter has just completed an MSC in Architecture and energy systems at the Centre for alternative technology and is undertaking training to become a lead auditor.
John Smith John has been involved with printing all his adult life. He started in production and then moved to sales and marketing. His current role is as Sales & Marketing Manager for Brightsea Press in Exeter. John has a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Development and Management - Exeter University. His interest lie in people management and working within teams.
Helen Lynch Helen has been actively involved in the local food and drink sector for many years and has a passion for good quality sustainably produced products. With a background in marketing she decided to set up her own organic herbal tea business, Tea’s Me. Helen is also a board member of Food and Drink Devon.