We are a group of committed volunteers in North London who work with local communities to fund, install, own and manage their own low-carbon energy solutions. We believe in the power of collective action to tackle the impacts of climate change and to build resilient communities.
Joanna Macrae, Society Chair (Director)
Dr Joanna Macrae has lived in Camden for nearly 30 years. She is passionate about tackling the climate and ecological crisis. Jo currently works for the UK’s Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture working on international forests and land use. She represents PUNL on Climate Emergency Camden and is also on the Camden Climate Emergency Advisory Panel. She is recognised internationally for her expertise in humanitarian policy, research and innovation management and has served in a variety of roles in government, the World Bank, NGOs and think tanks.
Ian Grant (Director)
Ian Grant is a founder Director of PUNL and started the Transition Kentish Town Energy Group in 2011 was part of the team which ran “North London Energy Transition Challenge”, an energy efficiency challenge for a year between different areas in North London, leading on to PUNL. Ian has been an editor and writer on the environment and built environment for over 35 years and set up a publications and conference company. He has produced reports and publications for NGOs and Government and has developed content for over 120 conferences/events on environmental issues. He founded several publications and is also a freelance consultant.
Ben Pearce (Director)
Ben is a founding member of Power Up North London, from Transition Kentish Town. Ben is a Portfolio Manager at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, working on a number of frontline projects on their ‘health effects of air pollution’ programme, which seeks to find innovative solutions to those most vulnerable to poor air quality. He leads on PUNL’s business planning, utilising these skills to develop our impact-led strategy for growth. Ben believes that shaping sustainable communities with the backdrop of climate change is one of the key things that will define our generation.
Tanuja Pandit (Director)
Tanuja joined Power Up North London in October 2017 to deliver local projects that address climate change and build community resilience. Tanuja has worked in the commercial and non-profit sectors in finance and general management, with Ford, Deloitte, General Electric, Diageo and the BBC. She also led the International Business Leaders Forum, a charity focused on corporate social responsibility, and was COO of the Start Network, a collective of 40 humanitarian organisations. Tanuja is a director of Community Energy London and is on the steering committee of the Islington Sustainability Network.
Anna Woodeson (Director)
Anna joined PUNL in June 2021. She sees her involvement as a way of using her skills, expertise and existing networks to help the organisation extend their reach. Anna has 25 years of Architectural experience delivering buildings predominantly within the education and housing sectors. Her project experience includes Battersea Power Station, Oxford University Earth Sciences department, and the refurbishment of Bush House. She is passionate about addressing the challenges posed by the climate and biodiversity crisis, bringing with her extensive knowledge of sustainability applicable to the construction sector. Anna has led and supported numerous initiatives within the industry previously as Wilkinson Eyre’s Head of Sustainability and currently as a member of the Architect’s Declare steering group. She is also a tutor at the Bartlett School of Architecture and an external examiner at Sheffield Hallam University.
Akta Raja (Director)
Akta is a former lawyer and investment banker. She founded and exited a business that delivers low carbon retrofit to Ansor Ventures, for whom she also helped to raise their first fund. She now has a portfolio of work advising venture firms, sits on the board of a number of start-ups and is a non-executive director of the Royal Free London Foundation Trust, chairing the digital board and finance committees. She also has charity trustee roles at the Royal Free Charity and BLP, which supports young entrepreneurs in South London.
Philip Albright (Director, Treasurer)
Philip joined PUNL in August 2023 and is an experienced M&A advisor with a particular emphasis in the Workforce Solutions and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) sectors globally; working with leading software product, data, and service providers in these sectors. Prior to his career in M&A, he held CFO positions at two publicly listed workforce solutions firms. He lives in Camden.