The JDS team, united by our shared commitment to sustainable energy, benefits greatly from the range of experience amongst its staff. Our team are drawn from engineering, academic, civil service, media and utilities backgrounds and complement one another in terms of campaigning, technical and business experience.
We have a wealth of campaigning, political and regulatory experience within the public and private sector. We have built strong working relationships with the UK Government, the EU Institutions, Environmental NGOs, and with each of the main political parties, as well as a wide range of industry and other contacts throughout the UK and in Europe.
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DAVE SOWDEN, Managing Director
DAVE SOWDEN
Managing Director
Dave Sowden is an experienced director in regulatory and public affairs with over two decades of experience in the energy industry and an outstanding track record in obtaining changes in UK and EU legislation and regulation. He is a sustainable energy expert and has had a pivotal role across a number of years in shaping key aspects of UK energy policy, especially in the energy efficiency, heating, and microgeneration sectors.
He founded and is Chief Executive of the Micropower Council, an industry body that brings together utilities, manufacturers, retailers, installers and trade associations with the aim of promoting microgeneration technologies, and which has been the driving force behind significant changes in the law, government policies and regulation to further the interests of the microgeneration sector in the UK. His successful specialist consultancy business JDS Associates Ltd provides highly tailored strategy, policy and regulatory advice to a wide range of blue chip companies and SMEs in the sustainable energy sector, helping them to understand and shape the alignment between their commercial interests and the regulatory framework. -
KRISTINA RAFNSON-HALL, PA to Dave Sowden
Kristina Rafnson-Hall
PA to Dave Sowden
Kristina joined the JDS Team in December 2010 as PA to Dave Sowden -
JAMES HIGGINS, Senior Consultant
JAMES HIGGINS
Senior Consultant
James Higgins joined our team in August 2007, having previously worked as a public affairs officer for Ofwat, the economic regulator of the water industry. James has considerable expertise in home energy efficiency, road transport biofuels, home heating and microgeneration sectors. His excellent drafting and presentation skills enable the translation of complex issues into easily digestible positions for policy makers, politicians and the media on behalf of JDS clients.
As a postgraduate part-time student on the inaugural Global Energy MBA Programme at Warwick Business School, James is able to combine energy industry insight with political understanding developed during his career so far and in achieving a First Class Honours degree in politics from the University of Liverpool. This unique insight enables James to provide detailed research and analysis on political and regulatory issues on behalf of JDS clients in the sector.
During his time at Ofwat, James established an impressive network of contacts in Parliament and built considerable experience in regulatory policy. He also developed experience in dealing with Parliament and the media on difficult issues such as the summer drought of 2006, industry price increases and company failings over leakage and financial reporting. -
GRACE BENNETT, Consultant
GRACE BENNETT
Consultant
Grace joined the JDS Team in October 2008, having previously worked with a business strategy consulting firm. Grace has since worked on a number of projects including development of an innovative '360 degree' techno-political analysis tool for a major UK energy supplier and overhaul of JDS Associates' external profile and marketing strategy. Grace has also been involved in the preparation and delivery of JDS training courses on various aspects of sustainable energy policy and is playing a key role in coordination of consortia and bid preparation as JDS sets its sights on larger scale public sector projects.
As a business strategy consultant, Grace gained experience of a number of different industries, ranging from food and beverage to aerospace logistics and chemical engineering. In this role, Grace carried out in-depth research into specific sectors, assessed business opportunities available to clients, provided data analysis and undertook competitive intelligence gathering in a range of European countries.
Grace was one of the first students on the ground breaking 'Cardiff-Bordeaux Joint Degree Scheme'. This is an innovative course which allows students to obtain a BSc Econ in Politics from Cardiff University, as well as a Masters degree specialising in the politics of European integration from the prestigious Sciences Po in Bordeaux (one of nine Instituts d'Etudes Politiques in France). -
CHARLOTTE PARTRIDGE, Consultant
Charlotte Partridge
Researcher
Charlotte Partridge has recently starting working for JDS Associates and subsequently the Micropower Council as a Researcher. She graduated with a 2.1 from Reading University in 2010 in Politics and International Relations which has given her a solid understanding in the best ways to influence policy.
Charlotte has had previous experience as a research intern when she worked for Blue CRM during her final year at University, and has developed a personal interest in environmental issues and policy since her internship started and hopes to continue along this line of work for the considerable future. -
ILIAS VAZAIOS, Consultant
ILIAS VAZAIOS
Consultant
Ilias joined JDS Associates as a consultant in June 2011. Ilias has an academic background in EU politics and business management including an MSc in Management from CASS Business School in London. Over the past five years, Ilias gained significant experience in energy public affairs having held relevant positions in the European Commission Delegation in Washington, the European trade association for cogeneration (COGEN Europe), the office of a global public affairs group in Brussels and an international environmental NGO.
Ilias brings to JDS Associates a far and wide knowledge of the EU public policy arena and substantial experience in the organisation and implementation of highly effective energy advocacy and media campaigns. Furthermore Ilias contributes a diverse set of analytical and reporting skills, having led the compilation of extensive reports, including the recent publication of a very influential roadmap on the deployment of carbon capture and storage technology . -
JONATHAN RUDGE, Finance Manager
JONATHAN RUDGE
Finance Manager
Jonathan joined the JDS team in October 2009 and brings with him a wealth of experience in finance and business administration. Prior to joining JDS, Jonathan held the post of Financial Director with XKO Network Systems where he successfully turned a struggling company into a sustainable business prior to its acquisition.
After an Engineering degree Jonathan joined and qualified as an FCA with Price Waterhouse. He then spent 10 years with 3i first running the central finance team for 6 years and then chose to specialise in IT strategy and innovative database architecture. After a spell with Lucas Industries, during which the company acquired two German businesses and Jonathan managed the finances of around 10 small and medium manufacturing companies, he moved into the IT industry. Initially Jonathan took on the role of Financial Director with CSM for 10 years until it was acquired by Sage. During this period, he gained a wide experience of customer service processes, contracts and cost control systems. Next, Jonathan moved on to a period of consultancy for Freecom.net with the aim of rapidly cutting overheads and restructuring before it was successfully sold as a profitable concern.
Jonathan is now looking forward to applying these skills to the sustainable energy sector. -
THOMAS HIGGINS, Marketing Manager
Thomas Higgins
Marketing Manager
Thomas joined the JDS team on a full time basis in 2009 having recently graduated from the University of Liverpool. He initially joined the team for a successful Internship period resulting in the offer of a full time position as a Research position for JDS. Since this appointment Thomas has found a niche for himself in the marketing work that JDS produces which has resulted in his progression to JDS Marketing Manger
He achieved a 2.1 in Communications and Business Studies and as a result brings knowledge of both business and media sectors to JDS. Since joining the company his appetite to learn has allowed him to develop and apply these skills to the Low Carbon Industry. This has allowed him to compile numerous reports already for JDS from microgeneration projections, to water saving research and even diligence assessments on behalf of new companies to the sector.. -
SANDRA MORRIS, Office Manager
Sandra Morris
Office Manager
Sandra enjoys a varied role, taking responsibility for the smooth running of the office whilst supporting her colleagues with organising meetings, travel, customer liaison and further administrative support.
“Since joining JDS I have learned that the JDS team is a great team to work with and that there is never a dull moment!"
Sandra was born and educated in the Netherlands and has previously worked for over fourteen years as an assistant-office manager and then office manager for a UK based German automotive consultancy.