Laurence Oakes-Ash
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
Previously holding senior trading positions at Investment banks in London and New York Laurence spent his career bringing together vast complex data sets and developing systems to create actionable insights. An adept operator, lead generator and strategist, he managed £30bn of annual deal flow and was consistently achieving a #1 market share on the London Stock Exchange. This exposure to real-time data and automation within Financial Services fired Laurence’s interest in its applications to cities. Laurence is an award-winning management accountant and member of the CIHT. Laurence now lives in Devon, where in his spare time (i.e. rarely), he likes sailing and eating barbeque (with brisket, pulled pork and mac n cheese – New York style).
Glenn Woodcock
CO-FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN
Glenn is a serial entrepreneur, an incredible source of vision, passion and direction. With 25 years in senior management positions across venture capital, product development, and risk, he brings a wealth of experience to the City Science board. He has taken a number of businesses from inception, investment and deep value creation through to successful exit. He holds a number of directorships, including being Director of Oxygen House. Glenn is a physicist and a Fellow of the Cambridge Centre for Science and Policy. When not thinking up ideas for his next start-up, Glenn can be found spending time with his family, sheep and chickens on Dartmoor.
Edward Campbell PhD (he/him)
CTO
Ed joined City Science after a year away from work, cycle touring through Asia and Europe. Before that adventure he was Senior Product Manager for Data Products at the Met Office, driving the development of APIs and the migration of services to the cloud. Passionate about all things data, he’s worked in startups and multinationals, switching between coding and business development throughout his career. Ed studied at Cambridge, obtaining a first in Natural Sciences and a PhD in Astrophysics. When he’s not cycling, running or swimming, you’ll find him baking bread.
Simon Drake ACA
FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Simon is our Finance & Operations Director, bringing a wealth of experience from a top 30 accountancy practice where he managed a diverse client portfolio, held a senior position in the firm’s Technology, Innovation and Growth team, and provided technical accountancy support to colleagues throughout the region. Simon also has diverse commercial experience, including working for one of Europe’s largest regional airlines, adding additional commerciality to his strong technical background. Simon left practice to focus his attention on delivering the greatest level of impact to a business that could really make a difference. City Science was the perfect fit and he’s never looked back!
Greg Hartshorn
Director, Transport Planning & Policy
Greg leads our transport planning & policy team. He has over 30 years’ experience in transport planning consultancy, specialising in evidence-based policy and strategies, business cases and sustainable development. He is confident working with politicians and stakeholders and collaborates effectively to ensure that policies and strategies are deliverable and effective. He has written many public-facing documents including several Local Transport Plans. When he’s not at work you’ll find Greg wandering around a record shop, at a gig, supporting his beloved football team or doing research for his planned book on historic motor racing.
Adrianne Kirby (she/her)
HEAD OF PEOPLE
Adrianne is our People and Talent Partner – after working as part of the Oxygen House HR Team for over 6 years, where she provided resourcing support to us, along with other many other clients, Adrianne joined us as an official employee in January 2024 to set up and provide in-house HR and Resourcing services. Adrianne currently heads up all Talent Acquisition while also working to support wider People Team strategies and projects. Adrianne has a first-class degree in Psychology and is passionate about Mental Well-being, DE&I and Inclusive Recruitment. Adrianne has recently moved to the coast with her young family who love beach life. In her spare time Adrianne enjoys reading, upcycling, crafts and finding hidden treasures in charity shops.
Bethany Taylor (she/her)
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Bethany brings a background in retrofit and project management. She graduated from Swansea University with a master’s degree in Engineering Leadership and Management following her undergraduate in Environmental Engineering. In her spare time, Bethany plays women’s rugby, previously playing for England U20s, U18 TDG and Saracens. Through playing rugby, she has gained additional skills such as effective decision-making, teamwork, and emotional intelligence which she brings to her management role. Additionally, Bethany is big on promoting mental health awareness, filming programmes and hosting podcasts discussing mental health through one of the rugby teams she captains.
Katie Sharp
SENIOR TRANSPORT & SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT
Katie joined City Science in June 2022 as a Graduate Transport and Sustainability Consultant. Her degrees in BSc Geography and MSc Global Sustainability Solutions from the University of Exeter allowed Katie to gain an extensive breadth of academic knowledge in environmental problems and how to mitigate them, as well as develop high quality writing, research, data and geo-spatial skills. She is excited to apply these skills in order to provide support across transport and sustainability projects within City Science. Outside of work you can catch Katie in a boxing ring or playing with her cockerpoo, Odin.
David Fraser (he/him)
LEAD DEVELOPER
David specialises in building complex web-apps while making them look simple. He joins City Science from a career delivering such websites for household names in the travel and automotive sectors. With a degree in Graphic Design and a quarter of a century tinkering with computers David bridges the gap between design and development. He isn’t just passionate about creating powerful digital tools, he also cares about making them clear and pleasing to use too. When he’s not thinking up better UX or writing more elegant code he can be found in the more analogue world passing time with friends and family, in the garage working on motorcycles or out enjoying the open road.
Kathryn Mason
Lead DEVELOPER
Kathryn is a scientific software developer at City Science where she creates complex code to model transport systems. Prior to City Science, Kathryn spent 12 years at TRL where she developed software and new features for ARCADY and TRANSYT. She has extensive experience developing software for Smart Motorways and using optimisation techniques to manage real-time traffic flows. Kathryn also likes getting her hands dirty – with physical computer hardware, building robots and finding novel applications for Raspberry Pi’s. She also likes getting her hands dirty gardening – a pastime she describes as the “secret of happiness”. One day she hopes to combine her passion for robotics and nature by building a robotic weeding machine. City Science are eagerly awaiting the patent rights.
Joe McQuillen CEng
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ENERGY
Joe is an experienced energy systems and environmental consultant, with a broad range of experience spanning across the energy sector having worked in the built environment, Combined Heat and Power (CHP), aviation, shipping, heavy industry, carbon capture and Anaerobic Digestion (AD). He’s been involved in some of the UK’s major government energy programmes, having been a key member behind BEIS’s Combined Heat & Power Quality Assurance (CHPQA) programme and audited 100s of renewable heating systems via Ofgem’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. Joe also has a passion for programming and working with data; he hopes to combine his programming skills and his enthusiasm for energy to accelerate our transition towards net zero. When Joe isn’t writing code or thinking about the future of energy, you might catch him running, swimming, or cycling, in preparation for his next triathlon.
Zack Moss
Senior Energy Modeller
Zack is a Senior Energy Modeller with experience across a wide range of energy system scales, particularly focussing on Low and Zero Carbon technologies. He has previously carried out energy mapping, dynamic energy modelling, and techno-economic modelling for a variety of district heating projects across the UK at energy masterplanning, feasibility, and detailed design stages. Additionally, he has applied his analytical capabilities across a variety of other areas within the energy sector, including: net zero carbon strategies, social housing stock modelling, and energy management & compliance, utilising his tool creation and automation capabilities to scale decarbonisation impact. Outside of work you’re likely to find him playing table tennis, board games, or reading a book.
Bob Hickish PhD
PRINCIPAL TRANSPORT & SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT
Bob is interested by networks, values the societal benefit of transport, and is passionate about decarbonisation and sustainability. This combination led to a PhD where he developed software to optimise rail networks specifically for maximum passenger benefit – it is unknown whether or not this was an act of pure self-interest from a frequent rail user. His subsequent postdoctoral research focused on the storage of energy regenerated during train braking. Bob’s passion for environmental sustainability stems, in part, from a love of the natural world and being outside. A keen rock climber and surfer, he enjoys pursuing these activities in wild places and looks forward to this being enabled by sustainable transportation systems.
James Lewis PhD (he/him)
Lead Developer
Before joining City Science in May 2019, James was at Durham University earning his PhD developing breakthrough algorithms to analyse the structure of highly complex functional materials. He went on to become P&G Portfolio Manager at the University, working to develop a range of collaborative research projects to meet industry challenges across Computer Sciences, Engineering, Physical and Life Sciences. James is now using his multi-disciplinary talent at City Science to meet the modelling needs of the future. When he isn’t doing that, James is a keen sportsman having turned his hand to most sports you can name, including Snow Polo and Cheese Rolling. But algorithms are his true passion – he uses them in every aspect of life, and even developed one to create the seating plan for his wedding.
Rohan Brodier
SENIOR DEVELOPER
Rohan Brodier is a Senior Software Developer at City Science. She began her career as an apprentice in software development and has never stopped learning since. She is always looking for a challenge and for something to get her teeth stuck into. Rohan is currently located in the Northampton area and loves to spend as much time as she can with her wife and daughter. In her spare time she is an avid gamer, DIYer and tinkerer of all things electrical.
Nick Maynard
Lead IT Support Specialist
Nick is our lead IT support specialist. He brings over 15 years of experience with a vast knowledge of IT infrastructure and systems improvement, specialising in Microsoft 365. He is a colossal Lego collector who owns more than 163 sets and over 500 mini-figures, and one day would like to build a working computer from Lego.
Chris Underwood PhD
Senior DEVELOPER
Chris is a scientific software developer at City Science. He joined from the University of York where he was completing his PhD on laser-driven particle acceleration in the Fusion Centre for Doctoral Training. Although making electrons travel very fast was highly enjoyable, Chris is now turning his skills to a more pressing need, decarbonisation of transport and energy systems. Outside of work Chris is a keen outdoors enthusiast, spending his weekends getting cold and damp climbing mountains and crags all around the UK.
Lia Palosanu (she/her)
SENIOR DEVELOPER
Lia is a software developer at City Science. She joined from the University of Essex where she studied Computer Science. After travelling South-East Asia during her year abroad, she discovered her passion for tackling the climate crisis. As a result, her final year project was focused on environmental conservation using machine learning. She hopes to use her skills in the race to net-zero. In her spare time, she likes to play video games, go on hikes and spend time with friends and family.
Sarah McCoy
SENIOR DEVELOPER
Sarah is a scientific software developer at City Science. Before joining the team, she worked within the Education sector, where she taught Maths alongside her data analysis and IT training roles. Prior to this, she completed her degree in Maths from the University of Exeter. Sarah brings together her love of problem-solving, numerical skills and her passion for tackling climate change within her work. She is currently located in Brighton and Hove and enjoys runs along the beach, long walks in the South Downs and exploring the City with friends and family.
Lucy Champ ACMA CGMA
SENIOR CONSULTANT- CARBON AND NET ZERO FINANCE
Lucy joined City Science in April 2023 as a Carbon Accountant. Lucy is a CIMA qualified accountant, prior to City Science Lucy completed a three-year graduate scheme with Ocado Retail where she studied for her accountancy qualification. Whilst completing her graduate scheme she gained experience business partnering with their internal sustainability team. Through her experience working with the sustainability team Lucy realised that she wanted to pursue a more purpose led career particularly in Carbon Accounting. Outside of work you’ll find Lucy swimming, biking, and running or enjoying time with friends and family.
Maia Priestley
SENIOR ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT
After graduating in Sustainability and Environmental Management from the University of Leeds, Maia is excited to bring her passion for sustainability to City Science as a Graduate Sustainability Consultant. With a drive to make a difference both through her career and daily life, she applies her skills gained through her studies to create a greener future. In her gap year after University, Maia solo travelled to South East Asia which heightened her dedication to sustainability, fuelling a stronger desire to make a positive impact. Outside of work, Maia enjoys cooking vegan food, exercising at the gym and spending time with friends.
Rifat Foysal
TRANSPORT CONSULTANT
Rifat began his career as a Civil & Environmental engineer in 2016 spending his early years serving as a junior consultant to Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority in the construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant where his role was to ensure safety and quality of the construction and installation works. However, his passion for decarbonisation and sustainable development led him to change his career where he can make more meaningful impact on climate change. That his why Rifat left his role in Bangladesh and joined City Science as a part-time intern in 2023 while pursuing his master’s degree in Transport & Planning at Cardiff University. Inspired by the passionate team at City Science and the data driven approach of City Science to tackle the environmental issues in both transport and energy sector, Rifat jumped at the opportunity to start as a Graduate Transport and Sustainability Consultant after his graduation. Rifat is often found building lego models with his 2-year-old in the afternoons, cooking (his absolute favourites are the traditional bengali cuisines using his mom’s recipe) or with his nose buried in a new book.
Hazim Zaidi
ReseARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME MANAGER
Hazim joined City Science in January 2024 after finishing his master’s research degree under the Cabot Institute for the Environment, the University of Bristol. His area of study was on energy efficiency where his work has been presented at international conferences in the UK and in Barcelona, Spain. In addition, Hazim leads Solarable, a solar energy project he started in university, motivated by the need to accelerate the sustainable energy transition. In his spare time, he enjoys playing weekly football league games or any outdoor activities with his friends.
Jasin Trimble
IT Support analyst
Jasin embarked on his career journey as a graphic designer, where his creative flair flourished. However, he soon found himself drawn more towards the technical intricacies and challenges of IT than the design aspects. For over a decade, he has immersed himself in various IT roles, honing his skills and expertise. Beyond the digital realm, Jasin finds solace and inspiration in nature walks, city exploration, and architectural wonders. His passion for creativity extends beyond the screen, indulging in painting, drawing, and the occasional gaming session to unwind and fuel his imagination.
Zachary Gaeddert
associate director – CARBON ACCOUNTING
Zach is City Science’s Associate Director of Carbon Accounting. He joined from Emitwise, where he oversaw the technical and methodological development of their carbon accounting software product, which included spearheading their net-zero pathway modelling functionality. Prior to Emitwise, Zach has accumulated over five years’ experience across energy and decarbonisation policy, with the bulk of his work focussing on building decarbonisation. When Zach is not at work, you will find him playing competitive basketball, travelling internationally to summit as many (not excessively technical) mountains as possible, and annoying his cat Chandler with affection.
Cat Evans
PRINCIPAL TRANSPORT MODELLER
With extensive experience across transport engineering, transport planning, and mobility software, Cat brings a wealth of knowledge and strong technical capabilities to City Science. Cat spent several years at Transport for London, working on signal engineering, network management, scheme and strategy design, and implementing new technology. During this time, she developed and utilised large and complex LinSig, Vissim, and Visum operational modelling tools. Cat has since continued to hone her Visum expertise on large strategic highway modelling projects across the UK. Driven by a passion for decarbonisation and innovation within the transport sector and beyond, Cat is dedicated to developing optimal solutions that pave the way for a sustainable future. Outside of work, Cat enjoys exploring new vegan cuisine, attending West End shows, experimenting with various crafts, and spending quality time on adventures with friends.
Drew Pearce PhD (he/him)
SENIOR TRANSPORT CONSULTANT
Before joining City Science, Drew’s research career spanned multiple applications of data and modelling, from green energy generation through to real world assessments of climate impacts on systems. Drew’s expertise sits at the interface of technological, behavioural and infrastructural innovation – taking global and national policies and relating them to individual and organisational interventions. Drew is also adept at ensuring local insights are effectively integrated into top-level planning and policymaking. Drew has a particular passion for applying this to the transport sector and has an unwavering commitment to ensure we deal with the climate crisis in a fair and just way, with the urgency and zeal it demands. Outside of work Drew can often be found exploring with his daughter and dog, usually on a bike.
Hannah Wynton
GRADUATE SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT
Hannah joined City Science in July 2024 having completed her PhD in Geography at the University of Cambridge. Hannah’s area of expertise lies in palaeoclimate science and volcanology. For the last four years she has focused on building Holocene tephrostratigraphies for lake core records from eastern Africa, research which has been presented at international conferences. Hannah has technical expertise in climate and geochemical data analysis and is now applying her academic skills to a range of projects aimed at achieving sustainability and decarbonisation. In her spare time Hannah enjoys rowing and road cycling, with aspirations to compete at various British rowing events this year.
Toby Prudden
SENIOR ENERGY CONSULTANT
Toby Prudden is an experienced energy consultant with a background in the built environment. He has worked extensively with non-domestic buildings, delivering energy management audits, environmental compliance and reporting, utility apportionment, and sustainability certification. He has recently completed in-depth studies on Net Zero Carbon pathways for commercial offices and low carbon heating options appraisals. With a background in Physics and Sustainable Energy he is able to apply scientific methods and data analytics to solve real-world problems in buildings and wider systems. Toby believes in the value of first-hand data collection, carrying out site audits to review building performance and identify improvement opportunities including reviews of BMS trend data and controls strategies.
Will Whittaker
energy consultant
Will is an energy consultant at City Science, having joined in August 2023 after 2 years at Buro Happold. He has experience designing energy infrastructure such as power, district heating, and district cooling networks. Will has worked on master planning projects in Saudi Arabia, as well as smaller feasibility studies around the UK, through which he has developed an interest in automation and geospatial analytics. Outside of work, Will enjoys running, travelling, music, and teaching equestrian to his pet lobster.
Xavier Barker PhD
GRADUATE developer
Xavier joined City Science in June 2024 after completing his PhD in Physics at the University of Warwick. His doctoral research focused on developing advanced signal processing methods for Terahertz lasers, with applications in biomedical imaging, particularly for analysing skin. Alongside this, he explored techniques to reduce sampling rates, helping to make these systems more efficient. At City Science, Xavier is particularly motivated by contributing to the decarbonisation of transport and energy systems, using technology and data-driven approaches to deliver meaningful impact. Outside of work, you will find him on the badminton court, up a climbing wall or in a pool.
Mounir Samadi
GRADUATE TRANSPORT MODELLER
Mounir’s interest in transport began during his civil engineering studies, focusing on road design and traffic flow. His master’s in Transport Planning at the University of Leeds deepened his understanding of transport systems’ impact on cities, sustainability, and quality of life. As a transport modeller, he uses data and simulations to improve transport networks, aiming to reduce congestion and promote sustainable urban mobility. Outside work, he enjoys nature walks, fitness activities, and hiking.
Anisha Parmar
GRADUATE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT CONSULTANT
Anisha recently joined City Science as a Graduate Energy and Environment Consultant. She holds a BSc in Marine Biology from Swansea University and an MSc in Marine Vertebrate Ecology and Conservation from the University of Exeter. Her studies have equipped her with a strong understanding of environmental and climate change-driven challenges as well as skills in research, report writing, and data analysis. At City Science, she is excited to apply her skills across a wide range of sustainability and decarbonisation projects to drive a positive change. Outside of work, Anisha enjoys tennis, travelling and spending time with friends and family.