Judith Ward is an Honorary University Fellow in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Exeter. She is energy policy professional with long-standing practical experience of both the utility and consumer worlds.

Judith is part-time Director of Sustainability First, a small charitable environment think-tank. Current projects on which she works include:  New-Pin – New Energy & Water Public Interest Network – a major multi-partner three-year project designed to create a stronger voice for the ‘public interest’ in the energy and water sectors ; a project to consider smart meter energy data and the public interest agenda ; work on Power Responsive – a major national electricity  demand-side flexibility initiative; and Project Inspire – a project to show-case innovative practices for energy customers in vulnerable circumstances. Judith set-up and led the major three-year Sustainability First project GB Electricity Demand – realising the resource’ (2011-14). Since 2006, Judith has published extensively for Sustainability First on policy and practice for the public interest in energy and water, on flexibility and the demand-side, and on smart meters and smart tariffs. Judith’s long-term career was with National Grid (1990-2004), where her final role was a six-year period as Group Head of Public Affairs, with responsibility for the company’s government & EU relations. In her early career, Judith worked in policy roles with the House of Commons Environment Select Committee and the national Electricity Consumers’ Council. From 2005-12, Judith was part-time policy adviser to the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy, the body which brought together the major energy utility companies on climate and sustainability. Judith was a member of the DECC / Ofgem Smart Grid Forum (2010-16) and a Trustee of the Institute for European Environmental Policy for many years. She has a master’s degree in Energy Resources Management.

Find out more about Sustainability First http://www.sustainabilityfirst.org.uk/index.html