Philip Sellwood, Energy Saving Trust’s outgoing CEO, has been recognised in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List, with the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Philip has served as Energy Saving Trust’s CEO since 2003, leading the organisation through a time of transformation and shaping it into its current, independent form, heralded by both the public and private sectors UK wide.
Philip receives the nomination for services to public policy on energy efficiency. His public sector work notably includes:
- being a member of several influential government task forces, including the Government and Industry 2016 Zero Carbon Housing Task Force, the Sustainable Buildings Commission, acting as lead advisory board member on the Each Home Counts review and as an Independent Commissioner on the Local Government Authority Climate Change Commission
- giving evidence on many occasions to Westminster Select Committees on Energy for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Transport for the Department for Transport (DfT) and supervising countless factual submissions to Government consultations
- advising the National House Building Council, the UK Energy Research Council and the Energy Research Partnership
- leading Energy Saving Trust to be a major presence in Europe through its membership and leadership of the European Energy Network
- representing the UK overseas both as President of the European Energy Network and speaking on behalf of Energy Saving Trust in Australia, the US and many European venues
- serving as Vice Chair of Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership and as a non-executive director on the Local Government Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) board and the Renewable Energy Association Limited (REAL) board.
The CBE is the highest-ranking Order of the British Empire award. Philip will receive the award in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace later this year.
In total 1,097 people received an award in the 2020 Honours List, which the government website describes as ‘recognising the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom’.
Commenting, Philip Sellwood said: “I am proud and delighted to receive this honour. It has been an immense privilege to work with my colleagues and other organisations in our sector towards improving energy policy. While individuals can make a difference, effective policy development is essential to support and implement the necessary action to mitigate the climate emergency.”