Cleland Laidlay is a director of ECO HI SOLAR – a renewable energy company specialising in the design and installation of solar PV, solar thermal and air source heat pump systems, founded in 2006. After obtaining a Masters in International Relations he became a flight instructor in the US and has enjoyed travelling quite extensively - sometimes by bicycle – meeting many amazing people and having some great adventures! Cleland is keen to encourage the deployment of solar systems to assist with the alleviation of poverty and promote improved health and self-reliance amongst disadvantaged populations. 

Originally from Sri Lanka, Sharada Laidlay qualified as a Biochemist before moving to work in adventure travel in Nepal, running Tiger Tops in Chitwan National Park, trekking across the Himalayas & rafting her rivers. She had one last adventure to the Antarctic, & USA to learn to fly, before heading to work at Imperial College and Sussex University. She also has a Masters in Pharmacy and a PhD in Pharmacology. Having travelled extensively the impact on people caused by the climate crisis became clear. She is passionate about conservation. Together with Cleland, she also helped found ECO HI SOLAR. She is now using this knowledge to start Helios Renewable Energy Foundation. 

Kate Lyonette is a public servant working at the juxtaposition of local economic growth and constitutional change. After a decade in central Government, she is currently working with Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham to trial new approaches to devolved power - including taking buses back into public ownership, retrofitting housing stock to decarbonise by 2038, supporting more people into good jobs, and increasing the stock of affordable housing. Kate was educated at Oxford and has a Masters in Law. In her work with Helios, Kate is drawing on her experience of U.K. bureaucracy, legal background, and enthusiasm for tackling the climate crisis however we can.

Kiran Laidlay is a product manager working at WiseEnergy, a leading global solar asset operator and company within NextEnergy Group. Trained as a Mechanical Engineer, holding a masters from Imperial College, London, Kiran moved through the fin-tech space before focusing his career on the transition to clean energy. Kiran now leads the development of digital solutions to ensure a maximum energy yield for a portfolio of over 2GW around the world. With a keen interest in deepening his Sri Lankan roots and a desire to make a difference to the communities of Nepal, Kiran is committed to channeling his expertise towards making a positive impact in the world!