Bristol Green Capital

Structure and Governance

Bristol Green Capital Partnership (BGCP) is a community interest company (CIC), an organisational model that enables social enterprises to work for community benefits.

Day-to-day activities are led by a small team. Our programme of events, forums and projects are delivered collaboratively with a range of partners – creating opportunities for cross-sector working and collaboration.

The CIC is governed by a Board of Directors made up of senior representatives from our founding supporting member organisations, a co-opted independent Chair, and two representatives elected by the Partnership‘s wider membership of organisations. Read more about our Directors here.

BGCP CIC’s articles of association, community interest statements, accounts and further details of our directors can be found through our Companies House website records.

Supporting Members

Since January 2016, Bristol Green Capital Partnership CIC has been underpinned by a core group of  founding supporting members: Avon Wildlife Trust, Bristol City Council, Business West, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Resource Futures, Sustrans, Triodos Bank, University of Bristol and University of the West of England, Bristol. In 2019 and 2020, Bristol Water, Burges Salmon, and Unite South West also joined the Partnership as new supporting members.

We receive in-kind support from Smith & Williamson, who provide an ongoing accountancy and tax advisory service on a pro-bono basis, and GENeco, whose Managing Director Chairs our Board of Directors.

Board of Directors

• Mohammed Saddiq – Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset (Chair of the Board)
• Ian Barrett – CEO, Avon Wildlife Trust (Founding Supporting Member)
• Ben Bowskill – Partnerships and Public Affairs Manager – West of England, Sustrans (Founding Supporting Member)
• Tara Clee – ESG Analyst, Hargreaves Landsdown (Recruited Director)
• Jackie Davis – Property Sourcing Consultant (Recruited Director)
• Bethan Jones – Head of Behaviour Change and Director at Resource Futures (Founding Supporting Member)
• Professor Jim Longhurst – Professor of Environmental Science and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Environment and Sustainability at UWE (Founding Supporting Member)
• Barra Mac Ruairí – Chief Property Officer for the University of Bristol (Founding Supporting Member)
• Manu Maunganidze – Teacher and Youth Outreach Coordinator (Co-opted Director)
• David Mellor MA (Cantab) Dip Arch RIBA – Vice President Bristol Chamber of Commerce & Initiative (Founding Supporting Member)
• Simon Roberts OBE – CEO Centre for Sustainable Energy (Founding Supporting Member)
• Zoe Sear – Head of Marketing & Communications for Triodos Bank (Founding Supporting Member)

Staff

Lizzi Testani – Chief Executive Officer 

Lizzi joined Bristol Green Capital Partnership CIC to provide maternity cover in March 2019, was appointed Chief Operating Officer in September 2021, and Chief Executive Officer in August 2022. Prior to her current role, Lizzi spent two years working in New York City –  for New Venture Fund (a grant maker accelerating greener practices within the finance sector) and Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) supporting NYC women entering the construction workforce. Previously, in Bristol, Lizzi has also worked with The Soil Association and Boston Tea Party Cafes.

Vicki Woolley – Operations and Project Manager 

Vicki joined the company in July 2014 and manages day-to-day company finance, operations and programme delivery. Vicki leads on the development and delivery of the Black & Green Ambassadors programme in collaboration with Ujima Radio in addition to planning events, regular mingles and Partnership Gatherings for members. Prior to her current role, Vicki was the Front of House Manager at Arnolfini and worked alongside programme and production teams to deliver an interdisciplinary programme of visual arts, performance, dance, film, music and events. Vicki has also previously worked with organisations including In Between Time, and St Georges Bristol, as well as completing an MA in Performance Research at University of Bristol.

Claire Jacob – Communications and Partnerships Manager

Claire joined Bristol Green Capital Partnership CIC in January 2017. She leads the Partnership’s communications, and works closely with members to support their work and enable them to get more involved in tackling Bristol’s environmental challenges. She develops and delivers various initiatives, events and forums to enable members to get involved and take action on a range of issues related to the climate and ecological crisis. She has a background in campaigning and communications, including for Amnesty International in both London and Hong Kong. In 2016 she took some time off to walk from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail, an experience which strengthened her interest in the environment and desire to protect it.

Clara Fung – Project Coordinator

Clara joined Bristol Green Capital Partnership CIC in September 2019 as Sustainability Research and Support Officer (intern), and has subsequently supported the Partnership’s wider programme of activities and various projects as Project Coordinator. Clara is a BSc Forensic Science graduate from the University of the West of England and was a Laboratory Analyst at a food and water testing company prior to joining the Partnership staff team. Her cycling trip from Bristol to Portugal in 2016 was a key experience in driving her interest in environmental sustainability.

Ceilidh Jackson-Baker – Communications and Engagement Coordinator

Ceilidh first joined the Partnership in November 2019 to support the team with operations on a temporary basis. She moved on to work on Going for Gold and is now engaging businesses in reducing their emissions through the Climate Action Programme. Her background is project and event coordination in the community voluntary sector. Ceilidh enjoys dancing, cooking, spending time outdoors and making her own clothes.

Amy Harrison – Head of Community Partnerships

Amy joined the company in September 2020 and leads the innovative Community Climate Action project. Amy has a BSc in Environmental Science and is a qualified teacher. She has over 18 years’ experience of developing and delivering engaging learning and participation programmes with, by and for communities, young people, schools and families in the cultural, placemaking, sustainability, STEM and heritage sectors. She also has a decade of experience as a voluntary charity trustee, school governor and community activist in diverse inner-city communities. 

Bex Shreeve – Engagement Officer

Bex joined the Partnership in January 2023, as Engagement Officer for the Climate Action Programme. As part of this new role, Bex will be working in partnership with Redcliffe & Temple BID to engage and support local businesses to reduce their carbon emissions, and join the community of organisations working together to create a zero carbon and socially just Bristol. Bex’s background centres around stakeholder engagement and events management, which she developed in her professional and voluntary work across both social and environmental sectors. Her dedication to climate action was cemented further during her round the world trip in 2014, where she saw the impacts of climate change on the natural environment first-hand. Since returning, she has committed to exploring the world flight free and volunteers for local eco-initiatives in Bath.