South Wales speakers confirmed for Net zero in practice: Wales’ public sector

Public sector organisations from across Wales will come together at Cardiff Metropolitan University Llandaff Campus on 17 June 2026 for the South Wales edition of Net zero in practice: Wales’ public sector.

The free event will focus on practical decarbonisation, shared learning and the delivery of projects already underway across the public sector estate.

Bringing together attendees from across the Welsh public sector - including local authorities, health boards, schools, colleges and universities - the event will provide space to share practical experience, lessons learned and examples of projects being delivered across Wales.

The South Wales event will be chaired by Ian Rodger, our director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix.

Ian is responsible for the delivery of our programmes including the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, recycling funds and loan schemes in Wales and Scotland. With oversight of funding delivery across a wide range of public sector decarbonisation programmes, he brings extensive experience of supporting organisations to turn ambition into practical delivery.

Confirmed speakers

Graham Lewis, chief officer of university environments at Cardiff Metropolitan University, will speak about the university’s estates work and wider decarbonisation activity.

At Cardiff Met, he leads estates, climate action and commercial services, and conceived the university’s Halve the Half project, which has already delivered significant reductions in gas, electricity and water use.

Christopher Lewis from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board will share experience from decarbonising NHS buildings and estates.

He leads the health board’s buildings and estates decarbonisation programme and previously led the development of the NHS Wales Decarbonisation Strategic Delivery Plan.

Project manager at Swansea Council, Simon Aspland will also join the programme, bringing local authority perspectives on practical project delivery. In his role, he leads and supports initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions across the council’s estate, with a particular focus on retrofit programmes, low‑carbon technologies, and sustainable project delivery. 

From Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, Ffion Edwards and Katie Trembath will share their experience of delivering strategic carbon reduction and renewable energy projects.

Katie, who is a carbon reduction officer at the Council, has contributed to major schemes including the Coed Ely Solar Farm, while principal carbon reduction officer, Ffion, has led work on the council’s electric vehicle charging strategy, corporate carbon reduction planning and wider local energy planning.

Specialist sessions

The event will also include specialist sessions from the Welsh Government Energy Service including senior programme manager, Jim Cardy.

Jim Cardy will showcase practical learning on electric vehicle infrastructure, strategic fleet transition planning and integrated energy solutions across the public sector.

Director at Welsh Government Energy Service, Jane Forshaw, will bring insight from more than 25 years of work delivering sustainability policy and practice, including public sector energy efficiency projects, renewable energy schemes and electric fleet transitions.

Alongside these sessions, our team at Salix  will also explore practical delivery themes including current funding schemes, Digarbon round 3, and lessons learned from projects already underway across the Welsh public sector estate.

The event is free to attend, but places are limited so secure your spot now.