SVRG Team

Dr Bernie Jones – Managing Director

Bernie has more than 15 years’ experience of working at the interface of technology and international development. He is passionate about creating equality of opportunity, and sustainable impact. He previously worked at the Royal Society, Shaw Trust, UNESCO and British Airways. He is a graduate of the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh.

Dr Anna Clements – Chief Engineer

Anna has more than 5 years’ experience of energy access and efficiency technologies, community engagement and development in East Africa. She is a champion of environmental sustainability, diversity and community empowerment. She is a graduate of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Martine Robson – Finance Manager

Martine brings more than 10 years experience of financial and administrative management to the business. A graduate of Herriott Watt University, her particular interests include gender, education and sustainable entrepreneurship.

Zoë Slattery – Engineering Project Manager

Zoë brings to the Smart Villages team an enthusiasm both for innovative technology and sustainable development. As a graduate of Cambridge University’s ‘Engineering for Sustainable Development’ MPhil, she has a passion for understanding how engineering can be applied in challenging contexts to create sustainable solutions, and for accurately measuring the impact of such projects.

Laurie Kent – Development Engineer

Laurie Kent has a background in UK agriculture and passion for sustainable and holistic farming practices. He graduated from Harper Adams Universities ‘Automotive Engineering Off-Highway’ BEng and has experience in the design of heavy duty machinery. He’s worked building bespoke expedition vehicles for Mercedes Unimog, agricultural equipment and off-grid systems. When he’s not working he’ll be out riding his bike!

Frances James – Development Engineer

Frances brings to team an interest in engineering development with communities as an active partner and strong basis in structural engineering, having previously worked for both Arup and Atkins. She is driven by ideas of equality and sustainability and has an interest in WASH projects, having previously worked in this capacity in Zambia, Panama, and in refugee camps in Greece. She holds an MEng in Engineering Design from the University of Bristol.

Natasha Wilson – Associate

Natasha found her passion for international development through her work in Tanzania with the student-led ‘Cambridge Development Initiative’ after graduating from the University of Cambridge. She strongly believes in user-centred design to maximise positive impact for end-users in rural communities.

Dr Terry van Gevelt – Development Economist

Terry is Assistant Professor in Environmental Sustainability, jointly appointed at the Department of Politics & Public Administration and the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong. A long-time collaborator of Smart Villages’ his interests particularly centre around community behaviour and impact, the water-energy-food nexus, and resilience. Terry is a graduate of the Universities of Warwick and Cambridge.

Sandy Evans – Procurement and Development

Sandy has worked on the Smart Villages initiatives since they began, in 2012. She brings more than 10 years’ experience of international development and more than 20 years’ experience of administrative management to the organisation. Her particular interests include fostering international collaboration and knowledge transfer, and innovation.

Prof Sir Brian Heap – Senior Adviser

Based at Cambridge and past President of the European Academies Science Advisory Council, and former Master of St Edmund’s College, Cambridge, Sir Brian was one of the originators of the Smart Villages concept and initiative. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and its former Foreign Secretary and Vice-President, an honourary Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society, and past Director of Research at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Now an Associate of the Development for Develoment Studies at the University of Cambridge, Sir Brian’s interests include international engagement in science, sustainable development and science advice for policy makers.

Dr John Holmes – Senior Adviser

John was co-leader of the original Smart Villages research initiative, from 2014 – 2017. A graduate of Brunel University, Imperial College London and the Univeristy of Cambridge, his expertise includes research management, science and development policy, environment and energy. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford.