Directors

Courtney Hyde Peyton, Managing Director

Courtney has always promoted the business case for sustainability.

Through her academic research and MSc, Courtney examined the relationship between conservation and sustainability as approaches to the management of the built environment. ICOMOS supported her argument and encouraged the publication of her report that the conservation of existing buildings and the manner in which conservation as a discipline uses materials and evolves its methodologies are at the heart of the argument for sustainable development.

A former principal of the Edinburgh Sustainable Architecture Unit, University of Edinburgh, she also taught part-time on a series of sustainable planning and design courses over several years. Prior to co-founding Thirdwave, Courtney advised forward looking developers on delivering a balance between conservation and sustainability on large scale regeneration and tourism developments in Italy and the Czech Republic.

Courtney is a regular presenter to Euromoney Seminars, Common Purpose, Royal Town and Planning Institute, RICS, architectural conservation courses and organisations and local authority groups addressing the qualitative, commercial and financial opportunities which can realised by imbedding sustainability thinking into investment, planning, design and procurement strategies.

David Somervell, Chair & Energy Specialist

As a founding Director of Thirdwave, David has an active involvement in strategic direction with specific input on key projects addressing energy efficiency, climate change, sustainable construction and strategic change management in large organisations.

David trained as an architect and has gone on to specialise in energy and sustainable services provision. He was Technical Services Manager for Heatwise Glasgow 1984 - 89 during which time over 100,000 Glasgow tenants had energy conservation measures installed in a multi-funded, multi agency programme providing training and employment for long-term unemployed.

His role as a change agent as much as a technical solutions provider has evolved during the subsequent years with Edinburgh University which is now recognised as having a sector-leading role in implementing best practice in strategic energy and environmental management techniques.

As the University's Energy & Sustainability Manager, David has been central in developing the business case and funding package for three major combined heat and power projects and other energy efficiency projects at the University in which £12million has been invested over 2003-2005. These projects have contributed to a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by the University.

He has set up an innovative partnership with Scottish Water to introduce water efficiency measures while modifying the campus infrastructure. He is also professional advisor to the University on environmental legislation compliance and its effective costs / benefits planning, including waste management, environmental management and travel planning.

He has served as a Director of Business and Environment Network (Scotland) and Edinburgh Environmental Partnership Grants Scheme Ltd and represents the University of Edinburgh on the Edinburgh Sustainable Development Partnership (ESDP).

David was instrumental in establishing the Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges - Scotland Branch and in attracting the Scottish Executive finding for the Campus Sustainability Programme (CaSPr) - organising the Launch Conference in November 2005.

He has advised a number of organisations on implementing Environmental Management Systems (EMS) along the lines of ISO14001 / the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the simpler system under Project Acorn now encoded under BS8555.

David has served on several national committees including the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)'s Energy Management Value for Money Review in 2002 and the Higher Education Environmental Performance Improvement (HEEPI) project's Energy Metering & Monitoring Group which reported in March 2005

Founder Member of the Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) and currently Convener of EAUC-Scotland Branch - responsible for overseeing the Campus Sustainability Programme to promote best practice among the 60 FHE institutions in Scotland. He also represents the EAUC on the Scottish Funding Council's Sustainable Estates Steering Group - established to provide advice on appropriate standards and guidance for the sector.

Some of Our Associates

Richard Atkins, Senior Associate

For many years Richard has specialised in sustainability and conservation work and has been at the sharp end of setting new levels of best practice across a range of fields. Of particular note was Norton Park which is one of the best examples of sustainable re-use of an existing building in the UK (Norton Park 1996). The approach required particular sensitivity as it was a B Listed building which therefore had to balance sustainability issues, modern office needs and architectural conservation priorities.

Richard continues to lead his field through his work with Thirdwave, his representation on numerous committees and events, writing articles, presenting conference papers, and through on-going design with his own Architectural practice.

Sydny Brogan, Researcher

Sydny has worked in a wide range of sectors including voluntary community-based programmes, publicly run resources, charities and private businesses. Sydny was with Scottish Natural Heritage in a key research and organisational role for the maritime and freshwater teams where she learned much about promoting and preserving our natural heritage. She is skilled and experienced in using appropriate as well as creative methodologies to plan, coordinate and manage projects, research and administrative processes. Sydny researched and created an effective tool and protocol for Thirdwave for the measurement of organisational change and its effect on carbon dioxide emissions.

Kristy Swan, Sustainability Associate

Kristy's major project was Transitional Housing for Refugees. She undertook an extensive social study into the housing conditions of refugees in specific circumstances and applied this knowledge to developing a possible solution entitled The Flexi-Home.

Internships which Kristy undertook during her studies involved working as a researcher for the Green Party NSW, land planning and policy researcher for the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) Australia and international programs researcher for the Credit Union Federation Australia (CUFA).

These experiences combined with her studies have equipped Kristy with a broad range of skills and interests related to the built environment, planning and sustainability.

Kristy represented Australia at the UNEP Asia-Pacific Youth Forum for Sustainability held in the Philippines in November 2005, where she presented ideas in regards to low cost housing.