About the staff at DEAC

Staff news - DEAC staff all now hold the qualification City and Guilds 6176-02 Renewable Energy in the Home.

Phil Neale - Director/Centre Manager

Phil entered the energy efficiency field as a surveyor in 1990 when the first HEES grant was introduced. Phil was responsible for managing a team of surveyors which worked all over the South East and South West of the country. In 1998, Phil worked with Poole Council to secure funding to start an Energy Advice Centre for Poole and then Dorset. Since then Dorset Energy Advice Centre has developed into the well-recognised centre for advice in Dorset. Phil continues to look at projects to take forward the centre into new areas of sustainability. 

Direct Dial:  (01202) 307411

Email:          phil@deac.co.uk 

Gill Birkett - Director/Office Administrator

Gill joined the original team in 1994 and trained as a surveyor working across the M4 corridor visiting clients in their homes, giving energy advice, and assisting them with grant applications. In 1998 the company evolved into an energy advice centre and Gill took on the role as Centre administrator. In 1999 Gill became a Co –Director alongside Phil. Gill continues her commitment to run the ever busy office and also runs the Council Tax A to D scheme now running across seven of the eight authorities in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. 

Direct Dial: (01202) 307412

Email:          gill@deac.co.uk

Peter Bywater - Project Manager

Peter joined DEAC in 2005, and has worked with over 750 landlords, agents and management companies to install insulation and other energy saving measures in over 6500 rented dwellings. Peter is currently running both the Bournemouth and Southampton Landlords projects, the Dorset Landlords discount scheme, DEAC's Energy Performance Certificate Service and looking after some of the marketing activities with Emily.

Before joining DEAC Peter gained considerable experience as an assessor and team leader with EAGA, where he assisted running various projects including Sandwell Warm Zones, Local Authority Stock Condition Surveys and British Gas Here to Help Schemes. Over the last 10 years Peter has assessed over 20,000 properties and so has gained considerable technical expertise in domestic energy efficiency. 

Direct Dial: (01202) 307416

Email:          peter@deac.co.uk 
 

Theresa McManus - Sustainable Projects Manager

Theresa joined DEAC in 2010, to help us develop new partnerships and projects. She sits on the Dorset Energy Group which is responsible for implementing the sub-regional Renewable Energy Strategy and Action Plan. 
Theresa, an experienced project manager, has been an environmental campaigner for twenty years and has a keen interest in renewable and sustainable energy.

Direct Dial: (01202) 307413 

Email:           theresa@deac.co.uk

Martin Samuels - Energy Adviser

Martin joined DEAC in 2008 and is currently helping to run the Landlord projects and to support Poole Borough Council with the Biomass boiler project. 

Martin has considerable technical expertise and was Private Sector Housing Standards Officer at Poole Borough Council for 18 years. Previously Martin was an architectural assistant at the Borough. Martin is a qualified BIAT Architectural Assistant. Martin worked on many projects and grant assistance schemes during his time at Poole Borough Council.

Direct Dial: (01202) 307417

Email:          martin@deac.co.uk

Other Staff

We also have two other members of staff in the office Austin Sheppard and Sue Hewitt who are front line telephone operatives, and are always busy dealing with enquiries from the general public. In addition we have around 20 volunteers, see the volunteers page for more details.