Speak Carbon is a collective of passionate trainers and facilitators working with organisations and citizens across the country to accelerate action on climate.
Our collective members have a broad range of experience from different professional sectors. Drawing from this huge pool of knowledge, we work across industries developing and delivering bespoke climate learning tailored to each different organisation.
Have a look through our bios below to get to know us a little better.
Alison Tomlin (she/her)
Alison Tomlin uses her 14 years of experience in business management to run operations at Speak Carbon.
In education, Alison believes climate change should be part of the national curriculum. Developing a range of flexible climate learning courses for children of all ages allows Alison to develop relationships with schools and teachers and bring climate learning to the classroom.
Working closely with our law sector clients, Alison has written several bespoke courses and is continually developing new ways to engage law firms and their stakeholders on climate.
John Sutton
John Sutton is a teacher, blogger and ageing triathlete. He builds blogs for schools and currently runs an online creative writing project for young children. He has been interested in environmental issues all his life.
Deciding to take some practical steps towards environmental activism he became a Carbon Literacy Trainer with Speak Carbon and has delivered courses to Local Authorities, businesses, school leaders and the sports sector.
Joey Coombs
Joey has worked with Buckinghamshire Council as a Sustainability Officer delivering low carbon programmes through Eco Schools and the Carbon Trust and is an associate at REAL Sustainability. She has an MSc in Environmental Assessment and Management.
As a Carbon Literacy trainer, Joey is particularly interested in sharing the knowledge with Local Authorities, Schools and Communities. She sees Carbon Literacy as an accessible and vital tool in untangling the complexities of Climate Change, leading to widespread low carbon behaviour change.
Ned Gatenby (he/they)
Born & raised in Harrogate, Ned knows how special Yorkshire is. His interest in climate change has been woven into his education; BSc Environmental Management & Sustainability from Manchester Metropolitan University, and MSc Sustainability, Culture & Development from Durham University. Ned’s experience in designing & delivering Carbon Literacy to different audiences has him well placed to support education, outreach & training in any sector.
Pete Watkins
After running a successful coffee business for 12 years, Pete and his family moved to York. With the chance to take on a new challenge, he decided the Climate Emergency was one which he could not ignore.
While undertaking a MSc in Sustainability & Behaviour Change at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Pete delivers online Carbon Literacy training. His next ambition is to use the Speak Carbon project to deliver Carbon Literacy training across Yorkshire – in an effort to become the UK’s first Carbon Literate County.
Sarah Coppack
Sarah is a geographer at heart. Motivated by wanting to leave a liveable planet for future generations, including her own children, Sarah completed Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps training during lockdown.
She feels this work is necessary as there is a sense of urgency to bring about change. Sarah’s own Carbon Literacy pledge was to take the training to her own local council and is pleased to have achieved that, with the skills developed via Speak Carbon.
Susanne Finlay-Bearblock
Susanne is an avid advocate for getting stuck in and runs Forest Schools and Schools Sustainability workshops.
Her enthusiasm is backed up with knowledge, with an MSc in Sustainability Behaviour Change and Social Engagements.
Susanne brings a wealth of experience in Carbon Literacy training from multiple sectors.