Speak Carbon is a Platinum Carbon Literate Organisation. This accreditation is the highest level awarded by the Carbon Literacy Project. Reaching the required standard was demonstrated by quality of training provided and breadth of experience offered across multiple sectors, along with of support for other organisations’ climate awareness projects.

All our trainers are qualified Carbon Literacy Trainers, or working towards achieving this standard via our Training Professionals programme.

Core team

Pete Watkins (he/him) – Carbon Literacy for “interested” organisations and citizens

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.

Alison Tomlin (she/her) – Communities and educational institutions

Alison Tomlin is the Founder and Director of Oak Tree Sustainable Living Centre, a community space offering training and information on the climate crisis, low-impact living and self-sufficiency.

She is passionate about engaging diverse communities with the climate crisis and building connections with like-minded organisations and individuals.

Alison is currently working to promote carbon literacy in communities and educational institutions in order to develop and deliver training relevant to these settings.

Michelle Marks  (she/her) – food industry and organisations

Michelle is the founder of Coral Mountain, a Sustainability Consultancy based in Leeds. She works with businesses to raise awareness of their environmental impacts, providing clients’ teams with the knowledge, inspiration and methodology to make sustainable choices. 

Michelle’s special interest is food waste and sustainable food, as what we eat contributes over a fifth of humanity’s carbon emissions. Her Carbon Literacy training encompasses the whole of the farm-to-fork food system.

She is passionate about sharing the message that we all have a role to play in averting runaway climate change and cumulatively, individuals’ actions add up to significant carbon savings.

Michelle has a BA in Food and Accommodation Management, is a Chartered Marketer and Practitioner Member of IEMA.

Ned Gatenby  (he/they) – Train the Trainer Courses

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.

Freelance trainers

Tom de Simone (he/him)

Tom is a professional web developer and Chair of York Community Energy, helping to decarbonise York through home insulation and community-owned solar panels.

His background is in technology, but he is always keen to learn more about the world, and has become increasingly concerned about protecting it for future generations. This has naturally led him to want to learn as much as possible about climate change, particularly around energy, and he is now interested in passing this knowledge on to others.

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.

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.

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 and businesses.

Susanne 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.