Here to help you on your path to net zero

Chris Knight

CEO

The early part of Chris’s career was spent in the pursuit of goals that, in retrospect, were destructive and meaningless – working for fast-moving consumer goods companies, driving sales to record levels. It was consumption at the expense of the planet.

Chris’s primary drive now is helping clients achieve net zero as swiftly and sustainably as possible.

In 2011, he founded CILS – to deliver energy efficiency through LED lighting solutions. Led by his passion for the environment, he’s always looking for better technology-driven solutions.

And with that in mind, he’s taken CILS from a start-up to one of the foremost energy solutions providers. He’s built strong relationships with clients and suppliers alike. CILS is a trusted delivery partner of Siemens smart technology in the UK and Europe.

Though he loves ‘tech for good’ – you’re unlikely to find him on any social media. You’re more likely to find him out, in the natural environment, paddling around in his kayak!

Nathan Kedem

Solution Design, Delivery & Vision

Nathan joined CILS from Siemens, where he held the role of Head of Design & Solutions. He’s a visionary.

He cares passionately about the environment, his family, his moonlight-coloured dog Luna, and what he can do to turn wasted energy into smart savings.

His eagle eyes and engineering training do not accept compromise; he is our corporate conscience. His role is to optimise solutions – not for our bottom line –for the sake of our clients and collective future.

You can google his vast credentials of CMVP, CEM, BSC Electrical & Electronics Engineering, CIBSE member, LCEA, Lead ESOS Auditor. Or check him out on Linkedin.

Matt Bond

Director of Operations

Matt is CILS Director of Operations. Prior to joining us, he held senior posts at several companies, including the BRE.

His primary skill set is delivering complex projects, on time, and on budget, with minimal stress. With a background in mountain rescue, he knows how to keep a cool head.

In his spare time, Matt raises a young family of future engineering specialists and enjoys country living.

Lucie Knight

Operations Management

Lucie has successfully managed the team to deliver outstanding results for over a decade. The average measured lighting energy reduction has been more than 90% on her watch.

Her calm resourcefulness is invaluable.

Though she goes by the nickname Lucie, her given name is Lucinda. It means ‘to illuminate.’ If you’ve ever met her, you know the room just lights up when she’s around.

Becki Sheath

Office & Finance Administration

Becki joined CILS after several years of helping small businesses with various administration and book-keeping tasks.

She takes immense pride in her role in supporting CILS mission to save carbon. After all, ensuring all financial records are kept on top of is crucial to keep the business going.

She enjoys walking her rottie Lila, and spending quality time with her other half, family, and friends.

Clare Speirs

Office Management

Clare started her career in retail, then crossed over to training and apprenticeships with Babcock. After having her beautiful children, she moved into higher education before switching to sustainability and energy efficient building solutions, by joining us.

Clare’s ability to juggle multiple projects and people effortlessly is invaluable. She’s an absolute wonder when it comes to making our projects run smoothly.

Susan Wakefield

Office Administration

Susan is a born organiser and administrator. Her vast experience in multiple fields – Civil Service, background security screening, retail management, administration – is a great asset. For example, she worked for Nielsen setting up the Nielsen Book Awards. And mingled at book launches and dinners with the Great and the Good. Susan also organised the Box Office for school productions.

She spends her downtime with her husband visiting historical sites, treasure-hunting in second-hand and antique shops, sewing, reading, or watching old movies.

Dave Stretch

Business Development

Dave spent his early years in telecoms, but for over a decade, he’s been helping organisations reduce energy consumption and providing performance and carbon efficiency reports; and more specifically, building management systems… helping clients analyse their buildings’ performance.

For Dave, CILS is the final piece of the jigsaw – providing intelligent IoT-enabled smart building solutions as a service.

Dave is also a closet tree hugger.

Kelly Meiessaar

Marketing & Sales

Kelly is originally from an Estonian fairy forest. She’s lived in few different corners of the world and can speak several languages – including Mandarin.

Her passion for social justice and the environment led her to leave the homeless charity – Shelter, to join CILS. She strongly believes that unless we minimise the impact of climate change, homelessness could prove overwhelming, on a global scale.

Her aspiration is to live up to her ‘net zero fairy’ status and inspire others do their part.

Arash Rahimi

CAD & Lighting Design

Arash has 10+ years experience in CAD design. He’s dedicated to making our buildings more sustainable. Working with CILS, he feels that he’s finally part of a team who have the same vision as him.

Sketchup, ‎DIALux and Lumion are just a few of the software programmes where his expertise is unrivalled.

Atena Mayahi

CAD & Lighting Design

Atena is a qualified Architect and trained Interior Designer. At CILS, she’s putting her multiple talents to the best possible use – primarily creating CAD & smart lighting designs that make buildings intelligent and environmentally conscious.

Sustainable architecture and design have always been her passion. She joined our team,keen to explore smart technology making buildings safer, more efficient and sustainable.

She’s not only a brilliant designer, but also an academic; she’s previously lectured in Architecture at Portsmouth Uni and Iran. And she’s a great photographer.

Laura Buckland

CAD & Lighting Design

Since Laura graduated from Interior Architecture and Design, she’s been committed to designing the best quality, most compliant and least wasteful lighting solutions out there.

She’s been in the industry for over five years, with expertise in everything from architectural lighting to the technical build of the products.

Laura joined CILS to focus on IoT and lighting. Her designs are integral to maximising building efficiency. All contributing to something she’s very passionate about – giving her young family the best possible future.

James Polhill

Electrical Operations

James is our Head of Electrical. He’s an exceptional electrical engineer and organiser.

Prior to joining CILS, he was responsible for the FM contract for 185 sites, with a staff of 35 engineers.

His role at CILS is to ensure quality and drive success.

Ash Keldon

Survey Lead & Site Project Management

Ash is our Lead Surveyor and Senior Site Project Manager and has been with CILS from the very beginning. He’s also an SMSTS qualified electrician.

He has pushed some of our most impressive projects over the line. The University of Antwerp, the Gala Theatre in Durham, Bristol and North Somerset Courts – to name just a few of his favourites.

Ash is also an outstanding smart building systems Commissioning Engineer and Surveyor. He’s got eagle eyes, able to identify all types of light fittings and has an amazing knack of remembering the minutest details of each survey… even years later.

His passion for his career is only matched by his passion to travel the world, learning about different cultures, and eating delicious food, wherever he goes.

Mykyta Yeromenko

IoT Systems Engineering

Mykyta left the education sector to join CILS. He brought with him a level of expertise in IT and tech, that most people can only dream about.

This makes him an excellent lead for commissioning and fine-tuning new smart lighting systems.

He’s also our dedicated laser-scan operator during surveys, creating a ‘digital twin’ of our clients’ buildings, which gives our design team detailed cloud-point data to create the best and most energy-efficient lighting systems.
He is also the office wizard who has built all our designers’ super-computers.

Gary Appleton

Lighting & IoT Installation

Gary joined CILS after spending 17 years with the Highways, responding to emergency callouts, and doing utility surveying and maintenance at commercial and industrial sites.

Since joining us, Gary has found fulfilment. He’s excited to have seen the small team’s hard work pay off and the company grow into what it is today.

Paul Coverley

Site Project Management

As a qualified electrician, Paul has vast experience in electrical works.

He’s been with large companies such as Haden Young and is proud of the many big jobs he’s been involved with – the Commonwealth stadium in Manchester, Capenhurst Nuclear Power Station, UK hospitals. With Imtech Engineering Services, he worked on the high-rise projects in the centre of Manchester. He is now enjoying being part of a smaller, more tight-knit and dedicated team.

Paul’s passions are shared, first and foremost, with his family. Football, dancing around with the kids; just general, quality time spent with his family are cherished.

And this is also one of the reasons he joined CILS; he considers our shared goal of saving energy crucial, especially for our next generation.

Matt Hyde

Site Coordination

Before joining CILS, Matt was learning how to excel as a chef. But he has always had a passion for technology, the internet and how things work. IoT is his latest.

He’s taken a real interest in the ways we can cut our carbon emissions and views his joining us, as an atonement for past employment in construction and operating plant machinery; still an extremely fossil fuel dependent industry and source of pollution.

Matt believes we need to do better, become more environmentally conscious, in every industry. Only then, will we have a future to look forward to …

Tom Guest

Site Project Management