MEET THE TEAM

The ESA’s strength lies in harnessing the depth of collective industry expertise that exists across our membership. Together, we are the Environmental Services Association.

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With more than a hundred members, the Environmental Services Association draws on a huge depth and breadth of expertise to ensure policy, regulation and standards reflect best practice and achieve the best triple bottom line outcomes

The ESA is governed by its board of directors, selected from across our membership, and our day-to-day work is carried out by numerous topic-specific working groups working alongside our full-time Executive Team of policy experts.

Executive team

Jacob Hayler - Executive Director

Jacob Hayler

Executive Director​

Jacob leads the ESA and is responsible for strategy and operations. In his role as Executive Director, working with and reporting to the ESA’s Board of Directors, Jacob sets and oversees delivery against the ESA’s strategic priorities.

Sam Corp - Head of Regulation

Sam Corp

Head of Regulation​

Sam leads on a wide range of regulatory and policy areas within ESA, including the sectors’ role in tackling waste crime, environmental permitting, the management of hazardous waste and the regulation of landfill.

Charlotte Rule – Head of Climate and Energy Policy

Charlotte Rule

Head of Climate and Energy Policy​

Charlotte is responsible for policy relating to the ESA’s Net-Zero commitments and
our members’ Energy from Waste (EfW) infrastructure.

Emilia Peters

Environment and Social Governance Policy Officer​

As the ESA’s ESG Policy Officer, Emilia leads the Association’s policy development across environmental and social issues affecting the recycling and waste management industry.

Jacob Hayler - Executive Director

Jacob Hayler

Executive Director

Jacob leads the ESA and is responsible for strategy and operations. In his role as Executive Director, working with and reporting to the ESA’s Board of Directors, Jacob sets and oversees delivery against the ESA’s strategic priorities.

Sam Corp - Head of Regulation

Sam Corp

Head of Regulation

Sam leads on a wide range of regulatory and policy areas within ESA, including the sectors’ role in tackling waste crime, environmental permitting, the management of hazardous waste and the regulation of landfill.

Charlotte Rule – Head of Climate and Energy Policy

Charlotte Rule

Head of Climate and Energy Policy

Charlotte is responsible for policy relating to the ESA’s Net-Zero commitments and our members’ Energy from Waste (EfW) infrastructure.

Emilia Peters

Environmental, Social, & Governance Policy Officer

As the ESA's ESG Policy Officer, Emilia leads the Association’s policy development across environmental and social issues affecting the recycling and waste management industry. Emilia is the principal ESA policy contact for biodiversity, social value, EDI, modern slavery and carbon reporting for ESA Members.

Stephen Freeland - Policy Advisor / SESA Co-ordinator

Stephen Freeland

Policy Advisor

Stephen leads on matters related to Health & Safety (H&S) and Planning for the ESA. Additionally, Stephen also leads the Scottish Environmental Services Association (ESA) – coordinating the association’s engagement with Scottish Government, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and Zero Waste Scotland, among other bodies across the devolved administration.

Patrick_Brighty

Patrick Brighty

Head of Recycling Policy

Patrick is responsible for ESA policy issues relating to dry recyclables, biowaste and waste electricals (WEEE).

Toni Lockhart

Toni Lockhart

Membership Communications and Events Manager

Toni is the principal point of contact for all new and prospective ESA members and is responsible for the ESA’s member communications – including the member’s area, coordination of the ESA’s weekly member briefing bulletin and the ESA’s social media channels.

Anita_McCarthy Headshot

Anita McCarthy

Office Manager

Anita manages the day-to-day running of ESA’s office in the heart of Belgravia, London, conveniently located next to Victoria station. Anita is the principle point of contact for members who wish to visit the ESA office or book our large boardroom- style meeting room, complete with large screen virtual conferencing technology.

Advisors

Ben Johnson – Advisor

Ben Johnson

Advisor

Ben is a multi-disciplinary communications professional providing communications programme management, marketing communications services and public relations consultancy to businesses and organisations involved in the circular economy.

Mat_Crocker headshot

Mat Crocker

Advisor

Mat has over 35 years’ experience in the waste and resources sector, 27 of which were with the Environment Agency where he held multiple senior roles. Mat’s last role at the EA was Deputy Director of Waste and Illegals.

Board Members

Michael_Topham

Michael Topham

ESA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Biffa

Michael was appointed ESA Chair in November 2023. He was appointed Biffa CEO in September 2018, having previously held the role of Chief Financial Officer from 2013. He was appointed to the board of Biffa in August 2016.

Neil Grundon – ESA Treasurer and Deputy Chairman, Grundon

Neil Grundon

ESA Treasurer and Deputy Chairman, Grundon

Neil began working for Grundon Waste Management in 1992. He considers ongoing professional development essential to ensure the company’s future growth and continuity and works to build shareholder value for Grundon through responsible innovation.

Gavin Graveson – Executive Vice-President, Veolia UK & Ireland

Gavin Graveson

Executive Vice-President, Veolia UK & Ireland

Gavin leads a 15,000 strong workforce positioned at the forefront of sustainable development and providing integrated waste, water and energy services.

John Scanlon – Chief Executive Officer, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK

John Scanlon

Chief Executive Officer, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK

John is responsible for driving forward the SUEZ group’s SUEZ 2030 vision in the UK and for SUEZ’s newly won contracts in Greater Manchester and Somerset.

Kevin Bradshaw – Chief Executive Officer, Viridor

Kevin Bradshaw

Chief Executive Officer, Viridor

Kevin joined Viridor in September 2020 and brings over 20 years of senior leadership experience to the company. He has previously served as CEO of Northgate plc, CEO of Wyevale Garden Centres and MD of AVIS Budget Group UK.

Steve Longdon – Group Chief Executive, FCC Environment

Steve Longdon

Group Chief Executive, FCC Environment

Brian McCabe – Group CEO, Beauparc Group

Brian McCabe

Group CEO, Beauparc Group

Brian joined Panda in 2005 as Managing Director, having held the role of Operations Director at a leading Irish PLC for 15 years prior to that. Appointed to the role of Beauparc Group CEO in 2019.

Dougie Sutherland – Chief Executive Officer, Cory

Dougie Sutherland

Chief Executive Officer, Cory

Dougie was appointed CEO of Cory Riverside Energy in April 2019, and brings more than 20 years of infrastructure experience working across both the public and private sectors, most recently on the board of multinational infrastructure provider Interserve.

Mike Maudsley – Chief Executive Officer, Enfinium

Mike Maudsley

Chief Executive Officer, Enfinium

Mike Maudsley joined enfinium as Chief Executive Officer in 2022. Mike has over 30 years of experience across the power and utility sector, most recently responsible for leading all operating assets at Drax plc. Prior to Drax, Mike spent six years in the Middle East with Engie.

Owen Michaelson – Chief Executive Officer, Encyclis

Owen Michaelson

Chief Executive Officer, Encyclis

Owen has a wide range of experience in the development of brownfield land, low carbon energy assets and waste infrastructure, As the Chief Executive of the Harworth Group he took over the stand-alone operations of Harworth Estates at the start of the restructuring of UK Coal in 2010.

Roger Morton – Managing Director for Technology and Innovation, EMR

Roger Morton

Managing Director for Technology and Innovation, EMR

Roger is a chartered chemical engineer. He has worked in the recycling sector for the past 20 years. He co-founded Axion Consulting and Axion Polymers in 2001, leading the design and operation of Axion’s advanced recycling facilities in Manchester.

Michael Hill – Chief Executive Officer, The Hills Group

Michael Hill

Chief Executive Officer, The Hills Group

Michael is the great grandson of Edward Hill, founder of the company. He joined the Hill family business in August 1994 after spending several years in Bristol working for the accountancy firm KPMG.

Andrew Elliot

Chief Operating Officer, Castle Environmental

Andrew joined Castle Environmental in April 1998 following the acquisition of the business by Hillbridge Investments Ltd and has been responsible for the transformation of the business driving the development of the specialist hazardous waste services the company now provides.

Bill Swan – Managing Director, Recorra

Bill Swan

Managing Director, Recorra

Bill is Managing Director of Recorra who specialises in providing complete recycling solutions to commercial real estate, education and healthcare sectors.