Sustainability Technical Lead profile – Katie Clemence-Jackson
17 October 2023
Role: Sustainability Engagement Lead
Office: London
At QODA, we have a dedicated team of sustainability experts who work with design teams and industry leaders to provide design detail, guidance, and professional expertise. Over the next few weeks we’ll be introducing each of our leads.
First up is our Sustainability Engagement Lead & Associate, Katie Clemence-Jackson. Read on to learn more about how she became a sustainability consultant, what her role at QODA involves, and a project that has inspired her.
What is your background?
After graduating with a Master’s in Civil Engineering, I started my career by sidestepping into mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering. During my M&E years, I became more and more interested in sustainability and the puzzle of working out how to run projects to achieve sustainable outcomes. Ultimately, I moved away from MEP to dedicate my full attention to sustainability, with a particular interest in achieving net zero carbon. I find that my M&E background serves me extremely well in understanding how buildings work and how people interact with them.
What do you do at QODA?
My role spans many aspects of sustainability work at QODA. I work with our team to structure our sustainability services to best serve our clients, and to secure our place as leaders in sustainability and net zero carbon. On projects, I take part in early-stage discussions to gain a deep understanding of the client’s ambitions and support the team to provide the work needed to achieve these goals.
“I find the breadth of our industry fascinating and am constantly seeking to learn more about others’ perspectives on how to achieve sustainable development”
To that end, I attend external industry events and am always keen to talk to collaborators and clients about their progress, and to share experience and knowledge.
At QODA, we understand that our business needs to reflect our sustainability ambitions. I am leading the development of a QODA Climate Action Plan as part of our work towards securing a B Corp Certification.
I am currently seconded part-time to the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UK NZCBS) as the Technical Project Manager. I manage the delivery of the Standard, working with leading industry experts from across the built environment. This is a very challenging and rewarding role, and I’m very grateful for QODA’s support to do this alongside my main portfolio of work.
What is one project that has inspired you, and why?
I have been involved in the Agar Grove Estate Regeneration project for many years. In my previous role, I provided M&E and Passivhaus design and site monitoring. I also led on carrying out post-occupancy evaluation on the first two completed phases.
What I like so much about this project is Camden’s clear commitment to improving people’s lives through the redevelopment of the site. The phasing of the scheme was planned to minimise the need for residents to be decanted from their homes during construction. Agar Grove has a strong community, who were able to stay together and move straight into their new homes. Passivhaus Certification was pursued to make meaningful reductions to resident energy bills. Camden has since reported that bills were reduced by up to 70% in the new homes in-use. It is gratifying to work on a project where the result so clearly reflects the vision, and where evidence can prove that sustainable (and human-centric) outcomes have been achieved. QODA are providing Passivhaus consultancy to the Contractor for ongoing stages, so I will continue to track the positive impact of this project.
Tell us something about your life outside QODA
Outside work I am regularly involved in community theatre productions, sometimes on stage, sometimes as a stage manager, sometimes as a director! It’s fun to do something completely different in my free time, and I get to meet all sorts of wonderful people in my local community.