Our Education Team

Wendy Litherland

Head of Education

Having been involved as an educational advisor almost since the start, Wendy formally joined us in 2024. She has twenty-five years’ science teaching experience, largely focusing on working in sustainability, and leading the award-winning Eco Group, established in 2007. Wendy’s been central in working with our schools and developing the mobile app. Since 2009, Wendy’s also project managed the Sustainability Learning Conference; the largest and longest-running of its kind. When not motivating children or explaining kW h, she still enjoys netball, daily runs with her dogs or pottering in the polytunnel.

Danielle Parker

Community & Education Development Manager

Danielle joined the team in 2022 after 12 years of teaching in the UK and beyond, as far as South Korea and Ecuador. Danielle’s activist background and skills as a connector, collaborating with others to achieve a shared purpose, means she’s a brilliant person to build teams and make things happen. She is also an approved and trained Climate Ambassador. Based in Derby, Danielle finds peace and joy in practicing yoga, dancing, listening to music, singing, and travelling whenever she can.

Alison Ashworth

Environmental Science Education Intern

Ally is an Environmental Science student at Lancaster University, working with our education team on a placement year. Her experience covers the environmental sector, including creating Cape Verde’s first green turtle database for the Darwin200 Project and a coordinating documentary series. Ally has spoken at the NorthWest Eco Sustainability Conference and has volunteered for the Wildlife Trust. She enjoys rowing and attending concerts.

Maryan Vincent

Creative Designer

Maryan joined Solar for Schools in 2023, bringing her expertise in graphic design and art direction. She holds a Master's in Design from Northumbria University, Newcastle. In addition to her work, Maryan founded India's first dance crew specialising in Afro-Caribbean dance styles. Outside of her creative pursuits, she has a deep love for dogs, travel, and exploring global food cultures.

Hannah Fishburn

Educator

Hannah is a Senior Project Officer at OASES, with specialisms in sustainability education, forest bathing, teacher training and outdoor learning. After qualifying as a primary teacher and receiving her masters in outdoor and experiential learning, Hannah graduated from the 2050 Climate Young Leaders Development Programme and joined OASES in 2018. Since then she has enjoyed working with children and young people in schools across the North East of England on a variety of outdoor and sustainability projects.

Henry Greenwood

Educator

Henry was a secondary maths teacher who developed the role of sustainability coordinator at his school before using that experience to set up Green Schools Project in 2015. The organisation runs the Zero Carbon Schools programme and has worked with hundreds of schools around the country, supporting them to embed climate education and action into the way they educate and function.

Richard Smith

Educator

Richard is Director and techie side of School Energy Efficiency CIC. He has done over 250 energy audits with schools around the country and engaged with thousands of students about energy, climate change and sustainability. He is also a primary school Chair of Governors and Trustee of primary school MAT in the East Midlands.

James Veness

Educator

With over 30 years of experience in Education, James still loves working with students and hopes to inspire them to make the most of opportunities, create positive change and be mindful of the amazing planet on which we all live. As a co-founder of School Energy Efficiency he helps schools across the country reduce their carbon emissions, help the planet, and save money. James has also been a member of Robert Swan's 2041 Team on 3 International Antarctic Expeditions.

Andy Bodycombe

Freelance Educator

Andy has over 20 years of experience in the UK solar market including a 7 year stint as Head of Project Management at Solarcentury. His background in Building Integrated PV (BIPV) and his experience in environmental education in the UK (EcoACTIVE) and Africa (SolarAid) has drawn him to Solar for Schools. He is passionate about sustainability and the role that renewable energy can play in addressing the climate and ecological crisis. Based in Norwich, Andy loves walking, cycling and keeping active as an environmental campaigner.

Denise Brown

Freelance Educator

Denise joined the team as an Educator in 2024. From a youth and education background, Denise has worked with young people for over a decade and loves spreading enthusiasm and curiosity to her audiences. In 2018, driven by her passion to help others to thrive, Denise set up her own social enterprise, 4YoungMinds, where she empowers young people to take control of their wellbeing and reach their full potential through workshops and mentoring. Denise is an animal lover, avid environmentalist and enjoys travelling and a good series binge.

Martin Foulkes

Freelance Educator

Martin has been leading geography departments in secondary schools for 20 years, developing engaging curriculum and securing good GCSE results. He currently teaches A-level students part-time at Co-op Academies in Manchester and coordinates the Young Green Briton Challenge in the north west. Understands all aspects of sustainability, from education to operations!

Karen Myers

Freelance Educator

Coming from an educational background, Karen has spent the past few years working as a supply teacher across many primary schools. Her City and Guilds qualification in Horticulture also underpins a love of nature and the environment. In her spare time, Karen co-runs her community Repair Café and works with her council to promote pollinator pathways across the borough. She is also a Trustee for her local community gardening group. A keen cyclist, Karen can often to be found on towpaths in London and loves interrailing around Europe.

Richard Spencer

Educator

Richard Spencer brings over 25 years of experience as a secondary school Geography teacher, alongside a strong track record in leadership roles including Head of Humanities and Assistant Head. He is also the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Manager and leads a Land-Based Studies course, reflecting his commitment to outdoor learning and student development beyond the classroom. Richard has played a key role in driving his school’s sustainability journey, most recently leading the development of its Climate Action Plan. Passionate about both education and the environment, he enjoys spending time participating in and watching sport. A keen runner, he can often be found on the mountain trails of the Lake District, and has a love for travel, with recent visits to Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Chris Walton

Educator

Chris Walton is a qualified electrician with a strong foundation in both technical practice and education. Alongside his work as an electrician, Chris is also an educator, musician, and music teacher, bringing a creative and interdisciplinary approach to his work. Driven by curiosity and a practical mindset, he has a natural inclination for problem-solving; particularly when it comes to challenges that deliver meaningful benefits for the environment and society. His passion for sustainability and hands-on learning aligns closely with the mission of empowering future generations through real-world energy solutions.

Mark Silver

Educator

Mark Silver is an ecologist with extensive experience across environmental projects, specialising in trees and agriculture. He has contributed at a strategic level as a member of the advisory board for the Environment Agency and has been involved in initiatives such as the Forest of Bradford project. Mark lives on an upland farm where he actively promotes sustainable living, integrating solar energy, air source heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging alongside a range of environmental initiatives, including woodland planting and the creation of wildflower meadows. He also manages a group of almshouses, supporting the provision of social housing for elderly members of the local community. Outside of his professional work, Mark has a keen interest in art history and enjoys taking part in Parkrun.