Our Senior Team

Darren Williams

Chief Executive

After joining the UK utility company SWALEC as a graduate electrical engineer, Darren began working in the company’s generation business in 1992 where he was responsible for the development of wind, biomass and hydro projects. In 1996 Darren left SWALEC to help found Energy Power Resources (EPR) and then in 2002 became one of the founding directors of Eco2 Limited. Darren’s core expertise is in the delivery of the company’s renewable projects, in particular the delivery of the funding of both debt and equity and he has overseen the delivery of over 280 MW of generating capacity spread across wind, landfill gas and six biomass projects, with a total funding in excess of £1bn.

As well as the delivery of the development pipeline, Darren is now focused on leading the growth of Eco2’s asset management business. Eco2 already manages a portfolio of assets including wind and biomass for a number of high-profile clients. The portfolio has a combined capacity of over 217MW and the management includes the oversight of 1.6 million tonnes of biomass each year.

In 2020, Darren was elected as the Chair of Biomass UK, putting to use his experience in establishing Eco2 as the UK’s leader in biomass development and asset management services.

Dr Andrew Toft

Chief Operations Officer

Andrew joined Eco2 Ltd in 2003. He initially managed the implementation of the company’s landfill gas portfolio, comprising four sites with a combined potential capacity of nearly 11 MWe, but later returned to the biomass fold. He led the procurement process for the Western Wood Energy Project, and followed this by securing planning permission for Eco2’s straw project in Sleaford. Following Sleaford, Andrew went on to manage the procurement of turnkey and operating contracts for four other power stations: Brigg, Snetterton, Margam and Port Clarence. He also played a key part in securing the finance for these projects.

More recently, he has focused on delivering asset management services for those plants that are operating across the portfolio. Andrew directs a team of project engineers, fuel managers, transport managers and administrators that ensure reliable and cost-effective supply.

Andrew completed a PhD from Birmingham’s Aston University in which he studied the economics of generating electricity from biomass using various thermal technologies. He followed this by developing a range of biomass and ‘energy from waste’ projects at Energy Power Resources. Andrew moved to Eco2 in 2003 to manage the landfill gas portfolio and now oversees the development of Eco2’s UK Biomass portfolio.

Danielle Rook

Head of Finance

Danielle has worked within the Renewables industry since 2008. She has worked with projects through development, construction, operations and sale of asset. She has operational experience of FiT and ROC accredited Wind, Solar, Biomass and Landfill Gas assets and she has also been involved with a Tidal technology R&D project, supported by WEFO grants.

Danielle is a qualified accountant with ACCA, and currently works as Head of Finance within the Asset Management arm of Eco2, overseeing the Finance Team and ensuring robust processes and quality reporting to clients.

Danielle has provided Company Secretarial duties for the Eco2 group since 2018, maintaining good Corporate Governance within the companies. She also has financial experience working within customer facing retail industries, including electricity and water supply, telecoms and HR services.

Dafydd Williams

Commercial Director

Dafydd graduated from Swansea University with a Masters Degree in Economics.

Dafydd joined Eco2 in 2002, initially working on a number of wind farm planning applications before leading the successful project financing of the Mains of Hatton Wind Farm and Bogenlea Project. Since 2008 Dafydd has managed a number of biomass projects in the Eco2 portfolio and was an integral part of the team that financed the Brigg, Margam and Port Clarence Biomass Projects. More recently Dafydd has been overseeing the wind asset management team.

Thomas Minter

Thomas’ experience extends across all stages of anaerobic digestion plant development, from planning and design, through installation and operations, to operational optimisation and innovation. Over the past 11 years Thomas developed, managed and operated the Bore Hill Farm Biodigestor known as Malaby Biogas Ltd.

Thomas is actively engaged in the industry currently holding various management and advisory board positions with the UK Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) and the World Biogas Association (WBA) in addition to being a member of the Renewable Energy Association’s (REA) Green Gas Forum and Digestate Working Group, the International Energy Association’s Task 37 biogas group. He is a member of the Canadian Biogas Association (CBA), American Biogas Council (ABC) and the Global Methane Initiative (GMI).

Mark Bull

Technical Services Director

Mark is a time served chartered engineer and chartered environmentalist with 30 years’ experience in a variety of industry sectors, including working as an expert witness during arbitration cases. Mark is experienced in energy from waste, biomass and coal fired power generation and has also worked in wind power, renewable energy, manufacturing, steelmaking, construction and asset and maintenance management.

Mark has taken ‘new-build’ energy from waste facilities through construction, commissioning and into an operational phase along with budget preparation and implementation of all associated systems and processes. Mark is experienced in maintaining, operating and managing multiple assets and regions.

Emily Webb

HR Manager

Emily is a multi-award-winning, values driven HR Professional with experience in the tech, marketing, education and healthcare sectors. Originally from the East Midlands, Emily attended University in London before settling into a HR career in Cardiff 12 years ago. Emily is a passionate people professional and an active member of the HR community in South Wales. Emily’s specialisms are in developing positive workplace culture and change management.

Sue Beynon

Sue joined Eco2 in March 2007 as Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive.  Sue also supports the wider senior team and manages the day to day running of the office environment at EMSL.

After obtaining a Business and Secretarial Diploma from Coleg Gwent, Sue’s career started with Welsh energy utility South Wales Electricity (SWALEC) in 1987.  Sue spent 13 years in the electricity industry working within the Personnel and Network Services areas in a PA role.  Sue moved to the law firm Eversheds LLP in 2006 working as PA to a Senior Partner within the Banking and Finance Division based in Cardiff.

Stephen Burns

Director

Stephen joined Palisade Real Assets as the founding CEO in 2021.  Stephen is a member of the Palisade Real Assets Board of Directors and is responsible for the day to day running of the business.

Stephen has over 20 years’ experience in real assets and infrastructure.  His experience encompasses transaction origination and execution, asset management and business development.

Immediately prior to joining Palisade Real Assets, Stephen was a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Real Assets team at NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp).  Prior to TCorp, Stephen was Head of Strategic Investment Capital and Private Equity, AsiaPac/EMEA at Barings for three and a half years, and spent 14 years at Whitehelm Capital where he was Head of Europe and Americas and a member of the Investment and Management Committees.  Prior to these roles, Stephen worked in research roles for ANZ Investments and the Australian Department of Finance and Administration.

Stephen holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Finance from the Australian National University, a graduate diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from FINSIA and is a graduate of the UK Institute of Company Directors.  Stephen is a member of the CFA Institute.

Digby Beaumont

Director

Digby joined Palisades Real Assets as Head of Investments in 2021. Digby relocated with his family from New York to Sydney in 2021.

Digby has over 18 years’ experience originating and executing infrastructure and real asset investments in North America and Australia. His experience encompasses transaction origination and execution, asset management and business development.

Digby is currently a Partner and Co-founder of RBP Partners, LLC, a North American based private investment firm focused on providing acceleration capital to infrastructure and real asset platforms. With a specific focus on energy transition and digital infrastructure thematics.

Digby is currently Non-Executive Director of esVolta, LP, a leading energy storage developer, owner and operator based in California.

Prior to forming RBP Partners, LLC, Digby was Head of North America at Blue Sky Alternative Investments, LLC, and before that a founding member of AMP Capital’s North American infrastructure business with responsibility for originating and executing infrastructure investments across the Americas. Digby also previously worked for Whitehelm Capital in Sydney and New York and Allco finance group and EY in Sydney.

Prior to beginning his investment career Digby played professional rugby union with the Brumbies.

Digby has a Master and Bachelor of Commerce (accounting, finance & economics) from the University of Sydney and a graduate diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from FINSIA.

Annika Li

Annika joined Palisade Real Assets in August 2021, with a focus on asset acquisition and management.

Immediately prior to joining Palisade, Annika was a Senior Analyst with NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp) focused on the origination, execution and asset management of infrastructure and real assets investments.  Her experience spans across digital infrastructure, renewables, airports and utilities in addition to adjacencies in private markets.

Before joining TCorp, Annika was an Equities Analyst at Morgan Stanley leading and assisting coverage in the Transport, Infrastructure and Utilities team.  Annika also spent four years at National Australia Bank, focusing on debt financing and restructuring.

Annika holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and is admitted as a Solicitor in New South Wales.