Cheryl Hiles, Director – Energy Capital, West Midlands Combined Authority

Cheryl is responsible for the West Midlands Regional Energy Strategy and partnering with Central Government to deliver net zero ambitions through devolution, ensuring the region has the necessary tools, powers and resources to realise its inclusive growth ambitions.Cheryl leads the unique Energy Capital partnership, which draws together the public, private and third sectors, to inspire change and channel investment to achieve a just energy transition. She has developed a strong regional energy governance structure; is working hard with partners to reduce investment risk to deliver local energy and net zero project portfolios; and has drawn significant volumes of funding into the region, whilst innovating to drive system change.The West Midlands is recognised as a trailblazer in smart energy systems, having developed a sound evidence base that demonstrates the value of whole system, regional energy planning and delivery. Cheryl is keen to ensure the value of smart energy systems and flexibility is harnessed on our journey to clean power by 2030, to spread the risks and benefits of the net zero energy transition more equitably. Her team is delivering whole system solutions through a place-based approach, seeking to prove this can be scaled to enable growth, achieve carbon emission reductions, reduce fuel poverty and deliver wider system and community benefits.Cheryl is a founding director of Communities for Renewables CIC, which develops and operates community owned renewable energy assets and spent the majority of her 24 year career at Regen, where she developed her passion to champion democratic, decentralised, digitalised and decarbonised energy system solutions.