Archives: Management Profile

Ms Elena Schmidt

17 October 2019

Elena Schmidt

Elena leads the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) standards and policy unit. A crucial part of this work is building consensus in sustainability standards development in partnership with more than 100 organisations and companies from all sectors and all regions of the world.

Elena has 10 years of experience working with biomass, biofuel and biomaterialsustainability standards, greenhouse gas assessments and certification. Prior to the RSB, she worked for an international certification body, where she was responsible for innovation management and programmes related to biofuel sustainability certification, green electricity labels and carbon footprints.

She has also served as a technical advisor at the Alternative Fuels Task Force (AFTF) and Fuel Task Group at the International Civil Aviation Organization, and as a sustainability consultant. She regularly speaks at international conferences.

Elena has two master’s degrees in environmental and political sciences.

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Esa Heiskanen, Chief Officer Capital Projects

1 October 2019

Esa Heiskanen, Chief Officer Capital Projects

Esa joined Drax in September 2019 as Chief Officer Capital Projects.

He has over 25 years’ experience in the energy industry, and prior to joining Drax he was Director of Strategy, Market Development and Asset Performance for Centralised Generation at Engie.

He has extensive knowledge of project leadership of new build gas, co-generation, and nuclear power plants together with the associated infrastructure, engineering, licensing and supplier logistics, and has also led the establishment of a new energy company in Asia.

Appointment to the Executive Committee:

  • September 2019

John Baxter CBE, Independent Non-Executive Director

17 April 2019

Contribution and experience

John has over 45 years working across the nuclear, electricity, oil and gas sectors. John was previously at BP plc, most recently as Group Head of Engineering & Process Safety, prior to which he worked at the UK utility Powergen plc as Group Engineering Director, as well as roles as a UKAEA Board member and also as a nuclear submarine engineer officer. John was also previously a non-executive Director of Sellafield Ltd.

He is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of both the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. John was President of both the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and The Welding Institute.

John has broad and expert level experience in engineering, health and safety, and energy generation. John is passionate about people development, particularly advancing the opportunities for young people in STEM careers, including via apprenticeships. His dedication to charity work and fundraising to support young people, provides a depth of understanding during Board discussions on stakeholder engagement and culture matters. Also, having been born and brought up in Scotland he brings important insights to Drax on the local environment and culture.

Appointment to the Board:

April 2019

Board Committees:

  • Member of the Audit Committee
  • Member of the Nomination Committee

Penny Small, Chief Transformation Officer

5 November 2018

Penny Small, Group Generation Director

Penny has a wealth of experience in the energy industry, and has led major integration and transformation projects, including the integration of International Power and GDF Suez.

She was previously Director of Asset Optimisation and Digital at Engie and, prior to that, was Director of Strategy and Communications.

Appointment to the Executive Committee:

  • November 2018

Nicola Hodson, Independent Non-Executive Director

12 January 2018

Contribution and experience

As Chair of the Remuneration Committee Nicola brings to the role a wide range of experience of international business, government organisations, and dealing with a variety of stakeholders.

Nicola is currently Chair (formerly Chief Executive) of IBM UK and Ireland and Deputy President of TechUK. Previously she was Vice-President, Global Sales and Marketing, Field Transformation at Microsoft, Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft UK and previously held P&L and sales roles at Siemens, CSC (now DXC) and EY. Nicola is a Non-Executive Director of Beazley plc.

Nicola brings expert level technology knowledge, with her current working experience at the forefront of global organisations. She is also skilled in business and digital transformation, and sales. Nicola is committed to inclusivity and enabling people to realise their full potential, irrespective of their background.

Appointment to the Board:

January 2018

Board committees:

  • Member of the Audit Committee
  • Chair of the Remuneration Committee

External Appointments

  • IBM UK and Ireland (Chief Executive)
  • TechUK (Member of the Board)
  • Beazley plc (Non-Executive director)
  • Saltway Day Nursery Ltd (Member of the Board)

David Nussbaum, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director

1 August 2017

Contribution and experience

David holds a portfolio of Board appointments, including as Chair of International Alert and of the Joffe Trust.  He also serves as a member of the Board (‘Council’) of Chatham House, and of the International Budget Partnership; is President of the Advisory Council of Transparency International UK; and is a member of the Ethical Investment Advisory Group of the Church of England.

David’s executive career included being the Chief Executive of The Elders, of WWF-UK, and of Transparency International.  He was previously Finance Director and Deputy CEO of Oxfam, and CFO of Field Group plc.  In a non-executive capacity, David has been Chair of Anthesis Group, Deputy Chair of the International Integrated Reporting Council, Deputy Chair of Shared Interest Society, a non-executive director of Low Carbon Accelerator Limited, and Chair of Traidcraft plc.

David is a chartered accountant, and has a Masters in Theology from both Cambridge and Edinburgh universities, and a Masters in Finance from London Business School.

David’s extensive experience in international development and environmental matters, in addition to his prior experience as CFO of a UK listed industrial company, is of significant value to Drax and contributes to the Board’s discussions and understanding of the perspectives of and engagement undertaken with stakeholders.

Appointment to the Board: 

August 2017

Board Committees:

  • Member of the Audit Committee
  • Member of the Nomination Committee

External appointments:

  • International Alert (Chair)
  • Joffe Charitable Trust (Chair)
  • Chatham House (Member of the Board)
  • International Budget Partnership (Member of the Board)
  • Ethical Investment Advisory Group of the Church of England (Member)
  • Advisory Council of Transparency International UK (President)

Will Gardiner, Group Chief Executive Officer

Contribution and experience

Will has driven the vision and operations of the company since becoming CEO in January 2018, inspiring Drax’s transformation from a leading UK renewable energy company to a diversified global energy company with strong businesses in sustainable wood pellets based in North America, flexible and biomass power generation based in the UK, and more recently, the carbon removals business, Elimini, based in Houston.

Drax’s purpose is at the core of everything at Drax: Enabling a zero-carbon, lower cost energy future. Will is also deeply committed to creating a company where everyone feels a valued member on a winning team with a worthwhile mission.  Working with stakeholders across the spectrum, Will is creating a purpose led company at Drax to ensure outcomes that are positive for people, nature and the climate.

In addition to being CEO of Drax, Will is a Commissioner of the Energy Transitions Commission, a member of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders and a member of Conservation International’s European Council.

Will joined Drax in 2015 as CFO and was appointed as CEO in January 2018. In September 2024, Will became Executive Chair of Elimini, Drax’s independent business that is developing the Group’s global carbon removal plans.

He has a wealth of experience in finance and technology, having held CFO and divisional Finance Director roles at a number of major companies, including CSR plc (acquired by Qualcomm, Inc in 2015) and Sky. He has dual US-UK citizenship and has lived and worked in the UK since 1998.

Appointment to the Board: November 2015