Our Contributors

Discover the By Degrees authors

Astrid Genard profile picture
Astrid Genard

Head of International Operations
Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (ACES)

Working across sustainable development, education, and applied research with a practical, community-driven focus. Currently leading international operations at the Clean Cooling Network (CCN), translating strategy into action across Africa. Holding Master’s degrees in Economics and Pedagogical Sciences. Experience managing multi-million-dollar projects in agriculture and value chain development. Skilled in designing inclusive, hands-on training programs with and for teachers. Committed to clarity, humility, and grounded solutions that meet real needs.
Craig Girdlestone profile picture
Craig Girdlestone

Danston Ltd

I am a highly motivated and driven Technical Consultant with over 20+ years of experience in Sales & Business Management at Director level. I have a professional attitude and excellent communication and time management skills. I have a proven track record in achieving targets in large manufacturing environments and managing financial budgets. I have ensured business efficiency is maintained and have been involved with large complex project work / management, budget control and contractor control. I have Team Management experience and have lead teams throughout my career with a highly focused youth development & teaching.
Judith Evans profile picture
Prof. Judith Evans

London South Bank University

Judith is a Professor at London South Bank University (LSBU). She has 35 years’ experience of working on food refrigeration operations throughout the food cold chain from harvest/slaughter to the consumer. During her career Judith has worked on a number of topics including frozen storage of meat, consumer handling of food and studies to improve the performance of domestic and commercial refrigerators, energy labelling, instrumentation performance, decontamination of food, cook-chill systems, novel refrigeration systems, optimising refrigeration systems and improving performance and temperature control in chilled and frozen storage rooms.

The current focus of her work is on efficiency and carbon/energy reduction as well as design and performance of refrigeration equipment. This covers cold chains in the UK and Europe but also in low-income countries such as Bangladesh, India, Kenya and Rwanda.

Judith has published 153 papers, 5 books and 17 book chapters. Professionally she is a Fellow of the IOR (Institute of Refrigeration), a member IOR national Technical Committee, president of the IIR (International Institute of Refrigeration) C2 commission (food science and engineering), vice presidents of the CaRe (careers in refrigeration) working party and the cold chain in warmer climates working party and a member of the D1 (retail display cabinets) committee. She is also the UK, IOR representative to the IIR and also an editor of the Journal of Refrigeration.
Tim Fox profile picture
Dr. Tim Fox

Independent Consultant
Clean Cooling Network

An internationally recognised expert in climate change adaptation and mitigation with specialist knowledge of clean energy, sustainable cooling, process engineering based industries and sustainable food systems, Dr Fox has extensive experience in thought leadership, public affairs and policy advocacy, communications, marketing and funding acquisition. He works as an independent consultant operating at the intersection of science-engineering-policy-business-communications and has been previously employed in small and large commercial enterprises, government agencies and educational institutions based in the UK, The Netherlands, Canada and Australia. Tim combines a global perspective and natural ability to communicate at all levels with clear strategic thinking, deep technical knowledge, analytical rigour, and high level writing skills. He is experienced in working with international bodies, such as the UN; EU; national governments in the UK, Europe, India, Africa and Japan; industry; business; financiers; academia; NGOs; the press, media and wider general public.

Dr Fox is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), where he is Chair of the Biennial International Conference on Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience as well as a past Chair of the Process Industries Division. Tim represents the IMechE on the UK Infrastructure Operators Adaptation Forum and the Sustainable, Resilient Infrastructure Community Advisory Body of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He is also a member of the Adaptation to Climate Change Group of BSI Committee SES/001/07, a Co-Founder of the International Fugitive Emissions Abatement Association (IFEAA), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).

Tim has been lead author of numerous peer-reviewed papers, research reports, thought leadership reports and policy papers and has been featured in hundreds of press articles, op-ed pieces, broadcast media appearances, conferences and webinars. In 2022, he was awarded the 'Most Distinguished Achievement Award' by the IMechE for his work on clean energy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainability. The award citation read: "Tim has made and continues to make an outstanding contribution to mechanical engineering at national and international levels in areas such as climate change, energy and environmental issues. His efforts have influenced policy makers at a high level and raised the profile of mechanical engineering thus capturing the attention and respect of the engineering community and wider public as a whole."
Toby Peters profile picture
Prof. Toby Peters

ACES Programme Lead and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Cooling
Centre for Sustainable Cooling, University of Birmingham

Toby is Professor of Cold Economy at the University of Birmingham and Heriot-Watt University and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Cooling. He is a multi-award-winning technology developer (Liquid Air Energy Storage) and he has extensive industry and academic experience in energy systems, energy storage, and sustainable cooling and cold-chains for food and health.

Toby’s research involves whole-system solutions to transition to sustainable cooling and cold-chain, and he is responsible for a series of flagship programs across the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Global South.

Toby is also a senior advisor on cooling and cold-chain for multiple international development organizations and a regular of author/co-author of key reports.

Network News

The latest from the global Clean Cooling community

‘Try Before You Buy’ - Cooling Hub project with ACTS

  "Post-harvest losses continue to be a significant challenge for smallholder farmers, often resulting in wasted resources and financial hardships. The ‘Try Before You Buy’ cooling and cold chain unit offers farmers the opportunity to experience firsthand...

Picture of the Week - Clean Cooling Network in Kenya

Picture of the Week: An image shot by Fiona Makayoto, based in Nairobi, Kenya, studying on the CCN Academy Photography - Creative Story Telling Course

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Events & Webinars

Exclusive lectures and workshops from the Clean Cooling team and partners.

Accelerating Clean Cold-Chains for Rwanda’s Agricultural Transformation

Following our recent successful in-person workshop at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) in Kigali, Rwanda, we are inviting you to help expand this crucial conversation by joining us online on August 7th. Webinar Overview: Rwanda’s ambitious agricultural transformation, as detailed in the government’s (MINAGRI) fifth St

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