Pioneering community energy charity Awel Aman Tawe has made two senior staff appointments as it enters a pivotal period of expansion. Catrin Evans takes on the new post of Financial Director and Amanda Fitzwilliams becomes the organisation’s first Communications Manager. Both posts have been funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.
Catrin is a highly experienced finance professional with more than 35 years of leadership experience across the public, charitable and commercial sectors. She is passionate about working with organisations to achieve long-term sustainability through strong financial leadership, good governance and collaborative working. She brings her extensive experience of guiding organisations through complex and evolving environments, ensuring financial resilience while supporting sustainable growth and organisational change.
Catrin said: “I am excited to join an organisation that is at the forefront of community energy and social enterprise in Wales. Awel Aman Tawe’s ambition to accelerate the nation towards net zero while delivering lasting benefits to local communities is inspiring, and I am looking forward to contributing my financial leadership and strategic experience to support that vision. I am a Welsh speaker and love playing a part in creating positive change for people throughout Wales.”
Amanda has enjoyed a long career in communications for the not-for-profit sector. She said: “I am thrilled to be joining Awel Aman Tawe at this exhilarating moment when energy ownership and the expansion of home-grown renewables are making headlines. I love helping to make good things happen, building networks and connections, and am looking forward to sharing the wealth of positive news and sweep of community benefits that are generated by AAT’s trailblazing model.”
Dan McCallum, Awel Aman Tawe Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have recruited such high calibre individuals to these key positions at this important time for Awel Aman Tawe. Alongside our established renewable energy assets, we are developing new infrastructure, including a solar farm and battery storage project – one of the UK’s first “tribrid” systems. We are also advancing shared ownership wind and solar projects with commercial developers and expanding our portfolio of community, education and enterprise activities from Hwb y Gors – our new, low carbon HQ and community centre.”
Catrin Evans joins AAT from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority where she was Head of Finance & Fundraising. Her previous posts include Head of Finance & Commercial at National Botanic Garden of Wales and Head of Finance at Awen Cultural Trust. A former Fellow of the ICAEW who qualified with KPMG, she spent over 20 years as Director in a chartered accountancy practice before moving into senior leadership roles in the charitable and public sectors.
Amanda (Cornish) Fitzwilliams’ work has spanned local authorities, higher education and charitable organisations, including Welsh National Opera, Welsh College of Music and Drama, Herefordshire Council, Warwick Arts Centre, the Sidney Nolan Trust as well as voluntary roles including PR for the Save the Wye campaign.