Nicole Solomons is the European Project Manager for SECHURBA - a project to encourage Sustainable Energy Communities in Historic Urban Areas.  The project started in September 08 and will run for 30 months and involve a partnership of 13  organisations in 7 countries.

Nicole began working life in politics with positions at the House of Commons and Amalgamated Engineering Union.   As her interest in green issues increased she became Programmes Coordinator for EarthAction, an environment & development lobbying organisation in London.  Spare time was spent protesting and campaigning and for many years working as production assistant for various music and performing arts festivals.  After moving to Wales she worked freelance for Powys Energy Agency and then moved to the Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth.  Here Nicole learnt about living and working with renewable energy systems and green buildings and spent 2 years managing the Consultancy Department.  Before moving to MEA she worked for a short time as Business Development Manager for a solar thermal and biomass heating company in mid Wales. . 

Professional Interests: Renewable energy systems (particularly biomass), sustainable building, energy efficiency and historic buildings

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Political Economy, currently studying for an MSc in Architecture: Advanced Environmental & Energy Studies at C.A.T

Skills: organising, researching, writing, editing

Where I've come from: London via Cornwall and Wales

I like: Music, organic food, being by the sea, vinyl, dancing and my many crazy yet wonderful friends.

A moral I live my life by:  I like: "per aspera ad astra" - Through adversity to the stars

How I'm trying to live more sustainably:  Have given up my car and am trying to either walk or use public transport wherever possible.   I had a wood-fuelled central heating and hot water system installed in my cottage.  I try to eat organic, locally produced food whenever possible; recycle and use energy and water sparingly.

I believe the greatest threat to our current society and environment is: our inability to accept, or try to adapt to, life without oil. 

My 'dirty secret' (nothing lewd or personal here please - from a sustainability point of view only!): I flew to Thailand this year for a best friend's 40th birthday

It may surprise you to know but . . . I used to be a political speechwriter

If things had turned out differently I might have been . . .  a superstar DJ