The boss of a Flintshire-based financial planning firm has been appointed as an official ambassador to spearhead a drive to make North Wales a net zero region.

Rob Lewis, co-owner and director of Mold-based Celtic Financial Planning is one of four ambassadors alongside Frankie Hobro, owner and director of Anglesey Sea Zoo, Mared Williams, Low Carbon Project Manager for Rhug Estate in Corwen, and Gareth Jones, managing director of renewables company Carbon Zero.

The environmentally-friendly quartet were unveiled at a meeting of the new Net Zero North Wales network that’s been established by the North Wales Business Council as part of their campaign to create a greener future.

Their aim is to share the information they gather to arm firms across the region with increased intelligence for reducing their own carbon footprints.

READ MORE: 

Representatives from around 90 enterprises attended the meeting of Net Zero North Wales network at the Conwy Business Centre in Llandudno Junction where their names were announced.

North Wales Business Council Chief Executive Ashley Rogers told the forum: “It makes sound commercial sense for businesses to work in partnership to help the region and indeed the entire planet reverse the dire effects of climate change.

“We can only succeed by sharing the very latest information available and jointly gaining access to experts, best practice and the most advanced technology in this field.”

Fellow Net Zero North Wales ambassador Mared Williams said she was delighted and honoured to have been appointed to the role.

She said: “As I see it we are now at a stage where we all need to reduce our carbon footprint at home and abroad. On a global level we need to reinstate and repair damage which has already been done.

“It’s a massive task but, looking at it from a grassroots-up level, each challenge will seem less daunting if businesses work together and share their eco-blueprints for the common good.”

At the meeting, Mared delivered a presentation explaining her role as Low Carbon Projects Manager at Rhug Estate, which covers an area of 12,500 acres in Denbighshire, owned by Lord Newborough. It includes an organic farm, a farm shop and retail business, forestry and residential properties.

Financial planner Rob Lewis said it is always useful to meet representatives of other business sectors and learn of new approaches to reducing carbon footprints, while improving productivity at the same time.

He said: “A by-product of being an ambassador will be that I can better educate myself and my team about the latest carbon-reducing science but also, being in the service sector, we can pass on that information to our clients who are increasingly looking to establish greener work and home lifestyles.”

All four ambassadors will deliver reports back to the Net Zero North Wales meetings about their field visits and what they learn, passing on best practice to support other organisations in the network on the journey.