Marvin Rees OBE – Co-Founder and Chair

Marvin Rees is a globally recognised city leader and advocate for inclusive, climate-resilient urban development. As Mayor of Bristol (2016–2024), he led one of the UK’s most ambitious city-wide decarbonisation programmes, pioneering large-scale public-private partnerships to deliver social value alongside emissions reduction. 

Under his leadership, Bristol became the first UK city to declare a climate emergency and helped launch a £1 billion energy partnership to accelerate local net-zero action.

Marvin serves as an Honorary Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, contributes to global networks including C40, the Global Covenant of Mayors, and UN-Habitat, and continues to champion collaboration between cities, investors, and industry to drive equitable climate progress worldwide.

Tom Ilube CBE – Co-Founder

Tom Ilube is a technology entrepreneur, and philanthropist, renowned for building innovative digital businesses and for his leadership in technology, finance, and education. He founded and scaled multiple high-growth ventures, served on the boards of FTSE-listed companies, and is an Honorary Fellow of St Anne’s College, Oxford and Jesus College, Oxford alongside receiving multiple Honorary Doctorates for his contribution to innovation and social impact.

Tom brings deep experience in data, AI, and scale-up strategy to Civic Net Zero. His insight into digital platforms, governance, and investor confidence ensures CNZ’s foundations are robust, ethical, and globally scalable.

Mark Apsey MBE – CEO

Mark Apsey is a sustainability and energy executive with over two decades of leadership across the UK and global clean-energy sectors. As Senior Vice President of Ameresco UK, he delivered some of the nation’s most significant decarbonisation projects — including the landmark Bristol City Leap partnership, a £1 billion programme combining public purpose with private investment to create local jobs and cut emissions.

A Chartered Engineer (CEng), Past President and Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (FIChemE), Mark serves as an Honorary Professor at the University of Exeter and contributes to the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Clean Power Advisory Working Group. His mission through Civic Net Zero is to turn ambition into delivery — empowering cities, investors, and delivery partners to work together, faster, for a sustainable future