Practical Action CEO to step down

After ten years in the role, Simon Trace has announced that he will be stepping down as CEO of Practical Action in October this year.

During Simon’s tenure at Practical Action the organisation has doubled its income and expanded its work on technology and development into new countries in Africa, South Asia and Latin America. It has also won widespread international recognition, reflected in the receipt of a number of prestigious international awards including the United Nations Environment Programme Sasakawa Prize and the Ashden Award (for work on renewable energy), the Ryutaro Hashimoto APFED Award (for sustainable development practices) and two United Nations Momentum for Change awards (for work on climate change).

It has also extended its influence on international development policy, particularly in the field of energy access where it has played an important role in the United Nations Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative. As a part of that process, the charity has written and published a series of annual Poor People’s Energy Outlook (PPEO) reports to act as a catalyst for a movement for change on energy access, and a source of information to support it.

Simon remains particularly proud of Practical Action’s association with its founder, the economist and environmentalist E.F. Schumacher, and how the organisation has been able to build on his intellectual heritage of sustainable development ‘as if people mattered’.

Simon said: “It’s been a fantastic privilege to be associated with an organisation with such a long pedigree of innovative work on technology and development. I am immensely proud that today our practical work on the ground not only touches the lives of almost one million people a year, but also informs a global knowledge service that helps hundreds of thousands of people a year use technology to fight poverty and underpins an influential international policy advocacy programme.”

Although Simon is now beginning to think about life after Practical Action, he has no firm plans in place as yet, preferring to concentrate fully on his final months at the helm of the organisation.

Practical Action Chair, Helena Molyneux said: “After a decade with the organisation, we will be sad to lose such a thoughtful and dedicated leader. It has been a privilege and a joy to work with Simon. His passion has helped drive the organisation to major achievements and it will be hard to see him leave us in October. However, it is an exciting time for Practical Action as we mark our 50^th anniversary later in the year. Alongside our work on energy we have vibrant and growing programmes across three continents on technology in sustainable food production, urban water and sanitation and disaster risk reduction. We also have a growing footprint in Africa and a range of innovate and challenging partnerships, including one with Zurich Insurance on reducing vulnerability to flooding. Alongside this we continue to drive a movement for technology justice”.

“We are looking for a dynamic and collaborative leader who will take the organisation forwards in a time of substantial change and challenge in international development. We would encourage potential candidates to apply via our recruiters’ website Perrett Laver or via the Practical Action website here.”

Candidates can contact Perrett Laver on (0207 340 6200) or via email Arabella Chichester arabella.chichester@perrettlaver.com Sophia Copeman sophia.copeman@perrettlaver.com.

For further information, please contact Abbie Wells, Practical Action Media Officer, on 01926 634510.