Meet our team

Geordie Stewart

Cosy Homes Oxfordshire Scheme Manager

A skilled construction and project manager with over 25 years of international experience, Geordie is passionate about sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for homes and buildings. He is a trained Retrofit Coordinator and leads the Cosy Homes Oxfordshire team based in Charlbury, Oxfordshire.

Geordie earned a distinction in his MSc in Architecture and Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies at the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) and the University of East London.

See Geordie’s full profile on LinkedIn.

Gareth Lewis

Retrofit Coordinator

With two decades in telecoms, including a pioneering role at Apple’s iPhone team in 2007, Gareth Lewis decided on a career change, driven by personal conviction and a desire to combat climate change.

Gareth earned an MSc with Merit in Sustainable Energy Provision and Demand Management from the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in 2021, focusing on energy usage in buildings. Post-Masters, Gareth founded a local energy survey report company, similar to Cosy Homes but on a smaller scale.

At Cosy Homes, Gareth serves as a qualified Retrofit Coordinator, overseeing all aspects of retrofitting, ensuring quality through contractor collaboration, site visits, and rigorous quality control, and is dedicated to creating sustainable, energy-efficient living spaces and making a positive impact in the fight against climate change.

See Gareth’s full profile on LinkedIn

Rob Gittins

Retrofit Coordinator

Rob is a qualified architect with over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. Over the past 12 years, he has led projects across education, healthcare, and community sectors, including Stansfeld Park Science and Innovation Centre, Meadowbrook College, and Rosehill Community Centre. As a Certified Passive House Consultant, he is passionate about sustainable design and the careful retention and retrofitting of existing buildings.

See Rob’s full profile on LinkedIn

Lina Budde-Manning

Project Administrator

Lina has been involved in the sustainable construction industry for over a decade, starting with a role at the wood fibre manufacturer Pavatex. She has extensive knowledge of sustainable building practices and applies her expertise at Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, where she supports the team in delivering energy-efficient home improvements.

See Lina’s full profile on LinkedIn

Arantxa Mathias

Project Administrator & Retrofit Advisor

Arantxa has been part of the Cosy Homes team for the last 5 years. Previously working in the creative industry in project and client coordination she now enjoys guiding clients through our retrofit consultancy services and supporting them  to implement their retrofit plans to their homes

She is a qualified Retrofit Advisor under PAS 2035 and continues to enhance her retrofit knowledge working alongside the team.

David O’Neill

Membership and Supply Chain Manager (RetrofitWorks)

David is responsible for building up and supporting our membership network of trusted contractors, installers, and architects to provide a quality whole-house retrofit service.

David’s relationship with RetrofitWorks (RW) spans almost a decade. Although he is a qualified Gas Safe engineer, RW inspired him to adopt a whole-home approach to retrofitting. He is now also a qualified Retrofit Coordinator.

Among many other projects, David managed the Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project at RW, funded by BEIS, successfully installing 742 heat pumps in diverse housing types despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, and has also been supporting his colleagues in delivering the £43 million Warmer Homes Programme.

David is inspired by Cosy Homes Oxfordshire’s commitment to improving home comfort and energy performance through quality and trust in our members.

Cathy Ryan

Community Engagement Manager

Cathy is the Community Engagement Manager for Low Carbon Hub and supports our Cosy Homes Community Advocate Groups by attending events and holding regular meetings.

Having previously worked with a theatre company exploring the effects of homelessness on the lives of young people, Cathy has developed a lasting interest in housing. She is Chair of Hook Norton Community Land Trust, developing a community-led housing project of affordable, sustainable homes.

Christian Guthier

Senior Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Christian Guthier is a seasoned communications professional with extensive experience. He supports marketing and communications activity for Cosy Homes Oxfordshire across all online and offline channels, focusing on how individuals and communities can make a difference for the environment while improving their homes.

See Christian’s full profile on LinkedIn

Russell Smith

Founder of RetrofitWorks and Parity Projects, and Cosy Homes Oxfordshire project partner

Russell is a chartered civil engineer with years of experience in retrofitting. He is the founder of both Parity Projects (leading exponents of retrofit expertise for larger-scale approaches) and RetrofitWorks.

He has led numerous large-scale retrofit programmes – most recently the £4.5m Warmer Homes programme on behalf of the Mayor of London, and is involved in a 250 heat pump roll-out for OVO energy. As Managing Director of Parity Projects, he has worked with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to model 1.5 million homes and develop a national retrofit model to support the Construction Leadership Council’s plans for a National Retrofit Programme.

Widely recognised as an industry expert, Russell is a regular speaker at conferences and a contributor to industry publications.  Take a look at the RetrofitWorks LinkedIn posts for links to his latest interviews, articles and podcasts.

See Russell’s full profile on LinkedIn