Meet the team
We’re your local home improvement experts, with deep knowledge of Oxfordshire and a passion for helping you reach your energy saving goals.
Our team is dedicated to giving you the best advice and support for your hoe refurbishment project. With a wealth of local knowledge and a focus on reducing carbon emissions, we’re here to help you make your home warm in winter, cool in summer, and cosy all year round.
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.
Natasha Ginks
Retrofit Coordinator
With nearly a decade of experience in sustainable renovation, energy efficiency, and renewables, Natasha is skilled at helping people tackle the climate crisis by reducing the carbon footprint of their homes. Her particular focus is on traditional buildings, making them more energy efficient without sacrificing their architectural heritage. With Cosy Homes, she has undertaken numerous projects, producing archetype home improvement plans for the most common housing types in Oxfordshire.
She is a qualified Retrofit Coordinator under PAS 2035 and has completed an extensive eco-renovation of her own listed property, using natural materials and Passivhaus principles. Natasha is also the founder of Renovate Green, an advisory service dedicated to sustainable home renovation.
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.
Lina Budde-Manning
Project Administrator
Lina has been involved in the sustainable construction industry for over 9 years, 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.
Arantxa Mathias
Client Support Coordinator
Arantxa is the main point of contact for new and existing customers up until the retrofit work begins on your home. She guides you through the process and is available to answer any questions you may have.
An experienced administrator, Arantxa has previously worked in customer service roles within the hospitality, design, and innovation sectors. She is based in our Charlbury office and enjoys supporting the team while learning more about retrofit projects.
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.
Tim Lunel
Project Manager for Cosy Homes Oxfordshire
Tim is an experienced project manager. He was Chief Executive of The National Energy Foundation 2005-2012, and is Chair of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme – so he has been working in the home energy sphere for much of his career. During that time, the technologies to improve the fabric of buildings and low carbon technologies have improved significantly, and the UK has made progress in decarbonising its grid.
Tim is the Treasurer of Hook Norton Community Land Trust and has led the project to get planning permission for 12 new-build PassivHaus homes. He is the Company Secretary of Hook Norton Low Carbon Limited – a low carbon community group that was awarded the status of Energy Neutral Village in 2014 in the ACE Awards (Academy of Champions for Energy), one of Europe’s most high-profile events that recognise achievements in renewable and sustainable community energy.
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.
Contact us
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