Our team
Chris Fry
Managing Director
Chris unlocks powerful and implementable strategies for our clients - for example advising on blended finance plans for 12 trailblazing Landscape Recovery projects. His advice is based on many years’ experience in business strategy, leadership, consulting and operational management. He is Chair of the Ecosystems Knowledge Network, and holds a number of other key advisory positions in relation to green finance and net zero carbon. He’s passionate about innovation, and believes collaboration makes the green transition possible.
Charlene Caten
Founder & Director
Charlene’s interest as a chartered Town Planner is the spatial impact of humans on the natural environment. Her work revolves around infrastructure and regeneration, and she’s accustomed to taking some of the most complex projects in the country and determining how to embed sustainability into the process. She is an advisor on the Sustainability West Midlands External Committee and thrives on supporting and seeing sustainability increasingly driving project, company and investment decisions.
Twisha Gupta
Senior Sustainability Consultant
Twisha is a Senior Sustainability Consultant specialising in ESG frameworks, climate impact strategies, and financial modelling. With an MSc in Management from Warwick Business School and a passion for environmental sustainability, she leverages advanced data analysis and strategic insights to drive impactful, value-driven solutions. Twisha focuses on facilitating green transition through in-depth research, financial modelling, and critical thinking – helping organisations enhance resilience and achieve their sustainability goals.
Izzy Hardern
Sustainability Consultant
Izzy is a Sustainability Consultant with experience in carbon reporting, sustainability strategy and stakeholder engagement. With systems-focused research experience in agri-food, climate resilience and bioeconomy, Izzy brings a strong passion for the intersections between climate, nature, community and sustainability. Previously, she worked for Siemens Mobility in their central sustainability team and graduated from the University of Warwick with a BASc in Global Sustainable Development.
Lewis Charters
Principal Consultant - Nature Finance
Lewis is an experienced conservationist, who has dedicated his career to designing and developing landscape-scale nature-based solutions (NbS) that can attract private and/or blended finance, while delivering tangible benefits for people, nature and climate. Lewis has gained significant strategic, programme management and technical experience across a range of sectors, ecosystems and countries – including working with some of world’s largest corporates, financial institutions, governments and NGOs – to turn complex ideas into practical solutions on the ground.
Nina Hees
Senior Consultant
Nina is a Senior Consultant at Accelar, specialising in nature-based analyses to guide decision-making. With expertise in natural capital, ecosystem services, and biodiversity, Nina brings a technical mindset with a holistic overview to drive nature-positivity. Her consultancy experience and international background make her highly adaptable and work well in multicultural contexts.
Erin Connolly
Senior Consultant - Climate Resilience
Erin is a Senior Consultant specialising in climate risk and resilience, with experience supporting clients from a range of sectors. She has worked with organisations across different geographies to identify and assess physical and transition climate risks, adapting her approach to suit a range of regulatory, cultural, and operational contexts. Erin is passionate about enabling businesses and communities to respond proactively to climate impacts and has advised on strategies that build long-term asset, business, and operational resilience.
Melanie Sanders
Principal Consultant
Melanie is an aquatic scientist with extensive experience in landscape recovery, nature based solutions, and water management. Melanie has managed projects at every stage in their lifecycle - from feasibility assessments and stakeholder alignment to the commission of ground works. She has experience working with all manner of stakeholders and specialises in the development of blended public and private funding solutions to bring climate resilience projects to fruition.
Jennie Beebe
Marketing Manager
With a wealth of experience across private, public, and third sectors, Jennie brings a broad skill set across the marketing mix. She is passionate about building lasting brand equity and driving purpose led growth through strategic marketing. Jennie has a keen interest in sustainability and as a Fellow of the RSA, has a particular focus on how individuals, communities and organisations can contribute to positive change and influence public perceptions of the environment. Jennie also holds a Masters degree, Mini MBA in Marketing and is an Affiliate Member of ISEP.
How it all started
Over lunch in early 2019, Chris and Charlene reflected on the changing world and the need for climate and nature-friendly economies and societies. They agreed that sustainability and built environment professionals needed to step up and seize the opportunities they’d unlock when they did.
Six months later, Accelar Limited was open for business.
As a purpose-driven venture, Accelar was formed to accelerate the green transition. Covid couldn’t stop us, and the team has continued to scale up to work with more clients.
Flexibility and adaptability have been in Accelar’s DNA since day one, which is why we’ve always encouraged a hub-based / remote working model – not just for work-life balance, but to improve our environmental impact too.
As a dedicated team of specialists, we’re actively shaping and delivering on our clients’ and our own green strategies. Each member of the Accelar team directly contributes to our development and sustainability performance – because we only hire people who share our purpose.
But this is just the tip of the Accelar iceberg. To learn more, contact us today.
Careers at Accelar
Interested in joining us?
The busier and more successful we become, the more we need to grow. That’s why we’re looking to hire talented individuals who share our passion for advancing the green transition. We’re an inclusive, supportive and flexible bunch, and we value honesty and responsibility above all else. If you do too and you want to deliver long-lasting value, embrace innovation and improve the world we live in, please get in touch for more information.
Current Vacancies
We are currently recruiting for a Project and Team Support Officer. Click here for the full job description.