Sonya Bedford MBE

Sonya graduated from CAT’s renewable energy MSc in 2018 and is currently Head of Energy at Stephens Scown LLP.  Sonya leads a team of solicitors specialising in energy policy and law. She advises industry on legal requirements for large scale renewable energy developments, including grid, infrastructure, policy, licensing and supply issues.

She was also awarded an MBE for services to community energy in the same year, along with a number of other environmental awards. In 2020 Sonya was appointed to the CAT Board of trustees. She also sits on the board of five community energy groups and is one of the founders of the innovative and ambitious Zero Carbon Wedmore group.

“I first came to CAT at seven years old (not long after it had been founded!) and the experience never really left me. After a couple of short courses, I enrolled on the MSc and spent an amazing four years learning and being challenged on all things renewable energy.

The MSc at CAT was one of the most challenging and rewarding endeavours I have undertaken. My work in the energy industry as a lawyer now has a new dimension because of the learning from CAT. I can now truly understand renewable technologies and apply my learning to make my work much more valuable in all senses. Through CAT I have also developed my work in helping to deliver zero carbon projects. CAT graduates are the most successful I have met in the sustainable/energy world, I think it’s the combination of technical knowledge and the CAT magic!

The experience of being a student and the sheer knowledge and dedication of the CAT team made me want to remain a part of CAT’s future.”