Sophie Miremadi, VP Global Government Affairs and Public Policy at AVEVA, was appointed as co-chair in April 2024. Sam Gardner, Head of Climate Change & Sustainability at ScottishPower, was nominated co-chair in February 2026. In their roles as co-chairs, Sophie and Sam advise on the strategic development of CLG UK and help to represent the interests and concerns of the group’s business leaders.
Sophie Miremadi, VP Global Government Affairs and Public Policy, AVEVA
Sophie Miremadi is Vice President of Global Government Affairs and Public Policy at AVEVA, a UK headquartered technology company which provides software to the industrial world. AVEVA’s industrial customers span all sectors from power generation, to shipping to manufacturing, but what they all have in common is a strategic focus on the energy transition. AVEVA’s software helps these companies innovate to decarbonise their operations, and to scale up renewable power production and leading-edge net zero technologies.
Sophie leads a team focused at the intersection of digital regulation and environmental and industrial policy, and manages relationships with a wide network of external stakeholders. Sophie draws on experience as a civil servant in the UK government, as a consultant, and in public policy in the financial services sector. She holds an MA in Modern History from Oxford University and an MBA from INSEAD Business School.
On her appointment as CLG UK co-chair, Sophie said:
“It’s so important for businesses to show leadership in taking the concrete steps necessary to decarbonise our economy, and to forge ahead and demonstrate the art of the possible. This is not an easy path, but it’s only through constructive collaboration between governments, universities, businesses and citizens that we can accelerate our rate of progress.
The UK Corporate Leaders Group is a fantastic collection of companies at the vanguard of transformative climate action, and I’m delighted to be co-chair at this critical juncture in the lead up to COP30 in Brazil.”
Sam Gardner, Head of Climate Change & Sustainability, ScottishPower
For the last 7 years, Sam has been Head of Climate Change & Sustainability at Scottish Power where he is responsible for leading the companies work on all aspects of climate change and the wider sustainability agenda.
During his time with ScottishPower, Sam has introduced SBTi targets for the company, developed and renewed the company-wide Sustainable Development Strategy, launched its Emissions Reduction Action Plan, its Circular Economy Plan and its Nature Action Plan. He leads the company’s external engagement on sustainability and champions a program of internal training and engagement across three businesses on sustainability.
He previously worked for WWF Scotland for the 13 years, eventually achieving the role of Acting Director. At WWF Scotland Sam led a team focused on securing lasting solutions to the environmental and climate change crises. His work has covered the introduction of the first Climate Change Scotland in 2009 and its implementation over the last 15 years. He has worked closely with stakeholders from across industry, academia and the public sector on the transition to net zero.
Sam was Chair of the Edinburgh Climate Commission for three years and currently sits on the Board of the UN Global Compact Network UK. Sam has an Ecological Science (Hons) degree from The University of Edinburgh and a PhD in environmental policy development from UCL. Sam has been a Board member of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, is an Honorary Fellow of Scottish Environment LINK and in 2024 was listed in UK’s 100 most influential environmental professionals.
Previous CLG UK co-chairs:
- Anne Chassagnette, Chief Sustainability Officer, Johnson Matthey (2025)
- Alex O'dell, Vice President GB & Ireland, VELUX (2023 to 2025)
- Peter Simpson, Chief Executive, Anglian Water (2020 to 2024)
- Colin Matthews, Non-Executive Chairman, EDF UK (2020 to 2022)
