Natalie McClay (she/her)

Natalie is a Junior Sustainability Consultant with experience in assisting housing associations and public sector organisations with net zero strategies, carbon footprint calculations and reviewing/quality assuring existing work.

Expertise

Public sector sustainability, net zero and decarbonisation strategy development, ESG, climate risk and mitigation, carbon accounting.

About Natalie

Natalie is a Sustainability Consultant and member of IEMA with 3 years’ experience, specialising in environmental, sustainability and net zero strategies.

Natalie has worked with more than 21 public sector clients to deliver a variety of projects and programmes, building a strong set of skills including carbon footprint calculation, workshop delivery, ISO 14001, TCFD and ESG reporting.

Natalie’s degree in Geography sparked her interest in sustainability, providing her with a strong base of understanding of this topic and an appetite to consult on this topic.

Recent Altair Assignments

First Garden Cities Homes, strategic retrofit 2024

• Worked with retrofit assessors to determine the relevant retrofit measures for various archetypes across FGCH’s stock.
• Used energy scenario modelling and cost estimate outcomes to make strategic recommendations regarding FGCH’s retrofit approach for hard-to-treat properties.
• Conducted analysis of relevant options for grant funding to provide FGCH with the information to maximise budgets.

Hyde, Scope 3 gap analysis and carbon footprint calculation 2024

• Conducted a relevance assessment of scope 3 categories and using this as part of a gap analysis of Hyde’s current scope 3 calculations.
• Put together an action plan based on the gap analysis detailing which areas of the footprint Hyde should focus on improving as a priority.
• Analysed Hyde’s carbon footprint in the CFPR tool.

Abri, Quality Assurance of carbon footprint 2024

• Reviewed Abri’s SECR and SHIFT assessment calculations in detail to identify data accuracy, granularity and gaps.
• Detailed a list of recommendations for data improvement in line with GHG Protocol standards and guidance.
• Calculation of a refreshed carbon footprint in the CFPR tool.

L&Q, decarbonisation pathways 2023

• Analysed the vast datasets associated with L&Q’s operations to determine a baseline carbon footprint using the CFPR tool.
• Modelled a forecast for the future in Excel to support with decarbonisation.
• Developed three carbon reduction pathways based on different future projects to reduce emissions.

Abri, Carbon reduction planning and net zero horizon scanning 2023

• Supported Abri in developing various pathway options to Net Zero and develop specific targets for net zero at an organisational and operational level.
• Worked with key client stakeholders to identify and develop projects required to support delivery against Abri’s wider net zero targets.
• Undertook an assessment to identify the transitional risks which Abri were exposed to, overlaying the implications onto their forecast emission profiles.
• Designed a set of environmental operating principles, based on the political and legislative landscape, for Abri to embed across the organisation to support them in their response to net zero.

Background

Natalie previously worked as a sustainability consultant specialising in the public sector, collaborating primarily with NHS organisations. This included report writing, calculating carbon footprints, sustainability workshops and ongoing organisational support during the client’s net zero journey.

Climate Risk Report

• Supported in conducting research into the projected impacts of climate change on various areas of the business.
• Wrote a report detailing physical and transition risks in relation to climate change.

TCFD

• Engaged with stakeholders to gather information needed to produce a TCFD report.
• Supported in the writing of the TCFD report.

NHS Green Plans

• Created sustainability reports for 20+ NHS clients in line with the NHS’s net zero ambitions.
• Conducted workshops to communicate the goals and discuss the challenges of net zero delivery.

ISO 14001

• Developed a comprehensive legal register to ensure the client was complying with all relevant environmental legislation.
• Participated in site audits.

NHS Integrated Care System support

• Project lead for an Integrated Care System in the NHS. Aspects of this included a sustainability report, summary document, video, and e-learning.

Qualifications

• Geography BSc (Hons) degree from the University of Manchester
• GradIEMA
• Carbon literacy certified for the healthcare industry.
• CSRWorks GHG professional training: module B and C

Fun Facts

Away from Altair, Natalie enjoys swimming, going to the cinema and travelling.