The District Heating Divas Heat Exchanger Mentoring Pilot Programme was launched at the Connecting Women in District Heat conference in London on 9 December 2019. The pilot ran for 10 months ending in December 2020. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive with an average score of 4.3 out of 5 for successful matches.
This programme is open to anyone working in the heat networks sector, aiming to connect mentors and mentees to support their professional development. It serves as a platform for fostering growth and advancement throughout the UK heat network sector, benefiting both mentors and mentees.
The Working Group
The Heat Exchanger Mentoring Programme is managed by a working group that solely acts as facilitators in pairing mentors and mentees, and provides limited mentoring tips. The Heat Exchanger Mentoring working group are volunteers who dedicate time and resources to the continuity and success of the programme. You can contact the working group at anytime via email: working.group@heatexchangermentor.net
Soulla Paphitis | Sales Director, Guru Systems
Soulla is a seasoned Business Development Manager with extensive experience in the District Energy and HVAC sectors. Currently a Sales Director at Guru Systems, she leads efforts to advance low-carbon heating solutions through data-driven technology for heat networks. Her background includes key roles at Danfoss, where she spearheaded district energy initiatives across the UK and Ireland, and Wolseley, where she successfully managed teams and drove customer satisfaction. Soulla is highly skilled in negotiation, business planning, key account management, and strategic sales, making her a driving force for sustainable innovation in the energy sector.
Nikzad Falahati | Consulting Engineer, FairHeat
Nikzad is an experienced Consulting Engineer at FairHeat, with over three years of expertise in the quality assurance team. His work has included detailed reviews of existing designs, installation and insulation inspections, and energy centre commissioning and acceptance testing. Passionate about knowledge sharing, Nikzad has participated in the HEMP as both a mentor and mentee, finding both roles deeply rewarding. His technical proficiency and collaborative approach make him a trusted contributor to advancing best practices in low-carbon heat networks.
Olivia Urrutibehety | Consulting Engineer, FairHeat
Olivia began her engineering career at FairHeat through its graduate scheme, gaining both technical expertise and hands-on experience in heat network design and operation. Passionate about sustainability and the critical role heat networks play in decarbonisation, she is driven by a strong curiosity for how these systems perform in practice and evolve over time. Having benefited greatly from her own experience as a mentee, Olivia is excited to contribute to the mentoring programme as a committee member, helping to foster knowledge sharing within the industry.
Rachael Mills | Director, Chirpy Heat
Long-time HEMP mentor, first time Committee member! Rachael has worked in sustainability and stakeholder engagement for 30 years, with 10 years heat network experience. She is excited to be involved in supporting the HEMP programme for its sixth season!
The Heat Exchanger Mentor Programme is driven by a strong vision to expand its reach and provide ongoing support to the rapidly evolving heat networks industry through a dynamic network of mentors and nurturing environment.
If you or your company are interested in becoming a sponsor of HEMP, please don’t hesitate to contact us at working.group@heatexchangermentor.net.