In her new position on the MPA’s Executive team, Diana will play a key strategic role in the sector’s acceleration towards net zero carbon, advocating for better Government policy to support decarbonisation and facilitating the growth of a whole raft of innovations being implemented by MPA members.
Diana joined MPA in 2010 as Technical Advisor for Energy and Climate Change after completing a PhD in Sustainable Lime Mortars at the University of Bristol and working for the Environment Agency for two years.
Her work for MPA has included analysis of data from UK cement plants, modelling the impact of climate change and environmental policy, including the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and Renewable Energy policies, and playing a key role in industry projects such as the UK Concrete and Cement Industry Roadmap to Beyond Net Zero and the MPA Lime Net Negative 2040 Roadmap.
In 2022 Diana took on overall responsibility for the MPA Cement product group, which covers environmental regulation, products and standards, energy and climate change and delivery of a range of Government funded innovation projects. In addition to her MPA responsibilities, Diana sits on the Board of the Emissions Trading Group and holds the Emissions Trading System Policy Chair position.
Diana said: “It’s a great honour to join the MPA’s Executive team at such a critical time. The UK cement and lime industries have made solid decarbonisation progress through early action in fuel switching and energy efficiency. Now we’re moving into a new phase to decarbonise both sectors, involving the deployment of technologies, including carbon capture, which will require enabling actions from the Government and others. The journey towards net zero we are now making will demonstrate what’s possible to other industries and countries.”
Jon Prichard, Chief Executive of the MPA, said: “I am delighted that Diana is joining our Executive team. She has already played a major role in our industry’s journey towards net zero, and her promotion is further evidence of our commitment to take on – and overcome - the challenges posed by climate change. I would also like to thank Pal Chana for his work leading several key MPA product groups and functions over the past two decades and look forward to his continued involvement as a Special Advisor.”
Cement is a staple of the UK construction industry, whilst industrial lime is used in countless processes from the manufacture of metals, glass, plastics and foods to the purification of drinking water, treatment of sewage and control of air pollution. Both cement and lime are energy intensive to manufacture, and MPA has developed clear and credible roadmaps for decarbonising both industries. This will be achieved through production innovations and the application of new technologies, as well as enabling actions from Government and other industry sectors.
