OKEHAMPTON’S Gill Alker has been nominated for an award in the prestigious Devon Venus Awards 2016 in the category Heart Business Mother of the Year.

Juggling a busy family life alongside a highly-responsible and demanding job can be difficult but with careful planning and time-management Gill, who is head of consulting for Forest Fuels, takes it all completely in her stride.

Gill said: ‘When my husband and I adopted our daughter both of us were determined that we’d find the right work-life balance in order to give our family the best possible foundations on which to build.

‘Having a family-friendly employer makes the whole ambition achievable.’

Gill started working in biomass after completing a PhD at Imperial College London.

She quickly spread her wings, moving to Florida to live and work at the University of Florida for three years as a Forestry Research Assistant in agricultural research.

On returning to the UK, Gill worked for the Water Research Centre developing de-contamination methods using trees and the power of nature to cleanse soil and grow biomass for bioenergy creation.

Gill’s connection to wood-energy supply started at TV Energy where wood fuel was supplied on a small scale.

This led to a spell at the Forestry Commission as a wood fuel advisor dedicated to building the uptake of wood fuel use then, whilst developing ESCOs (Energy Supply Contracts), Gill was introduced to Forest Fuels.

Peter Solly, Forest Fuels’ managing director, said: ‘Gill leads the consultancy and technical teams and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of renewables and a real passion for the environment.

‘As well as an exemplary work ethic, Gill has an enormously positive influence on the business as a whole.

‘As a company, we try wherever possible to accommodate in-dividuals’ needs and circumstances, be they family or otherwise. We feel that the flexible approach works really well not just for the employee but for the company as well. We wish Gill every success with her nomination.’