Phil Moody
Current Employer/Organisation Name
EnergyTag / Association of Issuing Bodies
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
Operated and programmed computers, moved into systems and then business analysis, mostly in the commercial and industrial sectors. Work on financial deregulation led to working on electricity deregulation on behalf of the distribution and supply companies, and then a role strategising and implementing systems to support electricity and gas trade and sale to consumers. For the last 20 years, I have conceived the management system and formal standard for and led the pan-European association of administrators of renewable energy certificates.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
My intention from the outset (in 1974) was to develop the skills useful in a financial/commercial environment which would lead to environmental improvement. My enjoyment comes from seeing visions realised, building tight groups of individuals from radically different backgrounds and cultures, collectively working towards objectives, and in a way which is both productive and fun for all parties.
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
Third World First, South Westerner … must have been others, but I can’t remember that far back!
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
I regret to say that I left the University after a year. However, what I took from the experience was that engineering was not my forte, which saved me from a life of boredom had I stayed on. That being said, my work now involves systems engineering, knowledge of electricity and gas production at physical, commercial, regulatory and policy levels as well as finance and markets, marketing and so on. The lessons learned at Exeter laid dormant for many years, but proved very useful in understanding the physical constraints to energy markets.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
Despite being an engineer, I managed to sneak into the back row of the American Arts course for much of the academic year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Unfortunately, my level of skills in languages at the time meant that I could not switch courses, which could well have led to a very different career path!
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
The course fitted my academic criteria, also there was a good balance of people, pleasant campus, excellent local real ales!
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Business planning, international relations, electricity and gas markets and renewable energy. Working on deregulation of the City of London, electricity and gas, negotiation with public and private sector organisations and chairing numerous groups has given me an excellent background for uniting European energy certificate schemes.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
To expose yourself to several years of learning appropriate and practical skills, including plenty of public presentation and committee work, before stepping onto the stage in higher profile fora.
What are your plans for the future?
To extend energy certification worldwide, developing a standard for real-time certification of energy.
