James Vickery

6 years after the regulations portfolio was removed from the then Office for Low Emission Vehicles...now we're back in the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles!

As Head of ZEV Mandate & CO2 Regulation, I and my team are responsible for all aspects of road vehicle carbon reduction regulation in the UK. The key policy is the development of the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate (ZEV Mandate) that will ensure that all new cars and vans in the UK are zero-emission at the tailpipe by 2035. A world-leading policy, this will require that a certain percentage of manufacturer new vehicle sales are zero emission each year, starting in 2024. This will be the largest single carbon reduction policy coming out of the UK's Transport Decarbonisation Plan, and in time could be rolled out to all vehicle types as we shift to a net zero economy. As well as the ZEV mandate, I am also responsible for overseeing, developing and enforcing the existing CO2 regulations for road vehicles that were retained in the UK following Brexit. Main responsibilities include - - Developing a Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate (ZEV Mandate) in the UK - requiring that a certain percentage of vehicle sales be zero emission at the tailpipe, starting with new cars and vans from 2024. This will be coupled with a 'non-ZEV' CO2 element, requiring that the emissions from non-ZEVs do not increase. - Consulting on a phase out date for non-zero emission L-category vehicles (mopeds, motorbikes, and other powered 2/3 wheeled vehicles), in line with the commitment in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan. - Maintaining and enforcing existing CO2 emissions regulations setting CO2 targets on the manufacturers of new cars, vans and Heavy Duty Vehicles (including HGVs, buses and coaches) in the UK, as retained from the EU during the Brexit process.

To reflect the complexity of work surrounding the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, I was promoted to senior policy advisor. I retained my existing brief as listed below, as well as now leading on all EU Exit/post-2020 work surrounding the regulation of CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The areas that I have responsibility for include - - Developing negotiation positions on these regulations for all scenarios of EU Exit, from 'No Deal' to UK vehicles still being covered by the EU Regulations. This includes feeding in to the Withdrawal Agreement to ensure a regulation continues to function regardless of the final scenario, as well as considering UK policy goals in developing preferred Brexit positions - Development of a UK-specific regulation to ensure that UK-registered vehicles continue to be covered by a CO2 regulation in the event of a No Deal Brexit - Developing a methodology for the monitoring, reporting and regulation of CO2 emissions from multi-stage vans at EU level - Ongoing negotiations at EU level on post-2021 targets for car and LCV carbon reductions, including working with like-minded Member States to raise ambition - Ongoing work with the European Council around the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive, including sharing best practice; transposing additional requirements; and representing the UK at the Committee on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure, Sustainable Transport Forum and Government Support Group - Feeding into work on the change in CO2 test procedure from the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) to the Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), specifically on the impact on reported CO2 emissions into various policy areas

Internal reshuffle within the Directorate - different team, same portfolio of work.

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is a team working across government to support the transition to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). They provide support for the take-up of plug in vehicles, as well as funding to support chargepoint infrastructure across the UK. This will contribute to economic growth and will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution on our roads. Specialising in regulation, I was responsible for all aspects of EU-derived legislation impacting the roll-out and standardisation of zero emission vehicles. This included both 'business as usual' roles within the EU framework, as well as initial aspects of the Brexit process. My primary projects have included - - Overseeing the transposition of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive (AFID) - The introduction of a new Governmental Portal to allow vehicle manufacturers to report new CO2 emissions figures, following the change from the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) test procedure to the Worldwide harmonised Light-vehicle Test Protocol (WLTP) - The continual development of the UK's position during EU CO2 regulations negotiations in Brussels - Initial development for the creation of domestic CO2 regulations post-Brexit

Kevin Foster was elected at the 2015 General Election as the MP for Torbay in South Devon. Since being elected, Kevin fought, and won, many local campaigns, including securing Legion d'Honneur Awards for a number of local Normandy veterans, campaigning against local train cuts; the closure of Paignton Hospital, and against private car parking fines. Kevin also sat on the Backbench Business Committee; the prestigious Public Account Committee; and was the most active Conservative MP of the 2015 intake in the House before becoming a Minister in the Welsh Office, and then Home Office. Key responsibilities included: - Analysing, evaluating and interpreting data to ensure the Member is accurately informed on key issues - Developing and maintaining knowledge of bills, Early Day Motions, legislation, Hansard, debates etc. - Diary management - Ensure the Member is fully briefed on potential questions and motions to be put to the House - Give advice on policy issues - Monitor media coverage and brief the Member on relevant issues - Preparing briefing notes for committees, press releases, parliamentary questions etc. - Progressing casework as required - Providing generalist admin support - Responding to routine correspondence and enquiries - Supervising and training staff members Kevin has since been promoted to Minister for Future Borders and Immigration within the Home Office.

A 1st line service desk analyst, I acted as the first point of contact for any IRIS customer that was experiencing technical difficulties with their software. Overseeing ten different products, I was tasked with resolving at least 90% of issues immediately, or using the in-house call monitoring software to log any issues that could not be resolved. In supporting so many different products, I was also tasked with training new members of staff in various areas, including technical skills when using the software; more advanced techniques such as SQL lookups and editing; customer service skills; demonstrating products when introducing staff to new pieces of software and UK payroll legislation.

Located in the Catskill Mountains 2 hours north of New York City, Frost Valley YMCA is the second largest YMCA camp in the United States, with a focus on child development and environmental protection. As Tween Director, I oversaw all programming for 11-12 year olds as part of the Day Camp programme, one of the most successful such programmes in the United States. Alongside working with the children and parents to ensure that the programme being delivered includes the activities that they require, I also worked with Day Camp senior management to ensure that the day-to-day management of the Day Camp programme runs smoothly; overall senior management to ensure that programmes organisation-wide did not clash; ran tours with families who were thinking about sending their children to Frost Valley for the first time; helped to train a staff of 25 senior and junior counselors; and met with other outside guests such as the USA YMCA governing body and visiting management from other YMCA camps who were either inspecting or looking to see how the camp is run. I also reprised my position from 2014 as an environmental educator, instructing youth groups of varying ages and sizes on environmental issues in a fun and enjoyable setting. Such topic areas included outdoor survival skills; water ecology and discussions about New York and USA water conservation legislation; climate change awareness and nature preservation. Having performed the role previously, I also worked with new members of staff to ensure that they could also deliver high quality, educational programming.

Parliamentary Research Intern to the office of Anne Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot. Key responsibilities included amending, formatting and proof-reading the APPG for Micro-Business submission to the Autumn Statement; researching for and creating a briefing for an Adjournment Debate on Planning Legislation; writing and uploading articles to Anne Marie's website and submitting Parliamentary Questions.

As an environmental educator, I was tasked with instructing multiple youth groups on residential courses as part of the environmental education program. This included, but was not limited to: climate change education; water ecology; nature preservation and outdoor survival skills. Other activities included various teamwork building games and outdoor activities such as nature hikes. The other half of my role, as a day camp senior counselor, included managing and developing the gender-specific program that I had established two years previously. As well as looking after children, I also had to liaise with senior management in order to ensure the successful delivery of the overall day camp program; assist fellow staff in the creation and implementation of their programs; and help to implement a 'pilot project' that had been devised by the USA YMCA governing body, in order to better instil the core values of the YMCA.

As a lead generator, my role focused on business development on behalf of the UK's largest contract and payroll provider to the construction industry, both through generating new business and developing existing leads in a target-based, B2B environment. Beyond pure lead generation, I was also tasked with working with both CPM management and client directors to drive growth in other areas and to develop the business' visibility nationality. Such tasks included developing a comprehensive training plan and knowledge base to be rolled out across the team and developing a targeted UK-wide marketing campaign to drive further growth.

As a member of the day camp staff on site, my role was to develop, implement and manage the creation of a new program designed exclusively for 6-7 year old boys from the local area. As a senior counsellor, whilst I was tasked with working with members of senior management to ensure the smooth running of the program from a logistical aspect, I was also tasked with acting as a positive male role model to the young boys and to ensure that their summer camp experience was as fun, fulfilling and educational as possible.

Working in a large, multi-client call centre environment providing 1st and 2nd line IT and telecommunications solutions to national and international corporations as well as numerous governmental clients.

• Master of Arts in International Relations, with a particular focus on International Political Economy and International Environmental/Climate Change Politics. • Modules taken include: International Political Economy; Globalisation and Governance; Global Environmental Governance and International Climate Change • Dissertation entitled - 'Is UK biofuel policy fit for purpose, and is Europeanisation or British policy appraisal to blame?' • Silver medal winner at the British University Championships as part of the University of Birmingham Athletics Club

• Final year modules studied: Europe in a Globalised World; Contemporary US Foreign and Security Policy; European Security; Global Governance. • Dissertation entitled 'To what extent, and for what reasons, has Britain failed to keep up with the environmental efforts of Denmark and Germany? A comparative study.' • Other subjects studied include: International Political Economy; International Relations Theory; Political Analysis and Research Methods. • Bronze Medal Winner and 2- time finalist at the British University Championships as part of the University of Birmingham Athletics Club • Accommodation Management Group member, a committee made up of students, student union officers and university housing staff, to ensure that a £100m+ budget was invested in such a way that students' needs and business considerations were balanced. • Award-winning residents' association committee member, athletics club committee member, Guild Councillor and Students' Union Vice President candidate