In 1972 Jackie graduated from University College London with a mechanical engineering degree. After an 8-year career break raising two lovely daughters, she became a chartered mechanical engineer in 1987, and then the most senior woman engineer in Brown and Root, managing large projects. In 1995 she helped found the charity Energy21, and was MD for ten years, promoting community renewable energy. She was President of the Women’s Engineering Society from 2002-03 and a judge for Clear Skies 2004-06. Jackie’s Stroud cottage ran on 100% renewable energy. In 2007 she moved to Cornwall to help create a new sustainable community, Trelay Cohousing Community. She is a freelance writer, speaker and consultant, passionate about the Transition to a resilient energy and local food era – and an enthusiastic granny.