LISA KELLY - Operations Manager

Lisa grew up in Liverpool, where hard work and resilience were part of daily life, values that have shaped her from an early age.  Lisa learnt that you don’t need to have everything figured out at school; time, experience, and that the people you meet shape your journey. Lisa said ‘If you follow your interests and what motivates you, the rest will fall into place.’

Lisa’s first job during sixth form was at QVC’s call centre, her first experience of corporate life. It taught her discipline, communication, and problem-solving - skills that Lisa say still serve her today. Lisa joined E.ON over 15 years ago in a sales role, developing, influencing and objection-handling skills.  She was seeking more purpose in her work and moving into energy efficiency and fuel poverty work was a turning point. Lisa pursued roles combining operational delivery with meaningful social impact, gaining experience with schemes like ECO, GBIS, WHD, SHDF, and WHLG, all aimed at tackling fuel poverty and improving home energy efficiency.

Lisa said ‘Leading in the ever-evolving retrofit sector demands strategic thinking, data-driven decisions, and people leadership. I’m currently completing a Senior Leader Apprenticeship and Executive MBA at Nottingham Trent University, consolidating my experience and equipping me to succeed in a male-dominated industry.  I believe confidence, resilience, and authenticity are crucial for women in this field. My advice would be; build strong support networks, challenge bias professionally, and always back yourself – remember that you belong.’

A major career highlight for Lisa was leading the Warm Home Discount obligation, managing multi-million-pound programmes offering efficiency measures and support to vulnerable customers. This role pushed Lisa beyond her comfort zone and demonstrated her leadership potential. She said ‘I’ve faced setbacks, but learnt that growth comes from discomfort and risk-taking.’

Currently, Lisa is an Operations Manager at E.ON in Green Funding Solutions, overseeing activities on large-scale domestic retrofit programmes. She works with local authorities, housing associations, and Government bodies, leading cross-functional teams across Marketing & Engagement, Compliance, and Social Value. Lisa drives customer-focused, compliant delivery aligned with sustainability goals. She also loves visiting project sites, seeing the transformation first-hand, and meeting customers whose lives have been improved.

Reflective practice has become a vital part of Lisa’s leadership growth. She said ‘Initially, I found it hard to prioritise self-reflection amid busy work schedules. However, through my studies, I embedded regular reflection into my routine, which has enhanced both my performance and my team's success.

Looking back, adaptability, resilience, and relationship-building have been key. This sector is complex and fast-moving, balancing delivery, compliance, funding, customer needs, and sustainability. Early mistakes taught me the importance of communication and stakeholder alignment. Looking ahead, I aim to refine strategies and create new partnerships to maximize long-term community impact, and I aspire to help decarbonise a city with tailored, local support.

For anyone starting in this field: stay curious, build strong networks, and never stop learning. It’s a challenging but deeply rewarding industry—and yes, I’d do it all again.’