Founders Biographies

Michael R Ashburn, Bsc

Mike Ashburn is chairman of the company and one of the founders of ClearWorld Energy. Mike has lived in Asia since 1986 and in Beijing since 1999, focused throughout on the energy and infrastructure sectors. In 1996, he co-founded Peak Pacific Investment Company, one of the most successful foreign investors in China’s electric power sector, and served as COO of the company, developing and managing ten Chinese joint venture power companies. Prior to this he was VP of Business Development for the Ipco Group, Singapore’s leading developer, EPC contractor and investor in infrastructure. Within Asia and specifically China, his career has comprised: General management, Infrastructure project development, Electric power technology, M&A in China, Construction contracting, Fund raising.

For ClearWorld Energy, Mike focuses on strategic development and co-ordination of the company’s various businesses ensuring consistent management and maximum synergies. In addition Mike serves as a director of Camco International, Camco Beijing and ESD Sinosphere.

Dr. Alex Westlake, PhD, BSc, CEng, MIEE

Dr. Alex Westlake is Managing Director and one of the founders of ClearWorld Energy. Alex is based permanently in Beijing, where he has worked since 1998. Alex has ten year’s experience in renewable energy technology development and the utility sector both in UK and Asia, with firms PowerGen (UK, now E.On) and IT Power (UK). Alex has a PhD in Wind Energy and is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Alex is considered to be a leading expert in clean energy and the Clean Development Mechanism in China. Alex was integral to the development of China’s first CDM project – the Huitengxile Windfarm Project, which is also the first wind project to be registered globally and has developed new CDM methodologies for energy efficiency and coal bed methane utilisation.

Since the founding of Camco International, Alex has served as director and Chief Operating Officer as well as Managing Director of the China business unit. Alex was a member of the management team which achieved a public listing for Camco in 2006.

Liu Rong, BE, MBA

Liu Rong is CFO of ClearWorld Energy and manages accounting, cash management, banking and forecasting functions. After graduating with a BE from Central University of Finance and Banking Liu Rong joined KPMG where she worked in the audit department in both Beijing and Singapore. During this time she obtained her MBA degree from Dubuque University, Iowa, USA. Liu Rong joined Peak Pacific Investment Company in 1998 and led that company’s program to access loan funding from Chinese banks, successfully obtaining over USD 100 million in loan funding for a series of cogeneration power plants. She has carried out due diligence on Chinese companies as well as establishing and running accounting and cash management systems.

Senior Management

Kent J Carter, BASc

Kent Carter is Managing Director of CWEV and one of the founders of the company. He has more than 25 years international experience, primarily in project development and investment. He has lived in Asia since 1989 and in China since 1999.

Before joining CWEV, Kent was a Senior Vice President Peak Pacific Investment Company in Beijing, where he had overall responsibility for building the company’s portfolio of energy assets. With Peak Pacific he evaluated hundreds of conventional thermal and renewable energy projects in China, and negotiated and closed 6 joint ventures with total investment in excess of US$150 million.

Prior to coming to China, he was with one of SE Asia’s leading infrastructure development, construction and investment firms, where he was involved in securing and completing contracts totaling more than US$600m value in the oil & gas, power, water supply and transportation sectors.

At CWEV, in addition to setting the company’s overall strategic direction, Kent is actively involved in assessing and negotiating investment opportunities and liaising with funding partners.

Hannah Routh, MPhys MSc

Hannah is Managing Director of ESD SINOSPHERE, a new company formed when ESD and Clearworld Energy jointly took over the existing environmental consulting business of Sinosphere in early 2007. She graduated in Physics with French and holds a Masters degree in Environmental Management from the UK EIA Centre at the University of Manchester. She has ten years experience in international energy and environmental consultancy. She has extensive experience of project management across a variety of sectors. Most recently, she was responsible for implementation of the UK Government’s major annual public sector Carbon Management Programme for the Carbon Trust. This programme involved 45 Local Authorities and 20 universities. Hannah spent two years as ESD’s UK Business Development Manager prior to coming to China.

Hannah was formerly Director of the Renewable Energy Association of Swaziland (REASWA), where she was responsible for capacity building and project management for this African NGO. Here she was responsible for assisting renewable energy companies to enter the Southern African market, through market research and support. Prior to this, she was an Associate with Whitby Bird and Partners Engineers, where she managed a team of engineers and consultants, in the field of sustainable construction and renewable energy. She led a number of European Research and Development projects relating to renewable and sustainable energy, including RESURGENCE and the Major Demonstration Programme for Photovoltaics.

Henri de Branche, BA, MSc

Henri de Branche joined Clearworld Energy in 2007 as Director of New Ventures, after spending 3 years as the Managing Director of Sinosphere building up their environmental and social consulting business. He successfully supported international organizations, multinational and Chinese corporations and financial institutions through their development in China. Prior to this Henri worked for Total’s chemical branch (Arkema) as an environmental officer dealing with compliance of their facilities in China.

At Clearworld Henri investigates promising new technologies and business opportunities and directs the company's Corporate Social Responsibility program. Henri is a fluent Mandarin speaker and has developed a network of relationships in China’s business and governmental circles.