Kelo Uchendu: the rising star of decarbonisation

Turning student climate action into real-world change

Recognised in the prestigious ENDS Power List 2026 as one of the 100 most influential and impactful environmental professionals, carbon consultant Kelo talks about his career evolution from mechanical engineering into decarbonisation and what the ENDS award means to him.

Give us a brief summary of your role

As part of the decarbonisation and energy transition team, based in Bristol, my role is all about supporting clients with major infrastructure decarbonisation and city-scale energy transition. That means helping to develop local area energy plans for local authorities, city councils and combined authorities, to help them decarbonise their operations and achieve their sustainability and net zero goals.

Why did you choose your career path?

My background is in mechanical engineering, but towards the end of my degree I realised that climate change is one of the defining challenges of our generation. I’ve always believed that the main concern of all technical and engineering effort should be to serve mankind and we should never forget that in our diagrams and equations.

That belief led me into a lot of work around youth engagement in climate action. While I was at university in Nigeria, I founded the Gray2Green Movement to improve climate literacy among students and raise the visibility of student-led sustainability action. After graduating, I moved to the UK to study science and technology policy at the University of Sussex and joined Mott MacDonald as a graduate consultant in 2023.

My climate advocacy led me to become a member of the United Nations Technology Executive Committee, working at the interface between policy and science. I’m also a GEO-7 Fellow, one of 287 experts from 82 countries who contributed to the publication of the Global Environment Outlook, the UN Environment Programme’s flagship publication that reviews the state and direction of the global environment. This offers an integrated assessment of the drivers of environmental change, the current state of the environment, the effectiveness of policy responses and options for achieving different possible futures in the medium to long term.

What inspired you to join Mott MacDonald?

I first came across Mott MacDonald in 2021 when I visited the UK for COP26 in Glasgow. I was at a fringe event and one of the panellists was from Mott MacDonald. I was impressed by the depth of their knowledge and real‑world experience. Not long after, I came across an interview with former chair Mike Haigh and something he said – the idea that your skills can make a difference – really stayed with me.

Moving from Nigeria to the UK was definitely an experience though! From visiting Glasgow, I knew the weather might be a shock but knowing that and actually living here are two very different things. I genuinely thought I had prepared well and brought what I thought was a winter coat. Once I arrived, I soon realised that, by UK standards, it was a light summer jacket. That sums up that whole period for me – I was constantly learning as I went along and found that I could rely on my colleagues to help me out.

What does being an ENDS Power List Rising Star mean to you?

The award from ENDS Report means a lot to me – it's a highly respected publication in the environmental sector. I felt genuinely surprised and very grateful to even be nominated. A lot of the work we do in this space happens behind the scenes, so to have that recognised was really humbling. It also made me reflect on the people I’ve worked with along the way, because their support has played a big part in that journey.

Being on the list also highlights how important it is to keep pushing forward on net zero and the role early-career professionals can play in shaping that. As a Rising Star, I’m keen to build on that momentum. If this recognition encourages more people to get involved in tackling climate challenges, that’s something I’d be really proud of.

What are some of the most exciting or innovative projects you’ve been trusted to lead or contribute to at Mott MacDonald that helped you get recognised by ENDS?

Leading the delivery of the Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire and Bolsover Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) stands out for me. It was part of a wider programme of LAEPs across the Midlands and I was responsible for leading stakeholder engagement, scenario modelling and helping local communities define a vision for their local energy system.

What I really like about LAEPs is that they take a place-based approach. It starts with the strengths, opportunities and constraints in a local area and builds a plan that feels collectively owned by the people who will actually use it. That was also one of the biggest challenges, because you’re working with a lot of different stakeholders with different priorities. A big part of my role was helping to build consensus and make sure people felt they had genuinely shaped the outcome. Seeing your work helping to influence decisions and leave communities better off is very rewarding.

What does a typical day look like for you at Mott MacDonald and how do you find opportunities to excel in your role?

No two days are the same and that’s one of the things I enjoy most about the role. I could be working with NHS trusts, government clients, local authorities or design teams in other disciplines to make sure sustainability and net zero principles are properly embedded in their work. That might mean finalising a report, working through technical analysis or preparing a presentation to share knowledge with early career professionals across the business. I also get involved in outreach with students to help them understand the variety of environmental jobs that exist across different sectors. Being able to talk about those pathways and help someone see where they might fit is something I really enjoy.

What resources or support at Mott MacDonald have been most beneficial to your growth?

I’ve had a lot of support, particularly around the chartership process with the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals. Before my professional review interview, I had mock interviews with colleagues who had already been through the process and that made a real difference to me successfully achieving Chartered Environmentalist status last year.

I’ve also been mentored by more senior colleagues which has helped me think through my development and future direction. What stands out most to me is that people are willing to help. If you know what you want to work towards, there is always support available to help you get there.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start their career at Mott MacDonald?

One thing I’ve found is that Mott MacDonald rewards initiative. If you take up a challenge, there is always support there to help you navigate it. So, my advice would be to ask questions, take initiative and don’t hold yourself back from opportunities that help you grow.