Tara Schmidt

Board Advisor | Managing Director | Consulting Partner | Advancing the transition toward a more sustainable, resilient, inclusive economy

United Kingdom

About

With 25+ years of experience spanning the global energy, infrastructure and finance industries, I offer strategic guidance to organisations navigating the complexities of the transition to a more sustainable, resilient, inclusive economy. Having served as a managing director, board member, consulting partner, and C-suite consultant, I specialise in energy transition, corporate strategy, sustainable finance, climate tech, and resilience initiatives. Over the past decade, I have advised leading financial institutions and global energy companies in transition strategy delivery. Equally, I have extensive expertise in place-based solutions at a local level, having held a breadth of advisory roles across government, supply chain, SMEs, and third sector. I have a broad knowledge of global markets, with hands-on work experience across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, UK and USA. I have worked across both the energy value chain and sustainable finance investment lifecycle, spanning renewable power to fossil fuel extraction, venture capital to institutional investment, energy supply and demand, climate mitigation and adaptation, the interplay with the Sustainable Development Goals and integration with nature based solutions. I am a compelling C-suite advisor committed to providing insightful, practical support for organisations, drawing on my multifaceted career in energy transition as an engineer, analyst, business developer, strategist and banker. As a passionate advocate seeking to advance financing for a more sustainable economy, I welcome opportunities to support organisations on this journey.

Experience

  • Mission Board Member at Zero Waste Scotland
    Feb 2026 - Present · 5 mos

    The ZWS Mission Board is a sector owned, sector driven board that mobilises leaders from industry, academia, and the public sector to help unlock the value of the materials already embedded in Scotland’s energy system, by increasing reuse, refurbishment, and remanufacturing capacity at home.

  • Executive Director & Board Member at Transition Finance Scotland
    Mar 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

    Leading the launch of this new venture with 40+ policy, finance and real economy partners, to unlock investment for Scotland’s transition to a more sustainable, resilient, inclusive economy through delivery of innovative financial solutions for advancing green infrastructure, scaling-up low-carbon technologies and transitioning the supply chain.

  • Scotland Director at Green Finance Institute
    Jul 2025 - Present · 1 yr

    Transition Finance Scotland has integrated into the Green Finance Institute group, as its place-based mission for Scotland.

  • Group Member & Sustainable Finance Advisor at Scotland Climate Emergency Response Group (CERG)
    Sep 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 10 mos

    CERG is a collective of climate leaders spanning Scotland’s private, public and third sectors, delivery organisations and membership bodies. The group draws on its wide-ranging expertise to help inform Scottish Government’s response to the climate emergency by providing practical, workable solutions that can be implemented today.

  • Global Head & Senior Vice President of Decarbonisation at Wood
    Nov 2024 - Jan 2025 · 3 mos

    Returned upon executive request to lead decarbonisation strategy and grow sustainable revenue streams across Wood’s global energy supply chain business with 35,000 staff in 60+ countries. Resigned shortly after returning, upon identifying and immediately seeking to address gaps in corporate governance, which have since been made public.