Sustainable Business:
to m p a k e n h a m
Wind farms, hydrogen,
electric cars, biofuels,
tidal-energy systems
and operators all
over the world are
moving fast to meet
one of the world’s
greatest challenges,
the transition to a
zero-carbon economy.
32 The Wykeham Journal 2019
I
t is an exciting time to be an innovator in
the energy industry, and a real pleasure to
have the chance to interview an OW working
at the cutting edge of this new energy revolution.
Tom Pakenham (G, 1990-95), is the
founder of Green Tomato Cars (electric
taxis), Green Tomato Energy (low energy
use buildings), and now part of the senior
management team at OVO Energy (smart
renewable energy systems). He left Win Coll
with A-levels in Economics, History and
German before studying History at Cambridge,
where he dabbled in film production before
converting to Law and joining Slaughter &
May as a corporate lawyer in London. Unable
to put aside a nagging concern that everyone
should take personal responsibility to protect
and sustain our natural environment, he jacked
in the law and, at 29 years of age decided to
‘do something’ that would make a difference.
His focus, from that point onwards, has been
the way we consume energy.
I start off by asking him whether his time
at Winchester College influenced his later
convictions. He has clearly given this some
careful thought. ‘Win Coll comes at education
and enlightening its boys around social justice in
a different way from other schools. It challenges
you not just to think about how you would
be successful in a narrow way’, he says. ‘I have
often made the observation that the Trusty
Servant, as a symbol of the school, is service.
It reinforces the message that we are here to
serve others. And that is what sustainability
is — it’s about service to others, service to other
species, and to the planet. The teaching you get
there encourages that — it’s not just lip service.’
Beyond this, he points to a broader
contribution, the idea that Wykehamists are
encouraged not to conform. ‘Wykehamists
are kind of outsiders — sort of on the fringe —
and that encourages thoughtfulness. It is
perpetuated by the tolerance of, or encouragement
of, quirkiness. You are not forced to be a
certain type of person at the school.’
I am quite sure that this had an impact
on Tom. He is articulate and unafraid to take
a passionate and unbending position when it
comes to our personal responsibilities on the
environmental crisis we are facing. It is an