Luca Mansi

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in London, UK from Italian parents. I studied Mechanical Engineering and completed my Masters at Brunel University in London. From university I worked for BAE Systems for 7 years and moved around the UK. I've lived in London, Preston, Manchester and Northampton and worked across the world, India, Australia & Saudi Arabia. I always like to learn new things so I’ve worked across multiple sectors, Automotive, Aerospace, Defence and IT service management. I moved to Ireland a year and a half ago so that my son was closer to family (my wife is Irish).

Where did you work prior to joining CoolPlanet?

I worked for Digital Intelligence within BAE systems as the Service manager for NetReveal, a Banking and Insurance fraud solution. It taught me a huge amount around IT service management and building client relationships.

Prior to that, I worked for BAE Systems Air for about six years as a project engineer. I worked on fast jets such as the F -35 and Eurofighter Typhoon and a Persistent High Altitude Solar Aircraft (Phasa-35). My role was quite varied, from growth strategy development to project management. My main focus was project managing industrialisation projects such as either bringing concept products to production, setting up new capability or moving advanced manufacturing capability abroad. Prior to BAE Systems, I was a CAD designer for a company called Jankel who design and manufacture a number of military and security vehicles. I designed the doors for two discrete armoured vehicles, Toyota 200 and 76.

What does your job entail?

I work mainly on the Demand Response/DSU side of the business. Again, quite a varied role with business development, financial modelling, supporting securing of finance and operational improvements. My focus at the moment is project managing our asset-backed strategy where we are looking to establish our own generating and battery units to support the stability of the grid while more renewable energy comes online.

What do you enjoy most about working for CoolPlanet?

I came to CoolPlanet because I wanted to move into a different sector. Renewable energy and sustainability is something that I was always passionate about. I completely believe in the vision and mission that CoolPlanet has.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be an astronaut. I still do, but I get really bad motion sickness so that’s not going to happen…

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I try to do as much as I can in my free time. I enjoy renovating properties, refurbishing classic cars and keeping active by mountain biking. I still have my first car, a classic 1986 mini which I refurbished from the age of 15 to 17. It’s gone through numerous rebuilds now (never finished) and now has a 1.8 rover k series engine in it from a lotus elise… it’s fun to drive to say the least, when it’s working!

What are three interesting things about you?

1. I can speak Italian.
2. A number of things I’ve worked on (cars & planes) have appeared in The Avengers films.
3. I was part of a team who built an electric motorbike for the Isle of Man TT Zero Race.

What is your life mantra?

From one of my son's bedtime stories (The Worrysaurus), I'd recommend it to anyone!.. If it’s not a happy ending, it hasn’t ended yet.