The Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership (ZCOP) held its Annual General Meeting and Climate Collaboration Forum at Blenheim Palace, bringing together over 80 organisations and partners to reflect on progress, share insights, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
This year’s AGM was particularly significant as it marked our first since expanding from a city-focused partnership to a county-wide initiative, a milestone in building the cross-sector collaboration Oxfordshire needs to accelerate progress towards net zero.
Setting the Scene
The day opened with remarks from Philip Sharman, ZCOP’s new Chair, alongside our hosts at Blenheim Palace. Philip reflected on how transformative the past year has been for the Partnership, with more than 30 active partners and growing support across Oxfordshire. He emphasised the urgency of sustained climate action, particularly as impacts intensify, and underlined the importance of extending engagement to rural areas and new sectors.
Morning sessions reviewed ZCOP’s achievements, challenges, and ambitions for the next two years. We also heard from:
- Katie King and Marcus Jones (Aether), who presented the latest picture of Oxfordshire’s emissions profile.
- Zoe MacAlpine and Emma Peet (Climate Outreach), who shared insights from Britain Talks Climate & Nature 2025, providing valuable tools for organisations to engage staff, customers, and communities in meaningful climate conversations.
Connecting & Collaborating
Collaboration and relationship-building were at the heart of the event. Attendees took part in speed networking, making new connections and exchanging ideas with partners old and new.
The afternoon saw an energetic Climate World Café, facilitated by Tara Bryer (The Connectives), which invited participants to explore shared priorities and opportunities for joint action. The discussions generated valuable insights that will help shape ZCOP’s collective work in the months ahead.
Partner Highlights & Panel
The Forum concluded with inspiring partner presentations and a panel chaired by Sarah Gilbert (Oxfordshire County Council), featuring:
- Roy Cox, Blenheim Palace – embedding sustainable land management across a historic estate and visitor destination.
- Wendy Cheeseman, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – mobilising staff engagement to tackle emissions.
- Maria Pawlicka, Cherwell District Council – leading on low-carbon waste collection through the adoption of HVO fuel for heavy vehicles.
The day closed with informal networking on the Blenheim Palace rooftop, offering a memorable backdrop for new collaborations to take shape.
What’s next for ZCOP
The AGM also provided a platform to preview upcoming events and opportunities over the next three months for partners to stay involved:
- Satellite data opportunities for net zero
- Residential retrofit roundtable for landlords
- Supporting school work experience for sustainability careers
- Energy Managers Forum
- Green lease delivery: legal considerations
- Visitor travel roundtable
Each of these events will build on the conversations started at the Forum, equipping partners with knowledge, tools, and connections to advance their sustainability ambitions.
Continuing the journey
ZCOP exists to connect leaders and organisations across sectors, pool expertise and resources, and spark collaborations that deliver faster climate progress. Our annual AGM is a cornerstone of that mission, providing space for honest reflection, bold ideas, and new partnerships.
We thank all of our partners and participants for their contributions and look forward to continuing the journey together.
