Megan Monkman: edie’s 30 Under 30 Star at Tower Hamlets 2026

Key Points

• Edie’s 30 Under 30 initiative is a nomination-based community recognising 30 talented sustainability and net-zero professionals under 30 who are driving the sustainability agenda and building a better future.
• Megan Monkman, sustainable energy & water officer at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, is profiled in this new series that shares stories and successes of these young professionals.
• Monkman recently joined Tower Hamlets’ sustainability team after four years as an energy and carbon analyst at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
• She has a background in making things for others, including sewing, paper craft, woodwork, drawing, singing, photography, coding, and writing.
• Monkman describes herself as “neurospicy” due to dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, and autism, which informs her strong sense of right and wrong.
• Learning about fossil fuel emissions in school led her to pursue Energy Engineering at Exeter University in Cornwall after A-Levels.
• At university, she ran a choir, joined the debate club, wrote essays intensely, and completed internships in remote sensing and at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.
• Her biggest career achievement at BAS was championing the first public release of BAS’s full carbon footprint, moving beyond UKRI’s footprint that excluded most Scope 3 emissions and overseas activity under Greening Government Commitments.
• With colleague Natalia Ford, she authored a briefing on transparency and greenwashing risks, presented to working groups and executives, leading to policy changes at BAS, NERC, and UKRI.
• She developed and led BAS’s first Carbon Literacy training, resulting in one-third of staff certified and each participant creating a workplace action plan embedding decarbonisation across departments like finance and oceanography.
• Personal challenge: Managing ADHD in the workplace, recognising burnout signs, accepting different work styles, and resisting comparison to others.
• Professional challenge: Securing consistent buy-in from senior leadership, as sustainability can be deprioritised amid other pressures, requiring empowerment of colleagues for shared ambitions.

Tower Hamlets (East London Times) February 14, 2026 – Megan Monkman, sustainable energy and water officer at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, has been named in edie’s prestigious 30 Under 30 Class of 2025, spotlighting her as one of the UK’s rising stars in sustainability and net-zero efforts. This nomination-based initiative by edie recognises 30 young professionals under 30 who are delivering impactful work towards low-carbon, resource-efficient economies. Monkman joins the sustainability team at Tower Hamlets after four years at the British Antarctic Survey, where she drove key carbon transparency measures.

Who is Megan Monkman and What is Her Role in Tower Hamlets?

Megan Monkman serves as the sustainable energy and water officer for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, a role she began a few months ago. As profiled in edie’s series, Monkman is part of a community of talented individuals shaping the future of sustainability. The initiative, more than just a list, provides insights into the minds of those leading the charge on environmental agendas.

In her LinkedIn profile, accessible via edie’s feature, Monkman’s transition from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to local government underscores her commitment to policy influence.

“Now I get to help shape policy and so far, I love it,”

Monkman stated in the edie interview.

How Did Megan Monkman Get to Her Current Position?

As reported by edie staff in their 30 Under 30 series, Monkman shared her journey:

“I have always liked making things, especially if the things I am making are for other people. This is a broad category of tasks but the things I like to make have always changed and cycled. I love sewing, paper craft, woodwork, drawing, but also things like singing, photography, coding, writing.”

She continued, explaining her personal traits: “I also have a very strong sense of right and wrong; I have dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism, so I’m what some would describe as neurospicy.” This realisation came when she learnt about fossil fuel emissions in school.

“It felt obvious that we needed new ways to make energy,”

she noted.

Following A-Levels, which she called “the most stressful period of my life,” Exeter University accepted her for Energy Engineering in Cornwall. “I loved university, I learnt so much – both in terms of engineering, but also my interpersonal skills,” Monkman recounted. She ran a choir, joined the debate club, wrote essays in intense 24-hour stints just before deadlines, and secured two internships: one in remote sensing and another at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.

After numerous rejections, she landed the role of Energy and Carbon Analyst at BAS, where she stayed for four years. “I loved working for the BAS,” she affirmed.

What Are Megan Monkman’s Biggest Career Achievements?

Monkman highlighted her pivotal role at BAS as her top achievement.

“Raising and championing the first public release of BAS’s full carbon footprint. Previously, BAS relied on being covered by UKRI’s footprint; however, that excluded most Scope 3 emissions and overseas activity under Greening Government Commitments,”

she explained in the edie profile.

As detailed in the interview,

“I authored a briefing on transparency and greenwashing risks and, with my colleague Natalia Ford, presented it to working groups and the executive. This led to a policy change at BAS and set a precedent that was subsequently adopted by both NERC and UKRI.”

Additionally,

“I’m also proud of my work on Carbon Literacy. I developed and led the BAS’s first Carbon Literacy training, which had ripple effects across the organisation, as every participant creates a workplace action plan to embed decarbonisation into their work, from finance to oceanography. One-third of the organisation’s staff are now certified.”

These accomplishments demonstrate Monkman’s influence in pushing institutional accountability and training, as covered comprehensively by edie.

What Challenges Has Megan Monkman Faced?

Monkman addressed personal hurdles candidly.

“On a personal level, learning how to manage ADHD in the workplace and recognise the signs of burnout. I used to push myself far beyond my limits because the work feels urgent and important, but I’ve learned that I can only contribute meaningfully if I protect my well-being,”

she shared.

She added, “Accepting that I may need to work differently from others, and resisting the instinct to compare myself, has been important, but is still difficult.”

Professionally, she noted,

“One of the biggest challenges has been securing consistent buy-in from senior leadership. Sustainability can be deprioritised when other pressures arise, which can leave teams feeling unsure about dedicating time to the issue.”

Monkman emphasised collective effort:

“Achieving our sustainability goals relies on all of us recognising the positive impact we can make through everyday decisions and ways of working, and empowering colleagues to realise their full potential in contributing to this shared ambition.”

Why Does Edie’s 30 Under 30 Matter for Sustainability?

Edie’s annual 30 Under 30 initiative, as introduced in their series,

“shines a spotlight on talented sustainability and net-zero professionals under 30 who are delivering on efforts to build a better future and showing fantastic promise for their future potential.”

The regular series shares stories beyond the list, offering readers insight into future leaders.

Monkman’s inclusion aligns with Tower Hamlets’ focus on sustainability, particularly in energy and water management, amid East London’s environmental pressures. Her move to the borough positions her to influence local policy directly.

How Does Monkman’s Background Shape Her Work?

Monkman’s diverse interests in crafting and creative pursuits, combined with her neurodiversity, fuel her drive. Her university experiences built technical and soft skills, while BAS honed her advocacy. In Tower Hamlets, these converge to address real-world sustainability challenges.

No additional coverage from other media titles was identified in recent searches, making edie’s profile the primary source. All statements are attributed directly to Monkman as quoted in edie’s feature.

What’s Next for Sustainability Leaders Like Monkman?

Monkman’s story exemplifies the blend of personal resilience and professional impact needed in sustainability. Her policy role in Tower Hamlets could influence borough-wide initiatives on energy efficiency and water conservation. As part of edie’s class, she represents a new generation committed to transparency and decarbonisation.