OUR TEAM — Synergy Growth

Steve Brooks - Founder

Steve Brooks, has a background in engineering as well as many years of experience in business as an entrepreneur and investor. He sits on the board of Synergy providing additional focus on business strategy as well as having established some of our key relationships with co-investors and investee companies.

Steve is an avid explorer and helicopter pilot who has set new records. In 2001, Steve designed and drove the world’s ﬁrst land based vehicle across the Bering Strait from America to Russia and in 2004 he became the ﬁrst person to ﬂy a helicopter from pole to pole. Involved in property development and investment since 1987 when he jointly founded the Boultbee Group, Steve now chairs BoultbeeLDN a property investment, management and development company with a portfolio of residential, office, and retail property, primarily in London.

Steve and his wife Joanna are principals of the Brooks Foundation, a charitable body created to support organisations who promote wellbeing and positive social change. Steve is also joint owner of the Boultbee Flight Academy based at Goodwood, which trains pilots to ﬂy vintage aircraft including a fully restored two-seater Mark IX Vickers Supermarine Spitﬁre.

Nat Billington - Founder

Cambridge Computer Science graduate, Nat Billington was Founder of bespoke software development business, KBW Consulting that created digital information solutions for Majestic Films, Intermedia, Video Arts, BBC, Associated Newspapers, UK University Admissions, Vetstream and British Airways. This grew into a digital agency with over 200 staff and exited with a trade sale in 2005 to form LBi. Nat then became Managing Director of Map of Medicine, responsible for early stage business growth, product development and sales for that health information business which was acquired by Hearst Corporation in 2008.

Nat was a Trustee of the Longford Trust, offering higher education to ex-prisoners; and a Member of Isiqalo Foundation, using sport to help vulnerable youth in South Africa's townships.

Sadly, Nat passed away peacefully on 1st of September 2015 after living with lymphoma with great courage and dignity for more than a year. Nat leaves Synergy Energy a great legacy. He was an immense inspiration to all our portfolio companies and the business leaders we have invested in. The Synergy team strives to preserve and advance his vision for a better, cleaner future.

Heather Darnell - Finance Director

Heather ensures rigorous financial control and planning as well as creatively planning the commercial future of Synergy. Heather has worked in Canada then in the US and the UK in both Finance and IT for the world’s largest affinity marketing company. From Financial Analyst to IT Director to Chief Information Officer to Operations Director, her career has spanned all areas of the back office of an organisation.

In 1998 Heather moved to London where she met her future husband on her first day of work. Heather volunteers with Young Enterprise and Teach First and is an obsessive football supporter. She keeps as fit as her heroes by running round London with her laptop.

Kim Vale - Investment Manager

Kim was part of the founding team of Synergy and was a Board Observer since its inception, later becoming a Board Director in 2015 and now, most recently, has taken up the role of Investment Manager.

In her capacity as Director and Group Business Manager for private investment house SB Squared Holding, Kim also manages the family office of Synergy Founder Steve Brooks.

Kim is a mentor for The Girls Network, a charity which creates mentoring relationships between professional women and girls from the least advantaged communities.

During her spare time Kim can be found with her husband, chasing their toddler around London.