Mr Verlaque will oversee and support all technical matters and functions of the SIA, supporting the chair, secretary general and all SIA members.  Within his role Mr Verlaque will liaise with government departments, devolved administrations and other trade organisations, manage research projects, and monitor and advise on legislation and regulatory developments. He will also support the clearSkies scheme, an independent emissions and energy performance certification mark for solid fuel stoves and fireplaces initiated by the SIA.
 
Mr Verlaque has many years’ experience in the combustion industry, starting his career as a graduate trainee at the Coal Research Establishment (CRE) of British Coal.  He has since worked across the board, from analytical and test laboratories to advising on strategic energy policy, and played a key role in the transformation of CRE into a private commercial business.  He helped implement the joint venture with Gastec NV and established the gas appliance laboratory which expanded to include oil and solid fuel appliance testing as well as offering consultancy services.  

Commenting on his new role he said: “I am very pleased to continue to work with the membership of the SIA, promoting wood burning stoves as a clean, sustainable and low carbon source of heating.  A wood burning stove not only has excellent environmental credentials but also has other benefits  such as energy security and wellbeing.  In the integrated low carbon energy future a variety of primary and secondary heating technologies will be vital and modern woodburning stoves will play an important part in that low carbon future, complementing other renewable technologies.”
 
Morley Sage, chair of the SIA, added: “We are delighted to welcome James to the team, where he will be working alongside myself, Erica Malkin, the SIA’s secretary general and all of our members as we continue to deliver on our core objectives in support of the SIA’s mission to explain and promote the many benefits and environmental advantages of stoves as heating appliances.”