Virginia has extensive experience in sustainable energy policy. As well as running the Scheme, she also advises a range of organisations in the public and private sectors on issues such as energy efficiency, renewable energy and CO2 emissions trading. She is the Chair of Global Action Plan, the practical environmental charity, and a Trustee of National Energy Action and Eaga Charitable Trust, a grant-giving body which promotes research into fuel poverty and energy efficiency.

For six years to the end of 2005 Virginia was Director or Environmental and Social Affairs at Ofgem. Part of her remit was to administer Government Climate Change programmes including EEC, RO and CCL exemptions for renewables and CHP. With a background in politics and economics, Virginia has specialised in consumer, social and environmental policy for most of her career, working in both the UK and the EU.