Cool Heating Coalition celebrated a landmark moment on Tuesday, 30 September, hosting a handover party in Brussels to bid farewell to founding director Delia Villagrasa and welcome her successor, Tom Vasseur. The event, held at Kamilou Arts Loi, brought together coalition members, partners, and friends from across Europe’s heating and cooling community.
Celebrating a founding director
After nearly three years leading the coalition, Delia Villagrasa is stepping down as director. Since helping to establish CHC in 2022, she has guided the organisation through its formative years, ensuring that the often-overlooked issue of heating and cooling gained traction on the European climate agenda.
In a heartfelt speech, Villagrasa reflected on the coalition’s journey and the community that has grown around it: “Today is a pretty emotional day for me. Leaving CHC feels like leaving family! … After almost three years of working on heating and cooling, this issue will stay with me in the future.”
She also looked back at the coalition’s earliest days, recalling the initial conversations and collaborations that gave CHC its momentum. What started as a handful of discussions in 2022 has since evolved into a recognised voice in European energy policy, forging partnerships with NGOs, clean businesses, and policymakers.
Welcoming a New Chapter
Taking the helm is Tom Vasseur, formerly CHC’s senior policy officer. Vasseur has played a central role in shaping the coalition’s policy work and engagement over recent years.
In his remarks, Vasseur paid tribute to his predecessor while looking ahead to the challenges of the coming decade. “Your leadership and dedication have been instrumental in putting this coalition on the map in no time. Under your guidance, we have gone in two years from a new-kid-on-the-block to a catalyser of the heating and cooling community in EU energy policy.”
Vasseur also underscored the scale of the work still to be done. Studies show that even if the EU reaches its mandatory renewable energy targets, the rate of deployment in heating and cooling will need to triple to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Yet, he struck an optimistic note, pointing out that ordinary citizens increasingly see the sense and opportunity of the energy transition once barriers such as high electricity prices are removed.
A community effort
The evening also heard from Davide Sabbadin, CHC chair and deputy policy manager for climate and energy at the European Environmental Bureau, who praised Villagrasa for her vision and dedication, and welcomed Vasseur’s appointment at a pivotal moment for the coalition.
As the event concluded, both leaders emphasised the importance of community, collaboration, and persistence. With gratitude for its founding director and confidence in its new leader, the Cool Heating Coalition looks ahead to its next chapter — determined to accelerate the shift to decarbonised, renewable, and affordable heating and cooling across Europe.