Strategic Agenda
Powering Prosperity
Achievements - the new system is under construction with 92% of foundation projects completed, but what will the new system look like, why is it an improvement on what has gone before, and how will customers engage with it?
Challenges – despite the pace of delivery some optimal outcomes are yet to be secured. What problems remain and what innovative solutions are out there?
Opportunities - Why is the new energy economy of the UK such an attractive business proposition and who are the investors leading the charge?
DAY ONE
Welcome to GRID-UK
Purpose/objectives for event – “Powering Prosperity”, showcasing achievement, problem solve challenges and opportunities.
Sir Greg Hands
Securing the Energy Economy & Governance
What has the UK government done to make clean power a reality?
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (invited)
The Dynamics of Regulatory Reform
How streamlining regulation is creating an investible energy market.
Akshay Kaul, Director General - Infrastructure, Ofgem
Delivering a secure, affordable and sustainable power grid
New technology from a market leader is supporting faster planning, procurement, and execution of grid projects.
Niklas Persson, CEO Grid Integration, Hitachi Energy
National Grid or National Enterprise?
How National Grid is creating the foundations of the UK’s new economy.
Cordi O’Hara OBE FEI, President, National Grid
Is the North of England energy investment ready?
How Northern Powergrid is looking to power growth across the North of England.
Paul Glendinning, Director of Energy Systems, Northern Powergrid
ICE State of the Nation Energy Report
The ICE has identified the engineering professions as the catalysts for delivering the rewiring of the UK transmission network in their 2026 annual State of the Nation report. In the last two years, ICE has certified thousands of new engineers. Are they finding work and how can the sister engineering disciplines collaborate to produce multi-disciplinary professionals the industry needs.
David Porter, President, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
Eastern & Western Green Links
Are undersea cables more efficient for HV transmission than land-based infrastructure? What lessons have been learned from the first installations?
Matt Barton, Portfolio Director, SP Energy Networks
Transforming the Grid: Delivering Scotland’s clean energy future
Featuring insights from the pioneering EGL2 and EGL3 joint venture projects, that demonstrates how collaboration, innovation and a projected £29 bn investment are accelerating the delivery of critical grid infrastructure across Scotland, offering a unique perspective on the scale of ambition required to build the network needed for a net zero future.
Ricky Saez, Director of Programmes & Project Services, SSEN
New Projects Pipeline
The Government’s Infrastructure Pipeline provides an overview of planned infrastructure projects across the UK. Energy projects – including electricity network investments – represent a significant proportion of the over £750bn investment that is expected over the next 10 years. The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) is working to support investors and the supply chain to seize the opportunity across the country, including through greater spatial planning of infrastructure.
David Lunn, Director of Market Engagement, NISTA
Access for all? Procurement & Supply Chain
The unparallelled investment in the UK’s energy infrastructure is a unique opportunity to engage businesses large and small across the UK creating demand for locally sourced goods & services. How are contract costs being reconciled to generate social value outcomes?
Nicolas Pitrat, CEO, Brush Group
Rob Gilbert, Supply Chain Director, Great British Energy
Pinder Kang, CRO, OCU Group
Pierre Gerbeaud, Partner, Tikehau Capital
Iain Smith, Strategy Director, Balfour Beatty
The role of AI in a decarbonising energy system
How is AI being deployed in the new decarbonised energy system and how resilient is it likely to be?
Rich Hampshire, SVP, CGI
Steven Steer, Senior Consultant, Zuhlke
Camilla Winlo, Global Head of Data Protection, Talan
Carol Yan, General Manager - Energy, AWS
Facilitating Customer Engagement & Implications for the Retail Market
With customer energy debt on the rise, how can we protect vulnerable customers and cut consumer bills?
Chris Norbury, CEO, E.ON Next
Adam Scorer, CEO, National Energy Action
Understanding the potential of flexibility
There are many ways of managing energy needs and controlling costs. Utilising flexibility systems and technologies is one of the most accessible ways of achieving this. This session provides insight into what flexibility is and how you as an energy user can benefit.
Cathy McClay, NGED/UK Flexibility Commissioner
Guy Newey, CEO, ES Catapult
Strategic Innovation Fund
How is the energy sector encouraging innovation?
Laura Sandys CBE, Chair, Innovate UK Networks Innovation Taskforce
Building a resilient customer focused national EV charging network
Our experience making it happen.
Adrian Fielden-Gray, Chief Strategy Officer, BE.EV
Unlocking the value from UK grid investment
How do we ensure we collectively invest wisely, design boldly, and deliver with purpose, so we can unlock significant socioeconomic and environmental gains as well as a more secure, affordable and clean energy system?
Sally Prickett, UK Energy Lead, Arup
Electricity Networks Sector Growth Plan Update
What is the ENSGP and why does it matter?
Lawrence Slade, CEO, ENA
Yselkla Farmer, CEO, BEAMA
DAY TWO
Planning strategy and delivery systems to accelerate change
Complimentary refreshments* and NETWORKING
Matt Jacobs, Chief Product Officer, Scrum Inc
Guests
How ED3 is driving regional growth
The electricity distribution companies are preparing their business plans for the next control period starting in 2028. This session looks at the implications for economic growth emerging from one of the largest players in the sector.
Stephanie Anderson, ED3 Programme Director, SP Energy Networks
Why resilience matters
The ERP plays a key role in ensuring the energy system operates effectively during the period of national transition. Resilience plays out on 3 levels – energy supply, energy infrastructure, and individual companies.
Dr David Wright, Chair Energy Research Partnership and National Preparedness Commissioner
Linking energy investment to the wider UK economy
How can we be certain the energy transition will boost the UK economy?
Dhara Vyas, CEO, Energy UK
Shevaun Haviland CBE, CEO, British Chambers of Commerce
Edgy Innovation: Smart local energy systems as place based grid assets
Projects need People: Communities and Trust in the Energy Transition.
Dr Matt Vickers, CEO, Community Energy England
Kate Gilmartin, Net Zero Terrace Streets
Tom Day, Head of Energy and Low Carbon, Essex County Council
How smart is your home?
New home-based technology is being linked to cut energy prices. Get up to date on what is happening and understand the tech you can use.
Phil Steele, Energy Evangelist, Octopus
Bean Beanland, Lead Sector Consultant, Heat Pump Association
Tom Pakenham, Director, Hive
Getting connected and planning for the future
What is the relationship between land use planning and energy planning and what the implications?
Colm Murphy, Director of Connections, National Energy System Operator
Skills & Training – building the future energy workforce
How good are we as a nation predicting the volume and skillsets we are going to need to achieve the country’s NetZero ambitions? Are we making sufficient provision to invest in the training regimes we need? Is the pace and application of technical innovation already making some human training obsolete?
Phillip Bryant, Senior Manager - Skills & Standards, EU Skills
Jennifer Barriball, Head of High Performance, Siemens Energy
Steve Feeley, Director of Membership Recruitment, ICE
Dr Marilyn Comrie OBE, Principal, Verciti.com
Beatrice Siyanbola, Valuation Analyst, Shell UK
Edwin Ehiorobo, Founder, Energyzblack
Powering the economy: Demand in an evolving energy landscape
Development of datacentres are at the heart of the UK’s Industrial Strategy. How can demand for data storage be better managed?
Kaweh Sadegh-Zadeh, Analyst, AWS
Taco Engelaar, SVP, NEARA
Katie Davies, Head of Energy Policy, techUK
Patrick Matthewson, Senior Policy Manager, MAKE UK
UK energy transition in an international context
The UK is earning a reputation for having the most dynamic energy market in the world. Are the comparisons with similar sized markets valid and why is the UK the smart destination for international energy investment?
Guests
Perspectives - Past, Present, Future
First ever gathering of former UK Government energy ministers to review UK energy foundations of UK energy independence.
Sir Greg Hands
Graham Stewart MP
Guests
What happens next?
GRID-UK is working with Cambridge Consultants to report on how more value can be extracted from the present energy transition plans. Hear what we are learning and what comes next.
Niall Mottram, Cambridge Consultants
Concluding Remarks
Sir Greg Hands
Get in touch
To discuss how to get involved please contact Kevin Lloyd:
kevin.lloyd@meetingsofminds.co.uk
or 07762 176143