Professor Paul Monks is Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero.
Prior to joining the department, he was Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Leicester, where he remains a Professor in Atmospheric Chemistry and Earth Observation Science.
Members
Professor Paul Monks BSc, DPhil, FRMetS, FRSC
Chief Scientific Advisor & ERP Public-side Co-chair
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ)
Dr David Wright FREng, FIET, MIGEM
ERP Industry Co-Chair
David has recently retired from National Grid to take up a portfolio career of non-executive roles. In his 32 years with National Grid, he occupied senior executive positions on both gas and electricity networks in the UK and US, including leading National Grid’s electricity transmission business in the UK for 8 years. He then became the Chief Engineer and Chief Risk Officer for the group, as well as leading a major M&A acquisition.
He’s a Fellow of both the Royal Academy of Engineering and IET, a dual-accredited Chartered Engineer with both the IET and IGEM, and a member of the Institute of Asset Management (IAM) and a Major in the Staff Corps. He has two daughters and is passionate about team sports, especially rugby.
Alan Thomson
Director, Global Leader Energy, Business Leader
Arup
Alan leads the global Energy Systems business stream at Arup working closely with colleagues around the world to deliver complex integrated energy projects in supply, network and demand applications. This is one of the three Arup energy business streams along with Energy Advisory and Energy Structures.
Ali Naini
Managing Director, ClimateTech Venture Capital
Turquoise International
Ali Naini is a co-founder and MD of Turquoise, UK’s longest established merchant bank specialising in ClimateTech venture capital, where his work includes: investments in and fundraising for Connected Energy (2nd life energy storage systems); set up and management of the Low Carbon Innovation Funds; 10 years as co-founder and chairman of Controlled Power Technologies (hybridisation of passenger vehicles) from Visteon spin-out to trade sale to Valeo and Federal Mogul; 10 years as advisor to Anglo Platinum including its fuel cell JV with Johnson Matthey and establishment of a corporate venturing fund. Previously, Ali worked in energy project finance and privatisation at Close Brothers, Flemings and PwC, on projects such as Thailand’s first IPP solicitation programme and the Northern Ireland electricity privatisation.
Annette Pass
Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser
Department for Transport
Darren Jones
Technology Manager at Hitachi Energy
Darren is responsible for promoting Hitachi Power Grids UK Ltd technology portfolio into the UK electricity transmission and distribution utilities. Also leading on developing roadmap to meet future low carbon challenges for the UK regulated electricity utilities by liaising with academia and a broad range of internal and external industry stakeholders
David Butler MSc DIC MBA
Team Leader in Low carbon Transition
Scottish Enterprise
David Butler MSc DIC MBA is the Team Leader in Low carbon Transition at Scottish Enterprise
The Foresighting and Operations Support team helps shape the strategic focus of SE’s Low Carbon Transition Strategy. It plays an ongoing role providing Due Diligence to other parts of SE (such as the Scottish Investment Bank). We also assist the development and delivery of new projects and programmes that are critical for SE’s aims and ambitions. Prior to this David worked at an early stage energy technology funder and a power company.
Jon Saltmarsh
Chief Technology Officer
Energy Systems Catapult
Jon is currently working to progress the innovation priorities the Energy Systems Catapult sees as critical to the transformation of the energy system to net zero.
Professor Julian Allwood FREng
Reader in Engineering
University of Cambridge
Julian Allwood leads the Low Carbon and Materials Processing research group in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge.
Mark Ellis-Jones
Manager (Climate Change & Energy)
Environment Agency
Senior leader working on climate adaptation, net zero and green finance. External engagement lead working across Government Departments (Defra, BEIS, COP Unit, DLUHC)
Strategic opportunities and partnerships
Senior policy manager (adaptation, net zero, green finance)
Professor Martin Freer
CEO
The Faraday Institution
Professor Freer is a nuclear physicist. Between 2015 and 2024 he served as the Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute (BEI) at the University of Birmingham, a pan-discipline research centre with research activities from hydrogen, energy storage and battery technologies, through to nuclear energy, which is focused on creating technology and guiding policy that will shape future energy solutions. He also served as Director of the Energy Research Accelerator (which comprises eight internationally renowned Midlands universities that are part of the Midlands Innovation partnership, together with the British Geological Survey) delivering a £200m programme to accelerate university research into regional, national and international impact linked to 1,400 researchers.
Matthew Hindle
Head of Net Zero and Sustainability at Wales and West Utilities
Michelle Bentham
Chief Scientist for Decarbonisation and Resource Management
ERA
The purpose of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) is to work with UK government, industry and the higher education sector to undertake innovative research, develop the next generation of energy leaders, and demonstrate low carbon technologies that help shape the future of the UK’s energy landscape.
Rachel Steller
Resilient Infrastructure Lead Analyst
Climate Change Committee
Rachael is a climate adaptation specialist, with experience working across the adaptation-mitigation nexus. At the Climate Change Committee (CCC), she leads on resilience analysis for the energy, ICT, water, transport, and waste sectors.
Rebecca Rosling
Head of Future Energy Systems Research & Development, EDF Energy
EDF Energy
Rebecca is the Head of Future Energy Systems R&D at EDF Energy. She leads a team of research engineers innovating to deliver EDF’s purpose of helping Britain achieve Net Zero, with focus areas including Flexibility & Storage, Decarbonisation of heat & mobility, and Hydrogen & e-fuels.
Dr Peter Bance
CEO
Origami Energy Ltd
In January 2014, Peter became CEO of Origami Energy, an ambitious high-growth business developing an innovative technology platform for the intelligent active management of distributed energy assets.
Peter Bingham
Chief Engineer
Ofgem
Peter joined Ofgem in 2017 as Chief Engineer, he is a chartered engineer with over 25 years’ experience in the energy sector, mainly working for National Grid in a variety of leadership roles.
Oliver Lancaster
Chief Executive Officer
IGEM
Oliver Lancaster is the CEO of The Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers
IGEM is the professional engineering institution delivering the advancement in knowledge and sciences for the benefit of the global gas industry, with a significant focus on engineering a sustainable gas future to support the decarbonisation of the energy system. Oliver is experienced in whole energy systems, climate change mitigation and climate adaptation of utility assets.
Richard Rugg
Managing Director, Programmes & Innovation
Carbon Trust
Over 20 years’ leadership experience working within the climate change sector, developing organisational strategy, and managing a team of over 125 Net Zero transition experts.
Dr Robert Gross
Director
UK Energy Research Centre
Dr Robert Gross joined the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) as Director in 2020.
Philip Sellwood CBE
Chief Executive Officer
De Courcy Alexander
Philip Sellwood has been the Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust since 2003 and has had an extensive commercial career in the Retail, Food and Private Equity markets.
Sarah Long CEng, ChPP
leading Atkin's/SNC-Lavalin's strategy for delivery of low carbon projects.
Atkin's/SNC-Lavalin
Throughout her career Sarah has championed support for women in Engineering roles and is passionate about the wider diversity agenda. She has led much of Atkins offering on STEM work with schools in the past and is now focusing on education related to Net Zero.