Speakers 

Mark is responsible for UK Power Networks Health, Safety, Sustainability and Connections business. He joined London Electricity in 1992 as an engineering graduate trainee and has enjoyed a diverse career across a number of operational, engineering and commercial roles. Mark is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and holds a Masters degree in engineering business management, from Warwick Business School and a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Leicester.

Catherine Bowen joined the BVRLA as Senior Policy Advisor in 2019. She leads the Association’s work on Decarbonisation and Future Mobility, with a keen focus on EV charging infrastructure and how we best support the transition of commercial vehicles. Catherine has worked in senior policy roles for over 17 years and has experience of working within private, public sector and not-for-profit organisations. Prior to joining the BVRLA, she worked for the British Retail Consortium, where she held the post of Head of Crime and Security policy.

Ollie is the Liquid Renewables Sustainability Manager at Certas Energy, where he provides expert technical and sales support, particularly in the areas of biofuel supply chain integrity, accreditation schemes, and pricing mechanisms. In his role, he oversees sustainability reporting obligations and ensures compliance with key legislation and accreditation schemes, including ISCC and RFAS. Ollie joined Certas Energy as part of their acquisition of GBF, where he was previously part of the Sustainability & Trading team.

The Rt. Hon John Gummer, Lord Deben, is the founder and Chairman of Sancroft International, a consultancy that advises both businesses and investors on all areas of Sustainability and ESG. Between 2012 and 2023 he was Chairman of the UK’s Independent Climate Change Committee. Lord Deben was also the UK’s longest serving Secretary of State for the Environment (1993-97) having previously been Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. His sixteen years of top-level ministerial experience also include Minister for London, Employment Minister, and Paymaster General in HM Treasury. Lord Deben is currently Chairman of Valpak Ltd and of PIMFA, the trade body representing financial advisers and wealth managers. Throughout his political, business, and personal life Lord Deben has consistently championed an accord between sustainability and business sense.

Claire Haigh was appointed as Executive Director of Zemo Partnership in January 2024. Claire comes to Zemo from Greener Vision where she was the Founder & CEO. Greener Vision is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to encouraging the switch to a greener future She also chairs the Delivery & Impacts Independent Review Panel for the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit (DfT/Defra) and is Executive Director of the Transport Knowledge Hub. She was formerly the Chief Executive of the sustainable transport group Greener Journeys, and of the not-for-profit organisation Greener Transport Solutions. She has been a Board Member of Transport for Greater Manchester and was Vice-Chair of Zemo Partnership. Claire is also an artist motivated by a desire for positive change. “If we want to change behaviours, we need to change the premises which led to them”. Her work The Tabula Project aims to provide a new perspective on the mind.

Fiona Howarth is the CEO of Octopus Electric Vehicles, the EV specialist leasing business within the entech unicorn, the Octopus Energy Group. The subsidiary is aimed at linking consumers with a team of impartial experts, helping them to feel informed in their choice of a new electric car and helping ease the process at every stage - the car finance, the charger, a smart energy tariff and a single app with access to over 380,000 chargers across UK and Europe. Fiona has helped forge the path for dynamic energy tariffs and smart EV charging - including overseeing one of the world's largest demonstrations of residential Vehicle-to-Grid: Powerloop. After an early stint with BMW developing hydrogen powered cars, Fiona spent time at Bain & Company and UK's Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) in 2011, before focusing on taking connected home products to market - most notably with Hive by British Gas, which is now in nearly 2 million homes. Fiona has a Master of Engineering (MEng) from the University of Oxford.

Cllr Adam Hug has been Leader of Westminster City Council since May 2022 and a councillor for Westbourne ward since 2010. He has been Leader of the Labour Group since 2015 having previously served as Deputy Leader and Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Protection. Since September 2024, he has also been Chair of the LGA Local Infrastructure and Net Zero Board.

Fiona Hyslop was reappointed as Cabinet Secretary for Transport in May 2024. Ms Hyslop was born in Ayrshire in 1964 and with her family spent her early years in England before returning to Ayrshire. She graduated from Glasgow University with an MA (Hons) in Economic History and Sociology. She completed a post graduate Diploma in Industrial Administration at the Scottish College of Textiles, before moving to Edinburgh to join the financial services company Standard Life where she held various positions in sales and marketing, latterly as Brand Development Manager. Elected in the first session of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 she has been returned as the Constituency MSP for Linlithgow since 2011. When the SNP formed a minority administration in 2007 Ms Hyslop was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning before serving in several ministerial roles, latterly Minister for Transport. She was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Transport in February 2024.

Neville Jackson has spent 40 years in Industrial R&D, primarily in transport and energy systems at Ricardo plc where he was Chief Technology & Innovation Officer from 2009 to 2019. He is currently Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Foundation, a Non-Executive Director of the UK Advanced Propulsion Centre, Chair of the UK Automotive Council Strategy Group and a member of the steering group of the Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub. Neville has authored a wide range of technology roadmaps at National and European level, defining the potential, and technology pathways for transport energy, propulsion systems, future vehicle electrical/electronic architectures and digitalisation/virtual product development. In 2014, he was named as one of the 20 most influential engineers in the UK by The Sunday Times & Debrett’s for recognition in setting the technology agenda for road transport systems.

Angela is a Vice President at Ricardo Strategic Consulting (RSC) looking after Europe and Asia. Angela and her team help their high-profile global customers (including major automakers, fuel & energy players, government organisations, and tech start-ups) address technical, environmental, and business issues; many of their projects answer challenging questions about the future of mobility and vehicle technology. Spanning technical and strategic roles, Angela’s 20-year career at Ricardo underpins a deep understanding of the major issues that surround Low Carbon Vehicles. Indeed, in 2016 and 2018 she was named in the “Top 100 most influential women in the UK automotive industry” by Autocar and SMMT. Prior to joining Ricardo, Angela worked for Perkins and BOC Edwards. Academically, Angela is a graduate in mechanical engineering (University of Warwick). She also holds a graduate diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). Complementing her position at RSC, Angela is also a board member of the Green Growth Platform at Brighton University, part of Green Growth UK, an organisation focused on enabling sustainable growth with minimum environmental impact.

Edmund King is AA president and is a Trustee and Director of the AA Charitable Trust for Road Safety and the Environment. He is a member of the Zemo Partnership’s Council for Net Zero Transport and is a keen EV advocate, with wide experience of working in policy and campaigning across the public and private sectors. Edmund has also worked in broadcasting and the automotive sector in California and is a regular media commentator on issues of road transport, having written several reports on transport and often appearing on radio, television, blogs and podcasts. In 2016 he was awarded an OBE for ‘services to road safety’ in the Queen’s New Year Honours. In 2020 he was inducted into PRWeek ‘Hall of Fame’ and has won PRWeek’s Best Public Affairs Campaign and PRCA Best Automotive Campaign for work on ‘smart’ motorways. He has also been short-listed for the Wolfson Economics Prize for ‘Road Miles’.

Rebecca Kite is the newly appointed Deputy Regional Manager for the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), where she recently led on zero emission policy for bus and coach before joining the membership team. Her previous work included establishing CPT’s Zero Emission Coach Taskforce and the Rural Zero Emission Bus Taskforce, both of which published reports that identified the challenges operators face when decarbonising their fleets and the measures needed to overcome them. Part of her new role now involves tracking local clean air zones, low emission zones and zero emission zones to ensure that bus and coach operators can continue to deliver their services for their passengers. In addition to her work at CPT, Rebecca is the newly appointed chair for Zemo’s bus and coach working group meetings.

Paul Kohler MP is the newly appointed Liberal Democrat spokesperson for transport. He was elected to Parliament in July of this year for the Wimbledon constituency. Graduating from Cambridge, Kohler's career began in academia where he taught law at UCL, Oxford and SOAS University of London. Before entering Parliament Kohler served as a councillor in Merton London Borough Council, and he unsuccessfully contested the Wimbledon seat in 2019 in the tightest Liberal Democrat-Conservative marginal.

Jonathan Leake is Energy Editor at London's Daily Telegraph, covering UK energy production, consumption, pricing, climate change and politics. That includes the drive for net zero, the need for energy security and how these two ambitions are often in conflict. For 20 years he was Science & Environment Editor on the Sunday Times.

Simon Lightwood was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport in the Department for Transport 9 July 2024. Previously Simon was Shadow Transport Minister, appointed first in October 2022 and re-appointed in September 2023 with an expanded portfolio. Simon was first elected as MP for Wakefield in a by-election in June 2022 and was re-elected as MP for Wakefield and Rothwell in July 2024. Prior to being elected, Simon was a proud NHS worker, a Labour councillor and cabinet member for public health. He studied theatre acting at Bretton Hall College in Wakefield after moving to the city in the late nineties. His wider interests involve spending time with his husband and two young children and supporting his local Rugby League team, Wakefield Trinity.

Cordi O’Hara is responsible for the safe and reliable operation of the UK’s largest electricity distribution network, serving more than eight million customers across the East and West Midlands, Southwest and South Wales. As President, Cordi is accountable for National Grid’s £6bn investment programme that will be delivered between 2023-28, keeping clean, fair, affordable power flowing to homes and businesses across our region. Previously Cordi was President of National Grid Ventures, where she led the development, financing, construction and operation of large-scale energy assets; such as electricity interconnectors, LNG storage and regasification, onshore wind and solar generation. Cordi also served as Chief Operating Officer at National Grid’s US Gas Business and before that she ran the UK System Operator for National Grid, where she oversaw the strategy, planning and operation of over 14,000 miles of gas and electricity networks in Great Britain. In her time at National Grid, Cordi has been a strong advocate for innovative solutions to a decarbonised energy market, believing clean technology solutions and new demand response initiatives can help to deliver Government targets for net zero. Cordi is a leading member of ELC and a strong supporter for POWERful Women. Cordi became a fellow of the UK Energy Institute in 2016, acknowledging her significant experience in UK and European energy markets and networks. She was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to the energy industry.

Kamal Panchal leads on transport and local growth policy for the Local Government Association. In his role he’s keen to ensure that local authorities have the proper tools, levers and access to funding so that they can deliver the transport outcomes for the communities and places they serve. Working with local leaders and elected members, place directors and partner organisation, Kamal’s current priorities include seeking a reset in the central/local government relationship to enable local government to genuinely lead on public transport provision, transport decarbonisation and driving local growth.

Philip Sellwood was CEO of the Energy Saving Trust from 2003-2020. During that time, he undertook work for all UK Administrations and has represented the UK as part of the European Energy Network. He was awarded a CBE in the 2019 Queens Honours List for services to public policy. Philip is currently Chair of Zemo Partnership and advises several organisations in both the private and public sectors. Alongside this, Philip is an independent board member of both the UK Energy Research Council and the Energy Research Partnership, as well as being Chair of the board of the Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd and formerly the NED on the Local Government Innovation and Improvement board. Philip served as the inaugural Chair of the Zero Carbon Academy from July 2022. Since July 2023 Philip has represented Tri-Capital Angels as an advisor and Investment Director on the board of HEERO Technologies. Philip is also a founder Trustee of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a global charity committed to promoting the development of the circular economy. He is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Arts and the British Institute of Management.

Anne Shaw is Executive Director of Transport for West Midlands and a member of the Zemo Partnership’s Net Zero Council. Starting her career in Birmingham City Council, she has led on transport policy and implementation in the city, including the Birmingham Connected and Cycle Revolution schemes, later joining the West Midlands Combined Authority. Anne’s work with the Combined Authority initially centred on network resilience and improving communications to network users, and she played a central role in the transport planning and operations around the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, for which she was awarded an OBE in 2022. Assuming the role of Executive Director of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) in 2022, she is responsible for strategic operational leadership relating to the region’s transport objectives, including driving economic growth and sustainability. She is also charged with administering a £6bn transport investment programme aimed at improving transport services across the West Midlands. Anne is a respected leader in the transport sector, having acted as DfT Transport Champion to tackled violence against women and girls on public networks as well as being accoladed by Every Woman in Transport and the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT). She also serves as the Deputy Chair of Urban Transport Group and sits on the CIHT’s Council.

Ken Skates was born in 1976 in Wrexham, educated at Mold Alun School and went on to study Social and Political Science at Cambridge University. Ken was previously a journalist at the Wrexham Leader newspaper and a PA to Mark Tami MP. In 2008, he was elected a community councillor, going on to enter the Senedd three years later. Ken was appointed to the Welsh Government as Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology in 2011, later being appointed Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism in 2014 and promoted to Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure in May 2016. Ken was appointed Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport on 21 March 2024. Ken’s policy interests include manufacturing, mental health, sport and leisure, eliminating poverty, political economy, skills training, tourism, environmental protection, and social inclusion.

Jim Skea was elected IPCC Chair for the Seventh Assessment cycle in July 2023. He was Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III for the 6th Assessment Cycle. From 2009 to 2023, Jim Skea was Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College London. His research interests are in energy, climate change and technological innovation. He was Research Director of the UK Energy Research Centre 2004-12 and Director of the Policy Studies Institute 1998-2004. Sir Jim has operated at the interface between research, policy-making and business throughout his career. He was a member of the UK Committee on Climate Change from its inception in 2008 until 2018, and latterly was the Chair of Scotland’s Just Transition Commission from 2018 to 2023. From 2015-17, he also served as President of the UK Energy Institute. He was awarded a CBE for services to sustainable energy in 2013, following an OBE for services to sustainable transport in 2004. In 2024, Jim Skea was awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours list. Jim was launch director of Zemo – then LowCVP – at the inception of the Partnership in 2002.

Martin Tugwell is responsible for transforming pan-Northern connectivity in order to improve productivity and drive economic growth. He leads Transport for the North as England’s first Sub-national Transport Body, giving the North a strong, unified and determined voice on transport investment to benefit the region. Martin has more than 20 years of experience in strategic transport and infrastructure planning at national, regional and local levels. Immediately prior to joining Transport for the North, Martin was Director for England’s Economic Heartland (EEH) – one of England’s 7 Sub-national Transport Bodies. Here, he led the creation of the EEH Transport Strategy – Connecting People, Transforming Journeys. This ambitious strategy sets out how the region’s transport system can support economic growth while delivering net zero emissions by as early as 2040. Martin is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow and past President of the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). He is a Trustee of the CIHT and past Chairman of the Transport Planning Society.