NESO Gas Advisory Council (GAC)

Chair of the GAC

Grant is the co-director of the Birmingham Energy Institute and has undertaken research at a regional, national and international level into energy systems at a whole system level. Upon joining the GAC as chair, Grant said: “Throughout my career, I have increasingly advocated for the greater use of data and digitalisation to strengthen the evidence base for policy and decision making across the energy sector, and also to inform various publics on the energy transition that Britain is in the midst of. I look forward to the time when Britain is yet again a significant net energy exporter, but this time of low-carbon energy rather than fossil fuels. I am honoured to be the chair the Gas Advisory Council."

ICoSS Chair / Waters Wye Associates

As the chair of the I&C Shippers and Suppliers Group, Gareth is positioned to represent the viewpoint of industrial shippers within the gas market. Gareth has direct knowledge of the entire supply chain for both UK and European power and gas markets, plus experience of dealing with all their relevant stakeholders, including regulators, suppliers, shippers, generators/producers and European bodies.

Energy UK 

Julie has worked in the energy sector for over 30 years, mostly in a trade association role that represents the interests of gas generators and suppliers, covering all aspects of wholesale market regulation. Julie has lead on Energy UK’s work on the gas transition and hydrogen policy and is part of the Hydrogen Delivery Council Transportation and Storage Working Group.

Energy UK / Centrica

Kirsty has worked across the global energy value chain for over 25 years, both for utilities and in consulting roles, delivering strategy and energy economics expertise for infrastructure feasibility, dispute resolution and regulatory projects. Kirsty is also a member of Energy UK’s Systems Committee and a Shipper representative on the panel to appoint nominated directors to the board of Xoserve.

Energy UK / Uniper

Richard is a member of Energy UK and a Regulation Manager at Uniper. Richard is also the Deputy Chair of the Energy UK "Gas Transitions Sub-Committee” and elected Shipper representative on the UNC Modification Panel. Richard has worked in the UK gas industry for over 20 years, with most of that time spent working in gas market regulation, particularly focused on the wholesale market and trading.

UESO Chair / Waters Wye Associates

Nick is a founding director at Waters Wye Associates energy consultants, as well as being the chair of the Underground Energy Storage Operators group. Nick is an economist, with over 25 years' experience and brings wisdom from many other industry trade groups. Nick also chairs the Hydrogen Delivery Council Transport & Storage Working Group.

National Gas

Liz has worked in the energy industry for the last 18 years, beginning with E.ON, joining National Grid in 2009 subsequently moving to National Gas in February 2023. Liz has held a number of leadership roles and now leads the Market Change function which is responsible for charging and revenue related activities, UNC modification processes and future framework development. Additionally, Liz is a board member of Encodar Limited, the organisation created by the Gas Transporters to operate the Joint Office code administration processes.

Scotia Gas Networks

Marcus Hunt is SGN’s Business Development Director, with over 20 years’ experience in both regulated and non-regulated utility businesses and leads SGN’s low carbon development businesses. Prior to joining SGN, Marcus spent 5 years with KPMG’s Infrastructure Advisory Group, advising clients on a range of commercial strategy, transaction and regulatory issues. Marcus is a board member of MUA, SGN’s last mile infrastructure joint venture, The Solent Cluster and FYLD, a start up in the digital SaaS market.

INA / ESP

Vicki is Regulations Director at ESP Utilities Group, which includes Licenced IGT, IDNO and NAV (water networks) businesses. Vicki's early career included 10 years in the nascent Gas Shipper sector when the retail gas market first de-regulated. Vicki is also the Chair of the Independent Networks Association, the trade body representing the “last mile” providers of gas, electricity and water networks.

Interconnector

Pavanjit is Head of Regulatory Affairs at Interconnector -  the bi-directional gas interconnector, connecting GB and the Continental European markets. At Interconnector he has successfully navigated and influenced new regulatory obligations after the expiry of its long term contracts. This includes being an industry representative on expert panels for the European Network of Transmission Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) helping to draft critical gas market rules to facilitate cross border trade.

Major Energy Users Council

Eddie is the Technical Director at Major Energy Users Council. With more than 30 years' experience working in the glass industry before joining the MEUC, he also served as a non-executive director of an NHS Trust as Chair of the Audit committee. Eddie is a member of the National Grid Electricity Transmission and Northern Gas Network RIIO-3 Independent Stakeholder Groups, and is the industrial consumer representative on the Ofgem Connection Delivery Board.

Grissan

Nic is the Development Director at Grissan Renewable Energy. He also co-chairs the Green Gas Taskforce, a joint initiative to promote the role of green molecules between biomethane producers and the UK's gas networks.

Carbon Capture Storage Association

Mark is UK Director of the CCSA. He leads efforts to advocate for a robust policy and regulatory framework to advance the UK’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) sector. Mark has over a decade of experience in the energy and environmental industry. He also served as Deputy Director of Policy at the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), where he championed renewable and clean technologies across power, heat, and transport

Hydrogen UK

Brett is the Head of Policy and Analysis for Hydrogen UK. He has led many working groups, including Electrolytic and CCUS-Enabled Production, Networks & Storage, Power Generation, Industry, Transport and Jobs & Skills. Brett is also responsible for external stakeholder engagement, having an active role in the Energy Institute’s Hydrogen Committee and as a member of the BSI GSE/5 Hydrogen Standards Committee.

Joint Office of Gas Transporters

Paul has 14 years’ experience in the gas industry and held a number of senior managerial roles with Transco. In the 2000s Paul took a break from the gas industry and stepped into a variety of roles, but returned to the gas industry and is currently working for the Joint Office as an Industry Governance Manager chairing various industry workgroups.

Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers

Oliver is the Chief Executive Officer at IGEM. He’s experienced in whole energy systems, with knowledge gained in developing net zero pathways, technologies and customer propositions to mitigate climate change and optimise flexibly across gas production, electricity generation, energy storage, distribution networks and the industrial, buildings, power and transport demand sectors.

E3G

Chris is a Policy Advisor at E3G. He leads work on UK energy bills and gas network transition. Prior to joining E3G, Chris spent over five years as an advisor to UK government. Chris studied Engineering at the University of Cambridge, and worked as an engineer in the renewables and built environment sectors before moving into policy. In addition to his work at E3G, Chris is Fuel Poverty Director for a community energy group in Croydon.

University of Lincoln

As Humber Zero Professor of Industrial Decarbonisation at the University of Lincoln, Joe is a leading authority on hydrogen and energy transition. He chairs the Mission Innovation hydrogen production working group and has been the academic lead on many Government trade missions relating to hydrogen, energy transition and carbon capture and storage. He is also a Trustee of the UK Engineering Construction Industry Training Board and the Net Zero sponsor on the Board of COGENT Skills.

Ofgem

Adrian is the Deputy Director of Energy Markets & Security within the Energy Systems Management and Security Directorate at Ofgem, the UK Government energy regulator. After completing his PhD in Geology, he started his career with Shell, initially as an exploration geologist and later in competitive intelligence, strategy and commercial roles in several countries around the world.

DESNZ

Deputy Director of Gas Systems in the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. Ben has over a decade of experience in government, working in a number of high priority policy and delivery roles, in the Cabinet Office, BEIS and most recently DESNZ, working across the hydrogen and natural gas space.

Xoserve 

Having worked there previously, Clive returned to Xoserve eighteen months ago and is now Director of Strategy and Development. Before returning, Clive held senior roles at National Grid, Southern Water, as well as having worked independently supporting energy and water retailers over the years.

 Mutual Energy

Paul is Head of Markets and Regulation for Mutual Energy, owner of the cross-border interconnectors between Northern Ireland and GB for both gas and electricity. Paul has many years of experience in both facilitating cross border energy markets as a TSO and also as a participant in electricity ancillary services and capacity markets in GB and the Single Electricity Market on the island of Ireland. 

Gas Networks Ireland

Stephen has been with Gas Networks Ireland since 2011, where he has worked in various roles across Asset Management and Regulatory functions. Since 2022, he has held the position of Wholesale Market Manager - responsible for the Code of Operations within GNI and fulfilling GNI’s roles as the secretariat of the Code Modification Forum. Stephen is also involved in projects to help advance the introduction of renewable gases into the gas network in Ireland and key projects in relation to security of supply.