NESO Independent Stakeholder Group (ISG)

The NESO Independent Stakeholder Group (ISG) is an independently chaired forum that provides external insight, constructive challenge and whole-system perspectives on NESO's strategic direction, priorities and emerging thinking. The Group helps ensure NESO's decisions and long-term plans are informed by a broad range of expertise, experience and stakeholder perspectives.

The ISG provides a trusted environment in which NESO can test ideas, explore emerging challenges and opportunities, and discuss the issues shaping the future of the energy system. The Group acts in an advisory capacity and is not a decision-making body.

Independent Chair

The ISG is chaired by Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, who operates independently of NESO and is responsible for leading the Group, ensuring discussions remain inclusive, constructive and focused on delivering strategic insight and challenge.

Focus of the Group

The ISG focuses on strategic issues affecting NESO and the wider energy system, including:

• NESO's strategic direction and priorities
• Opportunities and challenges facing the future energy system
• Affordability, resilience and energy security
• Decarbonisation and the transition to a net zero energy system
• Whole-system planning and cross-sector collaboration
• Stakeholder perspectives and emerging trends
• Public trust, consumer outcomes and societal impacts
• Early-stage thinking, major strategic decisions and long-term opportunities for NESO.

Supporting whole-system thinking

The ISG forms part of NESO's wider advisory ecosystem and complements the work of NESO's specialist councils and other stakeholder forums. By bringing together perspectives from across sectors, the Group helps NESO understand interconnected challenges, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and consider the broader implications of its decisions.

Independent insight and constructive challenge

The Group's role is to provide robust, independent challenge and strategic insight to support NESO's statutory duties and long-term responsibilities. Through open discussion and diverse perspectives, the ISG helps NESO strengthen its thinking, improve stakeholder understanding and better serve consumers, communities, businesses and the wider economy.