Seminar: The role of networks in the transition to net-zero Speakers

Stephanie Anderson

Head of Regulation | Network Planning and Regulation, SP Energy Networks

Stephanie Anderson has worked in the electricity industry for the last decade across both transmission and distribution in SP Energy Networks, with a focus on regulatory policy and economics. SP Energy Networks (SPEN) is the distribution and transmission network operator for 3.5 million customers across Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales, Merseyside, Cheshire and North Shropshire.

She has led on the regulatory policy development of SP Energy Networks’ Transmission Network’s £1.38bn Investment Plan and is currently the Head of Regulation at SPEN, leading on various policy matters across distribution and transmission.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, a Bachelor of Laws, an MBA and is a Chartered Certified Accountant. Stephanie became a Non-Executive Director of Electralink in 2020.

Keith Bell

Holder of the ScottishPower Chair in Smart Grids, University of Strathclyde

Keith Bell holds the Scottish Power Chair in Smart Grids at the University of Strathclyde. He is a member of the UK’s Climate Change Committee, a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He joined the Strathclyde in 2005 having previously worked as an electrical engineering researcher in Bath, Manchester and Naples, and as a system development engineer in the electricity supply industry in England. He is a co-Director of the UK Energy Research Centre, is involved in CIGRE, the International Council of Large Electric Systems, and has advised the Scottish, UK and Irish governments and the UK’s office of gas and electricity markets, Ofgem, on electrical energy and power systems issues.

Claire Jones

Head of Onshore Electricity Policy, The Scottish Government

Claire Jones has worked in Government since 2014, specialising in energy networks and transport decarbonisation. This included leading on policy areas such as energy industry codes, electricity network investment, network regulation and gas safety. In transport, she specialised in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and bus decarbonisation. She was appointed Unit Head for Onshore Electricity Policy at the Scottish Government in January.

Claire holds an Master of Arts, Master of Letters and PhD from the University of St Andrews.

Bless Kuri

Head of System Planning and Investment, SSEN Transmission

Bless is the Head of System Planning and Investment with SSEN Transmission, part of the SSE Group. He is responsible for the system planning of the transmission network in the north of Scotland to accommodate customer connections and to strengthen the grid to ensure its continued efficient operation and coordinated development, working with stakeholders, other network operators and National Grid ESO.

Bless holds a Masters degree in Electrical Power Systems and a PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the University of Bath. He is a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Claire Mack

Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables

Claire has been Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, the representative voice of Scotland’s renewable energy industry, since October 2017. She is responsible for leading the organisation’s work to grow Scotland’s renewables sector and sustain its position at the forefront of the global clean energy industry.

Claire is a member of the First Minister’s Energy Advisory Board and is co-chair of the Renewable Energy Strategic Leadership Group. She is also co-chair of the Scottish Government Marine Energy Industry Group.

Claire is a member of SSEN’s Network for Net Zero Stakeholder Group and a member of the Centre for Work-Based Learning in Scotland Advisory Group. She was recently awarded a STELAR award for executive leadership from the University of Strathclyde.

Before joining Scottish Renewables, Claire was Director of Policy and Place at the Scottish Council for Development and Industry. She has previously worked in various roles at Ofcom in Scotland, focusing on economic regulation of telecoms, radio spectrum and the mail market while also looking at developing digital participation of individuals and businesses.

Prior to this Claire worked in retail and the construction industry as well as on regulation of regional broadcasting in the Borders and North East of England.

Tom Steward

Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager, RWE Renewables

Tom Steward joined RWE Renewables in 2020 leading their work on electricity network charging and design. He has a particular interest in the role of industry governance and institutional design in supporting the transition to Net Zero.
Prior to joining RWE he headed up the policy function at Good Energy and completed a PhD in energy policy with the University of Exeter focussed on affordability of energy for domestic consumers.

Andrew Urquhart

Head of Whole System, SSEN Transmission

Andrew Urquhart has been working in the industry for 15 years, starting as a graduate, then moving to an operational engineering role. From there he moved to innovation, where his main focus was developing and delivering innovation in order to add value to the business. From there Andrew became Commercial Manger for SHE Transmission, a company within the wider SSE business, responsible for compliance with existing policy and developing future commercial policy in line with industry developments. Currently Andrew is Head of Whole System for SHE Transmission with responsibility for developing the concept of whole system and establishing it within the business. His remit also includes being responsible for the coordination of innovation and long-term commercial policy reform.

Morag Watson

Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables

Morag is Scottish Renewables’ Director of Policy. Her work involves overseeing Scottish Renewables’ policy function and key projects within Scotland’s leading renewables trade body, working on behalf of 260+ organisations to grow Scotland’s renewable energy sector and sustain its position at the forefront of the global clean energy industry.

Morag has worked in policy for over 17 years and was previously a Senior Policy Officer with WWF Scotland, specialising in climate change, sustainable development and behaviour change.