Grid & Networks Conference 2026 Speakers

Rasoul Azizipanah

Head of Power Systems and Networks - Energy Advisory, SLR

Rasoul Azizipanah is a senior power systems and energy networks specialist with more than 15 years’ experience advising developers, utilities, and system operators on grid strategy and network integration. His background spans senior consultancy roles with RINA, WSP and SLR, underpinned by technical experience at NESO, giving him a unique vantage point across both system operator and industry-side challenges.

Rasoul specialises in grid capacity assessment, optioneering, connection cost-benefit analysis, curtailment and outage modelling, network compliance studies, and due diligence on connection reforms. He has led major projects across renewables, data centres, hydrogen, storage and hybrid energy systems, guiding programmes from early feasibility through to as built design.

With a track record spanning the UK, Ireland, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Australia, Rasoul is recognised for turning complex technical and regulatory constraints into clear, commercially grounded decisions. His work focuses on helping clients secure viable grid pathways, optimise investment strategy, and build long term resilience as networks transition to Net Zero.

Barney Cowin

Strategic Grid & Electrical Lead, Nadara

Barney is Strategic Grid Lead at Nadara, working on its 4.4GW Floating Offshore Wind portfolio, which is comprised of Bellrock, Stromar, Broadshore, Sinclair and Scaraben Projects, all located off the coast of Northeast Scotland. Prior to this Barney worked in the grid connections team at Statkraft, working across their wind, solar, grid services and e-fuels development teams. Having been in renewables for fifteen years, Barney has a particular recent focus in grid and regulatory matters impacting the offshore wind industry, including transmission charging and strategic planning.

Kirsty Dawson

Principal Grid Connections Manager, Statkraft

Kirsty Dawson is Principal Grid Connections Manager for Statkraft UK, managing a team providing grid support to the wind, solar, grid services and e- fuels development teams within the business. Alongside Kirsty’s previous experience in the sector working for the Transmission Owner (TO) for the north of Scotland, SSEN Transmission, she brings experience across a multitude of disciplines, including regulation, policy, connections reform, compliance, and project/contract management & development.

Joe Dunn

Head of Grid & Regulation, ScottishPower Renewables

Joe brings over 35 years of industry experience, having begun his career in 1990 as an apprentice cable jointer before progressing into engineering roles. He later moved into positions focused on economic policy, strategy, and regulation within SP’s Networks business, gaining broad experience across distribution and transmission voltages and the full project lifecycle—from design and development through construction, operations, and maintenance. For more than 20 years, Joe has specialised in all aspects of grid connections, working from both the Transmission Owner (TO) and developer perspectives and contributing extensively to the development of connection and use of system charging arrangements. He has served three elected terms on the CUSC Panel. Joe now leads the Grid and Regulation function at ScottishPower Renewables, managing a specialist team covering both onshore and offshore projects across the UK and Ireland, with a focus on codes, charging, and connection strategy.

Laura Fleming

Country Managing Director, Hitachi Energy

An architect of change in the UK’s energy transition, Laura Fleming is Country Managing Director, UK & Ireland at Hitachi Energy, and leads the company's strategy, shaping one of the world’s most dynamic energy markets toward a sustainable future.

A key figure in electrifying the UK and Irish grid systems, Laura delivers impact by driving system change on the ground — from connecting renewables to the grid, to enabling large-scale offshore wind, storage and transmission projects. As Chair of the RenewableUK Board, she convenes government, industry, and communities not just to talk, but to take decisions and implement solutions that accelerate the path to net zero.

Recognised for her ability to turn uncertainty into opportunity, Laura challenges organisations to embrace creativity. She has been instrumental in breaking down silos, championing collaboration, and anchoring vision. Committed to accelerating the shift towards smarter, more resilient power systems, she is scaling transformative projects that connect renewables to the grid and enable new models of sustainable energy. Her motivation is simple yet profound: to make the world a better place to live and work, through collaborative thinking that creates thriving communities and affordable, clean power for all.

Dr Simon Gill

Independent Energy Consultant, The Energy Landscape

Simon is a senior energy system specialist with over 15 years experience advising government, regulators, and industry on electricity systems and energy policy. His recent work focuses on electricity market reform, whole energy system strategy, and the role of hydrogen in net zero transitions. He previously spent five years at the Scottish Government, working closely with Ministers on the development and delivery of Scottish energy policy, and building effective collaboration between government, regulators and the private sector. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering focusing on the integration of renewables into the power system.

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.

Claire was awarded the University of Strathclyde’s STELAR award for executive leadership within the industry in 2021 and is also an honorary fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.

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.

Steve McMahon

Director for Network Price Controls, Ofgem

Steve McMahon is Director for Network Price Controls. He is responsible Ofgem’s regulation of the onshore networks covering the operation of the existing electricity and gas network price controls and leading the price reviews that will deliver the next regulatory settlements from 2026. Steve is also Head of Scotland, overseeing the operation of Ofgem’s Glasgow office and leading on external relations activities.

Steve joined Ofgem in January 2017 from Transport Scotland where he led the team responsible for the specification of Scotland’s rail infrastructure programme. Prior to this he held a number of economist roles within both the Scottish and UK Government.

Craig McTaggart

Head of Transmission Network, SP Energy Networks

Craig is a Chartered Engineer and Head of Transmission Network for SPEN, responsible for strategic asset management, all aspects of network planning and analysis and leads SP Transmission’s interface with Ofgem and governments. He has been with SPEN for 30 years, starting in major projects design with subsequent roles in system planning, leading RIIO-T2 and RIIO-T3 engineering plans, and asset management.

Kyle Murchie

Specialist Connections Engineer, Roadnight Taylor

Kyle has 13 years of experience across transmission and distribution. At Roadnight Taylor, he specialises in helping clients navigate the technical, regulatory and strategic complexities of major connections for generation, storage and demand projects.

He previously held roles within SSE Group, Electricity North West, TNEI Services and UK Power Networks. He managed multi-disciplinary engineering teams developing projects worth up to £1 billion and leading grid aspects of projects of around £400 million through delivery and commissioning, including the 893MW Keadby 2 Power Station's transmission connection.
Kyle has been involved in several CUSC modifications, and is Vice-Chair of RenewableUK's Connections Forum.

Sam Torrance

Head of Price Control Operations, SSEN Transmission

Sam Torrance is Head of Price Control Operations at SSEN Transmission, responsible for leading the development and delivery of price control frameworks that underpin the rapid expansion of the electricity transmission network. With over a decade of experience shaping UK energy regulation, Sam brings deep expertise across RIIO price controls, regulatory governance and long term system planning. He has led major close out processes, developed enhanced reporting and assurance frameworks, and contributed to policy mechanisms that support timely and efficient transmission investment.

Sam works closely with Ofgem and industry partners to accelerate grid delivery, strengthen connections pathways and enable a coordinated approach to meeting Clean Power 2030 ambitions. He brings a whole system perspective focused on delivering an ambitious, affordable and publicly trusted transition to net zero.

Jamie Webb

Head of Connection Window Optimisation, National Energy System Operator

With over 20 years’ experience in the energy industry, I am Head of Connections Window Optimisation at NESO, having joined Connections in July 2025 as Head of G2TWQ. Since the transition to NESO as an independent organisation, I have played a key role in shaping market frameworks, previously serving as Head of Market Frameworks (CUSC/BSC/Grid Code etc). I led the implementation and release of the current connection pipeline, and at this conference I look forward to sharing insights into the current pipeline and the future of connections.