Heat Seminar 2026 Speakers

Megan Amundson

Head of Onshore Wind & Consenting, Scottish Renewables

Megan Amundson is the Head of Onshore Wind and Consenting for Scottish Renewables, the trade body for the renewable industry in Scotland. She works with the UK Government, Scottish Government, and local planning authorities to put policies in place that grow Scotland’s renewables industry and support reaching Scotland’s net-zero targets.

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.

Mark Goudie

Head of Strategic Projects & Optimisation, SP Energy Networks

Mark is the Head of DSO Strategic Projects & Optimisation at SP Energy Networks. He is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and Fellow with broad technical, commercial and management experience across the energy sector. Mark’s role includes leading our Strategic Optimisation & Low Carbon Technology (LCT) Optioneering with Local Authorities and Local, Regional and National Government to support the development of their energy plans, supporting Distribution System Operation (DSO) delivery, and embedding Whole System thinking across SP Energy Networks.

James Hemphill

Head of the Heat Networks, Local Government & Public Sector Policy Unit, Scottish Government

James Hemphill is Unit Head of the Heat Networks, Local Government & Public Sector Policy Unit within the Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings programme.

James and his colleagues have supported the production of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) by Scotland’s local authorities, the passage of heat network legislation, and the development of the planned Heat in Buildings Bill.

Drew Murphy

RESP Strategic Lead – Scotland, NESO

Drew is a Strategic Lead in the Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP) Scotland team at the National Energy System Operator (NESO). He has a focus on how the energy transition can enable heat and transport decarbonisation, as well as supporting partnership working with Local Government. He previously led the development of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) policy at the Scottish Government and has over 15 years of experience in the energy sector delivering heat decarbonisation, renewable energy and fuel poverty related policy and projects.

Morag Watson

Director of Onshore, Scottish Renewables

Morag has worked in climate change and sustainability policy for over 20 years and is Director of Onshore for Scottish Renewables, Scotland’s renewable energy trade body. Since 2019, Morag has led Scottish Renewables’ engagement with the Scottish and UK Governments to grow Scotland’s renewable energy sector and sustain its position at the forefront of the global clean energy industry. Morag leads a team of policy experts covering onshore wind, hydro, solar and low-carbon heat, in addition to planning and grid issues. Morag is also the industry lead for the Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal.
Morag was a Senior Policy Officer with WWF Scotland for over 10 years. During this time, she was a contributing expert to the Scottish Government’s Climate Change and Sustainable Development Action Plans, worked as an expert advisor to UNESCO and helped found Scotland’s Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development.

Morag holds a degree in Environmental Geoscience from the University of Edinburgh, is a qualified Hill and Moorland Leader and lives in a self-built eco-home in Central Scotland.