Planning Conference 2026 Speakers

Megan Amundson

Head of Onshore & 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.

Donnette Briggs

Associate EIA Consultant, SLR

Donnette is an Associate EIA Consultant at SLR where she primarily delivers EIAs for renewable projects including onshore wind, solar and battery energy storage. In her 18-year professional career, she has gained EIA and Environmental Management experience across various sectors including renewable energy, mining, residential and multi-use developments, grid infrastructure, pipelines, rail, water management and associated licensing and authorisations. She is a trusted advisor to her clients and is a champion of knowledge-sharing and environmental training.

Greg Clarke

Head of Corporate Affairs, SSEN Transmission

Greg is SSEN Transmission’s Head of Corporate Affairs, responsible for managing Public Affairs and Policy, External Communications and Brand for SSEN Transmission.

Greg joined SSE in 2005, starting his career in the call centre for SSE’s Retail business, before joining Corporate Affairs in 2010 where he has held a variety of roles including Scottish Public Affairs Manager for the SSE Group and Head of External Relations for SSE’s Distribution and Transmission networks.

Scott Ferrie

Chief Reporter, Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA), Scottish Government

Scott is a chartered planner with a background in development management with a number of councils. He joined DPEA as a Reporter in 2007 and has been Chief Reporter since 2000.

Laura Garcia

Senior Director for Heritage, Pegasus Group

Laura Garcia is a Senior Heritage Director and Deputy Head of the Heritage Team within Pegasus Group, one of the leading multi-disciplinary consultancies in the UK.

Laura has worked in the heritage sector for over 22 years and as part of this has been at the forefront of heritage assessments of renewables projects since the early 2000’s across the UK. Through this work, Laura has an embedded understanding of legislation, policy and guidance related to heritage and renewable development, in particular, onshore wind and through her assessment and expert witness work for wind and solar schemes across the UK, practically applies this knowledge and insight at the highest levels of scrutiny.

Recently, Laura has been part of high-level strategic discussions with heritage stakeholders and SR to see where potential conflicts or barriers to the increase in onshore wind capacity arising from heritage policy and procedure could be removed, seeking clarity on positions in order to allow developers to feel confident in progressing schemes with heritage considerations.

Andi Grochowski

Project Manager, Shetland Aerogenerators

After graduating the University of Edinburgh with a MSc in Energy, Society & Sustainability, Andi worked in the Shetland Islands Council (SIC) Future Energy Team where she developed and implemented communications and engagement strategies for various strategic partnership projects including the ORION Clean Energy Project. With SIC, she was the lead organiser for the first two years of the Shetland Climate Festival which is ongoing annually.

In her current role, Andi works within a small development team at Shetland Aerogenerators (SAL) which is a Shetland-based, family-run onshore wind developer. The company has had some involvement in nearly all Shetland wind projects since commissioning its Burradale Wind Farm in 2003, one of the world’s most productive wind farms. Among many other roles and projects, Andi leads the EIA and planning application for the proposed 50+ MW Neshion Energy Park near Sullom Voe Terminal in Shetland. As part of the company’s community benefit ambitions, Andi has restarted, organised and run the Shetland Science Fair which is going into its 3rd year.
Andi is also a co-organiser of the Women in Climate Action Shetland (WiCAS) group.

Darren Hemsley

Head of Supporting Good Development, NatureScot

After a decade or so working as a reserve officer mostly on seabird islands like the Isle of May, Darren has worked in a number of officer roles in NatureScot, with planning casework a constant element. Darren is now Head of Supporting Good Development in NatureScot where his role is to oversee NatureScot engagement with regulators as a statutory consultee, aiming to influence development and regulation so that it benefits climate, people, and nature. This ranges from input to strategic plans to individual development management cases. We also work with business and industry outwith regulated activity to highlight the role and benefit of nature.

Euan Hutchison

Development Director (UK), Fred. Olsen Renewables

Euan Hutchison is the UK Development Director at Fred. Olsen Renewables, where he leads the development of onshore and offshore renewable energy projects across the UK. With over 28 years of experience in the Scottish planning system, Euan brings deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and delivering large-scale energy infrastructure.

His career spans both public and private sectors, including roles at Dumfries and Galloway Council, Natural Power, and Locogen, giving him a broad and balanced perspective on planning and development. Over the past 13 years, Euan has successfully consented over 1GW of onshore renewable generation in the UK and Ireland.

At Fred. Olsen Renewables, Euan is driving forward innovative projects like the Crystal Rig Solar development, which integrates wind, solar, and battery storage to enhance energy reliability and support Scotland’s net-zero ambitions.

Euan is also a long-standing member of the Scottish Renewables Planning Group, contributing to national policy reviews and advocating for sustainable development practices.

Melanie MacRae

Deputy Director Clean Power 2030 Unit, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

I’m Deputy Director in Mission Control at DESNZ, leading delivery of the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan – our roadmap to a clean power system by 2030. That means driving deployment of renewables like wind and solar, boosting energy storage, consumer-led flexibility and upgrading the grid. I work across DESNZ and other departments to remove barriers and keep progress on track.

I bring over 18 years in the energy sector, covering policy, projects and programmes. Before my DESNZ role, I led Scotland’s draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, shaped Scottish Governments wholesale market reform work, and played a key role in the delivery of the Scottish Governments Heat in Buildings Strategy and £1.8bn Low Carbon Heat programme.

I’ve also worked on community energy schemes, microgrid research and international collaborations, including Community Energy Malawi. I hold a BSc in Medical Microbiology, an MSc in Environmental Protection and Management from the University of Edinburgh and a PG in Renewables from the University of East London.

Barry Stalker

Head of the National Planning Hub, Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate, Scottish Government

Barry Stalker is Head of the National Planning Hub, which is delivered in partnership between the Scottish Government and Improvement Service. Working closely with Craig McLaren, the National Planning Improvement Champion, the Hub aims to provide direct support to planning authorities, strengthening capacity and accelerating decision making and development delivery. This includes support for renewable energy applications, including for onshore wind and hydrogen, and for housing. Barry is an experienced policymaker and former social researcher, and has worked in a range of policy, strategy and delivery roles in Scottish Government.

Marcus Trinick KC

Marcus is a planning and environmental lawyer and a public inquiry advocate. He has appeared at over 600 inquiries on a wide range of topics. Since 1988 he has devoted most of his career to renewable energy and has appeared for developers at over 120 renewables inquiries. He has advised on well over 400 onshore projects and on more than 20 offshore wind farms. He has also worked on port and other major infrastructure development, pioneering the use of development envelopes to achieve flexible consents.

Recent (post NPF 4) inquiries appearances for wind farms in Scotland include those for Clashindarroch II, Kirkan, Shepherds Rig, Glendye, Cairn Duhie, Garvary (all consented) Kintradwell (refused), Greystone Knowe, Hill of Fare, Culachy, Loch Liath and Lees Hill (all 2025/2026 and undetermined). Other Moray projects Marcus has worked on include Clash Gour, Rothes 1 and 2, Pauls Hill 1 and 2, Hill of Towie and its extension, Dorenell (built), the recently consented Clashindarroch Extension, and the in planning Dorenell Extension.

Marcus was appointed King’s Counsel in 2010.

Carolyn Wilson

Onshore Head of Consents & Environment UK & Ireland, SSE Renewables

Carolyn has over 33 years' experience as chartered town planner having worked in all sections of the public and private sectors across the UK with particular focus on telecommunications and renewable energy in the private sector. For that last 6 years she has worked for SSE Renewables and is currently the Head of Consents & Environment for their Onshore Wind Solar and Battery Directorate covering both the UK and Ireland.