A Material Challenge: From Fossil Fuels to Net Zero

Neil Glover

Head of Materials Research, Rolls-Royce

Neil is Head of Materials Research at Rolls-Royce, based in Derby, and is a Fellow and President of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

Neil has 25 years of experience of materials engineering for aerospace and other high integrity applications.  His current role is focused on materials technology to support new product opportunities in Rolls-Royce including electric and hybrid flight.  Previous roles have spanned multiple business sectors and materials engineering across the product life-cycle. 

For many years Neil was responsible for Rolls-Royce’s aerospace materials research portfolio, including the company’s extensive external network for materials research.

He is a regular speaker at national and international events and has been a member of numerous national advisory groups. He is a strong advocate of STEM education and a regular speaker at schools events.

 

: neil-glover-67896b14

Dr Graham Hillier

Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence, Northumbria University

Graham has a wide-ranging business career in technology development, innovation and strategy development with a long term interest in low carbon resource efficient sustainable industrial systems.  Until recently he was the Director of Strategy and Futures at the Centre for Process Innovation and was the first CTO of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult. He has had a long-term link to hydrogen having been the Planning Director responsible for a major petrochemical hydrogen system and the Director of CPI’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Business. He was Deputy Chair of the EU’s Hydrogen Regions and Municipalities Programme and a founder director of the UK Hydrogen Association (now part of the UKHFCA).

Graham has a Degree in Metallurgy, PhD from the University of Cambridge and an MBA.  He is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

: graham-hillier-754821a

Dr Navdeep Singh Kahlon

Senior Project Engineer, Progressive Energy Ltd

Nav is a senior project engineer at Progressive Energy working on the development and roll-out of hydrogen technologies. His current focus is on blending hydrogen into the UK gas distribution networks via our HyDeploy projects. Nav is our technical lead on materials and gas industry procedures due to his doctorate in materials science and operational experience having served as operational performance manager at Cadent (formerly National Grid Gas). Prior to this, Nav has experienced the power generation and aerospace industries; having worked at E.ON’s Ratcliffe power station assessing post-combustion CCUS technologies, and Rolls-Royce developing manufacturing technologies such as friction welding.

: https://www.progressive-energy.com/
: dr-nav
: @NSKahlon88

Gareth Fletcher

Technology Manager, Tees Valley Combined Authority

Gareth Fletcher is Technology Manager for the Tees Valley Combined Authority, with responsibilities across Decarbonisation of Industry and the Hydrogen Economy.

Gareth’s early career was spent in steel industry technical management, before moving into the Materials Testing Industry. More recently, Gareth led the strategic collaboration between Tata Steel and CPI which ultimately drove the divestment of the Materials Processing Institute, subsequently establishing the Institutes commercial and collaborative research capabilities.

During this stage in his career, Gareth developed a strong interest in the decarbonisation of Industry. This led to a job move to a joint role, combining Business Development for TWI with Technology Management related to future Cluster Planning for the Tees Valley Combined Authority. After a successful career, of now over 42 years, Gareth has now chosen to concentrate on the Technology Management role on a part time basis; pursuing the Net Zero challenge, at a time where it really feels like we can make a difference.

A chartered engineer, Gareth started his career as a technician apprentice with the British Steel Corporation and studied part time, gaining a BSc in Metallurgy from Teesside Polytechnic in 1987, followed in 2002 by an MBA from Aston University.

: teesvalleyca
: @TeesValleyCA

Alan James

Chief Technology Director , Storegga

Alan is Chief Technology Officer of Storegga and previously Managing Director of its subsidiary Pale Blue Dot Energy.  The business is focussed fully on development of Net Zero Infrastructure including CCS, Hydrogen and Direct Air Capture.  Storegga is the Lead Developer for the UK Acorn CCS and Hydrogen Projects.

Alan is a geologist and reservoir engineer by background with a long career in the petroleum industry until he moved into the low carbon sector in 2007.

: https://www.storegga.earth/
: storegga-geotechnologies
: @StoreggaGeotechnologies

Professor Nilay Shah OBE FREng FIChemE

Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London

Prof Nilay Shah OBE FREng is Professor of Process Systems Engineering at Imperial College, where he was until recently Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering. He has 25+ years’ experience in academia and has graduated 40+ PhD students who have all gone on to successful careers in industry, academia, consultancy and the civil service. His research interests include the application of multiscale process modelling and mathematical/systems engineering techniques to analyse and optimise complex, spatially- and temporally-explicit low-carbon industrial and energy systems, including chemical process systems, urban energy systems, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen infrastructures, and bioenergy systems.

Margaret Copland CEng CSci FIMMM MWES

Senior Wells & Technology Manager, Oil & Gas Authority

Margaret is Senior Wells & Technology Manager with the Oil & Gas Authority, the UK Oil & Gas and CO₂ storage Regulator currently focussing on the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells and wells aspects of CCUS. 

A Chemical and Process Engineering graduate of the University of Strathclyde, Margaret has over 35 years’ experience in the industry previously working for major oil companies as well as the UK safety regulator. 

She is involved in the development of international standards, is a keen supporter of new technology and in engineering being recognised as a profession. 

Margaret is Vice Chair of the IOM3 Technology Communities Board, a Board member of the IOM3 Energy Transition Group and a Council member of The Mining Institute of Scotland. 

: www.ogauthority.co.uk
: margaretcopland

Ben Tze Kek

Deputy Project Director, Net Zero Teesside, Northern Endurance Partnership

Ben Tze Kek, bp, is Deputy Project Director responsible for technical integration on the Net Zero Teesside (NZT) and Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) projects (www.netzeroteesside.co.uk). Northern Endurance Partnership will aim to develop the UK’s largest scale offshore CO2 transportation and storage system serving both Teesside and Humber clusters, enabling industrial decarbonisation of the largest emitters in the UK via CCUS (www.eastcoastcluster.co.uk). Ben has been a core member in the conception of this project since early 2019, and is a Chartered Engineer (CEng IET) and a Project Management Professional (PMP). He also serves on the Advisory Council of the UK CCS Research Centre. Ben is passionate about the role that the East Coast Cluster will play in the UK and bp’s net zero ambitions by 2050. 

: www.netzeroteesside.co.uk
: bentzekek

Rajat Saxena

Region Manager Europe & Eurasia, Halliburton Consulting

Rajat is a recognized industry leader with extensive global experience advising businesses and governments on operational strategies, organizational redesign, and change management. He has cross-industry background having worked in the power and utility sector before joining Oil and Gas industry. Before joining Halliburton, he worked as a Management Consultant for Accenture, KPMG amongst others leading projects across North America, China and the Middle East.

Currently, he leads Halliburton’s Consulting regional team for Europe, Eurasia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Rajat has pioneered the creation of Halliburton’s CCUS and Sustainability team for Europe which is working with a host of clients on Energy Transition.

Dr Alix Thom

Workforce Engagement & Skills Issues Manager, Oil & Gas UK

Dr Alix Thom joined Oil & Gas UK in December 2011 as Skills and Employment Issues Manager. In her current role at Oil & Gas UK, Alix is responsible for facilitating the development of an industry-wide workforce engagement strategy including both on and offshore workers, and is theme lead for the implementation of the People and Skills element of the North Sea Transition Deal, agreed earlier for this year with the UK government. This includes retaining talent in the industry whilst facilitating the transition of people to other energy sectors, as well as leading on diversity and inclusion. 

Alix is an experienced employee relations specialist with a proven track record in major and independent exploration and production companies, including BP, Cairn Energy and EnQuest, as well as Wood Group and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

A Fellow of the CIPD (awarded the Distinguished Badge of Merit), Alix is also a member of the Executive Board of the IPA (Involvement and Participation Association) and an Alumni of the Advanced HR Executive Programme, Michigan University. Alix lives in Aberdeen with her beloved westie called Ollie.

: https://oguk.org.uk/

Alison Isherwood

Chief Subsurface Engineer, Causewaygt

Alison Isherwood has 23 years of global experience as a technical leader and reservoir engineer in the oil and gas industry working for Shell, Hess and Ophir before moving to independent consulting in 2017. Alison recently joined CausewayGT, an Ireland/UK-based geothermal start-up company, as their Chief Subsurface Engineer. Alison holds an MEng in chemical engineering from the University of Nottingham and recently gained a Post-Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Business from the University of Cambridge. This sustainability programme included in-depth research projects on start-up/corporate collaboration for sustainable innovation and low-carbon energy job creation and skills development in the UK. Alison volunteers with the Society of Petroleum Engineering (SPE) as their London Net Zero & Sustainability chair, and as part of their newly forming international geothermal section. Alison also volunteers at University of Nottingham as a student mentor and industrial advisor in their Chemical Engineering department.

Marguerite Forde

Integrity Solutions Specialist and Sales Manager, ROSEN

Marguerite is a Integrity Solutions Specialist and Sales Manager at ROSEN, located in Newcastle upon Tyne. Originally from Cork, Ireland, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental engineering, and has ten years of experience as a corrosion engineer: consulting on corrosion and integrity management for the oil and gas industry worldwide. Marguerite has extensive capabilities in the delivery and project management of corrosion threat assessments and corrosion control schemes. She is a founding member of YPPE and is currently serving as chair and YPI Liaison.

: www.yppeurope.org/
: yppe-young-pipeline-professionals

Guy Outen

Independent Non-Executive,

Guy is an independent non-executive following a career of 36 years with Royal Dutch Shell plc.

In his last role at Shell as Executive Vice President Strategy & Portfolio, Guy worked directly for the CEO and with the Shell Executive Committee and Board to inform, shape and steer Shell's renewed Purpose, Strategy, Portfolio and Capabilities. 

Guy previously worked in various commericial, new business and finance roles across all parts of Shell's business including: EVP Commercial, New Business & LNG; EVP, EP Strategy & New Business; Chief Financial Officer for Gas & Power; Shell Group Chief Internal Auditor ; the CFO for Shell Development Australia and has also been responsible for Retail operating processes, split off and merged Shell Australia's chemical operations into the Montell JV, worked in Crude Oil Trading and a Coal JV.

Guy is currently Chair of Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd, Commercial Advisory Board Chair of Delft IMP b.v., Senior Advisor to BCG and Advisor to Antler.co

Guy has an economics and commerce background, B.Com (Hons), M.Com, and is a Fellow CPA Australia and member of UK IoD and Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Guy is married with three sons and enjoys sport, music and motorcycling. 

: guy-outen-32b28913

Keith Lewis CEng FIMMM

Engineering and Business Management Professional ,

Keith is an Engineering and Business Management Professional with extensive international experience in Oil and Gas, Power and associated Engineering and Construction Businesses including new technology development, de-risking and deployment. He has a proven track-record working with executive level teams and boards in a complex international business environment on a broad range of challenges including business development, change-management, knowledge management and the development and application of global tools, standards and practices. He has strong communication and people management skills including the development of technical professionals and business leaders at all levels. He has deep technical knowledge in engineering design and construction; personal and technical safety; quality management; materials and corrosion engineering; and asset integrity management.

After retiring from Shell in 2015 he  ran a focused engineer career coaching consultancy, Engineer Career Solutions, Ltd.

In 2017, together with a partner, he launched a new venture, Anvil Resource Solutions, which provides performance focused, innovative resource solutions to the Oil, Gas and Energy Industries.

Since 2018 he  has been working with the EPI Group Ltd. as a board advisor on innovative green solutions to hydrocarbon production and more recently carbon capture storage and use (CCUS). Via this role he has introduced new sub-surface technology and concepts.

Martin Connelly

Technical Director, Liberty Pipes (Hartlepool) Ltd

After graduating from the University of Strathclyde with a degree in Metallurgy and Engineering Materials, Martin has worked in the steel industry for nearly 30 years, first with British Steel, then Corus, Tata and finally Liberty Pipes. His experience covers welding, steel design, processing and rolling, mechanical testing, pipe forming, operations, product development, NDT and many other aspects of SAWL pipe making. With this background, Martin has led the technical and quality aspects of the manufacture of more than 2.5million tonnes of line pipe. He is a member of the EPRG Plenary and Materials committees, as well as sitting on the API Task Group on Line Pipe and Task Group on Oil Country Tubular Goods, where his expertise is used to develop line pipe standards and progress industrial research and understanding. He enjoys maintaining his fitness and is married with one child, a cat and a deep desire to travel post-pandemic!

Professor David Book

Professor of Energy Materials, University of Birmingham

Professor David Book is Professor of Energy Materials in the School of Metallurgy and Materials, in the University of Birmingham.   He has worked on the development of materials that absorb hydrogen, since 1990.  Firstly, in the UK and Japan, studying the use of hydrogen as a processing gas for the production of rare-earth magnets.  Then from 2001, investigating: hydrogen storage materials, membranes for hydrogen separation, and hydrogen energy systems (e.g. stores, compressors, etc).   He has been part of a number of hydrogen energy-related R&D projects, with support from the EPSRC, EC and industry.  This included the EPSRC SUPERGEN consortia: “Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Consortium” and “Delivery of Sustainable Hydrogen”.  Projects have covered topics such as: (i) metal hydrides, complex hydrides and porous materials for use in the solid-state storage of hydrogen on vehicles, and for stationary storage; and (2) metal membranes for hydrogen purification and production applications.  He coordinated bilateral R&D networks with Japan and Korea, and has been a UK expert in the International Energy Agency on hydrogen storage since 2005.   He is currently on the management boards of the: EPSRC Supergen Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Hub (2012- …); and the EPSRC SusHy Centre for Doctoral Training (2019- …).

: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/metallurgy/book-david.aspx
: david-book-43b050160

Neil Gallon

Principal Engineer, ROSEN

Neil Gallon is a Principal Engineer with the ROSEN Group in Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK, having previously worked for various consulting and manufacturing companies, including British Steel / Tata Steel and GE Wellstream. He holds a masters degree from the University of Cambridge in Materials Science and Metallurgy. Neil has 25 years’ experience in materials and welding engineering, and is a Chartered Engineer, a Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and a European / International Welding Engineer. His current work concentrates on understanding the effects of gaseous hydrogen on steel properties.

: https://www.rosen-group.com/
: neil-gallon-17515251

Sam White

Deputy Director, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Sam White is a Deputy Director in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy leading industrial decarbonisation policy. In his current role he is responsible for helping industry dramatically reduce their carbon dioxide emissions to enable the UK to meet its net zero target by 2050. Sam has been a civil servant for over 10 years in a range of roles covering science policy, university funding, small business investment, and industrial sector policy. Prior to working in the Civil Service Sam was a research scientist where he used lasers to study how your immune system cells trigger and DNA behaves.

: www.gov.uk/beis
: @SamWhiteGov

Richard M Oblath

Executive Chairman, H2Transition Capital LLP

Richard has recently initiated as Executive Chairman and one of three General Partners a global $350mln private equity to invest in the hydrogen value chain. Following his retirement from Royal Dutch Shell in mid-2017 he built a portfolio of global advisory positions for Boards and C-Suite Executives in the Downstream Oil, Chemicals and other industries focusing on strategy and corporate transformations ahead of the Energy Transition. He is the Chair of the Energy Transition Group of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (where he also a Fellow), a Fellow of the Energy Institute, a member of Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs) and a member of Chapter Zero (a community of non-executive directors who understand and can position the Energy Transition with their board colleagues). Richard is also a non-executive director of Boson Energy S.A.  His non-profit and philanthropic endeavours include being Chairman of the London Chamber Orchestra Trust (www.lco.co.uk) until March 2021 and the named sponsor of 6 scholarships a year for gifted second year Nottingham University undergraduates receiving financial aid to allow them to also pursue their studies overseas for up to a year

: https://www.h2capital.co.uk/
: richard-m-oblath-phd-c