Durham Energy Institute

Advisory Board

Durham Energy Institute works closely with members of the Advisory Board to ensure that we continue to understand and lead thinking within the UK and Global Energy Industry. Members of the Advisory Board have been chosen from across the technology spectrum and societal spectrum and can offer industry links, advice, language skills and support into new markets, collaborations and countries. Members are also able to provide advice and feedback on project feasibility and project funding mechanisms. They are all happy to provide guest lectures to any department within the University, as well as Student internships.

Please contact dei.admin@durham.ac.uk if you would like to learn more about how the Advisory Board could support the development of your own ideas.

Advisory Board External Members

Dr Charlotte Adams, CEO, National Centre for Geothermal

Charlotte’s interest in geothermal was sparked whilst undertaking her PhD when she realised the geothermal potential of disused mines. She has been active across the sector for over 20 years and was instrumental in the delivery of the UK’s largest geothermal heat scheme at Gateshead. Charlotte has worked in consultancy, academia and the public sector managing commercial contracts and R&D and geothermal drilling programmes. Her work has featured on Country File, The One Show, ITV Tonight and Channel 4 news. She has received awards from the Geological Society and The Energy Institute for her work on geothermal

Dr Chris Beck, Group Director Net Zero and Inward Investment, Tees Valley Combined Authority

Chris is the Group Director leading on inward investment, net zero and digital innovation projects within Tees Valley Combined Authority, he previously was the Business and Skills director. Prior to joining TVCA he led the TWI research and training centre in Middlesbrough with a focus on, government engagement and funding. He was previously a technical specialist for UKTI, working on advanced technology and research focused inward investment. He has a degree and Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from Leeds University.

Dr Maggie Bosanquet, Sustainability, Carbon and Climate Change Team Leader at Durham County Council

Maggie is the Low Carbon Economic Development Manager for Durham County Council, responsible for renewable energy and energy efficiency across the Council’s land and buildings and for the County-wide Climate Emergency Response. She has led the Council’s Sustainability Team since 1995, supporting local, national and international partnership initiatives.

Laurence Carpanini, Director of Smarter Energy Solutions, Europe, IBM UK Limited

Laurence Carpanini is Vice Chair of the Advisory Board and is an independent adviser with over 30 years’ experience in the energy sector. Prior to becoming an independent, Laurence led the strategic development of Smarter Energy Solutions for IBM in Europe, where he played a leading role in defining, communicating, and deploying smart energy systems, working at the interface between strategy, organisation change and technology enablement. As well as sitting on the DU Energy Institute Advisory Board, Laurence is a Lay Member of Council of Swansea University; a Chartered Engineer; Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers; and a Fellow of the Energy Institute.

Prof. Andrew Crossland, Director of New Energy at solarZero

Prof. Andrew Crossland is Director of New Energy at solarZero and advisor to numerous energy startups. Follow a Durham Engineering Masters and PhD, he has built a career around the interdisciplinary problems needed for decarbonisation. In doing so, Andrew has worked on solar, energy storage, microgrid, regulatory and education projects across four continents. He is now an Associate Professor in Practice in the DEI and the School of Engineering.

Prof Helen Goodman, Independent Energy Advisor & Parliamentary Liaison

Helen was MP for Bishop Auckland 2005-2014. Prior to that, she was on the Treasury Select Committee 2015-17; Public Accounts Committee 2005-07 and on the Committee for the groundbreaking Climate Change Act of 2008. She initiated Parliamentary debates to mandate ministers prior to the Paris summit and on Geothermal Energy. Helen is also a Professor in Practice in the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham.

Ross Lowrie, The North East Combined Authority

Ross is the Principal Manager for Low Carbon Growth & Net Zero at the North East Combined Authority, developing the policy, partnerships and programmes needed to support innovation, develop skills, nurture regional supply chains and enable Net Zero finance to flow. Ross has over a decade of experience in low carbon energy regulation at both a national and regional level, including leading regulatory policy for hydropower, tidal and geothermal; developing innovative regulatory approaches to enabling net zero industrial clusters; and representing the Environment Agency on the UK’s Energy Research Partnership

Hugo Norris, President of Durham University Student Energy Society

Hugo is an ex officio member of the advisory board through his role as President of the Durham University Student Energy Society. His leadership of the society is informed by internship experience researching organic photovoltaics at the University of Oxford. He is a student at the University of Durham, reading Natural Sciences.

Helen Stockton, Head of Research, National Energy Action

Helen is the Head of Research at national fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) with over 15 years of applied social research experience spanning the quantitative and qualitative paradigms. She oversees a broad and varied programme of social research for the Charity that foregrounds the lived experience of fuel poverty. Research interests include social policy, energy and social justice and poverty. She is enthusiastic about exploring the ways knowledge can be brokered between academia, policy and practice.

Dr Benj Sykes, Vice President in Ørsted's UK offshore wind business

Benj is Chair of the Advisory Board and is Head of Environment, Consenting and External Affairs for the UK and Ireland at Ørsted, the world leader in offshore wind. He is former co-Chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council, setting the UK’s offshore wind strategy. Benj has worked in the Energy sector for over 30 years, across the renewable energy and upstream oil and gas sectors. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society, an Honorary Fellow of the Energy Institute and President of the Society of Underwater Technology.

James Thorniley-Walker, Head of Heat & Industrial Decarbonisation, HM Treasury

James Thorniley-Walker is Head of Heat and Industrial Decarbonisation in HM Treasury, responsible for setting the strategic policy direction for energy use across buildings and industrial sites. This includes spending control of capital budgets covering renewable heat, industry capital support, fuel poverty relief and public sector decarbonisation. He also led the design and delivery of energy support schemes in HM Treasury over 2021-2022. Previously James led the development of the Government's Net Zero Strategy and 10 Point Plan in HM Treasury, held roles relating to trade policy in the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, and worked as an analyst at the Climate Change Committee.

Rebecca Wilkie, Senior Programme Manager and Director of Durham Book Festival, New Writing North

Rebecca Wilkie has twenty years of experience working in the literature sector. She leads on New Writing North’s festivals and events programme, including the Durham Book Festival which takes place each October, the Gordon Burn Prize and a growing programme of literature activity in Newcastle -upon- Tyne. Rebecca joined New Writing North in 2012 having previously worked for national reading charity Book Trust and at literary agency The Agency (London) Ltd. She has a BA in English from University College London and an MLitt in English (specialising in Children’s Literature) from Newcastle University.

Rob Williams, Procurement Director - AstraZeneca

Rob is Director of Sustainability in AstraZeneca’s Global Procurement team, working with their global supply chain to remove Scope 3 emissions and deliver Net Zero goals. Rob has worked across the energy sector for over 20 years, from electricity generation to procurement for large energy consumers. Rob also lectures in energy procurement for the Energy Institute and is a member of the Advisory Committee for RE100.