DEI Professors in Practice

Our Professors in Practice are experienced professionals with extensive experience gained by working in the Energy Industry. These individuals share their skills directly with researchers and the academic community bringing practical insights, experience and distinction to academics and fellows of the DEI. Such an approach encourages the integration of public policy and business practice into research methods.

To contact any of our Professors in Practice then please email dei.admin@durham.ac.uk 

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

Maggie was 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 led the Council’s Sustainability Team since 1995, supporting local, national and international partnership initiatives.

Professor Jonathan Craig, retired as Head of Exploration Strategies, ENI

Jonathan, retired Head of Exploration Strategies at Eni, led global petroleum exploration across multiple continents. A Chartered Geologist and recipient of the Geological Society’s Petroleum Group medal, he has held senior leadership roles in major geoscience organisations. He now serves as Professor in Practice at Durham University, advises global energy boards, and co-directs academic initiatives. Author of over 100 publications, his current research focuses on geoenergy resources, exploration excellence, and the energy transition.

Professor Andrew Crossland, Energy Consultant & Strategy Advisor
Andrew is an energy consultant and strategy advisor who has worked on over $200m of renewable energy projects across four continents. Andrew brings a passion for accelerating decarbonisation of energy through engineering, finance and social sciences. He is a Durham PhD (Engineering and Finance) and Engineering Graduate, also a Professor in Practice (PiP) within the School of Engineering and a member of the DEI Advisory Board.

Professor Ross Forbes

Ross is a retired communications and HR director who has worked in a variety of public, private and trade union sectors at regional, national and international levels. He is County Durham born and raised and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the university for his work in social and cultural regeneration in the region. Ross has an MA from Durham Business School and remains dedicated to helping to revive the fortunes of his native north east of England.

Professor Alan Lowdon OBE, Chair, Hydraulics Research (HR) Wallingford, Oxfordshire & Durham University Professor in Practice

Alan has over 30 years' experience of the international energy and utility sectors - corporates, start-ups, and RTOs. He currently advises the National Offshore Wind Institute in Massachusetts, the UK Government’s innovation agency and the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Lab. He is also an International Fellow of the Institute of Global Sustainability, Boston University. Alan was awarded his OBE in the 2022 Queen’s NY Honours List for Services to UK- US Offshore Wind Collaboration.

Dr Benj Sykes, Country Chair, Ørsted UK offshore wind

Benj has four decades of experience in the energy sector, working for 20 years in upstream oil and gas before pivoting to clean energy, principally in the UK’s offshore wind industry.  He has held leadership positions in the Government’s Offshore Wind Industry Council, G+ (the industry’s international health and safety organisation), the UN’High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, and remains deeply involved in delivering the energy transition and the environmental restoration of our oceans.  He is a former President of the Society for Underwater Technology, a Fellow of the Geological Society and an Honorary Fellow of the Energy Institute.