Engineering Challenges in the Hydrogen Economy 2024

Aisling Brazel: Senior Process Engineer, RES

Aisling Brazel is a Chemical Process Engineer, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering from University College Dublin in 2015. Aisling started her career in ExxonMobil’s Global Project organisation as a Process Design and Project Development Engineer, supporting Pre-FEED and FEED stages of refining projects across Europe. Operations experience is crucial in being an effective process designer, prompting a move into their Operations Organisation first as Process Engineer supporting day-to-day operations, and subsequently Environmental Engineer focusing on ensuring compliance and helping to define a decarbonisation strategy for one of their sites. In June this year she made the move across into RES, attracted by the number of exciting Green Hydrogen projects they have in the pipeline. Here, Aisling is providing technical guidance on all process engineering aspects of green hydrogen production.

Andrea Trevisan: Head of Fuel Cells Sales, Intelligent Energy

Andrea is head of Fuel Cells sales at Intelligent Energy for high power industrial and automotive applications. He has 20 years’ experience in the automotive and energy sector. He covered both technical roles as chief engineer for engines and business development roles in all transport sectors including heavy duty vehicles, marine, rail and in stationary power generation. Before joining Intelligent Energy, he worked with Ricardo and Fiat Powertrain Technologies.

Craig Hodge: Hydrogen Technology Manager, SSE

Craig is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with a master’s degree in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh. He has experience in managing and delivering a variety of energy related projects, including offshore oil and gas drilling and well activities,  government and private funded hydrogen and carbon capture technology developments, industrial decarbonisation research projects, and FEED studies across the hydrogen value chain. At SSE, Craig is responsible hydrogen technology – which includes technology R&D, and managing the risks associated with the deployment of hydrogen technologies across all of SSE’s hydrogen production, storage, and end use projects.

Hari Vamadevan: Regional Director, Energy Systems UK & Ireland, DNV

Hari Vamadevan is Senior Vice President at DNV. He has 30 years’ experience in various leadership positions across the energy and shipping sectors. He sits on the Energy Systems Executive Leadership Team.

He is currently the Regional Director of Energy Systems operations in the UK and Ireland, leading an 800-strong advisory and assurance team across the entire Energy System – Renewables, Power Grids and Oil & Gas. He is focused on helping customers making the transition to a decarbonised energy future and with a positive biodiversity impact. He is an authority on the complex facets of the whole systems approach to the energy transition.

He is also chairperson of all DNV’s UK and Ireland businesses. He is a graduate of Imperial College, London and holds a master’s in Chemical Engineering.

Elliot Wellbelove: Carbon Innovation Manager, Heidelberg Materials

Elliot is an Innovation Manager responsible for pivotal decarbonisation initiatives at a prominent UK and global supplier of building materials, he boasts a rich 12-year background in the cement industry. Throughout his career, he has held diverse technical and engineering roles, including hands-on involvement in international projects. His unwavering dedication to guiding the industry toward net zero is prominently showcased in his recent pursuits, particularly those centered around hydrogen. His efforts not only underscore a determined drive but also exemplify a profound ambition to pinpoint and implement credible solutions, advancing the overarching mission to achieve net-zero within the built environment.

Francesco Fanicchia: Senior Lecturer in High Temperature Surface Engineering, Cranfield University

Francesco Fanicchia received his M.Sc. in Materials Science from the University of Rome Tor Vergata and Ph.D. on ceramic Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBC) design for aerospace gas turbines from The University of Nottingham (UK). From 2018 to 2021 he was senior project leader at TWI Ltd (Cambridge, UK), where he coordinated large research programs on design and corrosion performance optimisation of novel coatings for industrial decarbonisation. In 2022 he joined Cranfield University as Senior Lecturer in High Temperature Surface Engineering. His research focuses on design of coatings and alloys for the hydrogen economy, including hydrogen embrittlement, hydrogen permeation and oxidation in high water vapour environments.

Gareth Richardson: Low Carbon Technology Lead, AtkinsRéalis

Gareth is the low carbon technology lead for AtkinsRéalis he is a chartered chemical engineer with a track record in, leading projects, technology development, design teams, operations support, and construction in the Nuclear, Hydrogen, Oil & Gas and Semiconductor Industries. In his role he is working on new high efficiency electrolyser technologies and supports decarbonisation projects globally from industrial processes to aviation with technology selection and project leadership. Gareth's unwavering commitment lies in engineering a swifter and more efficient path towards a better future for our planet.

Gaynor Woodford: Sustainability Lead, Western Europe, TÜV Rheinland

Gaynor is a member of TUV Rheinland’s Global Hydrogen Competence Centre and has regional technical responsibility for Energy and Environment services. Gaynor is personally passionate about all aspects of Sustainability and utilises her diverse skill set to drive positive change and shape a sustainable future. With a background in chemical engineering (Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers with over thirty years’ experience), she brings a strong analytical mindset and a deep understanding of systems thinking. She is passionate about leveraging this expertise to implement innovative solutions that reduce carbon emissions and advancing net zero targets in parallel with the circular economy.

Iain Parker: Project Manager, Energy Transition, Centrica Energy Storage Limited

Iain is a project manager at Centrica Energy Storage working in the Energy Transition team with over 25 years industry experience.

Iain joined CES+ in 2015 as a project manager and has delivered a number of business-critical projects, including the successful introduction of the Humber Gathering System project at the Easington terminal, and the reinstatement of gas storage in the Rough reservoir in 2022.

Iain is now responsible for overseeing the Rough redevelopment project which is a £2bn project to provide new Hydrogen ready offshore facilities with a view to transforming Rough into the world’s largest hydrogen store to support the UK's net-zero commitments.

Beau Gray: Project Manager, Energy Transition, Centrica Energy Storage Limited

Beau is a project manager at Centrica Energy Storage + working in the Energy Transition team.  

Beau joined CES+ in 2017 as a mechanical engineer, in 2019 he was appointed as the Mechanical and Integrity technical authority and in 2022 held the position of interim HSE & Technical director. 

Beau left the Royal Navy in 2011 and transitioned into the Oil and Gas Industry as a mechanical engineer supporting BPs Southern North Sea offshore gas platforms, moving to Perenco UK following a change in ownership. 

A key achievement of his was being part of the project management team that re-instated gas storage in the Rough reservoir in 2022. 

Marcus Walls-Bruck: Head of Hydrogen Technologies, National Composites Centre

Marcus is Head of Hydrogen Technologies at the National Composites Centre, and Chief Engineer for the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative SEED Programme. With an initial focus on composites for the hydrogen economy, Marcus has since built a broad knowledge base of the wider hydrogen ecosystem and challenges. 

Matt Shillito: Senior Project Lead, Advanced Propulsion Centre UK

Matt Shillito is a Chartered Engineer with a long standing interest in sustainability. Matt is a Senior Project Lead at the APC, where he supports grant-funded zero carbon automotive projects covering a range of technologies including FCEV and H2-ICE. Before joining APC, Matt was a consultant in the McKinsey Operations Practice specialising in product development, supporting a range of clients including automotive, energy, and electronics companies on cost optimisation of their products, as well as delivering procurement and manufacturing transformations. Matt started his career at JLR in Chassis Development with a focus on active suspension systems, and spent time in the team then called ‘Hybrids’ before HEV/BEVs joined the mainstream of powertrain engineering.

Matt Hammond: Hydrogen Innovation Engineer, National Gas

Matt Hammond is a Hydrogen Innovation Engineer at National Gas. He has a background in chemistry and a PhD in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production and processing. He previously worked as a Sales Engineer for a natural gas metrology company before moving to National Gas in December 2022. Matt’s role in the innovation team is to develop and deliver innovation projects to support the transition to hydrogen, leading the Asset Development for Risk Mitigation portfolio of projects, with a major focus on repurposing our existing assets, but also exploring new technologies which could be deployed on the network to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.

Ed Gilford: Hydrogen Development Engineer, National Gas

Ed Gilford is a Hydrogen Development Engineer at National Gas working on the Project Union Programme utilising his engineering and analytical capability to develop the UK’s hydrogen transmission infrastructure of the future. Project Union aims to create a hydrogen backbone capable of transporting 100% hydrogen and connecting hydrogen production and storage with end users through a mix of repurposed and new build assets. Ed holds a MEng in Mechanical Engineering with previous career experience in consultancy and construction and is now leading on the pre-FEED for the East Midlands and Northeast (East Coast Hydrogen) regions of Project Union.

Alasdair Cairns: Director of the Powertrain Research Centre, University of Nottingham

Professor Alasdair Cairns is Director of the Powertrain Research Centre at the University of Nottingham, with 24 years’ experience in light and heavy-duty engines. His early career involved 10 years with engineering consultancy MAHLE Powertrain, managing large collaborative R&D programmes on alternative fuelled automotive engines. In 2010 he joined Brunel University as a senior lecturer, being promoted to full Professor in 2013 and refocusing his research towards decarbonised heavy-duty engines. As of late 2016 he joined Nottingham, where he now leads a group of 15 researchers working on decarbonised internal combustion engines for heavy transport and power generation.

Robbie McCreath: Senior Project Engineer, AtkinsRéalis

Christopher Connolly: Process Modeller – Nuclear Operations, National Nuclear Laboratory

Christopher Connolly studied Chemical and Process Engineering at Strathclyde, where he received the Scottish Branch Prize from the IChemE. As a member of the NNL’s modelling team he has worked on a variety of projects related to the fuel cycle and simulating complex process equipment.

Christopher has become the deputy theme lead of NNL’s team for Nuclear Enabled Hydrogen and Alternative Liquid Products. He personally focused on developing process models to simulate the hydrogen generating processes that would be most advantageous to couple and power with a nuclear reactor - while also helping to coordinate work on demand and economic modelling, and external collaborative research.

Alison Cartwright: Senior Project Manager, CNG Services

Alison Cartwright has spent the last 12 years working in the biomethane industry. She is currently working as a senior project manager for CNG Services, having connected the first biomethane plants to the gas grid and is now bringing together innovative solutions to facilitate multiple plants to be connected in one location to the high pressure grid including carbon capture. More recently she has been involved in green hydrogen infrastructure projects and their ability to decarbonise industry. A chartered mechanical engineer with a MSc in Renewable Energy Systems, she also has a background in operations which supports design with maintenance in mind.

Amanda Lyne: Managing Director, ULEMCo Ltd

Amanda has 20 years’ experience in the hydrogen industry, having previously founded fuel cell company ACAL Energy and delivered various consultancy projects for a range of companies active in the UK’s hydrogen industry. She founded ULEMCo in 2014 to commercialise globally unique UK capability that enables specialist vehicles to use hydrogen at scale, now, through dual fuel and with zero carbon emissions using fuel cell or 100% hydrogen combustion. From LGV to HGV, utility vehicles like refuse trucks, sweepers, and gritters to non-road machinery and even emergency vehicles like Fire Engines and Ambulances, the company offers a fleetwide conversion service that applies proven technology to upgrade, upcycle and repower engines and equipment based on saving direct and embedded carbon emissions, affordably, and line with Net Zero ambitions.  She is also currently a Chair of UKFCA, and an active participant in a number of industry advisory groups on the role of hydrogen for decarbonisation and delivering the UK’s net zero target.

Alex Marks: Hydrogen Engineer, EQUANS UK & Ireland

Alex Marks is a chartered chemical engineer working for Equans as a hydrogen engineer, currently working on the design and construction of a HAR1 project that has successfully achieved funding. His role is to manage the design teams and provide technical oversight whilst maintaining a good relationship with the client and ensuring an accurate cost estimate for the overall project. He has had previous experience in the design of PEM electrolyser systems, which has helped to provide a high quality, safe design for the integration of the electrolysers into the wider system.

Bill Ireland: CEO, Logan Energy

Bill Ireland’s career has spanned over 35 years in engineering. Starting in the built environment as a building services consultant design buildings to reduce energy consumption and then infrastructure to be more efficient, reduce emissions and be more sustainable involving alternative technologies, sustainable design, and innovation in technology.

As Operations Director in 2008 then MD and CEO since 2012, Bill has made the Logan Energy group and its subsidiaries the designers, integrators, installers, and maintainers of the majority of the UK’s installed capacity of fuel cell distributed generation and developed the business into a world leading provider of integrated hydrogen-based solutions for energy storage and energy sector shifting.

Having recognised the need to move the business away from fossil fuel fuelled fuel cell distributed generation to optimised renewable energy hydrogen-based systems, Bill has developed the business into the world leading deliverer of integrated hydrogen energy systems incorporating hydrogen production, storage, distribution, compression, dispensing and usage. Along the journey, gaps in supply chain have been filled by in house design of software and hardware which are now included in our world leading standard solutions.

Bill has a pragmatic view of energy solutions and along with being technology and manufacturer agnostic, has stated for many years that hydrogen is not the only answer to our energy future, it’s part of the answer. Hydrogen needs to be combined with many technologies to deliver our sustainable energy solutions.

Hadi Moztarzadeh: Head of Technology Trends, Advanced Propulsion Centre UK

Dr Hadi Moztarzadeh is a technology and R&D specialist, with over 20 years’ experience in both academia and industry. As the Head of Technology Trends at the APC UK, Hadi oversees the technology strategy and a portfolio of insights and foresight analysis as well as automotive system-level and technology roadmaps, working closely with the Automotive Council UK, industry and research and innovation ecosystem.

Prior to joining the APC, he was the Associate Dean (& Director) for Research, Innovation and Enterprise at the University of Salford, and before that, he had a 9-year career at WMG, University of Warwick and High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, most recently led WMG’s cross-Catapult portfolio and industrial skills programme.

Hadi is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), and the vice-chair of the IMechE Midland region.

Caragh  McWhirr: Global Hydrogen Director, Xodus Group

Caragh is Global Hydrogen Director for Xodus. Caragh McWhirr leads Xodus’ Hydrogen Xcellence Hub and has over 20 years’ experience in the energy sector. She has a broad and multidisciplinary technical base covering electrical, mechanical, process and safety engineering. She leads a small team of hydrogen experts (commercial and technical), monitoring policy and markets globally, and providing strategic direction to the rest of the business related to hydrogen opportunities. The Xodus Hydrogen Xcellence Hub aims to be custodians of expertise on hydrogen and hydrogen projects, technically and commercially, providing tools and expertise relating to Hydrogen to the rest of the business.

Charlie Hutchings: Materials Performance Engineer, Frazer-Nash Consultancy

Charlie is a Materials Performance Engineer at Frazer-Nash Consultancy, working in asset integrity with a focus on the material compatibility of existing infrastructure with hydrogen. Charlie is currently completing an industry applied engineering doctorate (EngD) at the University of Surrey, where his research focuses upon developing an insight into the hydrogen assisted degradation of materials, and its mitigation. He is a graduate of Imperial College London and holds a master’s in Materials Engineering (MEng).

Thomas Beard: Clean Shipping Lead, Principal Marine Engineer, BMT

Dr. Thomas Beard is a chartered engineer and the lead for clean maritime/alternative fuels in Defence at BMT. He has a PhD in Hydrogen Safety from Loughborough University, following this he has spent several years in industry working on a variety of aspects of ship and submarine design and build. He is a member of the two UK maritime hydrogen working groups and is on the steering group for a research program on ammonia in maritime. He has published and presented numerous papers on the topic of alternative fuels for maritime and naval platforms.

Ghenadie Bulat: Head of New Technologies, Siemens Energy

Dr. Ghenadie Bulat is the Head of New Technologies for Gas Services at Siemens Energy. He drives the innovation and excellence in all disciplines required for the success of products of the future.

Ghenadie joined Siemens in 2003, a Chartered Engineer, a Member of Institution of Mechanical Engineers, The Combustion Institute, and a visiting professor of combustion at Imperial College London.

His experience includes more than 20 years of engineering, management and leadership within Product Development and Technology Innovation. His contribution is reflected in several combustion design improvements, peer reviewed paper publications and patents.

Dr. Bulat obtained his PhD from Imperial College London, and his engineering degree from Technical University of Moldova.

Helen Leadbetter: Zero Emissions Flight & Hydrogen Challenge Lead, Future Safety & Innovation, Civil Aviation Authority

Helen joined the UK Civil Aviation Authority in June 2022, working on hydrogen, zero emission and Future Flight Challenge projects. Alongside this Helen lead the creation of the CAA’s Hydrogen Challenge to facilitate collaboration with industry and academia to improve understanding of hydrogen-related risks in aviation, identify gaps in policies, and propose new recommendations to develop net-zero policies. This will allow for increased regulatory readiness, reduced risk of failure, and improved collaboration with the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Prof. Hua Zhao: Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Brunel University London

Prof. Zhao is the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research at Brunel University London. He is a Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) and a Foreign Member of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE). He is also the Director of Centre for Advanced Powertrain and Fuels at Brunel with over 20 doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. Previously he served as the Chairman of the Powertrain System and Fuels Group at IMechE.

Over the last 30 years, Professor Zhao  has published over 400 papers and 6 books and supervised over 50 PhD students. He is currently involved several R&D projects on H2/NH3 combustion engines for marine, power generation and commercial vehicles.

John Barton: Research Associate, Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University

John Barton is a research associate in the Integration and Wind Power sections of the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST). He researches wind power and ways of accommodating variations in supply and demand of electricity in energy systems with increasing amounts of renewable generation. He has written the Future Energy Scenario Analysis (FESA) computer modelling tool for analysing such systems, including heating, transport and industrial uses of energy as well as electricity.

Current research focuses on condition monitoring of wind turbines as part of the Supergen Wind project, and system modelling work as part of the Realising Transition Pathways project. This latter research includes both technical and sociological aspects of changes necessary to ensure energy security and reduced carbon emissions, in the context of the UK.

Previous research topics include flexible demand (controllable demand side management with smart metering), the public acceptability of renewable energy, characterising microgeneration, distributed generation, energy storage, hydrogen and small wind turbines of a vertical axis or cross-flow design.

John has also done extensive consultancy work with Bryte Energy Ltd and Air Fuel Synthesis Ltd, having been a director of each of these companies. Bryte Energy’s expertise was in the role of hydrogen in low carbon energy systems, while Air Fuel Synthesis is researching methods of manufacturing carbon-neutral transport fuels by capturing carbon dioxide from the air and combining it with renewable hydrogen.

Michael Lord: Senior Industry Analyst, Climate Change Committee

Michael Lord is Senior Industry Analyst at the Climate Change Committee. He has 15 years' experience of working on climate change strategy and policy, in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. 
In recent years Michael has focussed on the decarbonisation of manufacturing. He has written ground-breaking reports on decarbonising production of industrial products including cement, steel, aluminium, glass and brick. Before joining the Committee, Michael was Principal Consultant at 3Keel where he advised businesses on Net Zero strategies. Michael was previously Head of Research at Beyond Zero Emissions, an Australian climate think where his work won international recognition.

Tim Podesta: Independent Consultant, .

Tim is a subject matter expert and active advisor in project management and investment analysis, front end planning/project shaping and benchmarking/assurance; and has deep experience of the oil, gas, petrochemical and energy industries.

He has a track record of delivering cross cultural programmes in strategy, change management and process improvement. In his last role with BP he led the back office for a major global corporate programme in the matter of safe and reliable operations which made significant improvements to operating performance across the group.

He is passionate about professional development; learning and sharing learning with a focus on the netzero agenda and the potential for a hydrogen economy alongside clean electricity. He is currently a Faculty Member of World Hydrogen Leaders, presenting courses and masterclasses on the Investment Case for Hydrogen and Project Development Best Practices. He is an experienced trainer and facilitator of live events and can work in English and French. He has strengths in facilitation and building rapport in multi-cultural environments using accomplished language skills.

He has particular experience of facilitating Front End Planning workshops using the Construction Industry Institute (CII) Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) and is affiliated to Valency Inc, a CII member, as a senior consultant.

Tim has extensive experience of developing and delivering impactful training during a 35 year career at BP; in particular the BP Way course for Project Professionals, Managing Projects in collaboration with Manchester Business School and Economic Evaluation Methodology for BP's commercial community.

He is an active committee member of the Management Group at the IMechE and is also a qualified Professional Toastmaster and Associate of the NAT (National Association of Toastmasters).

Stuart Hawksworth: Head of the Centre for Energy and Major Hazards, Health and Safety Executive

Stuart Hawksworth is Head of the Centre for Energy and Major Hazards at the Health and Safety Executive’s Science and Research Centre in Buxton. He has over 30 years of experience in process safety research and incident investigation, with a focus in the last 20 years on hydrogen safety. He is Previous President and Honorary Member of the International Association for Hydrogen Safety (IAHySafe), a member of the European Hydrogen Safety Panel and visiting Professor at the University of Ulster.

Stephen Livermore: Independent Consultant, .

Stephen is a chartered mechanical engineer focusing on hydrogen project development. He is currently supporting SSE on a large green hydrogen production facility in the Humber. Previously, Stephen worked in engineering consultancy where he led a number of studies for the UK government on hydrogen. He also worked at LIFTE H2, developing hydrogen products and projects. Stephen maintains close links with academia and is a member of the IMechE’s Energy, Environment and Sustainability Group (EESG).

Ben Richardson: Commercial Director & Subject Matter Expert, Filton Systems Engineering

Ben is one of the founders at Filton Systems Engineering. In addition to his role as Commercial Director, Ben supports technical areas including the development and certification of aircraft fuel systems, electrostatic discharge (ESD) & lightning, and alternative fuels including hydrogen.
Ben’s background is in Physics. He holds an BSc from the University of Southampton, UK. He has 19 years of experience in aircraft system development.

Ryan Nicholls: Business Development Manager, IAAPS

Ryan is the Business Development Manager at IAAPS ltd. A wholly owned subsidiary of the University of bath focused on Net-Zero propulsion and powertrain technologies. With a background in chemistry, chemical engineering and thermal management systems, Ryan focuses on the continued progression of our commercial activities, expanding and sustaining IAAPS’ interactions across the propulsion, powertrain, and hydrogen sectors. Ultimately to engage with industry to showcase the capabilities of IAAPS and generate commercial focused technology development towards Net-Zero mobility.

Ken Hart: Visiting Fellow, Aerospace Engineering, University of Hertfordshire

1974-1992 Rolls-Royce plc. Technical and managerial roles, specialising in design and analysis of gas turbine engine oil, air and thermal systems and development of computational analysis methods.

1992-2015 University of Hertfordshire.

• Principal lecturer in aircraft performance, propulsion, design, aerodynamics, thermo-fluid dynamics and heat transfer.
• Research, consultancy and industrial training course provision, primarily in thermo-fluid systems design and analysis.

Current research focus: Alternative aircraft propulsion systems and fuels for more sustainable commercial air transport.

Ken holds a D.Phil and a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sussex. He is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, and co-vice-chair of the IMechE Aerospace Division Board.

Helen Brocklehurst: Hydrogen Research Academy Lead – Hydrogen Capability Network, Aerospace Technology Institute

Helen graduated from Durham University with a mechanical engineering degree and joined Rolls-Royce graduate scheme, before specialising in combustion CFD, gaining a Masters & Engineering Doctorate from Cranfield. She subsequently managed teams in thermals, compressors and turbines aerodynamics, culminating as Globel Head of CFD. She then returned to her combustion roots as a hydrogen combustion specialist in the Aerospace Technology Institute’s FlyZero project and is now the hydrogen skills and research lead on the Hydrogen Capability Network, which aims to accelerate the development of liquid hydrogen powered flight.

Jonathan Brown : Strategy Director, Hypermotive

Jonathan Brown has been delivering propulsion and power projects since 1998. From a technical engineering role within a leading international consultancy, he has experience of working with a diverse global customer base. Building on a background in analysis & simulation, technical leadership and sustainability across a range of sectors, Jonathan joined Hypermotive as Strategy Director in 2022 to focus on driving sustainable transport and power technologies into the mainstream. His belief is that utilisation of cross-industry innovation and technology coupled with sound environmental science and cultural change management is the key catalyst for success in sustainable transformation.

Darren Fitzgerald: Principal Electrical & Systems Rolling Stock Engineer, RSSB

Darren Fitzgerald is the Principal Electrical & Systems Rolling Stock Engineer for RSSB. Starting in the rail industry as a rolling stock apprentice for an operator, Darren graduated from the University of Sussex in 2018 with a Masters Degree in Embedded Digital Systems and became a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology in 2022. Since joining RSSB in 2021, Darren has been the lead technical specialist for hydrogen fuelled rolling stock for the standards directorate and contributed to the paper “Hydrogen Policy and Standards Review” that is available on the RSSB website.

Paul Needley: Managing Director, Enertek International Ltd

Paul Needley is Managing Director of Enertek International Ltd in the United Kingdom. The company is an independent engineering consultancy and specialises in in domestic and commercial heating and cooking appliance design, development, and certification. Paul is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He joined Enertek in 1987 after working in engineering research and development for a major gas appliance manufacturer and completing professional level qualifications in both engineering and business.

David Stevens: Senior Solutions Engineer, FuelCell Energy

Richard Halsey: Innovation Director, Energy Systems Catapult

Richard is Executive Director of the Energy Systems Catapult specialising in the delivery of clean energy and innovation projects working with the public and private sector in support of decarbonisation and transformation of local and national energy systems. Richard leads the Catapults Innovation Directorate of over 130 energy system and innovation experts comprising engineers, designers, data and social scientists, modellers and analysts.

He joined the Catapult in 2015 having previously worked for over a decade in energy consultancy leading teams specialising in low carbon energy, energy system transformation, business model innovation, planning, climate change and sustainable development.

Richard has overseen the development and delivery of a wide range of research and innovation projects and programmes for the Catapult in partnership with government, industry and academia. He is a Member of the Energy Institute and founder of the Catapult Networks Hydrogen Innovation Initiative.

Pedram Pazouki: Products and Engineering Director, ITM Power

Nick Ryan: Director and Head of Technology, Steer Energy

Sikander Mahmood: Hydrogen Blending Programme Manager, Cadent Gas

As a hydrogen blending programme manager at the UK's largest Gas Distribution network (Cadent), I spearhead the national safety evidence for hydrogen blending into the existing gas distribution networks across Great Britain. With over 6 years in the gas industry, my expertise spans roles in innovation and operational transition, marking a career dedicated to advancing energy decarbonisation solutions and ensuring safe practices. I am also an Incorporated member of the IMechE.

Bill Liu: Programme Lead, Bay Hydrogen Hub, EDF Energy

Bill Liu, a Nuclear Professional, with over 38 years’ experience within the Nuclear industry in the UK. Over his career he has held management positions within Maintenance, Engineering, Training and Project Delivery.  Having obtained his 1st Class Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Liverpool John Moores university in 1998, and achieved CEng and Full IMechE member status in 2000.  Bill currently is the Central Projects Capability manager, EDF Nuclear Operations. He is the Programme lead for the Bay Hydrogen Hub project at Heysham 2 Power Station. EDF's ambition in the UK is to “Help Britain achieve Net Zero together”. 

Chris Fisher: New Product Development, Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd

Chris is the manufacturing lead for the Fuel Cell Electric Hilux project in Toyota UK. He has over 20 years experience in the Automotive Industry.

He has a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Liverpool.

Chris joined Toyota UK in 2002, working in Quality Assurance. Since then he has been responsible for supplier development, in-house process design, vehicle development, vehicle quality and warranty. 
During his time at Toyota Chris has lived and worked in Japan supporting the development of European vehicles.

In 2022 Chris joined New Product Development team. He led the manufacturing team through the development, build and commissioning of the Fuel Cell Electric Hilux prototype vehicles.

Ian Arbon: Engineered Solutions, on behalf of the Energy Institute

Ian Arbon is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, a Registered European Engineer and a Chartered Environmentalist, with an MSc in ‘Renewable Energy and the Environment’ and an MBA.  He has over 50 years of experience in hydrogen compression and is past MD of several UK compressor manufacturing companies; he now runs Engineered Solutions, a Sustainable Engineering and Management consultancy.  Ian is a Fellow of IMechE; having chaired its Energy, Environment & Sustainability Group and its Renewable Power Committee, he has a long history in spearheading the Institution’s work in hydrogen. He is also a Fellow of the Energy Institute, and sits on the Hydrogen Committees of both bodies. In recent years, he has been a Visiting Professor in Alternative Energy at Newcastle University, an Honorary Professor in Sustainable Energy at the University of Glasgow and a Visiting Professor in the Centre for Energy Policy at the University of Strathclyde.

Ian Graffy: Senior Policy Advisor, Hydrogen Economy, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Ian Graffy is a policy adviser working at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. He works in the Hydrogen Economy team, which authored the UK's Hydrogen Strategy in 2021. His policy focus is on the regulatory and market conditions needed to support industrial manufacturing and construction sectors to transition from fossil fuels to low carbon hydrogen. He has previously worked in government on the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, delivering innovation funding for industrial fuel switching, low carbon hydrogen, and industrial energy efficiency.