Clark MacFarlane, CEO NE&ME and UK Managing Director Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Ltd

Clark MacFarlane is both Managing Director of the UK business, a position he has held since 2014, and CEO of the Onshore Business across Northern Europe and the Middle East, as of 2020. Clark joined the then Siemens Wind Power business as Managing Director, Offshore in 2012. Since joining Siemens in 1997, Clark has been the CEO or MD of five Siemens UK Businesses covering Power Generation and Services, Defence, Building Technologies and IT Solutions & Services.
Clark has been a board member of Renewable UK since 2017 and is also a member of the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), working with his Industry Colleagues and BEIS to achieve a cost-effective, long-term future for sustainable renewable energy in the UK and develop the Supply Chain.

Andy Reay - ABP Group Head of Commercial Wind

Andy Reay became ABP Group Head of Commercial for Offshore Wind in October 2020. Prior to joining ABP, he help the role of Business Unit Manager at the DEME Group and has worked in Offshore Wind for the past 8 years. Andy has 20 years of experience across sectors including power generation, oil & gas and chemicals. Andy is a former member of the Renewables UK Board and is now a member of the Aura Advisory Board established to deliver offshore wind sector development based around the Humber region. He is also a board member of London International Shipping Week.

Tony Appleton - Director Offshore Wind - Burns & McDonnell

Tony Appleton is director of offshore wind for Burns & McDonnell. He is a Chartered Engineer registered with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering (with honours) from Newcastle University, England. He has been in the power sector for over 25 years working in both generation (renewable, fossil fuel and nuclear) and transmission & distribution and has specialized in the offshore renewables and interconnection global markets for the last 15 years. He has been involved with over 35 offshore wind projects and 5 submarine HVDC interconnection projects. He has led organizations and teams in all aspects of offshore wind with work ranging from viability studies to front-end feasibility studies through construction to commissioning and operation and maintenance. He has worked with every offshore wind developer as well as knowing and understanding the global offshore supply chain.

Dr Lars Karlsson - Managing Director, KGH Global Consulting; President KGH Border Services, KGH Group; Former WCO Director for Capacity Building and DG Swedish Customs

Lars Karlsson has an extensive background over three decades in Customs, borders and international trade policy. Before joining KGH, Mr. Karlsson was Director of the World Customs Organization (WCO), a multinational organization with 183 member countries (99% of world trade). Prior to this Lars Karlsson was Act Director general and Deputy Director General of Swedish Customs, with a twenty-five years career as civil servant.
He serves as Senior Advisor to Governments in more than twenty countries and holds leading positions in three academic research networks and think tanks in the area of customs, borders and international trade.
He is a Doctor of Education (honoris causa) and holds a Masters in International Customs Law and Administration.
On Brexit, Lars Karlsson was in 2017 commissioned by the European Union to do an academic report about the EU-UK border post-Brexit, Smart Border 2.0, a report that is widely acknowledged in both EU and UK. He was the customs expert of the UK Parliament Alternative Arrangements Commission (AAC) that last summer presented solutions for the island of Ireland. Karlsson is advisor on customs and border matters to UK Government institutions and he has been invited to testify seven times as customs expert to the House of Lords and House of Commons relevant Brexit committees. Lars Karlsson was mentioned as customs reference by Michael Gowe when the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster earlier this summer presented the new UK Border Operating Model to the Parliament.

Laura Botham – HR Partner, Siemens Gamesa

Laura Botham is a HR Partner for Siemens Gamesa in the UK. Working predominantly with the Offshore and Corporate Functions, she is passionate about employee engagement, talent development and organisation design. As a local Hull woman, Laura has a solid network in the local community partnering with key stakeholders to raise the profile of the local industry, the sector and growth of the Humber Region.

Laura has more than 15 years’ experience in Human Resources with experience in the public and private sectors gaining her HR Practitioner experience in FMCG, predominantly in manufacturing environments. In addition, as an alumni of the University of Hull, where she completed an Undergraduate BA and Postgraduate Masters, she is proud to work in the local region in a sector which makes real what matters, clean energy for generations to come.

Daniel Taylor - Senior Trade Adviser with DIT at the British Embassy Stockholm

Daniel is a Senior Trade Adviser with DIT at the British Embassy Stockholm. His key areas of focus are energy and clean growth. He has worked with the commercial team at the Embassy for 6 years supporting UK businesses in Sweden. Prior to joining the team in Sweden he worked on trade policy at the UK Mission to the UN and WTO in Geneva.

Courtney French - Commercial Fisheries Manager for Ørsted UK

Courtney French: Commercial Fisheries Manager for Ørsted UK. Responsible for managing the relationship between commercial fisheries stakeholders and Ørsted offshore wind projects throughout the UK, in development, construction and operational phases. The purpose of commercial fisheries manager role is to maintain and seek to improve relations with commercial fisheries stakeholders and facilitate coexistence between the two industries. Skilled in negotiation, mitigation management, Environmental Impact Assessment, and fisheries management. Marine biology background with a Research Master's degree in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Dawn Hall - Business Support Services Manager - East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Over 25 years' experience working within Business Support. Based at ergo (a hub for renewables and environmental technologies) currently manage a range of business support programmes and work in partnership to understand the needs of industry and support businesses to achieve their potential. Key aspect of which is the Supply Chain Network (A legacy of Green Port), working with regional businesses, major strategic investors, and developers to strengthen knowledge and intelligence of supply chain opportunities, encourage local supplier connections and supporting businesses to be supply chain ready.

Hannah Webb is the Trade Officer for Offshore Wind and Clean Energy at the UK Department for International Trade

Hannah Webb is the Trade Officer for Offshore Wind and Clean Energy at the UK Department for International Trade. She supports companies from the UK, and in particular the Northern Powerhouse, as they engage with the US market. She assists companies with market entry strategy, positioning products or services, and building a network of meaningful contacts in market. Hannah has ten years of experience in international trade development, working at such organizations as the Maine International Trade Center and Enterprise Ireland. She has worked across a number of sectors including Boat Building, Composites, Life Sciences, Consumer Retail, and HR Technology.

Hannah earned her degree from the University of Edinburgh and enjoyed traveling throughout the UK during her time living there. She is originally from the state of Maine and is excited to be working at home in New England once again. She’s based at the British Consulate in Boston and working up and down the East Coast USA.

Kerrie Forster Chief Executive Officer, The Workboat Association

Kerrie Forster Chief Executive Officer, The Workboat Association

After 17 years working both on/offshore within various maritime industries, Kerrie is an industry Consultant and CEO of the Workboat Association - “The trade association for Workboat Owners, Operators, Stakeholders and Professionals.”

Once a workboat vessel Master, he has substantial offshore experience onboard CTVs, Survey Vessels, Dive support and Anchor Handlers. Kerrie spent a number of years managing a fleet of workboats for an International company based in the Netherlands and has gained experience from working across the globe.
Kerrie has a strong background in promoting a well-accepted safety culture, responsible work ethics and cross organisation understanding. He has designed QHSE documentation, systems/ controls and has led significant incident and accident investigations. Organising and providing training and technical advice to on/offshore workforces, he is an ISM lead auditor, certified in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods code and has developed and implemented ISO/OHSAS/IMO certification of various company Safety Management Systems.
Currently living in Rotterdam NL, Kerrie actively represents the Workboat Industry and wider Offshore Contracting Sector speaking at and Chairing working groups and conferences, providing guidance and research to many National and International publications, campaigns and Government strategies. Kerrie is motivated in supporting all industry stakeholders from Regulators to Apprentices.

Katharine York - Chair, Grimsby Renewable Partnership and ORE Catapult, OMCE Manager

Katharine chairs the Grimsby Renewables Partnership, a members’ organisation connecting the offshore wind industry with the local supply chain and community of Grimsby and the wider Humber region. She moved to the area in 2012, to take up a role in the operations and maintenance of what at the time were the only wind farms operated from Grimsby. Since then the industry has grown rapidly, with still more exciting growth to come. Her years in the industry have given her inside knowledge of what life is like for both owner-operators and OEMs, and an understanding of the practical difficulties for SMEs attempting to engage with the sector. In 2020 she moved to a role with ORE Catapult, to set up the Operations & Maintenance Centre of Excellence at the heart of the UK’s largest offshore wind O&M hub.

Kristin Kelleher - Vice Consul for Prosperity, Energy & Climate Policy at the British Consulate in Boston, MA, USA

Kristin Kelleher is the Vice Consul for Prosperity, Energy & Climate Policy at the British Consulate in Boston, MA, USA. She supports the Consulate’s offshore wind policy work and the Consulate’s engagement on subnational low-carbon energy. Kristin has worked in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Kristin worked with the Department of International Trade to welcome 25 Northern companies on a virtual offshore wind delegation to the North East, USA in December. Prior to joining the Consulate, she led policy and programming for a clean energy business association. She holds an M.A. degree from King’s College London and a B.A. from George Washington University.

Lorna Wagner - Programme Manager (Careers and Outreach) - Maritime UK

Lorna joined Maritime UK from an FE College in Eastleigh in Hampshire where she managed the support services for six years including being the Careers Leader. Eastleigh was the first Technical and Professional College in the County to achieve the coveted Quality in Careers Standard under her tenure. She is a qualified careers adviser and a passionate advocate for helping people reach their potential through successful and satisfying careers.

As the Programme Manager (Careers and Outreach) she has responsibility for leading the careers activity of Maritime UK, working with employers and educators to promote the many exciting opportunities in the sector. She will be driving forward the programme of activity and supporting resources in a collaborative and coordinated way sharing best practice from around the regions. She is very much looking forward to actualising the outreach part of the role, visiting the regions, and seeing first-hand what activities are working best around the Country.
Lorna is based at Solent LEP in Portsmouth.
Update:

Ten months into the role Lorna has developed the national careers programme and published the strategic plan. We have established a careers professionals' network with over 270 members (nationwide) and an Industry Ambassadors network of over 100 maritime people, who have delivered maritime careers information to over 11,000 children!

The programme is gaining momentum and support from the sector, and a good level of interest form educators with outreach work happening in primary, secondary, FE and Universities. This would not be possible without the active participation from Industry professionals, and her presentation will focus on the careers programme and skills, as well as how Humber based maritime businesses can get involved in the programme.

Paul Vigeant - Offshore Wind Consultant - Massachusetts - US

Paul Vigeant is an offshore wind consultant with more than 15 years of experience in this emerging energy market. He was the Principal Investigator and team leader for a comprehensive research project entitled, “2018 Massachusetts Offshore Wind Workforce Assessment” sponsored by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

From 2014 until 2018, Mr. Vigeant served as the Vice President for Workforce Development and External Affairs at Bristol Community College in Fall River, Massachusetts. He managed workforce-training initiatives in offshore wind and renewable energy technologies; he also served as the Managing Director of the New Bedford Wind Energy Center in New Bedford Massachusetts. The Wind Energy Center supports development of the offshore wind industry in the U.S. and promotes the Port of New Bedford as the premier location for a wide range of business development and investment opportunities associated with the emerging U.S. offshore wind industry.

Mr. Vigeant worked for more than twenty years at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth as the Assistant Chancellor for Economic Development. Mr. Vigeant conducted extensive research into the European offshore wind industry, including all aspects of supply chain development; in addition, his research focused on the technical and safety training requirements for careers in offshore wind.

Mr. Vigeant has more than 45 years of experience as a Chief Executive Officer and Senior Executive in workforce training, economic development, and finance capital formation. He has a B.A. from the University of Mass Dartmouth and earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Rhode Island.

Lauren Little - Stakeholder Advisor for for Ørsted in Grimsby

Lauren Little is a Stakeholder Advisor for Ørsted in Grimsby and engages with key stakeholders about the transformational impact that the offshore wind industry is having on the town of Grimsby and the wider Humber region.

Ørsted currently operate 4 offshore wind farms from the East Coast Hub in Grimsby and are currently constructing the world’s largest offshore wind farm; Hornsea Two. Raising awareness of opportunities, inspiring young people into offshore wind careers and communication with businesses, local government, membership organisations and education are big parts of her daily work.

Most recently Lauren supported the development of the Humber Offshore Wind Cluster prospectus and the £1million investment into the Youth Zone in Grimsby.

Len Taylor - Northern Powerhouse Sector Specialist Offshore Wind and Renewables

Len Taylor - Northern Powerhouse Sector Specialist Offshore Wind and Renewables

Len has over 15+ years’ experience in the energy sector covering all aspects from offshore wind, biomass/biofuels, through to CCUS, and more latterly with hydrogen. He has held very senior roles during that time with many major companies such as AMEC, DONG Energy (now Orsted), and Whessoe Engineering (part of Samsung C&T).

Having had the experience of perspectives from the owner operator side as well as the major EPC side he has a unique experience with the very broad experience in the energy sector coupled with considerable international experience building up business in India, Malaysia, China, Bahrain and Libya.

Louise Smith - Director, Aura

Louise Smith - Director, Aura

Louise is Director of Aura and its brand new Innovation Centre at Bridgehead near Hull, set in the heart of the Humber. Led by the University of Hull, Aura acts as a catalyst for collaboration, bringing together industry, SMEs, university, local & regional government and NGO partners to harness and drive innovation in the offshore wind and the wider low-carbon energy sector.

A linguist by training, Louise has spent most of her 30 year career in industry as a consultant on large energy projects, with a particular interest in issues and ‘soft’ risk management. She joined the Aura Team in 2016, working to build the Aura brand and reputation, consolidating its position in the region, nationally and internationally.

She is a strong advocate for the Humber, having spent the last 20 years working on projects in the region – for BP, Total, Ineos, Nippon Gohsei and Vivergo. She has worked on some of the largest and ground-breaking energy projects in the UK over the years, including carbon capture and biofuels.

Duncan Slater - International Trade Adviser with the DIT (Department International Trade)

Duncan has worked in his current role, as an International Trade Adviser with the Department for International Trade (DIT) In Yorkshire and the Humber for nearly 10 years, supporting businesses in developing and growing export sales in the Humber. Before that, he has gained extensive experience in business management since 1984, holding senior management roles including Sales Director and General Manager. He worked overseas for over 20 years in many countries, experiencing first hand different business cultures and industry sectors. This was followed by undertaking work in London, Wales and South Yorkshire.

He has an in-depth knowledge of domestic and international business operation, along with a full understanding of basic business practice and the key factors essential for developing business in this country and internationally.

In recent years, Duncan has led highly successful DIT trade missions to the Netherlands for businesses operating in the Renewable Energy sector and is a keen advocate of supporting all businesses both small and large to develop and grow in overseas markets.

Emma Toulson – Lead Stakeholder Advisor, UK, Ørsted

Emma Toulson is the Lead Stakeholder Advisor for Ørsted in the UK. Working predominantly in the regions where Ørsted are developing, constructing or operating projects, she leads on engagement with regional and local government, skills, the supply chain and local communities.

Emma was a key contributor to the Offshore Wind Sector Deal leading on the ‘Place: Clusters’ element which aims to grow existing clusters and create more opportunities for investment and growth in regional economies across the UK.

Prior to joining Ørsted Emma worked for the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership as Sector Development Manager on secondment from WSP engineering consultancy. She was awarded the 2019 “Humber Renewables Champion Award” for her work over the years on the development of the Humber Energy Estuary.