OFFSHORE WIND CONNECTIONS 2026
Offshore Wind Connections Conference 2026
Presented by Humber Marine and Renewables
Offshore Wind Connections is back for 2026 at The Doubletree by Hilton, Hull, an ideal venue with excellent facilities and a central location.
The conference and exhibition is now in its thirteenth year and has grown in stature to become one of the leading and best known UK offshore wind events.
The two-day event commences on the evening of Wednesday, 29 April with opening speeches and the customary and convivial networking event. Thursday, 30 April, will be a packed day of speakers, exhibiting and networking. As each speaker is announced, the online programme will be updated.
The conference will close on the evening of Thursday 30 April, when we will be holding the Humber Renewables Awards and Gala Dinner in the same venue. To enter for the Awards and to purchase tickets for this prestigious evening please visit the new website www.humber-renewables.com
For further information, please contact Isobel Reade, Event Manager at Iconic Media Group, who is organising this event on behalf of Humber Marine & Renewables, on 0161 686 2422 or email [email protected]
Why get involved?
Humber Marine & Renewables is at the heart of marine, offshore renewables and net-zero sector growth in the Humber and surrounding area. OWC2026 will see many of the key players and supply chain companies coming together to discuss how to achieve greater and sustained market share for the region with topics covering net zero, devolution, freeports, skills and general advancements in the offshore wind sector.
It attracts hundreds of regional, national and international delegates, and provides invaluable information and contacts for companies that are well-established in the sector and for those looking to enter or diversify into the market. It is supported by a stellar cast of businesses.
Experts and industry figures including OEMs, government organisations, manufacturers, port operators, vessel owners and operations and maintenance service providers, will speak about the latest developments and provide updates on key projects. Full details will be released over the coming weeks, so please check the website from time to time for updates.
Please join us for another outstanding year in the world of offshore wind at OWC2026!
OWC2026 EVENT PROGRAMME
Event Overview
As one of the UK’s premier offshore wind events, OWC2026 attracts hundreds of regional, national, and international participants. Supported by a prestigious line-up of industry leaders, it is an essential event for anyone wanting to connect with key players and stay informed about the dynamic growth in this vibrant industry.
With significant offshore wind developments in the Humber region in recent years, OWC2026 is the event to attend if you want to make meaningful connections and stay ahead of industry trends.
The two-day event starts on the evening of 29 April with the ever-popular networking event and the exhibition hall will be open. Day 2 continues with presentations, expert discussions, and invaluable networking opportunities.
The theme for this year’s conference can be revealed, Offshore Wind and Beyond: New Markets, New Funding, New Partnerships.
Offshore Wind Connections 2026 is firmly anchored in offshore wind, while showcasing the expanding opportunities emerging across adjacent and enabling sectors. As offshore wind assets, infrastructure and operations become increasingly critical to national energy security, they are converging with defence, security, cyber resilience, digital and dual-use technologies.
This convergence, driven by government priorities around national resilience, secure energy systems, maritime capability and innovation-led growth, creates a timely and practical opportunity for Humber-based businesses across offshore wind, ports, maritime, subsea, digital and engineering to:
– Expand within offshore wind.
– Access new and expanded funding streams.
– Diversify into adjacent markets.
– Strengthen supply chain assurance, cyber readiness and data resilience.
– Collaborate with Tier 1 developers, primes, innovators and public-sector partners.
Taking place at The Doubletree by Hilton in Hull, OWC 2026 will celebrate the region’s achievements, while bringing key organisations together to highlight opportunities, showcase developments and optimise collaboration.
Event date: Wednesday 29 April – Thursday 30 April 2026
All speakers will be added to the OWC website but not necessarily in order of appearance at the event.
Following on from the conference on the evening of 30 April, the Humber Renewables Awards and Gala Dinner will take place. The evening will be a celebration of the region’s highest achievers in the renewables sector. Please visit the new website www.humber-renewables.com
If you need further information, please contact Isobel Reade at Iconic Media, who is delivering this event on behalf of Humber Marine and Renewables on +44 (0) 161 686 2422 or email [email protected]
Who's Attending
- RWE
- Ørsted
- RSM UK
- Associated British Ports
- Harwich
- Hydrosphere
- Boston Air
- UKSTEM
- CATCH UK
- SIEVI
- Cargostore
- Systematic
- IRISNDT
- OTC Grimsby
- Petzl
- Commerce & Industry
- Insight Energy
- DBS Offshore Wind
- Hull City Council
- Gibb Group
- CCB Safety
- Maersk
- Hove A/S
- MGH Offshore
- HFR Solutions
- Rix Renewables
- Andrew Jackson Solicitors
- Torque Solutions
- GB Energy
- The Crown Estate
- Subsea Cables
- RenewableUK
- Humber Freeport
- University of Hull
- Global Underwater Hub
- TICQ
- OWGP
- Hellios Information
- Indeximate
- Veronika Brazdova
- Arthur Smith Grimsby
- Specialist Wind Services
- Parkol
- Pentagon Marine
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hull
- DN Colleges
- Horizon Property Investors
- CATCH UK
- Norwegian Offshore Wind Cluster
- Humber HR People
- Lemon Cherry
- Atlantas Marine
- Pipeshield
- GPGL
- Abaris
- Offshore Helicopter Services
- Ice Factory Grimsby
- Port of Blyth
- Veronika Brazdova
- Crating Solutions
- Sailor's Children's Charity
- Harlyn Solutions Ltd
- Boston Energy
- Prestige Recruitment
- East Riding Council
Day 1 : Wednesday 29 April 2026
- Time Details
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16.00 - 18.00
Wednesday 29 April 2026
REGISTRATION AND DRINKS RECEPTION
Registration commences at 16.00 with the event opening at 17.00 with opening speeches at the rooftop Lexington bar at 18.00 from high-profile guest speakers and the hugely popular OWC networking event. The exhibition will also be open, allowing exhibitors, delegates and guests to mix and mingle.
A networking drink will be provided as part of the entrance ticket and the bar(s) will be open, including the Lexington Bar (rooftop bar) for late networking.
Day 2 : Thursday 30 April 2026
- Time Details
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08.00-09.00
Thursday 30 April 2026
REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING
Day two commences with a light breakfast and refreshments. The exhibition will be open and there will be an early opportunity to network with speakers, exhibitors and delegates before the conference begins at 09.00.
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09.00-09:10
Thursday 30 April 2026
WELCOME TO OWC 2026!
Introduction from conference host, Dave Laister.
Camilla Carlbom Flinn, Director at Humber Marine and Renewables will officially open the conference and welcome delegates. -
09.10-10.10
Thursday 30 April 2026
SESSION 1: UK offshore wind – national pipeline and market direction
Offshore wind at scale: where the market is going, and what buyers will expect next
This session will hear from the developers who shine a spotlight on current UK offshore wind operations, future pipelines and long term O&M strategies. We’ll then hear about national investment priorities and what this means for ports, infrastructure and supply chains. There will be discussion around AR7 outcomes and leasing and seabed strategy, as well as the market outlook. From a global accounting perspective, the session will also cover the state of the UK offshore wind market, barriers, enablers and international competitiveness.
Speakers:
Rob Gilbert, Director, GB Energy
Emma Toulson, Head of Stakeholder Relations, Ørsted
Duncan Ayling, Senior Supply Chain & Regions Manager, The Crown Estate
Sheena McGuiness, Partner, Co-head of Energy & Natural Resources, RSM
Ajai Ahluwalia, Head of Supply Chain, RenewableUK -
10.10.11.00
Thursday 30 April 2026
SESSION 2: From national headlines to Humber opportunity
From policy to pipeline: what does offshore wind growth really mean for the Humber supply chain?
Panel discussion focusing on supply chain for the Humber, CAPEX and OPEX demand, port and infrastructure readiness, skills alignment, exportable capability and turning national ambition into regional delivery.
Speakers:
Duncan Ayling, Senior Supply Chain & Regions Manager, The Crown Estate
Graham Wright, Senior Supply Chain Development Lead, DBS Offshore Wind
Sheena McGuiness, Partner, Co-head of Energy & Natural Resources, RSM
Rob Gilbert, Director, GB Energy
Chaired by Dave Laister - 11.00-11.20 Thursday 30 April 2026 NETWORKING AND REFRESHMENT BREAK
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11.20-11:30
Thursday 30 April 2026
Keynote Speech
Tor Arne Johnsen, business development manager, Norwegian Wind Cluster
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11.30–12.10
Thursday 30 April 2026
SESSION 3: Ports, infrastructure and place-based delivery
Offshore wind is built on land first: ports, power and place.
This session will feature a keynote covering current and future port capability, offshore wind and O&M requirements, grid capacity and real estate availability. Our speakers will also discuss clean maritime funding, infrastructure upgrades, site readiness, Freeport land availability and inward investment.
Speakers:
Andy Reay, Head of Offshore Wind, Associated British Ports
Finbarr Dowling, Chair, Humber Freeport
Ben George, Consultant to Renewable Energy and Defence, Grimsby Ice Factory
Dr Sarah Shaw, Director, University of Hull
Chaired by Ian Leech, editor, Insider - 12.10-13.10 Thursday 30 April 2026 LUNCH, EXHIBITION AND NETWORKING
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13.10-14.10
Thursday 30 April 2026
SESSION 4: Why Security, Resilience, Innovation & Digitisation now matter to the offshore wind supply chain
This session will hear from TICQ who will discuss how security and resilience is becoming a commercial necessity rather than a matter of compliance, the Global Underwater Hub will show how innovation that survives the seabed survives the market, Prof James Gilbert takes offshore wind research to deployable solutions for the industry. The session will also debate the risk of not taking action on it now.
Speakers:
Daniel Weil, Managing Director, TICQ
Prof Jim Gilbert, Director, Aura & Energy Institute, University of Hull
Katharine York, Head of Sustainable O&M, Catapult
Didde Bjerglund-Martin, Head of JOSCAR, Hellios Information
Chaired by Ian Leech, editor, Insider -
14.00-15.00
Thursday 30 April 2026
SESSION 5: Funding the Transition: How are SMEs using Innovation, Security & Resilience Support?
The audience will hear real SME examples of how to turn the context into practical routes of action and how to demystify funding. Our panel will debate:
1. What capabilities will offshore wind buyers expect next, not just now?
2. How should SMEs prioritise between cyber, innovation, skills, collaboration?
3. Where does funding genuinely accelerate delivery — and where doesn’t it?
4. What should an SME do in the next 90 days?
Speakers:
Patrick Bastiaanse, Commercial Manager, Subsea Cables
Dr Chris Minto, Co-Founder, Indeximate
Joshua McMullan, Senior Policy Advisor, Department for Transport (SHORE)
Laurie McIntosh, Strategy Analyst, OWGP
Katharine York, Head of Sustainable O&M, Catapult
Chaired by Ian Leech, editor, Insider -
15:20-16:15
Thursday 30 April 2026
SESSION 6: Panel discussion: Converting opportunity into offshore wind delivery
Panel representation includes innovation and security speakers, funding bodies and offshore wind SME voices. Our panel will discuss market maturity, new opportunity areas, aligning funding to real supply chain needs and practical actions for Humber companies.
Speakers:
Ajai Ahluwalia, Head of Supply Chain, RenewableUK
Daniel Weil, Managing Director, TICQ
Alex MacPhie, Industrial Development Strategy Manager, OWGP
Dr Chris Minto, Co-Founder, Indeximate
Matt Mears, Senior Procurement Manager, RWE
Chaired by Dave Laister - 16:15-16:30 Thursday 30 April 2026 CLOSING REMARKS
OWC 2026 SPEAKERS
Andrew Oliver - Chairman of Humber Marine and Renewables and solicitor
Andrew is a trusted specialist in the field of marine law and commercial fisheries, both nationally and internationally. He advises on the sale, purchase and financing of vessels, licenses, fishing quota and fishing effort. Andrew also advises on marine environmental matters including pollution, environmental protection and marine spatial planning.
Andrew’s regulatory expertise and experience means he regularly advises in connection with investigations carried out by local inshore fisheries and conservation authorities, MMO, MCA and various other government departments.
He has been involved in offshore energy in all forms, especially in respect of vessel sales, purchase and charters, health and safety issues, and the interaction of the renewables industry with other users of the sea.
Sheena McGuinness, Partner, RSM UK Tax
Sheena is a partner in RSM’s corporate tax team and has over 25 years’ experience in advising companies on their tax affairs. She heads the renewables and cleantech sector group and regularly speaks at industry conferences on the tax aspects applicable to this sector. Sheena’s work encompasses all aspects of managing the tax life cycle of companies, from due diligence and tax efficient structuring on acquisition, managing the tax filing obligations and ongoing tax advice all the way through to divestment preparation and readiness. Sheena has extensive experience gained during her time in both practice and industry.
Sheena understands the importance of providing businesses with pragmatic and practical advice gained during her six years at Royal Dutch Shell plc, where she was the Head of Tax for Shell Renewables. She has advised clients of various sizes ranging from large corporates, yield cos, PE houses and owner managed businesses within the renewables sector.
Prof Jim Gilbert, Director - Aura & Energy Institute, University of Hull
Jim Gilbert is Professor of Engineering at the University of Hull and has spent a career tackling industry challenges through the application of engineering modelling and instrumentation. In recent years, Jim has focussed on accelerating the UK’s adoption of offshore wind energy, working with some of the industry’s key players such as Siemens Gamesa and Ørsted.
With involvement in a portfolio of approximately £40M in research projects, Jim is also the Research, Development and Innovation lead for Aura, a codirector of the EPSRC Supergen ORE Hubs and Deputy Director of the Aura Centre for Doctoral Training in Offshore Wind Energy. He has taught offshore wind energy to around 600 students at undergraduate, MSc and PhD level and has been active in promoting Equity Diversity and Inclusion in the sector.
Ajai Ahluwalia - Head of Supply Chain | RenewableUK
With over 13 years in the Offshore Wind industry Ajai has a broad commercial and deep technical and experience, having worked across the Development, Engineering, Construction and Operations phases on various projects for several organisations which include Equinor, ScottishPower Renewables and Centrica.
Now as the Head of Supply Chain, at RenewableUK, Ajai is now focussing on making sure industry can deliver upon the UK’s ambitious offshore wind deployment targets, and indeed seeing how opportunities in UK supply chain can be realised.
Finbarr Dowling, Chair, Humber Freeport
Finbarr Dowling is Chair of Humber Freeport and a senior industry leader with over 35 years’ experience at Siemens. He has led more than £1 billion of investment into the Humber, including Siemens Gamesa’s offshore wind facility in Hull and Siemens Mobility’s rail manufacturing campus in Goole.
Finbarr is widely respected for his leadership in advanced manufacturing and regional development, and for building strong partnerships across the public and private sectors. He was also a founding Vice Chair of Ron Dearing UTC, reflecting his commitment to skills and social value in the region.
Didde Bjerglund-Martin, Head of JOSCAR at Hellios Information
Didde Bjerglund-Martin is Head of JOSCAR at Hellios Information, helping Buying organisations in Defence, Aerospace, and Security simplify the collection and management of supplier information to strengthen their supply chains.
With over five years of experience in supplier risk data management, Didde plays a key role in supporting Buying organisations through strategic engagement and community collaboration. She also assists Governance Group members, who shape the strategy and direction of the JOSCAR community. Prior to joining Hellios, she worked overseas and as a contractor on military bases, bringing valuable real-world experience to her role. Passionate about improving transparency and collaboration in defence supply chains, Didde regularly speaks at industry events, offering insights into how JOSCAR supports both buyers and suppliers in achieving compliance and resilience.
Laurie McIntosh, Strategy Analyst, OWGP
Laurie is a Strategy Analyst at the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, passionate about driving innovation and sustainable growth in the offshore wind sector. She previously worked as Industry Development Lead at Xodus, where she supported SMEs and large-scale developers across the UK to tackle complex supply chain issues and understand the political and regulatory landscape. Previously, she gained valuable experience as a Global Public Affairs Graduate at Vestas and as a consultant supporting MHI Vestas Offshore Wind.
She holds an M.Sc. with distinction in Coastal and Marine Environments from NUI Galway, where her master’s thesis focused on floating offshore wind site selection using GIS and decision‑making frameworks. Laurie is also a 2023 Culture Change Young Professionals Green Energy Award winner and a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in renewables.
Rob Gilbert, Director, GB Energy
Rob Gilbert serves as the Director of Supply Chain at Great British Energy, the UK’s publicly backed clean energy
investment company. In this role, Rob leads the development and delivery of national supply chain strategy to support
the UK’s energy transition. His remit includes driving industrial capacity, supporting local content and workforce
development, and securing resilient supply networks across offshore wind, solar, and transmission infrastructure.
Duncan Ayling, Senior Supply Chain & Regions Manager, The Crown Estate
Duncan’s role at The Crown Estate is to catalyse and enable UK offshore wind supply chain capability and growth. With
20 years’ wind energy experience, he interfaces the national and regional agendas to enhance offshore wind’s positive
impact in local communities. Duncan is keen to promote The Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator funding programme with companies which are active in, or interested in, the offshore wind supply chain.
Tor Arne Johnsen, Business Development Manager, Norwegian Wind Cluster
Tor represents the Norwegian Offshore Wind – the largest industrial cluster in Norway with 300 member companies
targeting offshore wind. The UK offshore wind market is seen as a global powerhouse, and the Humber region as
the epicentre in the UK offshore wind market. The cluster believe that creating partnerships between Norwegian and
the Humber’s businesses could create great commercial opportunities for both sides and could play a role in solving
some of the challenges that industry is facing.
Alex MacPhie, Industrial Development Strategy Manager, OWGP
As Industrial Development Strategy Manager at OWGP, Alex is responsible for interpreting and evolving the Industrial Growth Plan, while continuing his role as Chief Transformation Officer at AMP PARTNERS LTD. Alex provides consultancy services focused on offshore wind innovation, technology development, and strategic transformation. His recent contributions include serving as a Technology Advisory Board member for floating wind product development.
Previously, Alex held senior roles at JDR Cable Systems including CTO, where he led the development and delivery of subsea cable technologies for offshore wind and oil & gas. Alex has continued to support subsea cable system development, facilitating stakeholder engagement workshops and establishing a supply chain-led cable systems
forum through the Global Underwater Hub.
Patrick Bastiaanse, Commercial Manager, Subsea Cables
Patrick Bastiaanse is a Commercial Manager within the Subsea Cables division at N-Sea, having joined the company in 2023. He brings several years of experience in the offshore wind sector, with a background in commercial, tendering and project-related roles supporting offshore wind developments. At N-Sea, Patrick focuses on subsea cable installation and repair projects, covering both capital installation campaigns and framework-based maintenance and repair scopes. He works closely with clients and supply-chain partners to deliver practical, commercially robust solutions that support the long-term performance of offshore wind assets.
Joshua McMullan PhD, Senior Policy Adviser, Maritime Directorate, Department for Transport
Joshua is a senior policy advisor at the Department for Transport with the UK SHORE team. Joshua has worked in a variety of roles in government and universities after completing his PhD at the University of Leicester.
Dr Chris Minto, Co-Founder, Indeximate
With a PhD in Physics, Chris has filled his career with a focus on new product introduction in acoustic and for the last 15 years pioneering fibre optic sensing.
Chris is well known in the sensing industry for his thought leadership, extensive publication and patent track record.
In 2022 he co-founded Indeximate with a mission to move the industry away from an “alerting” based paradigm to fully exploit the potential of sensing systems in order to tackle the critical problem of failure in subsea power cables.
Daniel Weil, Managing Director, TICQ Ltd
Daniel Weil is Managing Director of TICQ Ltd, a consultancy dedicated to driving innovation and cultural transformation within the Defence sector. With 26 years of Royal Navy experience, Daniel has led engineering teams in the toughest operational environments and delivered change programmes that challenged entrenched practices and introduced cutting-edge technologies to the frontline user. His leadership extends beyond engineering into shaping innovation culture, fostering collaboration between military users, SMEs, and global technology accelerators. Through TICQ, Daniel now helps businesses navigate complex Defence acquisition processes, embedding quality and regulatory compliance while maintaining agility. By combining strategic insight, cultural leadership, and deep operational experience, TICQ enables businesses to transform ideas into Defence-ready solutions that provide real operational advantage.
BOOK TICKETS
SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES
There are a limited number of Sponsorship and Exhibition opportunities available at OWC2026
- Raise awareness of your company
- High calibre products and services
- Informed and well-connected audience of offshore wind industry professionals.
There are sponsorship packages to suit all budgets, including Keynote Sponsor and Branding Partner
For an informal conversation and to find more information about what is on offer with Sponsorship, Exhibition and Advertising Opportunities, please contact Events Manager at Iconic Media Group, Isobel Reade on +44 (0) 161 686 2422
How to find the Doubletree by Hilton, Hull
Doubletree by Hilton Hull is easily accessible by both road and rail, with Hull railway station and a host of city centre car parks all within 10 minutes walk from the venue.
Directions by road:
From South or West: Take M1 then M62 then A63 and follow signs for Hull City Centre. Take A1079 onto Ferensway, pass St Stephen’s Shopping centre and the hotel is on the left down Portland Place.
From North: Take A1 then M62 then A63 and follow signs for Hull City Centre. Take A1079 onto Ferensway, pass St Stephen’s Shopping centre and the hotel is on the left down Portland Place.
From the train station:
The train station is very centrally placed and the Doubletree by Hilton is a 5 minute walk. Exit the station on the left next to the ticket purchasing office. Head past the St Stephen’s Shopping centre and Hull Truck Theatre and the hotel is on your left.
CONTACT US
Iconic Media Group are delivering the event on behalf of Humber Marine and Renewables.
+44 (0) 161 686 2422
https://www.humber-marine-renewables.co.uk
Humber Marine and Renewables,
Ergo, Bridgehead Business Park,
Meadow Road, Boothferry Road,
Hessle HU13 0GD
Humber Marine and Renewables
Humber Marine and Renewables is a driving force in the Humber region’s growth as an offshore wind player. Its influence extends to central government and world-leading OEMs, and it has formed partnerships with areas that are in the earlier development stages of the offshore renewables market – in particular, East Coast USA.
Humber Marine and Renewables works in support of this vast array of skills and expertise, promoting it regionally, nationally and globally and generating major opportunities and business for members. It provides expert advice, brings companies together to collaborate on joint ventures and supply chain opportunities, lobbies the government and represents members at key UK and European conference and exhibitions. It also hosts and organises overseas trade missions and numerous events, including its flagship annual Offshore Wind Connections conference.
To find out more about Humber Marine and Renewables, click here
KEY FACTS
Humber Marine and Renewables
200+ member companies
17,000+ member employees
Became Humber Marine and Renewables in 2022 following the merger with Team Humber Marine Alliance and Grimsby Renewables Partnership
