New Eon CEO among speakers unveiled for Utility Week Forum

Chris Norbury, who was promoted to chief executive of Eon UK last week, is among the headline speakers at Utility Week Forum on October 4-5 in London.

The second edition of Utility Week’s flagship conference explores the biggest issues facing utility businesses under the headline theme ‘Strategy to delivery’.

The Utility Week Forum team has set out a manifesto (see below), promising to help utilities deliver on their strategic priorities and to be “so much more than just a talking shop”.

This highly interactive event brings together a fantastic line up of speakers including Jonathan Brearley, chief executive, Ofgem; Lisa Gahan, regulatory and asset management director, Pennon Group; Phil Jones, chief executive, Northern Powergrid; Cordi O’Hara, president, National Grid Electricity Distribution; Justin Placide, head of net zero governance, DESNEZ; Basil Scarsella, CEO, UK Power Networks; Mark Wild, CEO, SGN.

The VIP audience will also have opportunities to interact throughout the day, commenting on the presentations, contributing to problem-solving and sharing their own experiences. Regulators and policymakers will be in the audience, giving delegates an opportunity to influence at the highest level.

Utility Week’s portfolio director Ellen Bennett said: “We know that, as utilities lead the transition to net zero and grapple with the cost-of-living crisis, urgent action is needed. With the sector rolling out a new generation of low carbon infrastructure and adopting new business models, now is not the time for more talking: now is the time for delivery.

“That’s why Utility Week Forum is so much more than a talking shop. We look at the strategic priorities for utilities and explore the levers to deliver those priorities. We provide a unique opportunity for pan-utility leaders to come together and learn from one another. Many conferences promise to do things differently – this is our commitment to deliver on that promise.”

The manifesto pledges to support utilities in influencing regulators and policymakers on the issues that matter; deliver a fully interactive programme where leaders across utility sectors have the opportunity to share their insights; reflect diversity and inclusion; cut the sales puff; and be output driven, with tangible editorially-led results arising from the event.

Bennett added: “Utilities have two burning platforms: one, to deliver the infrastructure required to ensure essential public services are sustainable and resilient as we transition to a low carbon economy. And two, to ensure that that transition is just and fair for all. The levers to do this include new financing and business models; and harnessing the power of data at scale.

“Above all else, utilities know that they must lead the charge to net zero, and remove any obstacles that fall within their remit. The second day of Utility Week Forum will explore this imperative, asking whether the UK can decarbonise in time; with interactive workshops looking at the challenges of connecting new sources of generation; delivering environmental stewardship; and rolling out low carbon infrastructure at scale.

“Our manifesto sets out our commitment to be much more than a talking shop – to actively support utilities and their partners in bridging the gap from strategy to delivery.”

Utility Week Forum will take place 4-5 October at 133 Houndsditch in London. To find our more, click here.

Utility Week Forum manifesto

As utilities lead the transition to net zero and grapple with the cost-of-living crisis, now is not the time for more talking: now is the time for delivery. That’s why Utility Week Forum is so much more than a talking shop. We look at the strategic priorities for utilities and explore the levers to deliver those priorities. We provide a unique opportunity for pan-utility leaders and solution providers to come together and learn from one another.

Many conferences promise to do things differently – this is our commitment to deliver on that promise. We will:

• Influence, with regulators, policy makers and other government representatives speaking and listening throughout.
• Interact, with our audience of senior industry leaders sharing their insight, and tackling real world challenges
• Reflect diversity & inclusion through our speakers, audience and topics
• Cut the sales puff with only the best thought leaders on board as commercial partners – and no sales pitches on stage
• Deliver concrete outputs with a full editorial plan following on from the event