One Minute Intervew: Peter Hamnett, emergent technology specialist,

Peter Hamnett, emergent technology specialist,

Cofely District Energy

Career history: Peter has worked at the company since graduating and a lot of his policy work supports the UK District Energy Association.

What was your first job?

Sticking price labels on items in the convenience store in a holiday park. My friend and I were paid in penny sweets, which worked fine for us because we were eight years old.

What are the best and worst parts of your job?

Best: having a varied role in a relatively niche section of the energy industry that has huge untapped potential to improve the UK’s use of sustainable energy. Worst: there is so much policy work to do that it can be hard to fit in enough of the technology-based work.

What’s your dream job and why?

Something with variety and something I can feel proud of being involved with. Or a hammock tester.

What’s your most treasured possession?

A set of engineering drawing instruments originally owned by my father.

Where did you last go on holiday?

Portrush, Northern Ireland.

In the Hollywood film of your life, who would play you?

Joseph Gordon-Levitt. [He was in Inception and The Dark Knight Rises – Ed]

Reveal something about yourself not many people know.

I’m trying to teach myself the ukulele.

What album is currently in your car CD player?

Queen’s Greatest Hits.

What’s your favourite film and TV programme?

It’s hard to pin it down to just one of each, but maybe… film: Empire Records; TV: Black Books.

What quote or saying do you most overuse?

“You must not think me necessarily foolish because I am facetious; nor will I consider you necessarily wise because you are grave” – Sydney Smith.

If you ruled the world, what would you do first?

Start appointing experts.

What’s your favourite joke?

How do you kill a circus? Go for the juggler.

This article first appeared in Utility Week’s print edition of 19th October 2012.

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