Annual Assembly Programme
08:45 - 09:15 | Arrival, refreshments |
09:15 - 09:35 Welcome Prof. Deborah Greaves OBE FREng Director of Supergen ORE Hub
09:35 - 09:45 Keynote: Prof. Paul Monks, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (recorded message)
09:45 - 09:55 Keynote: Dr James Richardson, Climate Change Committee, Director of Analysis
09.55 - 11.00 Panel Session 1:
Policy and International Perspectives: Navigating the Path to Net Zero in a Fast Evolving Landscape
Chair: Prof. Dave White, University of Southampton and Co-Director of the Supergen ORE Hub
- Dr Inès Tunga Energy Systems Catapult, Renewables Practice Manager
- Dr. Bryson Robertson Oregon State University | Director of the Pacific Marine Energy Centre
- Kris Grattan Offshore Renewables Research Associate, University of Edinburgh
- Tim Pick Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission, Commissioner
- Will Apps The Crown Estate, Head of Marine Development
Dr Richard Zhu Zhejiang University, Professor in Offshore Wind Structures
11.00 - 11.30 | Refreshment Break and networking around posters |
11:30 - 12:30 Research Session – Quickfire Research Spotlights
A selection of research providing insights into research exploring siting, planning, arrays and floating infrastructure.
Chairs: Prof. Tim Stallard from the University of Manchester and Supergen ORE Hub Co-Director. Prof. Beth Scott from the University of Aberdeen and Supergen ORE Hub Co-Director.
- Dr Abel Arredondo-Galeana University of Strathclyde, Research Associate
- Prof. Jun Zang University of Bath, Professor of Coastal and Ocean Engineering
- Prof. Matthew Palmer Plymouth Marine Laboratory Lead for Environmental Digital Science
- Dr Katherine Kwa University of Southampton, RAEng Research Fellow
- Prof. Tim Stallard University of Manchester, Professor of Offshore and Renewable Energy Engineering | Co-Director of the Supergen ORE Hub
12.30 - 13.30 | Lunch break & networking around posters |
| Optional tour of the Hydrodynamics Lab |
13.30 - 14:30 Panel session 2:
Research, Innovation and Industrialisation: Bridging the Gap
Chair: Prof. Feargal Brennan, University of Strathclyde and Co-Director of the Supergen ORE Hub
- Oliver Wragg Orbital Marine, Commercial Director
- Christopher Fox Equinor, Head of Policy UK Renewables | RenewableUK Shadow Board Member
- Sam Strivens Carbon Trust, Senior Manager, Offshore Floating Wind
- Dr Jim Fleming Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, Head of Energy
- Sue Bartlett Reed Marine Energy Council, Chair
Dr Sandeep Sandhu Innovate UK, Head of Stakeholder Relationships
14:30 - 15:30 Research session - Quickfire Research Spotlights
A selection of research with a design methods focus relating to infrastructure, devices and component design.
Chairs: Prof. Richard Willden from the University of Oxford and Supergen ORE Hub Co-Director and Prof. Philipp Thies from the University of Exeter and Supergen ORE Hub Co-Director.
- Dr. Jamie Crispin University of Southampton, Lecturer in the Department of Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering
- Prof. Richard Willden University of Oxford, Professor of Engineering Science | Supergen ORE Hub Co-Director
- Prof. Nick Baker Newcastle University, Professor of Emerging Electrical Machines
- Dr Madhubhashitha Herath University of Hull, Postdoctoral Researcher
- Dr Oscar Festa University of Southampton, RAEng Enterprise Fellow | CEO of xmoor.ai
15.30 - 15.50: | Refreshment break & networking around posters |
15.50 - 16:50 Panel session 3:
People and collaboration - building a breadth of knowledge, skills and perspectives
Introduction from Dr Donald Noble, University of Edinburgh
Chair: Prof. James Gilbert, University of Hull
- Dickon Howell Howell Marine Consulting, CEO | ECOWIND Champion
- Scott Young RenewableUK, Head of Skills for Renewables
- Prof. Vania Dimitrova University of Leeds, Professor of Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence
- Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni PA Consulting, Complex Systems Consultant
- Nicola Robinson Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Business Development Manager
Nick Nardiello Aviva, Senior Risk Consultant
Closing remarks and ECR Poster Awards
Assembly concludes around 17:00
Optional Tours & networking around posters
Keynote Speaker
Professor Paul Monks
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Chief Scientific Adviser
Prof. Paul Monks CB, FRMetS, FRSC, FInstP is the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
Paul delivers independent and impartial science and engineering advice to ministers and policymakers across the DESNZ policy and delivery portfolio and Clean Energy Superpower Mission. The Chief Scientific Adviser is also responsible for ensuring the department has robust systems in place to access science and engineering expertise, including as co-chair of the DESNZ Science and Technology Advisory Council and as departmental Head of the Government Science and Engineering Profession. Before stepping into this position, he was Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Leicester, where he remains a Professor in Atmospheric Chemistry and Earth Observation Science.
Keynote Speaker
Dr James Richardson
Climate Change Committee, Director of Analysis
Dr James Richardson has been Director of Analysis at the Climate Change Committee since July 2023. Previously he shaped the UK's infrastructure policy as Chief Economist at the National Infrastructure Commission, where he led on production of the UK’s first National Infrastructure Assessment, an in-depth assessment of the UK’s major infrastructure needs on a 30-year projection. He led net zero related work for the Commission’s second National Infrastructure Assessment, published in October 2023. Prior to this, James was Director, Fiscal and Deputy Chief Economic Adviser at HM Treasury from July 2012 to March 2016 and Director, Public Spending and Chief Microeconomist at HM Treasury from September 2008 to July 2012.
Panel Sessions Topics
The Annual Assembly brings together leading voices from across the offshore renewable energy sector, combining cutting-edge research updates with interactive discussion on the sector's most pressing challenges. Through expert led panels and in-depth conversations, we’ll explore the critical issues shaping the sector and paving the way to 2050 and unlocking the full potential of offshore renewable energy.
Policy and International Perspectives: Navigating the Path to Net Zero in a Rapidly Evolving Landscape
Join us as we discuss recent shifts shaping the future of offshore renewable energy while we also look beyond UK shores, taking a global perspective to determine the best path towards Net Zero.
Research, Innovation and Industry: Bridging the Gap
How can we work together to ensure we harness targeted research for transformative change and sustain collaborative conversations to strengthen an interconnected community.
People and Collaboration - Building a Breadth of Knowledge, Skills and Perspectives
Exploring how to build a diverse, multidisciplinary workforce equipped with knowledge of a variety of practices and specialist skills - essential for achieving growth in the offshore renewable energy sector.
Meet our Panellists
We are delighted to be joined by the following speakers from organisations championing the development of offshore renewable energy systems and technologies, representing perspectives from across the community.
- Will Apps - The Crown Estate, Head of Marine Development
- Sue Bartlett Reed - Marine Energy Council, Chair
- Vania Dimitrova - University of Leeds, Professor of Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence
- Christopher Fox - Equinor, Head of Policy, UK Renewables | RenewableUK Shadow Board Member
- Jim Fleming - EPSRC, Head of Energy
- Dickon Howell - Howell Marine Consulting, CEO | ECOWIND Champion
- Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni - PA Consulting, Complex Systems Consultant
- Nick Nardiello - Aviva, Senior Risk Consultant
- Tim Pick - Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission, Commissioner
- Nicola Robinson - Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Business Development Manager
- Bryson Robertson - Oregon State University | Director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center
- Sandeep Sandhu - Innovate UK, Head of Stakeholder Relationships
- Sam Strivens - Carbon Trust, Senior Manager, Offshore Floating Wind
- Ines Tunga - Energy Systems Catapult, Practice Manager
- Oliver Wragg - Orbital Marine, Commercial Director
- Richard Zhu - Zhejiang University, Professor in Offshore Wind Structures
The Eighth Annual Assembly - REGISTRATION CLOSED
The eighth Annual Assembly explores the latest research and advancements in the rapidly evolving offshore renewable energy sector.
- Tuesday 15 April, 09.00 - 17.00
- University of Manchester, Nancy Rothwell Building
Optional Activities
- Networking reception on the evening of Monday 14 April, 18.00 - 19.30
- Lab Tours after the Assembly Tuesday 15 April, 17.15 - 18.15
All are welcome at this friendly event which brings together academics, industry professionals, and policymakers working from offshore wind, wave and tidal energy to explore cutting-edge research, emerging opportunities, and key challenges. The Supergen ORE Hub network provides the ideal platform to collaborate, network and stay informed on the latest innovations.
The Assembly will be an in person event, with access to recorded materials made available after the event via the Supergen ORE Hub website.
Registration closed. The event will be recorded and available online following the event. Any enquiries to supergenorehub@plymouth.ac.uk
