19-20 June 2024 | QEII Centre | London
The UK’s premier utilities conference
Utilities conference for senior energy & water executives
ATTENDEES
SPEAKERS
%
C-LEVEL, DIRECTOR, HEAD OR ABOVE
“Future of Utilities Summit is always a highlight of the calendar: interesting, insightful speakers and great debate. Highly recommend.”
Michael Lewis
Chief Executive Officer, E.ON UK
2023 Conference Speakers
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“A thought provoking and relevant event with senior speakers from the industry and regulators”
Basil Scarsella
Chief Executive Officer, UK Power Networks
What to expect
Plenty of networking
Dedicated networking breaks, exclusive hospitality opportunities, and an AI powered app to help you connect and reconnect with key business contacts.
Shaped by senior leaders
With 12 hours of content sessions curated by our expert producer with senior utilities leaders – find out what’s troubling board-level executives first-hand.
Impactful, interactive formats
With keynotes, interivews, panels, case studies and fireside chats; key takeaways at Future of Utilities Summit will be frequent, engaging, and digestible.
Inspirational speakers
Learn from the industry’s most senior innovators with C-Suite executives from Northern Powergrid, Scottish Power, and United Utilities taking prominent keynotes throughout a packed agenda of 100+ leaders.
Agenda Highlights
Building resilience
Balancing cost, security, and decarbonisation is a significant challenge for both the energy and water sector. Resilience is a strong theme this year and is embedded throughout the jam-packed agenda. Join us to tackle this challenge head on and develop the strategies for a resilient future of utilities.
Rebuilding energy
Now is a once in a generation moment to transform the energy market. Join 20+ energy CXOs to take stock of momentous change and navigate sector recovery in the long and short term.
A Net Zero Future
The race to Net Zero is on. From wind and solar, to green products and tariffs, to preparing the network for rising demand, hear the latest updates from leaders, including senior speakers from Northumbrian Water, Wales & West Utilities and So Energy and more, on the UK’s renewable journey.
Putting the customer first
Rising bills and the cost-of-living crisis have made excellent customer support an industry priority. With speakers from United Utilities, Northumbrian Water, Utilita and more, whether it’s tackling affordability, driving value at every touchpoint, or engaging customers in efficiency, there’s something for every CX professional.
The future of heat
What does the future of green heat look like? From the rapidly evolving hydrogen market to amping up electrification, come together to develop the roadmap.
Network digitalisation
The network will play a crucial role in enabling a greener and smarter future for the industry. Hear how to embed smart innovation, flexibility and resilience, and adapt operations as we move to a further digitalised future.
“If we are to be leaders in innovation, we must be unafraid of collaboration, sharing knowledge and being challenged. This conference prompts and provokes these opportunities.
With strong audience engagement and networking, the conversations started here could be the beginning of the next major innovation.”
Heidi Mottram
CEO, Northumbrian Water
“The app is brilliant, it makes it very easy and enjoyable to connect with new contacts in a relaxed and inviting space.”
Head of Change Delivery, SSE
Who Attends
All the major industry players from across the energy and water spectrum attend our utilities conference
2023’s Utilities conference agenda at a glance
Day 1
Day 2
Conference Sponsorship Opportunities
Thought Leadership
Taking part in a fireside chat, fielding a pundit or participating in a panel discussion alongside industry leaders are just some of the thought-leadership opportunities for you to showcase your insight and expertise.
Brand awareness
You want to ensure your brand is front of mind with senior players in the utilities world. Using multiple channels across Future of Utilities, we have the megaphone to tell your story and increase visibility of your brand.
Lead generation
We get industry leaders, you form lasting connections with those who have genuine buying power. From 1-2-1 meetings via a VIP concierge, to bespoke roundtables, the opportunities are endless.
2023’s Conference sponsors
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Buy your tickets
Tickets include: 2 day conference pass, lunch & refreshments and drinks reception.
Group Discount – 15%
When you buy 3 or more tickets
Energy & Water Companies*
£1,395.00 + VAT
Standard
£1,995.00 + VAT
2023’s Conference agenda in full
Day 1
Day 2
Achieving a resilient future of utilities
Keynote address
Forging a strong energy future: balancing cost, security, and decarbonisation
Keith Anderson
Chief Executive Officer
Scottish Power
Keynote address
Making water work: a roadmap for customers, the network and the environment
Shaunna Berendsen
Head of Innovation Engagement
Anglian Water
Keynote Address
Converting Digital Exhaust into Digital Fuel: How AI and Machine Learning are Driving Innovation in Utilities and Energy Markets
In today’s digital age, businesses in the utilities and energy market are generating vast amounts of data that can be harnessed and transformed into actionable insights. This “digital exhaust” has the potential to become valuable “digital fuel” that can power data-driven decision-making and innovation. AI and machine learning are key enablers of this transformation, allowing utilities and energy companies to extract insights from massive data sets, optimise operations, and deliver new products and services. In this session we will discuss how utilities and energy markets can convert digital exhaust into digital fuel to drive growth, efficiency, and sustainability.
Fawad A. Qureshi
Field CTO
Snowflake
Keynote address
Transforming the grid to deliver the energy transition
Ben Wilson
Chief Strategy & External Affairs Officer
National Grid
Leaders’ Forum
Building a better utilities sector: coming together towards a resilient future
- Delivering resilience under pressure: from the environment, to the cost of living and energy crisis
- The security of supply: what are energy and water suppliers doing to ensure the long-term supply of resources?
- Finance, investment and cost: how can utilities attract the money needed for a sustainable future?
- Realising the potential of new technologies across the network: overcoming challenges to implementation
- Catalysing behaviour change: engaging customers with energy and water
- What more is needed from regulator and government to build an efficient, resilient, and greener utilities sector?
Shaunna Berendsen
Head of Innovation Engagement
Anglian Water
Ben Wilson
Chief Strategy & External Affairs Officer
National Grid
Refreshments & networking break
Session 2 | Putting the customer first | Delivering network digitalisation | Transforming the energy market
Blue Stage: Putting the customer first
Keynote
Meaningful, empathetic, and effective: protecting customers through hard-times
Mike Gauterin
Customer Service Director
United Utilities
Presentation
Harnessing simple and personalised billing
- Reducing cost to serve: enabling lower prices through streamlined billing operations
- The move to RPA: how can remaining obstacles be overcome?
- Exploring advanced personalisation: from making bills engaging to flexible billing frequency
- Reconciling good communication with the constraints of compliance: what are the solutions?
Holly Coventry
Vice President, International Open Banking Payments
American Express
Fireside chat:
The mixology of Customer Experience
Delivering an exceptional customer experience requires a delicate blend of Data, Technology and People, like making the a great cocktail the wrong amount added at the wrong time and not served in the right way can result in a poor taste and experience.
Anthony Devlin
Corporate Senior Vice President, Utilities
WNS
Panel discussion
Putting the customer at the heart of business: embedding long-term support across CX strategies
- Identifying and meeting evolving needs: what trends are influencing the customer experience revolution in utilities?
- From great green products to innovative tariffs: how can businesses develop and scale-up new offerings for customers?
- Tackling the cost issue: what strategies are utilities exploring to bring down cost in the long term?
- Flexible billing support: what new models could be effective?
- Empowering customer operatives: what training and support might staff need to support customers in crisis?
- How can companies build loyalty and trust with customers in 2023 and beyond?
Nikki Flanders
Managing Director, UK&I
SSE Energy Solutions
John Marshall
Chief Executive Officer
Zoa
Daniel Taylor
Head of Customer Care
SES Water
Alex Williams
Head of Customer Contact
UK Power Networks
Red Stage: Delivering network digitalisation
Keynote
A smarter, greener digital energy system: delivering an optimised network
Paul Glendinning
Director of Policy & Markets
Northern Powergrid
Presentation
Doing more with data: identifying opportunities in existing data sets
- Overcoming obstacles: what challenges are utilities facing in their network data management?
- The power of predicative: harnessing AI and ML to support greater network resilience
- Meeting sustainability goals with real-time data: what are the opportunities?
Ruben Van den Bossche
Co-founder & Managing Director
Gorilla
Fireside Chat
Maintaining a modern grid: ensuring resilience through digitalisation
- Adapting the grid to meet critical challenges: unpacking the digitalisation toolkit
- Boosting network resilience, efficiency, and flexibility: where can data insights make the biggest difference?
- Towards predicative maintenance of the network: what tools are available?
- Preparing for natural disaster: utilising digitalisation for effective incident response
Renny Vandewege
Vice President - Global Commercial
DTN
Panel discussion
From investment to implementation: assessing the path ahead to full-systems digitalisation
- The digitalisation journey: what are the key takeaways from progress so far?
- Scaling-up at speed: how can whole-systems digitalisation be achieved at pace?
- An influx of insight: what technology will be needed for effective, high-volume data management?
- Managing supply and demand: how can new data insights be analysed to build an accurate picture of consumption?
- A safe and secure network: what cyber security measures must be taken to ensure that assets and data are protected?
- How can companies attract the investment needed to achieve a full-systems digitalisation?
- What government and regulatory support is needed to achieve a fully digitalised energy system?
Shubhi Rajnish
Chief Information Officer
National Grid ESO
Andrew Roper
Distribution System Operations Director
SSEN
Iain Ewing
Head of Digital
SSEN Transmission
Orange Stage: Transforming the energy market
Panel discussion
A once in a generation moment: redefining the energy market
• Taking stock of the market: what are the key lessons learned from the crisis?
• Assessing barriers to entry: ensuring market stability
• What new conditions could be conducive to competition, profitability and consumer protection?
• How might regulation need to adapt to enable the efficient operation of energy suppliers?
• Becoming a greener sector: how might business models be impacted by the move to renewables?
• Bringing back investor confidence in the sector: criteria, challenges, and considerations
• Reigniting innovation: what does the long-term future of the energy market look like?
Tracey Walker
Head of UK Market Fundamentals
National Grid
Alexandra Meagher
Head of Risk and Regulation
Bulb
Elizabeth Allkins
Head of Policy Analytics
OVO Energy
Presentation
Rebuilding the energy market: enabling a cultural change through technology
- How are the trends driving the energy supply market set to develop from here?
- Restoring effective competition in energy retail: what needs to change?
- Rethinking market design for the future: developing a new vision and plan for delivery
- A spotlight on suppliers: assessing lessons to be learned and their most pressing needs in future market design
Paul Cullen
Utilities Sector Lead
Dynatrace
Steve Bowerman
Principle Software Engineer
EDF
Fireside chat
Lessons from the energy price cap: making the market work for customers and suppliers
- What are the critical lessons learned from the energy price cap?
- Restoring effective and profitable competition in the market: how might this work in practice?
- Developing alternative pricing strategies: adapting to more volatile markets
- Say goodbye to switching? How can suppliers develop and reward customer loyalty?
Philippe Commaret
Managing Director, Customers
EDF
Lunch
Session 3 Energising customer engagement | Embracing renewable generation | Managing CSOs, wastewater, and pollution
Blue Stage: Energising customer engagement
Keynote
Engaging customers with Net-Zero: communicating an affordable and sustainable future
Louise Walsh
Chief Customer Contact Officer
Utilita Energy
Case study
Engaging customers for better consumer and business outcomes
Sarah McMath
Chief Executive Officer
MOSL
Panel Discussion
Building a better future with customers: identifying effective engagement strategies
- Customer engagement: where are utilities falling short?
- How can suppliers best communicate the benefits of conscious resource consumption?
- Improving digital platforms: what technology could improve consumer engagement with suppliers?
- From a nationwide campaign to local education: exploring different approaches to engagement
- Suppliers, government, the media: how can greater collaboration be facilitated to engage consumers on a large scale?
- Securing meaningful relationships with customers: how can suppliers build back trust in the utilities industry?
Ian Cameron
Director of Customer Service
UK Power Networks
Jo Mayes
Director of Customer Services
Business Stream
Dr Irene Di Martino
CEO
Amp X
Jamie Browne
Senior Business Development
Energy Saving Trust
Helen Hickin
Chief Executive Officer, ICON
yoummday
Red Stage: Embracing renewable generation
Keynote address
Gravitricity – Long-life, Underground Energy Storage
Martin Wright
Chairman
Gravitricity
Case study
Blown-away: the power of onshore wind
Paul Loran
Head of Innovation and Development
Octopus Energy Generation
Panel Discussion
Building a renewable energy system that works: challenges, planning and priorities
- Bringing renewable power into the system: assessing the journey so far and next-steps
- Accelerating investment in onshore wind: finding the right approach
- Planning and building renewable generation: defining and addressing pain points
- From generation to grid: how can the integration of renewables into the grid be accelerated?
- Preparing the grid for renewables: what infrastructure development is needed manage capacity?
- Decoupling the price of renewables: how might this work in practice?
Zac Richardson
Director of New Infrastructure
National Grid
Adam Berman
Deputy Director
Energy UK
Joanna Campbell
Assistant Director
National Infrastructure Commission
Orange Stage: Managing CSOs, wastewater, and pollution
Keynote address
Reflections on the Environment Bill: tackling the pollution problem
Carolyn Cadman
Director of Natural Resources
South West Water
Case study
Storm Overflow Reduction: Southern Water’s Pathfinder Programme
Nick Mills
Head of Storm Overflow Taskforce
Southern Water
Panel discussion
From water suppliers to the Environment Agency: collaborating on pollution solutions
- A problem wider than water: why is collaboration on pollution reduction essential?
- Building back public trust: what is the appropriate response from suppliers, government, and the EA around CSOs?
- Do government incident reduction requirements go far enough?
- Working with farmers and local authorities: how could further collaboration on pollution be facilitated?
- Technology-driven mitigation: how could open data be used to monitor CSOs?
- What is a realistic time frame for the long-term reduction of pollution incidents?
Nick Mills
Head of Storm Overflow Taskforce
Southern Water
Robin Price
Director, Quality & Environment
Anglian Water
Refreshments & networking break
Session four: Finance, sustainability & the future of utilities
Interview
Matching renewable supply with demand: leveraging data-driven insights
- Matching supply with demand: what hurdles must be overcome?
- Harnessing the power of real-time data: how can the potential be maximised and how quickly?
- How can data-driven insights help support whole system management of renewable energy?
Nicolas Robin
Center of Excellence – Director Energy & Utilities
Intel
Alexandra Baleta
Senior Director, EMEA Industry, Europe, Middle East, Africa
VMWare
Keynote
Making sustainability an attractive investment
Maz Alkirwi
Finance Director
SSEN Transmission
Fireside Chat
Powering sustainability: Smart data for a commercial edge
Niraj Seth
VP, UKI Head of Manufacturing, Logistics, Energy & Utilities
Cognizant
Keynote
Financing network resilience: a spotlight on infrastructure projects
James Harrison
Director of London Network
Cadent Gas
Session Five: A collaborative future of utilities
Keynote
A crucial time to come together: collaborating for success
Monica Collings
Chief Executive Officer
So Energy
Keynote
Cathryn Ross
Strategy & Regulation Director
Thames Water
Presentation
Cost of Living Challenge: unpicking the impact on utility customers’ ability pay and the opportunity for change
Colette Land
Head of Consulting
Experian
Dave Kerry
Head of Insight
Experian’s UK Data Office
Panel discussion
From day-to-day operations to the big picture: forging greater collaboration
- Responding to current events: what factors are driving the need for greater collaboration in utilities?
- Coming together on Net Zero: assessing the barriers to collaboration and the benefits it could bring
- From behaviour change to supporting the most vulnerable: how could utilities better support their customers?
- Bringing third-party collaboration into the sector: what innovative avenues are utilities exploring?
- How must the industry, government, and regulator collaborate further on future challenges?
- Looking towards the future: how is the water/energy relationship set to evolve?
Monica Collings
Chief Executive Officer
So Energy
Sarah Williams
Director of Regulation & Asset Strategy
Wales & West Utilities
Cathryn Ross
Strategy & Regulation Director
Thames Water
Refreshments & networking break
Session Six Government, regulator, industry: coming together on energy | From PR24 to Net Zero: building a resilient water industry
Red Stage: Government, regulator, industry: coming together on energy
Keynote
Marzia Zafar
Deputy Director, Strategy & Innovation
Ofgem
Panel discussion
Regulator, industry, government: working together to deliver an affordable and secure future
- Reflections on the energy crisis: how has the relationship between industry, regulator and government been shifted?
- Achieving long-term energy security: what role should each party play?
- Political risk in the energy market: what needs to be carefully considered?
- Protecting customers: how can suppliers and government better coordinate on government intervention?
- Moving forward: how can the sector ensure a high level of government intervention is not needed again?
Charles Wood
Deputy Director, Policy
Energy UK
Stephanie Anderson
Head of Regulation & Policy
SP Energy Networks
Tom Luff
Senior Advisor - Electricity Markets & Policy
Energy Systems Catapult
Orange Stage: From PR24 to Net Zero: building a resilient water industry
Keynote
Planning for PR24: balancing cost, sustainability and customer needs
Andrew Beaver
Director of Strategy & Regulation
Northumbrian Water
Case Study
United Utilities: PR24 and Customer Engagement
Shy Bayly
Head of Customer Insight
United Utilities
Panel discussion
From PR24 to 2030 and beyond: exploring the roadmap to becoming a resilient and sustainable water industry
- Priorities for PR24: what factors are shaping planning underway?
- The cost of climate, customers and the network: what funding challenges does the industry face?
- Network modernisation: what role should technology like AI play in supporting a resilient network?
- Traditional vs nature-based solutions: what infrastructure works best where?
- Coming together on resilience: how can effective collaboration between water companies and third parties be facilitated?
- Considering the consumer: ensuring excellent customer experience
- The bigger picture: can regulators and water suppliers keep up with the pace of climate change?
- Looking towards the future: what does the water company of 2030 look like?
David Hinton
Chief Executive Officer
South East Water
Richard Price
Chief Operating Officer
Bristol Water
Andrew Beaver
Director of Strategy & Regulation
Northumbrian Water
Dan Green
Head of Innovation & Sustainability
Wessex Water
Lunch
Session Seven:
Red Stage: The future of green heat
Keynote
Unlocking the whole-systems challenge to decarbonising heat
William Mezzullo
Head of Hydrogen
Centrica
Panel discussion
Delivering secure, green and affordable heat: accelerating the pace of transition
- From the Heat and Buildings strategy to the emerging hydrogen market: what are the key takeaways from the green heat journey so far?
- In what ways have energy security concerns impacted the pace of transition towards green heat
- Bringing down the costs: how are suppliers working towards making heat pumps more affordable?
- From supplier to developer: how are utilities collaborating with property planners on green heat?
- How can businesses better engage customers on alternative sources of heat?
- Domestic or industrial: what role will hydrogen play in the clean heat future?
Chris Carberry
Smart Solutions Director
Scottish Power
Marcus Hunt
Director Commercial Services and Investments
SGN
Chioma Ukah
Asset Manager - District Heating
SSE
Jane Dennett Thorpe
Deputy Director, Net Zero Strategy
Ofgem
Mike Foster
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Utilities Alliance
Blue Stage: Workforce
Panel discussion
Green, skilled and digital: building the workforce of the future
- What factors are shaping the utilities workforce and how do businesses need to evolve?
- Building a greener future: what new skills are needed to deliver Net Zero and environmental goals?
- Finding niche talent: exploring strategies for attracting specialist skills into the industry
- Competing with “sexier” industries: how should the sector promote utilities as an attractive career path?
- Supporting and retaining staff: what are challenges?
- Championing everybody: how can the industry improve on diversity & inclusion and better support staff from minority backgrounds?
Rachael Parr
Human Resources Director
Electricity North West
John Kraus
Chief Executive Officer
Engineers Without Borders UK
Sally Brett
Head of Culture & EDI
Affinity Water
Fireside chat
A digitally empowered workforce: unlocking the potential
- From the fieldforce to customer support agents: how can digital help boost workforce flexibility, utilisation and efficiency?
- Workforce empowerment: what technology is available and how is it best implemented?
- Doing more with data: how to empower staff with insights for quick and informed decisions
Rachael Parr
Human Resources Director
Electricity North West
Chris Norbury
Chief People Officer
E.ON UK
Refreshments & networking break
Session Eight: Becoming an innovation-driven industry
Keynote
Modern, smart and sustainable: embracing innovation across the sector
Neil Pendle
Managing Director
Waterscan
Presentation
Supercharging internal innovation
Matt Piper
Director Industry Solutions: Utilities, Infrastructure and AEC
Esri
Panel discussion
Breaking-down barriers: next-steps for industry-wide innovation
- Reigniting innovation across the sector: exploring challenges, consideration and work underway
- Identifying the right areas for investment: where do the priorities for innovation efforts lie?
- How has the drive to Net Zero accelerated innovation in the industry?
- What emerging technologies hold the most potential for significant transformation?
- Bringing third-party innovation into the sector: what does valuable collaboration look like?
- Ten years down the line: what does the future of innovation hold for the utilities industry?
Tom Williamson
Head of Innovation
Scottish Power
Nick Brashier
Learning Innovation Lead
EDF
April Chen
Innovation Manager
National Grid