Prior to joining National Grid plc in November 2021 as Chief Strategy and External Affairs Officer, Ben was the Chief Executive Officer of Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, one of the largest utility infrastructure businesses in Australia, active in every mainland state and throughout storage, midstream, transmission, distribution and metering. Before AGIG Ben was the Director of Strategy & Regulation and Chief Financial Officer of UK Power Networks, one of the largest electricity distribution businesses in the UK with 8 million customers. Before moving into industry Ben spent 15 years as an energy and utilities investment banker, working mostly in Europe and Asia. Ben holds a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University. Ben has more than 25 years’ experience in the energy sector and has wide international experience. Ben’s focus areas include strategy, regulation, external affairs, stakeholder engagement, M&A, innovation and sustainability. Ben has a particular interest in the energy transition and the role of hydrogen. He also has wide general management experience from his time as a CEO.