19-20 June 2024 | QEII Centre | London
The UK’s premier utilities conference
The event for everyone serious about transforming the utilities landscape.
Future of Utilities Summit is the conference uniting senior executives from across the energy and water sector.
This is where the ordinary is challenged, collaboration is championed, and innovation comes to life.
Attendees
Speakers
%
C-level, Director, Head & above
Chris Norbury
Chief Executive Officer, E.ON UK
Phil Jones
Chief Executive Officer, Northern Powergrid
Susan Davy
Chief Executive Officer, Pennon Group
Zoisa North-Bond
Chief Executive Officer, Octopus Energy Generation
James Heath
Chief Executive Officer, National Infrastructure Commission
Cathryn Ross
Strategy & Regulation Director, Thames Water
John Thompson
Executive Director of Engineering & Sustainable Delivery, Wessex Water
Colin Green
Director of Commercial and Regulatory Frameworks, RAPID Alliance, Ofwat
“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
Chief Executive Officer, Northumbrian Water
Tackle the most critical issues facing the industry today
Take a look at the hot topics at this year’s utilities conference.
The path to Net Zero
From unlocking grid capacity to boosting renewable generation, discover how E.ON, Northern Powergrid and Octopus Renewables are propelling the transition to Net Zero.
The evolving role of utilities
Gain insights from Scottish Power, Wessex Water and Cadent Gas on the potential new roles for utilities players, and how energy and water can unite to balance security, cost and sustainability.
Digitalisation
Hear how Utilitia, National Grid and more are leveraging data, flexibility and technological innovation to unlock the full potential of the utilities ecosystem.
Innovation
Find out how EDF Energy and Severn Trent are unlocking innovation within their own organisations. Delve into cutting edge technologies and discover the key ingredients of successful innovation.
Prioritising the customer
Learn how CX experts at SSE, Northumbrian Water and Utilita are optimising the customer journey, increasing customer engagement, and leveraging data to elevate customer support.
People and skills
Find answers on how to build the workforce needed to design and deliver the future of utilities. Join the debate as we hear from OVO and POWERful Women.
PR24 and AMP
Don’t miss Ofwat’s keynote ‘An update on PR24’, as well as Thames Water and the Pennon Group exploring where they predict the water industry will be in 5 years.
Drought and flooding
Learn about the innovative approaches Anglian Water and Ofwat are taking across strategies for water resource management, building resilient networks and engaging customers in water conservation.
Why attend?
What to expect from the UK’s premier utilities conference
Customised tracks for energy and water
Opportunity to meet every major UK energy and water company
Over 10 hours of dedicated networking time
Networking app and 1-2-1 meetings
C-suite speakers from E.ON, Northern Powergrid, Pennon Group and more…
Energising after-party!
“Future of Utilities Summit is one of the most thought provoking and relevant events with senior speakers from the industry.”
Basil Scarsella
Chief Executive Officer, UK Power Networks
Who Attends
Future of Utilities Summit attracts senior executives from across the entire energy and water spectrum
Unlock non-stop networking opportunities
100+ MEETINGS | 500+ CONNECTIONS | 900+ MESSAGES | AI-POWERED NETWORKING
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Tickets include: 2 day conference pass, lunch & refreshments, access to the AI-powered networking app, and drinks reception.
Book by 10 May for an Early Bird discount.
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save £350 Early Bird Until 10 May
£945.00 + VAT
Full Price £1,295.00 + VAT
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“Future of Utilities Summit is always a highlight of the calendar: interesting, insightful speakers and great debate. Highly recommend.”
Chief Executive Officer, E.ON UK
Conference Agenda
Day 1
Day 2
Session one: The future of utilites | The vision of the water sector
Delivering the future of utilities
Keynote
An update from Ofgem
Akshay Kaul
Director-General, Infrastructure
Ofgem
Keynote
The transforming landscape of energy retail: investing in people & planet
Chris Norbury
Chief Executive Officer
E.ON UK
Keynote
A Net Zero-ready grid: enabling the shift to clean power
Phil Jones
Chief Executive Officer
Northern Powergrid
Leaders’ forum
Leading the charge: defining and delivering a better utilities industry
- Achieving Net Zero energy security ambitions: identifying the immediate priorities and transformational potential
- Tackling the infrastructure challenge: managing pace, scale, and renewable readiness
- Working with customers: how can utilities engage customers to deliver environmental goals?
- A data-driven industry: how will data support successful transformation in utilites?
- Attracting the right investment: what does a successful approach look like?
- Delivering future change: would a more open culture of collaboration help the industry meet its goals in time?
Chris Norbury
Chief Executive Officer
E.ON UK
Phil Jones
Chief Executive Officer
Northern Powergrid
Paul Spence
Director of Strategy & Corporate Affairs
EDF
Defining the vision of the water sector
Keynote
An Ofwat update of PR24: laying out the roadmap to 2030
Chris Walters
Senior Director of the Price Review
Ofwat
Keynote
Navigating the future of water: what now, where next?
Cathryn Ross
Strategy & Regulation Director
Thames Water
Leaders’ forum
Mapping out the strategic future of the water industry: challenges, pathways, and solutions
- Addressing the critical challenges: what must be considered in long-term planning?
- From scarcity to drought: what more must be done to ensure long-term resilience?
- Optimising water management and distribution: how could digitalisation and data support?
- Protect the environment, deliver for customers: how can both be achieved simultaneously?
- Investing in sustainable infrastructure: where should investment lie?
- Working with regulator and government: how could collaboration deliver best outcomes for industry?
Susan Davy
Chief Executive Officer
Pennon Group
John Thompson
Executive Director of Engineering & Sustainable Delivery
Wessex Water
Refreshments & networking break
Session two: Smarter CX | The grid of tomorrow | Energy security | Drought and flooding
A smarter approach to CX
Keynote
Making utilities an extraordinary place to work: the OVO experience
Charlotte Eaton
Chief People Officer
OVO Energy
Panel discussion
Becoming a modern utility: imagining the smarter future for CX
- Excellence for the modern customer: what factors are shaping expectations?
- Keeping up with disruptors: how can suppliers remail competitive in their CX approach?
- Developing compelling offerings: what makes a great energy product?
- Supercharging service: how can apps improve the customer journey?
- Supporting customers in times of hardship: where can data assist?
- Staying ahead of the game: what trends will influence future CX?
Matt Pearson
Head of Operations and Subject Matter Expert
Octopus Energy Group
Russell Lane
Head of Customer Experience
Utilita Energy
Mike Gautherin
Director of Customer Service & Technology
United Utilities
Hayley Monks
Senior Vice President, Growth Leader for Energy & Utilities, Europe
WNS
The grid of tomorrow
Panel discussion
Next steps in grid modernisation: overcoming the initial hurdles
- Planning new grid infrastructure: what are the key challenges?
- Preparing the grid for future connections: how should construction be managed?
- Scaling up grid digitalisation: where will technology have the most impact?
- Managing renewable intermittency: unlocking greater flexibility
- Protecting the network against severe weather events: how can resilience be increased?
- Cyber security and the grid: dealing with increasingly complex threats
Benjamin Grunfeld
Asset and Technology, and Strategy and Growth Director
Electricity North West
Scott Mathieson
Director of Network Planning
SP Energy Networks
Nigel Bessant
Head of Network Operations
SSEN
Carol Johnston
VP of Energy, Utilities, and Resources
IFS
Energy security
Keynote
Keeping the lights on: ensuring long-term security of supply
Ben Wilson
Chief Strategy & External Affairs Officer
National Grid
Panel discussion
Securing the future of energy: coming together on the key challenges
- An action plan for energy security: what are the immediate priorities?
- Uniting the energy system around the security challenge: exploring the benefits of a shared vision
- Scaling up renewables: how can investment be secured?
- Decarbonising the power sector by 2035: mapping out a realistic pathway
- Supercharging storage: how could capacity be increased?
- Ensuring long-term security of supply: what further legislation may be needed?
Bogi Højgaard
Associate Director - Energy Transition
The Carbon Trust
Gulmira Rzayeva
Senior Visiting Research Fellow
Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
Richard Dobson
Business Leader - Digital
Energy Systems Catapult
Owen Bellamy
Team Leader, Energy Supply Decarbonisation & Resilience
Climate Change Commitee
Combatting drought and flooding
Case study | Anglian Water’s Future Fens
The Integrated Adaption Project: a combined approach to flood and drought reduction
Jonathan Glerum
Head of Sustainable Growth
Anglian Water
Case study
An update from the RAPID Alliance
Colin Green
Director of Commercial and Regulatory Frameworks, RAPID Alliance
Ofwat
Panel discussion
Adapting to the climate emergency: working with customer, agencies and third parties
- taking stock: what is the current impact of climate change on UK water?
- Financing climate adaption: where will the funding come from?
- How can water companies work better with other agencies to expedite projects?
- Expanding the UK’s water storage capacity: what’s the best way forward?
- What roles can local authorities play in both drought and flood risk reduction?
- Small-scale, distributed solutions: where can they collectively make a big difference?
- Engaging customers with water conservation: what is the best strategy?
- Collaborating on traditional and nature-based solutions: how best to work with third parties
Simon Parsons
Director of Environment, Planning and Assurance
Scottish Water
Carolyn Cadman
Director of Natural Resources
South West Water
Katherine Owens
Head of Sustainability & ESG
United Utilities
Lunch
Session three: Engaging the customer | Smart meters | Next-level generation | Water infrastructure
Engaging the energy customer
Keynote address
Energy-as-a-Service: helping customer adapt to low carbon technologies
Neal Coady
Director of Product
SNRG
Panel discussion
Exploring new pathways to customer engagement
- New channels, new trends: what’s changing in customer engagement?
- Engagement all types of customers: how do strategies differ between demographics?
- Incentivising consumption reduction: what education tools are available?
- Digital platforms: how are utilities using social media?
- Personalised engagement strategies: how can data help?
- Increasing engagement with the already engaged: innovating to enhance prosumer engagement
Martin Filler
Director of Customer Services
Utilita Energy
Chris Taggart
Deputy Director Data & Analytics
Smart DCC
Linda Sooprayen
Head of Marketing
Ripple Energy
Ed Rees
Senior Policy Manager
Energy UK
Laura Glover
Energy Systems Manager
The Carbon Trust
Next steps for smart meters
Panel discussion
Getting smarter on smart meters: exploring new avenues for success
- Keeping up with evolving smart meter technology: what replacement strategies could be effective?
- Doing more with smart meter data: how can insights be used to better serve the customer?
- Developing future green products: how can smart meter insights support?
- Harnessing smart meter insights out-of-industry: what use cases are emerging?
- Effective installation: empowering engineers with the complex skills needed
- Repurposing old meters: ensuring a greener end-of-life process
Doug Spencer
Head of Smart Metering
Anglian Water
James Rees
Director of Product and Propositions
Good Energy
Sara Higham
Director of Corporate Affairs
Smart Energy GB
Leon Ross
Director of Service Delivery
Procode
Next-level generation
Keynote address
Building green power for the future: the Octopus story
Zoisa North-Bond
Chief Executive Officer
Octopus Energy Generation
Case study | Fuse Energy
The big disruptor: supercharging localised generation and supply with Fuse Energy
Alan Chang
Chief Executive Officer
Fuse Energy
Panel discussion
Overcoming barriers to renewable generation: strategies, solutions and next steps
- Taking stock: what has the UK’s renewable journey looked like so far?
- Remaining competitive in a global renewables market: how can the UK attract overseas investment?
- Offshore and onshore wind farms: what are the newest developments?
- Assessing the future of fossil fuels: mapping out a long-term strategy
- Contracts for Difference: where does government funding fit into the market?
- De-risking and diversifying the supply chain: bridging the gap between demand and generation
- Scaling up infrastructure: overcoming the barriers
- Storage: how can providers better support renewables?
Zoisa North-Bond
Chief Executive Officer
Octopus Energy Generation
Adam Berman
Deputy Director
Energy UK
Navigating challenges to water infrastructure
Keynote address
Future-proofing the water network: envisioning a long-term strategy
Richard Price
Group Chief Engineering Officer
Pennon Group
Panel discussion
Towards a modern, resilient network: mapping out the future of water infrastructure
- Developing and delivering a long-term resilience strategy: what are the crucial pain points?
- Competing priorities: how can water providers balance long-term goals with short-term priorities?
- Repair or replace: how should suppliers address the ageing network?
- Unlocking the power of technology to achieve resilience: to what extent can predictive maintenance extend the lifetime of existing pipes
- Balancing the interest of investors and customer: how can industry and regulators best work together to make network replacement financially viable?
- Funding network development: how can water providers attract investment?
- A collaborative effort: how can water providers work with third parties to develop infrastructure planning?
- Minimising disruption: how is infrastructure repair evolving?
Daniel Johns
Managing Director
Water Resources East
Richard Stuart
Director of Asset Delivery
Yorkshire Water
Thomas Bridgewater
Head of Strategic Asset Management & Innovation, Asset Strategy & Capital Delivery
Affinity Water
Refreshments & networking break
Session four: Society and sustainability: the role of utilities
Keynote
The future role of utilities
Colm Murphy
FSO Project Director
National Grid ESO
Panel discussion
Uniting around Net Zero
- Defining environmental and social purpose: rebuilding the reputation of the utilities industry
- Water and energy industry collaboration: how can joint efforts expedite carbon reduction?
- Bridging the gap: striking the balance between Net Zero goals and a cost-effective service
- Leveraging data: how can customer feedback inform utilities’ climate resilience initiatives?
- Balancing supply and demand: how can demand side flexibility best be fostered?
- How will customer engagement need to evolve in the face of the Net Zero challenge?
Chris Carberry
Smart Solutions Director
Scottish Power
Mark Adolphus
Director of Connections
UK Power Networks
Mark Belmega
Director of Customer Strategy
Cadent Gas
Dan Green
Head of Innovation & Sustainability
Wessex Water
Session five: Building the modern utilities sector: a people-driven journey
Panel discussion
Achieving ambitions through people and purpose
- Delivering for customers and the environment: why are people the key?
- Leading from the top: what does an effective and inspiring leadership team look like?
- Achieving innovation: how can a culture of innovation be embedded throughout the business?
- Making the most of great technology: how can tech empower people?
- A career with a purpose: attracting a new generation into utilities
- Championing everyone in utilities: what are the benefits of prioritising diversity, equity and inclusion?
Rebecca Beresford
Director of Net Zero Strategy and Policy
EDF
Ambassador
POWERful Women
Kelly-Marie Lovesy
Director of Sales
Opus Energy
Gaynor Fisher
Chief People Officer
Smart DCC
Juliette Sanders
Director of Strategic Communications
Energy UK
Jim Garrett
Chief Operating Officer
Everflow Water
Refreshments & Women in Utilities Networking Brunch
Session six: Digital transformation | The gas landscape | Innovation workshop | Navigating pollution
Digtial transformation and flexibility
The gas landscape
Keynote
Local Transmission System Futures: repurposing high pressure gas networks
Nancy Thomson
Project Director, LTS Futures
SGN
Keynote
Shaping the UK’s gas future: defining the decade to come
Philipp Lukas
Chief Executive Officer
Future Biogas
Panel discussion
Gas and the energy transition: adapting existing systems to meet future needs
- Assessing UK’s gas landscape: what does the future of gas look like?
- Repurposing assets to meet emerging energy needs: what are the challenges and opportunities?
- Reducing emissions in existing gas systems: what tech and practices are available?
- The shift to renewables: how can gas infrastructure support grid stability?
- The hydrogen question: what role will it play in the gas industry’s future?
- From affordability to hydrogen: what polices could incentivise further transformation of the gas system?
David Watson
Head of Energy Transition
Cadent Gas
Steve Rowe
Head of Regulatory Price Control, Commercial Regulation
National Gas Transmission
Heather Sheffield
Head of Strategic Planning
Northern Gas Networks
Nancy Thomson
Project Director, LTS Futures
SGN
Innovation workshop
Navigating the pollution problem
Keynote address
Taking action: an integrated approach to improving river quality
Zoe Frogbrook
Head of Environment and Sustainability
Northumbrian Water
Panel discussion
Towards long-term pollution prevention
- Updates on the Environment Act: how have water companies responded?
- Taking the plunge: how can storm overflow mitigation take place rapidly, sustainably and cost-effectively?
- Pollution and funding allocation: are governments investing in the right strategies?
- Green drainage and SUDs: exploring sustainable solutions to storm overflows
- Partnerships with purpose: collaborative approaches to pollutions reduction
- Looking ahead: what measures need to be put in place to guarantee long-term environmental protection?
Helen Wakeham
Deputy Director of Water Quality, Groundwater and Contaminated Land
Environment Agency
Robin Price
Director, Quality & Environment
Anglian Water
Christine Moloney
Head of Environment and Flooding Protection
Wessex Water
Lunch
Session seven: Industrial decarbonisation | Decarbonising heating | Championing engagement in water
Supporting industrial decarbonisation
Panel discussion
Engaging industry with sustainability: defining challenges, strategies and responsibility
- Energising industry engagement with sustainability: what strategies are most effective?
- Finding the right energy: which alternatives are right for industrial players?
- Overcoming high costs of transition: how can investment be secured?
- What more could Government support in energy efficiency in industrial settings?
- Meeting regulatory targets: what role should suppliers play in helping industry?
- How can big industry bring its energy useage with Net Zero goals whilst remaining competitive?
Bryony Livesey
ISCF Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge Director
UKRI
Decarbonising heating
Keynote address
Advancing sustainable heating: the roadmap for action
James Heath
Chief Executive Officer
National Infrastructure Commission
Panel discussion
Getting hot on heat: exploring next steps for the UK’s heat strategy
- Help to Heat: how close is the industry to meeting heat pump rollout targets?
- Keeping things affordable: how are providers working to bring down the cost of heat pumps?
- Retrofitting: what is the scale of work that needs to be done?
- The great heat debate: how do industrial solutions differ from domestic?
- Engaging customers with new forms of heat: deconstructing heat pump misconceptions
- Green vacancies: reskilling, retraining, retaining gas engineers for heat pump installation
- Winding down: will gas play a role in domestic heating?
Ian Cameron
Director of Customer Service
UK Power Networks
Dan Hopcroft
Zero Carbon Heat Director
EDF
Neil Kenward
Director for Strategy and Decarbonisation
Ofgem
Bean Beanland
Director of Growth & External Affairs
Heat Pump Federation
Matthew Aylott
Electrification of Heat Lead, Clean Heat
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Championing engagement with the water industry
Keynote address
Customers & the water industry: towards deeper engagement
Chris Pollard
Director of Customer Services
Thames Water
Panel discussion
An industry fit for today’s consumer: driving engagement in water
- Defining the state of engagement in water: what are the key challenges?
- Repairing relationships between suppliers and customers: how can trust be rebuilt?
- Education, communications and campaigns: finding the right approach
- Digital-first engagement: what does and effective online strategy look like?
- Positive partnerships: how can water companies establish partnerships to amplify climate messaging?
- Accelerating the smart meter roll out: how can water companies better inform customers of the benefits?
- Supporting SMEs on their sustainability journey: what tools can water providers offer to help?
Lyvia Nabarro
Head of Market Engagement and Communications
MOSL
Lucy Merritt
Head of Communications
SES Water
George Keast
PR & Campaigns Manager
Wessex Water
Session eight: Looking ahead: technological upheavals in utilities
Panel discussion
From generative AI to quantum computing: exploring the potential of emerging technologies
- An ever-evolving field: identifying the potential of innovative technology in utilities
- Generative AI: what could this mean for customer experience?
- Smarter and smarter: what are the applications of digital twins on the grid?
- Taking the quantum leap: realising the potential of quantum in utilities
- Future-proofing infrastructure: managing the threat of increasingly complex technology
- Injecting the capital: building the business case for long-term investments in emerging technology
Ian Burgess
Chief Technology Officer
Utilita Energy
Alexi Reynolds
Technology Insights Manager
National Grid ESO
Martin Jackson
Head of Digital Strategy and Product Management
Northumbrian Water
End of conference
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More amazing Future of Utilities Content
Re-imagining customer communications: delivering effective customer journeys in energy and water
Available on-demand
This webinar explores how customer communications can be re-imagined, harnessing the power of innovation to deliver interactions that are personalised and emphatic, building a partnership between providers and customers that can address the challenges and opportunities of this crucial moment.