Date: Tuesday 16 September 2025, 8:00 - 12:00
Location: voco Manchester - an IHG Hotel, 59 Portland St, Manchester, M1 3HP
Email: [email protected]
Company: Place North
SOLD OUT | Energy & Power 2025
Date: 16 September 2025, 8:00 - 12:00
Location: voco Manchester - an IHG Hotel, 59 Portland St, Manchester, M1 3HP
Email: [email protected]
Company: Place North
The UK’s National Grid is far from fit for the future as our country becomes more power hungry. Lack of easy access to power is impacting every sector of the built environment, from housing to industrial and logistics.
Going forward, the state of the grid also has large implications for the future of clean energy – a sector that both the North East and Cumbria want to dominate as the next green energy superpower.
Expect to discuss the current energy situation as well as our future prospects in the realm of hydrogen and nuclear and the renewable trifecta of onshore and offshore wind, hydro, and solar.
What does this mean for the nation’s economy, in terms of investment, skills, and jobs? Will energy secretary Ed Miliband’s plans deliver the real change we need? We will explore those questions, as well as how the push for sustainable energy sources can provide a better future for the industry and our office workers, residents, and communities.
Speakers confirmed so far:
Joe Chambers, senior development manager, Cubico
Olivia White, director, Cavendish
Dr Jennie Stein, head of net zero, Enterprising Cumbria
Melissa Wilson, planning director, Lichfields
Gráinne Gilmore, director of research & insights, Cluttons
James Johnson, head of regional programme, North West Net Zero Hub
Mara Rastall, chief executive officer, Enspec Power
Stephen Cox, director of economics & regeneration, Stantec
Mark Knowles, head of energy & industry, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
- JOE CHAMBERS, CUBICO | Joe leads Cubico’s UK solar & battery development portfolio, supporting the team in origination & development of projects from identification through to commercialisation. He has over 14 years’ experience in renewables across consultancy & development roles, with a detailed knowledge of project development involving wind, solar & storage technologies.
- OLIVIA WHITE, CAVENDISH | Olivia has extensive experience leading consultations on infrastructure & energy projects, with specific focus on nationally significant infrastructure projects. She is currently overseeing the communications & consultation work on a number of solar, carbon capture & energy transmission projects across the North West.
- MARA RASTALL, ENSPEC POWER | As chief executive officer, Mara has guided the company through transformational growth & innovation. Mara is passionate about making energy systems understandable & impactful. She is spearheading Enspec’s collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University on hydrogen & grid integration, reflecting her forward-thinking approach to renewable energy solutions.
- GRÁINNE GILMORE, CLUTTONS | The real estate advisory firm is active in the power & digital connectivity sector, providing advice for infrastructure & energy transformation projects. As Cluttons’ director of research & insights, Grainne leads their sector research & brings a wealth of knowledge, especially around the evolving role of energy infrastructure in urban development & investment.
- DR JENNIE STEIN, ENTERPRISING CUMBRIA | Jennie brings extensive experience in regional economic development, infrastructure strategy, & place-based investment, with a strong focus on energy & clean growth. As a senior leader at Enterprising Cumbria, she has played a central role in supporting some of the UK’s most ambitious energy projects – from hydrogen & nuclear to offshore wind & emerging technologies.
- STEPHEN COX, STANTEC│Stephen is a chartered town planner & economist. He specialises in development economics, urban regeneration, wider economic impacts, & business case preparation for public sector funding. His work includes impact assessments, business cases, & strategy development across multiple sectors including energy.
- MELISSA WILSON, LICHFIELDS | Melissa works on multi-disciplinary projects in the North West & across the UK, specialising in energy & infrastructure projects & Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development. Melissa has experience in a variety of planning work for both public & private sector clients, including the management of a range of planning applications, planning appeals, DCO projects & community & stakeholder engagement.
- JAMES JOHNSON, NORTH WEST NET ZERO HUB | James oversees the delivery of the North West Net Zero Hub programme on behalf of the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero & the NW Net Zero Hub Management Board. James has over a decade of experience supporting local government organisations to act on energy system decarbonisation & the climate emergency. He has a strong understanding of national net zero policy. James is a specialist in energy in the built environment with a master’s in building services engineering & sustainable energy.
- SHAUN BENZON, LIVERPOOL CITY REGION COMBINED AUTHORITY | Shaun has been head of project development for Mersey Tidal Power since 2019, leading on the delivery of technical & environmental workstreams of the project, collaboration with international organisations & supporting the wider promotion of the project. With 14 years’ experience in energy projects including hydropower, tidal power & wave energy as well as R&D, modelling, testing & manufacturing having previously worked for Mott MacDonald, Lancaster University & Gilkes.
This event is sponsored by Mills & Reeve, Caddick, Stantec, Cavendish and Lichfields
Tickets cost £88+VAT. Local authorities and registered providers can purchase tickets at a 50% discount below.
There will be a mix of presentations and panels. Breakfast and lunch are included, providing plenty of opportunity for business development.
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Book using the form below – if you can’t see the form, please contact [email protected]