Tomorrow’s Net Zero Conference

Siemens PLC – Carl Ennis, CEO

Siemens are a world leader on technological and smart solutions with their UK operation focusing on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare generating a revenue of £2.8 billion in 2021 and employing around 8,600 employees in the UK. From more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, and smarter buildings and grids, to cleaner and more comfortable transportation as well as advanced healthcare, Siemens creates technology with purpose adding real value for customers and clients. By combining the real and the digital worlds, they empower the transformation of industries and markets, helping to transform the everyday for billions of people. As well as heading up Siemens’ UK operations he is also the chair of Net Zero North West and will join the conference to discuss the role Siemens will play in creating tomorrow’s net zero and the solutions they and other private sector organisations can offer to accelerate the transition towards net zero.

LGIM – Shuen Chan, Head of ESG

With over 700 properties valued at more than £21bn, the UK real estate portfolio at Legal & General Investment Management is a critical segment of Legal and Genral’s path to being net zero by 2050. LGIM Real Assets is focusing on how to ensure not only that new projects are in line with the UK’s 2050 goal, but also that its existing offices, warehouses, shops and homes across the UK are part of their journey to net zero. With over 25 years’ experience in the sector, Shuen Chan LGIM Real Assets’ Head of ESG knows the challenges well – but also the possibilities and will join the conference to discuss LGIM’s approach, their future sustainable plans and the role they’ll play in tomorrow’s net zero United Kingdom.

Assura – Tim Bell, Sustainability Lead

Assura are one of the UK’s leading healthcare investment, development and management companies with a portfolio of over 570 GP surgeries, primary care facilities and diagnostic and treatment centres. They have multiple projects in the pipeline and are working towards the UK’s first net-zero primary care facility. In 2021, they launched their first £300m Sustainability Bond to help them achieve their net zero targets and they’re among the signatories to the World Green Buildings Council’s net zero commitment. Tim will join the conference to discuss their plans and the role they’ll play in creating tomorrow’s net zero healthcare property and facilities.

Peel L&P – Joanne Holden, Sustainability Director

Peel have several large-scale regeneration projects underway across the country bringing jobs, economic growth and ultimately long-term prosperity to the north west of England and beyond.  Developments in Merseyside, Manchester, Trafford, Glasgow and Kent are reinventing waterfronts in England and Scotland by creating thousands of new homes, commercial office and retail units and public green spaces to improve people’s health and wellbeing. MediaCity at Salford Quays has become an international hub for technology, innovation and creativity and exciting leisure and tourism attractions are bound for Liverpool Waters with plans for new cruise liner and ferry terminals and Everton Football Club’s new 52,000-seater stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. As Sustainability Director at Peel L&P, Joanne will be well placed to discuss these significant projects and their role in creating tomorrow’s net zero communities in the UK.

Grosvenor Group – James Manning, Transformation Manager for Sustainability & Innovation

Grosvenor are one of the UK’s most respected property stakeholders and are active within strategic land development and major urban regeneration. Their current projects include the £500m Salt Cross Garden Village in Oxfordshire, the 1,200 home Trumpington Meadows project in Cambridge and a partnership to bring forward a 5,000 home new community in Essex. They are leaders in improving biodiversity and working towards net-zero on their projects and James will discuss their key schemes in this context.

EDF Sizewell C – Xanthe Kueppers, Head of Investor Relations

Sizewell C is projected to meet nearly 7% of the UK’s power demands when complete, enough to power approximately six million homes. The £20bn Suffolk-based power plant is expected to be commenced before 2024, with construction predicted to take between nine and twelve years to complete. Xanthe joins us to give an update on the development and will also discuss nuclear energy’s role in creating tomorrow’s net zero Britain.

TFL Property – Derek Wilson, Head of Sustainability

TFL have been working for over two years on their Sustainable Development Framework and have used the framework to drive sustainability performance across more than 20 major property development projects. The SDF is unique in the sector for its holistic view, robust methodology, and site-specific approach which has delivered results on the ground – using the framework TFL have achieved a 56% reduction in carbon emissions, an average of 4.4 Stars under Home Quality Mark, and were recently recognised by GRESB as the most sustainable diversified developer in Europe with a score of 97/100! TFL are also implementing their new net zero pathway which will see them become carbon neutral across the entire business by 2030 and in certain divisions (property development) potentially by 2025. Derek will be on hand to discuss these plans in more detail.

University of Oxford – Harriet Waters, Head of Environmental Sustainability, Estates

Oxford University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy was approved in 2021 setting out two ambitious targets: to achieve net zero carbon and to achieve biodiversity net gain, both by 2035. Harriet is responsible for long-term planning and direction of environmental sustainability at the University and oversees the delivery of the wide range of strategies and services implemented by the Environmental Sustainability team and will be well placed to discuss the University of Oxford’s strategy on their future estates development plans, including the Begbroke Science Park expansion – one of the first projects to move forward under the £4 billion partnership with L&G.

UK Atomic Energy Authority – Paul Methven, STEP Director

Paul lead on the bid to bring the first nuclear fusion power plant in the world to the West of England, potentially creating thousands of jobs in the region. Some £220m of government money is going into a national selection process to find an appropriate site for the prototype fusion plant, which potentially could be operational by 2040. Organisers of bid have said that if successful the project has the potential to secure billions of pounds of investment into the region, with much of the supporting business ‘eco-system’ of the proposed plant being developed over the next two to 10 years. Paul will discuss this scheme and the role that nuclear fusion will play in powering Tomorrow’s Net Zero Britain.

Peel Environmental – Jane Gaston, Development Director

Peel Environmental are behind the 54-hectare Protos development near Ellesmere Port which clusters together innovative technologies in energy generation and resource management alongside energy-intensive businesses. Protos will generate low carbon energy that, in the future, could be supplied directly to industrial and domestic customers. As Development Director for the scheme, Jane will be well placed to discuss this scheme and Peel’s future plans to build low carbon energy generating plants in the UK.

Nottingham City Council – Wayne Bexton, Director of Carbon Reduction, Energy and Sustainability

Nottingham City Council have an ambitious plan for the city to become carbon neutral by 2028, having met its previous target to cut CO2 emissions 25% by 2020 two years early. A workplace parking levy is being used to develop renewable transport schemes, such as the new tram scheme, which is powered by the council’s not-for-profit energy company which supplies its electricity from renewable sources. The council also has a plan to retrofit homes to make them more energy efficient, amongst other schemes in the planning to achieve the target. Wayne will provide some thought leadership on how they have made the programme commercially successful, and how this could be replicated by other local authorities.

Kent and Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust – Sirina Blankson, Sustainability Lead

The Trust has recently released their ‘Green Plan’ through to 2026 where making current estates assets more sustainable as well as their future capital projects prominently feature. Developing the Trust’s estate must consider the future needs and pressures faced by the organisation. The plan aims to improve the environmental and social impact of Trust’s estates by encompassing sustainable concepts in the development and construction of buildings. Sirina is leading on the Trust’s future estates development plans as well as increasing sustainability in their current assets and will join the conference to discuss their future plans which are set to run into the hundreds of millions of pounds worth of opportunities.

Sembcorp Energy UK – Michael Jenner, Corporate Affairs Director

In his role as Corporate Affairs Director, Michael oversees Sembcorp Industries’ UK strategy, including Sembcorp Energy UK’s plans for decarbonisation.

He is Project Director for the planned development of one of Europe’s largest battery storage systems, and leads an expert team making the investment case for battery development through to FID.

Michael has wide-ranging commercial experience of designing and delivering Net Zero transition strategy and is currently spearheading the Whitetail Clean Energy project for Sembcorp Energy UK. The 300MW plant, which is being developed in collaboration with 8 Rivers Capital, is poised to be the first net zero emissions power plant in the UK.

Notting Hill Genesis – Laura Shellard, Head of Sustainability

Notting Hill Genesis are one of the largest housing associations in London and the South East with a significant task on to meet net zero targets on their new developments and across their portfolio of affordable homes. As Head of Sustainability Laura Shellard is well placed to talk about NHG’s plans on shaping the homes of the future and getting to net-carbon zero across their portfolio of 66,000 homes.

Landsec – Neil Pennell, Head of Design Innovation and Property Solutions

Landsec are developing the UK’s first UK Green Building Council certified net zero building, a £280 million project called the Forge. The developer have also committed £135 million to decarbonising its current portfolio over the next 9 years with the firm saying it expected the overall programme to see 24,000 tonnes of carbon emissions removed from Landsec’s operations – which equates to over 35,000 return flights from London to New York. Neil will join the conference to discuss Landsec’s net zero journey and their role in creating tomorrow’s net zero Britain.

CALA Group – Kathryn Dapre, Head of Sustainability

CALA are a top 10 UK housebuilder with a significant presence in Scotland, the Midlands and South East of England. They are one of the only major home builders to have returned to pre-pandemic levels of delivery and are targeting the building of over 3,200 new homes in 2022. Kathryn will discuss their sustainability strategy to achieve the building of homes that are operationally net zero carbon from 2030, and reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Scottish Government’s 2045 target and ahead of UK Government’s 2050 target.

Harworth Group – Peter Henry, Director of Sustainability

Earlier this year Harworth Group appointed Peter Henry to the newly created role of Director of Sustainability at the developer having been integral to forming many of Harworth’s key driving principles for sustainable regeneration and placemaking since he joined the business. Peter will join the conference to discuss Harworth’s sustainable and net zero strategy including their recently announced plans to bring forward over 1,200 sustainable BTR homes across 10 sites and how they will increase sustainability in their future developments which include c.10,000 homes and 7.3m sq ft of commercial space currently going through planning.

Lendlease – Pauline Martin, Sustainability Lead

Lendlease are involved in some of the most expansive developments in the UK and Europe with nearly £28 billion worth of investment in the pipeline, which will see thousands of homes built and millions of sq ft of commercial development delivered. Pauline is one of the team tasked with making Lendlease zero net zero and she will reveal more details about how they will achieve this goal and the role the company will play in delivering tomorrow’s net zero Britain.

Nuclear Industry Association – Dr Tim Stone, Chair

The Nuclear Industry Association is the trade association for the civil nuclear industry in the UK that represents more than 250 companies across the UK’s nuclear supply chain. As chair, Tim is well placed to discuss why nuclear energy is essential to meeting the UK’s future energy needs and how it will be essential in helping us reach Tomorrow’s Net Zero.

National Grid – Clara Semal, Head of Corporate Strategy

With the advent of developing smarter and more sustainable cities and the exponential regeneration activities being led by public and private sector organisations in the UK, the National Grid is under more pressure than ever. Over the next 10 years, they will be spending over £1bn per year on maintenance, upgrades and substation capacity to meet the rising sustainability demands of cities and towns across the country. Clara will detail how these projects will roll out and what sustainable development the investment will help unlock as Britain aims to ‘build back better’ and will talk about National Grid’s role in creating tomorrow’s net zero Britain.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust – Peter Leighton-Jones, Head of Sustainability

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040 as part of the wider Greener NHS programme with Peter leading on the trust’s implementation of this. The role of making their estates and facilities net zero will play a key role in the trust achieving their targets and Peter will be well placed to discuss their plans to retrofit their current estates as well as how their future hospital development will achieve these net zero ambitions.

Sellafield Ltd – Dr Rebecca Weston, Chief Operating Officer

The Moorside site in West Cumbria has been selected as Cumbria’s contender to go forward to UKAEA’s national competition to identify the site to host the UK’s first prototype nuclear fusion plant and surrounding science, technology and business park. The site, adjacent to the Sellafield nuclear complex, emerged as the favoured Cumbrian location following a mini-siting competition led by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) on behalf of a range of partners. Fusion represents the next generation of clean energy production and was described by Professor Stephen Hawking in 2010 as the one scientific discovery or advance he felt would most transform society. As the Chief Operating Officer for Sellafield Ltd, Rebecca is responsible for the overall programme delivery and performance of the operations at Sellafield, one of the world’s most complex nuclear and industrial sites and will be well places to discuss Cumbria’s STEP site contender as well as all aspects of the retrieval and legacy clean-up, spent fuel and special nuclear material management, nuclear waste management, decommissioning and remediation at Sellafield.

North West Hydrogen Alliance – Professor Joe Howe, Chair

The North West of England is poised to lead the development of a hydrogen-based economy. The North West Hydrogen Alliance represents 30 of the UK’s most influential organisations driving forward the development of a hydrogen economy, with the aim to deliver a low carbon future and support green recovery. The Alliance are currently supporting the North West’s bid to become one of the UK’s first carbon capture clusters. Joe chairs the alliance along with his role heading the Energy Research Institute at the University of Chester and is well placed to discuss how delivering tomorrow’s net zero Britain can create millions of new skilled jobs as well as placing Britain as a world leader in sustainability.

National Police Estates Group – Sallie Blanks-Nash, National Co-ordinator

As the national co-ordinator and voice of the National Police Estates Group, Sallie has tremendous influence over policy, procurement strategy, collective innovation and shaping trends. As part of this session she will be in a position to update delegates on NPEG strategy for sustainability and net zero going forward while commenting on how police estates groups across the country will achieve this and the role police estates will play in Tomorrow’s Net Zero Britain.

Progressive Energy – Chris Manson-Whitton, Director

Chris is one of the main drivers across all elements of HyNet and beyond in the North West. HyNet North West is a hydrogen energy and Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) project. The project has been described as “essential” for the government, helping to deliver the green industrial revolution, as well as aiding the local net zero targets of Cheshire West and Chester in 2045, Liverpool City Region in 2040 and Greater Manchester in 2038. The estimated required infrastructure investment for the completed project is just under £1 billion.

Frasers Property UK – Amira Hashemi, Head of Sustainability

Frasers Property own, develop and manage property in Europe, China, Southeast Asia, Singapore and Australia and reported a revenue of $3.7bn for 2021. In the UK they create vibrant living and business environments across the country, with a focus on providing sustainable developments that create and enhance communities. Amira has been the driving force for Fraser Property’s sustainability credentials, aiding in the release of the company’s net zero roadmap back in 2021, which set out the company’s aims to achieve net zero across its portfolio by 2050, net zero carbon across operational areas by 2030, to certify 80% of its portfolio with green building certifications by 2024, and to finance most of its portfolio with green and sustainable financing. An example of her work is the securing of a £110m 5-year bilateral sustainability linked loan for Hillington Park, the company’s business park in Scotland. This is in addition to a huge $6bn+ in sustainability linked loans company-wide.

Fulcrum BioEnergy Limited UK – Jeff Ovens, Managing Director UK & Europe

Fulcrum is a US based pioneer in the conversion of non-recyclable residual wastes into sustainable fuels who will create the UK’s first biorefinery. The new £600 million biorefinery, Fulcrum NorthPoint, is part of wider plans to establish the North West as the leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the UK. The facility is planned to be operational by 2026, creating more than 800 direct and indirect jobs during the design, build and commissioning process, and approximately 100 permanent jobs during its operation with Manchester Airport set to become the first in the UK to have a direct feed of SAF, thanks to a partnership between Manchester Airports Group (MAG) and Fulcrum BioEnergy Limited UK. Jeff is Fulcrum’s UK lead and will be well placed to reveal their future plans in the UK as well as discussing their role in creating tomorrow’s net zero Britain.

Nottingham Trent University – Charmaine Morrell, Head of Sustainability

NTU are supporting the UK’s 2050 target to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% with ambitions to make their campus net zero over the coming decades. Major areas of focus for the university are green built environment and buildings, green mobility, low-carbon technology design, sustainable consumption, economics and business policy for sustainability, and smart future cities – with Charmaine joining the conference to discuss their plans in these areas including in their ‘landmark’ net zero art and design complex in the city centre which was announced last year.

BlueLight Commercial – Jon Rawlings, Regional Commercial Director, Estates

BlueLight Commercial launched last year working with police forces across England and Wales to transform their commercial and procurement functions. Backed by Government and aligned with the Policing Vision 2025, they are acting as a source of commercial expertise, supporting police forces to meet the challenges of today and preparing them for the challenges of the future. Jon will join the conference to discuss the organisation’s net zero and sustainable ambitions and projects as well as the role blue light estates will play in tomorrow’s net zero Britain.

Leeds City Council – Polly Cook, Chief Officer Sustainability, Energy and Air Quality

In 2021, Leeds City Council published their Net Zero Carbon Roadmap laying out their ambitious drive to becoming a net zero city by 2030. Ranging from investing heavily in reducing scope 3 emissions around construction waste to decarbonising all council owned property, the council are delivering a new district heating network and aiming to deliver more energy from waste. Polly joins the event to detail all of their schemes in detail while also setting out the expectations from the council on developers, investors and built environment supply chain for when working within the city.

The Association for Decentralised Energy – Lily Frencham, Chief Executive Officer

The ADE is the voice for a cost effective efficient, low carbon, user-led energy system; a market in which decentralised energy can flourish. With over 100 members we bring together interested parties from across the sector to develop a strong, dynamic and sustainable environment for a range of technologies including combined heat and power, district heating networks and demand side energy services, including demand response. Lily heads up the organisation and will be well placed to discuss the next generation of heat network projects in England with the launch of the government’s £288 million green energy scheme ‘the Green Heat Network Fund’ which will support low carbon technologies, such as heat pumps, and deliver emissions savings equivalent to taking 5.6 million cars off the road for a year.

Orbit Group – David March, Head of Environmental Sustainability

Orbit Homes are one of the largest housing groups in the country and the UK’s leading developer of new homes for affordable and social rent, with a growing property portfolio of over 45,000 homes spanning the Midlands, east and south. Over the next 10 years they aim to build 20,000 homes of which 65% will be affordable. We build homes across all tenures and are a market leader in the delivery of shared ownership. They have identified a three stage process that will need to be carried out across their housing stock as they work towards net zero. This will involve fabric improvements, replacement of fossil fuel powered heating systems and the introduction of renewable technologies. David will discuss the significant investment which is being put into this process and how they are working to create a long-term roadmap for the business to help tackle its own carbon footprint.

Pocket Living – Thomasin Renshaw, Development Director

Pocket Living is an innovative property developer, delivering intermediate affordable housing in London. They build homes for the people who contribute economically, socially and culturally to London but who earn too much for social housing and don’t earn enough to buy into the private market. They have an extensive development pipeline, including a 210 home scheme in Leyton, a 149 home scheme in Harrow and further schemes in Barnet and Waltham Forest. A recent funding deal with Barclays and Housing Growth Partnership will allow them to significantly increase their development pipeline and Thomasin will discuss their mission to allow those on lower incomes a way to get their foot on the housing ladder with innovative and sustainable homes and the role of BTR in creating tomorrow’s net zero communities.

Ambulance Estates Group – Neil Maher, Chair

Neil Maher chairs the National Ambulance Group which is a national group of Estates leaders that share best practice and co-ordinate their activities. Achieving net-zero and making their estates more sustainable has been high on their agenda and Neil will join the conference to discuss the plans that are being put in place across Ambulance Estates in the UK. Neil is also the Assistant Director Estates, Facilities & Fleet at North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust and will update on their plans to decarbonise.

Scottish Government – Lesley McNeil, Head of Wind Energy Policy and Development

The Scottish Government is committed to number large scale sustainable energy projects including onshore wind which is the lowest-cost new-build electricity generation in the UK. In 2020 around 97% of Scotland’s energy consumption was met by clean power and Lesley will join us to discuss how they’ve achieved this, whilst discussing how they’re expanding negotiations to speak with developers moving forward and their role in creating tomorrow’s net zero Scotland.

St. Modwen – Richard Carter, Senior Construction Director

St. Modwen is an expert developer with a £1.41bn portfolio with a substantial commercial development pipeline focused primarily on industrial & logistics space with over 7.3 million sq ft of consented development in the pipeline as well as further 6 million sq ft going through the planning process. Richard heads up St. Modwen Logistics’ sustainability drive and will be on hand to discuss their sector leading sustainability strategy on their massive portfolio and development pipeline.

Barings – Kristina Arsenievich, Director of ESG

Barings is a $382+ billion global investment manager building long-term portfolios across public and private fixed income, real estate and specialist equity markets. They have a significant presence in the UK across several asset classes and recently secured a mandate to invest £250 million in UK real estate debt. Kristina was recently appointed as ESG Director and will lead the ESG strategy for European Real Estate and launch carbon neutral and climate resilience policies that will aid the delivery of Barings Net Zero Carbon ambition. She has over 10 years of experience in sustainability leadership and was previously in charge of sustainability for Canary Wharf Group.

St. Modwen Homes – Chris Bailey, Head of Technical (South)

St. Modwen’s dedicated housebuilding business plans to double in size over the next five years as it brings together internal capabilities in land buying, planning, pre-construction, and customer delivery. Their approach has already seen St. Modwen Homes achieve an award-winning track record in health and safety, and a progressive and sustainable approach to housebuilding. Chris is one the leaders in their sustainability drive and will be on hand to discuss their plans to double their current 1200 per year output having recently announced 5 new projects which will deliver 1,100 homes in Lancashire, Kent, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and London.

The Crown Estate – Anna Swaithes, Head of Sustainability

MAG Group – Adam Freeman, Head of Environmental Strategy and ESG

MAG Group owns and operates 3 major UK airports – Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports – which service over 60 million passengers per year with a catchment area serving 75% of the UK population. MAG is proud that all of its airports are carbon neutral which has been achieved through their long-term focus on the energy efficiency of our buildings, the purchase of low carbon electricity, and addressing residual emissions through high quality ‘Gold Standard’ carbon offsets. MAG’s headline commitment is to achieve ‘net zero carbon’ by 2038 at the latest by cutting remaining carbon emissions to zero and removing the need for carbon offsets with Adam being one of the leaders aiming to achieve this goal and will join the conference to reveal the groups future plans to achieve net zero across their portfolio and their role in tomorrow’s net zero Britain.

DST Innovations – Joanna Pontin, Executive VP

DST’s £1.7 billion Blue Eden Project is the ground-breaking scheme proposed for Swansea’s waterfront which will include a newly-designed tidal lagoon, featuring state-of-the-art underwater turbines generating 320 megawatts of renewable energy from the 9.5km structure. All the project’s buildings and facilities, including the eco-homes, will be situated alongside the lagoon and will utilise and enhance the existing land in the area. Blue Eden will create over 2,500 permanent jobs and support a further 16,000 jobs across Wales and the UK, while creating additional jobs during its construction and Joanna will join the conference to reveal more intel on their plans for this scheme and its role in creating tomorrow’s net zero Wales.

The Crown Estate – Will Apps, Head of Marine Development

Sheffield Hallam University – Owen Anthony, Head of Sustainability

Sheffield Hallam have revealed plans for three new buildings in the city centre of Sheffield, the latest in their quest to become the “world’s leading applied university.” The new campus will be “zero carbon ready” by using the latest technology and measures as well as 4,300 sq ft of green space. As Head of Sustainability, Owen will be well placed to reveal intel on this new campus, its zero carbon credentials and discuss the university’s role in creating tomorrow’s net zero Britain.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – Caroline Withey, Interim Programme Director for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund

The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is the Government’s 10-year £3.5 billion scheme with the aim of upgrading a significant amount of the social housing stock currently below Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C up to that standard. It will support the installation of energy performance measures in social homes in England, and help deliver warm, energy-efficient homes, reduce carbon emissions, tackle fuel poverty, support green jobs, develop the retrofit sector and improve the comfort, health and well-being of social housing tenants. Caroline will join the conference to talk about the second wave of funding and how social housing organisations can get involved.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – Florian Wagner, Commercial Lead, Nuclear Projects and Development

University of Lancaster – Professor Jessica Davies, Director, Centre for Global Eco-Innovation

Jessica is an engineer and environmental scientist interested in the role of creating a sustainable future. Working across a wide range of settings she is focused on solutions, and in her role as Director of the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation at the University of Lancaster, she helps bring together people across disciplines and sectors to work on solutions that can help ecosystems, communities and economies to thrive together. Jessica will join the conference to discuss the role of skills, green jobs and education in tomorrow’s net zero economy.

Birmingham City Council – Paul Kitson, Strategic Director – Place, Prosperity & Sustainability

With the city looking to make the most of the legacy of this summer’s Commonwealth Games and an ambitious target of being net-zero by 2030, Birmingham is set to see major investment into sustainable and net zero development over the coming decade. Paul will join the conference to discuss how the council is working to achieve this as well as updating on the progress of flagship development and regeneration schemes in the city such as the £1.9bn Smithfields scheme and the £1.2bn Paradise project.

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – Jessica Skilbeck, Director, Energy Efficiency, Net Zero Buildings & Industry

Prologis – Simon Cox, Senior VP, Head of Project Management and Sustainability

Simon is Prologis’ UK Sustainability Officer, directing strategy for sustainable development and overseeing the implementation of sustainable initiatives throughout their UK operation. Prologis’ sustainability drive has been at the forefront of their buildings and projects for over a decade and Simon will join the conference to discuss their sustainable pipeline of development on around 1000 acres of land with detailed planning permission.

South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership – Michelle Sacks, Deputy Chief Executive (Growth)

The councils that make up the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership look set to benefit greatly from the government’s levelling up agenda having won several bids to bring forward priority schemes but part of their strategy for levelling up includes sustainable and net zero energy production – with the region’s first hydrogen facility set to be developed in the coming years. Michelle will join the conference to reveal more details about this hydrogen energy production scheme as well as the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership’s plans to further increase its net zero energy generation output.

Federated Hermes – Rhianydd Griffith, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure

Federated Hermes are significant investors in the UK Real Estate and Infrastructure market with over 19 million sq ft of development in the pipeline totalling £13 billion and renowned examples of their previous work including King Cross, NOMA in Manchester, Wellington Place in Leeds and Paradise in Birmingham. Rhianydd will join the conference to discuss their approach to sustainable and net zero placemaking whilst touching on their future UK investment plans.

Cabinet Office – Stuart Burrows, Programme Director for Sustainability and Asset Performance

Midlands Connect – Karen Heppenstall, Head of Rail

Midlands Connect are one of the organisations leading the charge on creating a sustainable transport and infrastructure in the Midlands with one of their flagship schemes being the £3.5bn Midlands Engine Rail programme. Karen joined Midlands Connect as Head of Rail in April 2021 and has already influenced the shape of the Strategy Refresh published in late in 2021 and is working closely with senior colleagues at Network Rail and DfT to address current challenges in the region and will join the conference to discuss their role in creating tomorrow’s net zero Midlands.

Department for Education – Crawford Wright, Head of Architecture and Design

The Department for Education have made making future schools and colleges one of their primary targets – as reflected in their £3billion next generation of schools framework. Crawford is currently leading the development of new zero carbon school buildings and retrofitting strategies for existing estates and will be on hand to discuss the Department for Education’s role in the UK achieving its net zero ambitions.

Octopus Energy Generation – Zoisa North-Bond, CEO

Octopus Energy Generation are one of Europe’s largest investors in renewables – operating £4 billion worth of green energy generators across 7 countries. In the UK Octopus have just entered the offshore wind energy market in the UK with a multi-million pound investment in one of Orsted’s wind farms. Elsewhere Octopus are investing £3 billion in green hydrogen in the UK and as CEO Zoisa will be well placed to discuss their significant renewable energy generation investments and the role they will play in generating tomorrow’s net zero energy to power UK PLC.

Ikigai Capital – Helena Anderson, Co-Founder and COO

Ikigai Capital is part of a consortium of companies, which has formed a partnership with the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to deliver the  ‘Invest Net Zero Cheshire’ roadmap with an investment blueprint developed which will see £1 billion spent on low carbon projects in Cheshire over the next few years with nearly 3 million tonnes of CO₂ saved by 2030. The consortium has identified a portfolio of opportunities across renewable generation, hydrogen, carbon capture, energy storage and smart grids which offer long-term, sustainable investment opportunities in net zero and Helena will be on hand to discuss these opportunities and Ikigal’s role in creating tomorrow’s net-zero Britain.

Sustrans – Clare Maltby, Director, Midlands and East of England

Sustrans are one of the UK’s leading organisations on developing green infrastructure with an extensive track record of delivering schemes across the UK. Clare will be on hand to discuss how they are collaborating with a number of top level developers and local authorities across the UK to ensure green walking and cycling infrastructure features heavily in transformational developments – while unveiling her organisation’s future strategy and their essential role in achieving net zero in the UK.

Schneider Electric – Kas Mohammed, VP Digital Energy

Kas Mohammed is the Vice President of the Digital Buildings division at Schneider Electric in the UK and Ireland. His team work within both new and existing buildings across Commercial Real Estate, Healthcare, Life Sciences and Education segments to deliver systems which ensure optimal efficiency and user comfort across all stages of the building life cycle. Kas is passionate about improving sustainability across the built environment and reducing carbon emissions in our sector.

BE DESIGN – Charlotte Booth, Sustainability & Wellbeing Associate Director

Costain – Jamie Colquhoun, Transport Energy & EV V2G Advisor

Costain are one of the leading firms in supporting the UK’s commitment to the net zero carbon agenda – championing a mix of clean energy including nuclear, hydrogen and renewables.

Their expertise will therefore be crucial in chairing the discussion about the transition to cleaner and greener transport and infrastructure – as we delve into topics around clean mobility infrastructure sectors, transport decarbonisation stratgies, funding solutions and modelling and much more.