Programme
Tuesday 15 July 2025
09.00 – 09.30
Registration and coffee
09.30 – 09.35
Welcome address
Adelle Wainwright, Global External DEI Lead, National Grid
09.35 – 09.40
Keynote speech
Lauren Maddocks, Associate Director, Murray McIntosh
09.40 – 10.00
CEO discussion: Given the global context, is EDI still important?
Speakers include:
- Lawrence Slade, CEO, Energy Networks Association (ENA)
- Dhara Vyas, CEO, Energy UK
- Nick Wayth, CEO, Energy Institute (EI)
10.00 – 10.50
Meet the EDI networks in energy
Speakers include:
- Jo Butlin, Co-Founder & Director, Womens Utilities Network
- Gareth Dauley, KOE Group (IntoNetZero)
- Lewis McKenzie, Energy Sector Consultant, Moorhouse Consulting (Pride in Energy)
- Jesusoorefunmi Olaoye, Co-Founder, Energyz Black
- Juliette Sanders, CCO, Energy UK (TIDE)
- Georgina Worrall OBE, Head of POWERful Women
10.50 – 11.20
Coffee and networking break
11.20 – 11.30
Personal perspective
Royston Black, Consultant, Engage Consulting
11.30 – 12.30
Panel 1: Challenging senior leaders
Speakers include:
- Baroness Sandy Verma (Chair)
- Rhian Kelly, Chief Sustainability Officer, National Grid
- Louise Kingham CBE FEI, Senior Vice President, Europe and Head of Country, bp
- Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive, British Gas
12.30 – 13.20
Lunch and networking break
13.20 – 13.30
Keynote speech
Katy Schnitzler, Information, Training and Research Lead, Miscarriage Association
13.30 – 13.40
Personal perspective
Carly Nettleford, Engineering Policy Advisor, Institution of Mechanical Engineers
13.40 – 14.00
The government perspective on EDI in energy
Amie Taplin, Government Policy Manager, Drax (Chair)
Melissa Vogeley, Team Leader and Head of Office for Clean Energy Jobs, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
14.00 – 14.20
Measuring progress: Energy sector results of the Inclusion Measurement Framework, and TIDE’s Health Index
Louise Parry, Director of People and Organisational Development, Energy & Utility Skills
14.20 – 14.40
Coffee and networking break
14.40 – 14.50
Personal perspective
Lucia Blayke, CEO & Founder, Transpire Talent
14.50 – 15.50
Panel 2: Reaching new talent pools
Speakers include:
- Ben Parsons, Partner, Oaklin (Chair)
- Mayur Gondhea, Founder, CubeLynx
- Melissa Milner, Director of External Affairs and Partnerships, Catch22
- Brit Pickering, DEIB Manager and Covenant Lead, NESO
- Jen Stobart, Director, Tent UK
15.50 – 16.00
Keynote speech
Karen Grayson, Senior Manager, Diversity and Inclusion, Royal Academy of Engineering