A new award paying tribute to Audrey Gallacher OBE will recognise individuals from a non-academic route into the energy industry, it has been announced.
The Audrey Gallacher Award for Excellence will be an addition to the annual Young Energy Professionals Awards, which showcase up and coming talent across industry each year. It will recognise an outstanding individual who has had a non-academic route into the energy industry and achieved success in their field.
The award was announced at an industry event this week to commemorate and celebrate Audrey’s life and as part of this, Energy UK has produced a booklet featuring a multitude of tributes and memories from her friends and colleagues right across the energy industry and beyond. It can be viewed here on Energy UK’s website.
Audrey tragically died in January after a long battle with cancer, having served as Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Policy of Energy UK, after joining the Association in 2016. In 2021, she received an OBE for her outstanding contribution to the industry. Prior to joining Energy UK, she was Director of Energy at the statutory consumer watchdog Citizen’s Advice and began her career with the energy regulator, Ofgem.
Energy UK’s Director of Advocacy, Dhara Vyas said:
“There can never be another Audrey Gallacher but in looking to honour her memory – and the immense contribution she made to the energy industry and its customers – we felt it would be very fitting to celebrate talented individuals following a similar career path.
“Since her passing, so many young professionals have testified to what an inspiration and role model Audrey was, both by her example and the time she always found to support and advise those making their way in the industry. Audrey didn’t take an academic path to the industry, which contributed to her ability to bring a different perspective to her role, and so we want to recognize someone following a similar route.
“Audrey was so loved and had so much impact on so many lives that there’ll never be the slightest danger of anyone forgetting her but we hope this award will be a fitting and lasting tribute to her legacy.”
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Notes to Editors
- Young Energy Professionals (YEP) Forum is a network to promote the next generation of energy industry professionals, representing 300+ companies, providing opportunities to collaborate, develop and recognise successes.
- The YEP Forum secretariat is held by Energy UK. Energy UK is the trade association for the GB energy industry with a membership of over 100 suppliers, generators, and stakeholders with a business interest in the production and supply of electricity and gas for domestic and business consumers.