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Advisory Board
Durham Energy Institute works closely with members of the Advisory Board to ensure that we continue to understand and lead thinking within the UK and Global Energy Industry. Members of the Advisory Board have been chosen from across the technology spectrum and societal spectrum and can offer industry links, advice, language skills and support into new markets, collaborations and countries. Members are also able to provide advice and feedback on project feasibility and project funding mechanisms. They are all happy to provide guest lectures to any department within the University, as well as Student internships.
Please contact lynn.gibson@durham.ac.uk if you would like to learn more about how the Advisory Board could support the development of your own ideas.
Advisory Board External Members
Dr Charlotte Adams, Commercial Manager - Mine Energy, The Coal Authority
Charlotte is the Principle Manager for Mine Water Heat at The Coal Authority facilitating geothermal energy development from disused mines and other mining-related innovation projects. Charlotte has worked on disused mines for the past 20 years originally training as a hydrogeologist. She was Assistant Professor at Durham University before being appointed to her current role. She has also previously worked in the renewable energy consultancy sector.
Dr Chris Beck, Group Director Net Zero and Inward Investment, Tees Valley Combined Authority
Chris is the Group Director leading on inward investment, net zero and digital innovation projects within Tees Valley Combined Authority, he previously was the Business and Skills director. Prior to joining TVCA he led the TWI research and training centre in Middlesbrough with a focus on, government engagement and funding. He was previously a technical specialist for UKTI, working on advanced technology and research focused inward investment. He has a degree and Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from Leeds University.
Emeritus Professor Sandra Bell, Department of Anthropology, Durham University
Sandra is an Emeritus Professor environmental anthropologist who worked on energy-related issues and biodiversity conservation. Sandra is interested in interdisciplinary research and with Prof Veronica Strang has devised a workshop and associated publication to facilitate research across disciplines (The Institute of Advanced Study).
Dr Maggie Bosanquet, Sustainability, Carbon and Climate Change Team Leader at Durham County Council
Maggie is the Low Carbon Economic Development Manager for Durham County Council, responsible for renewable energy and energy efficiency across the Council’s land and buildings and for the County-wide Climate Emergency Response. She has led the Council’s Sustainability Team since 1995, supporting local, national and international partnership initiatives.
Kim is a member of the Law School and has research interests within energy and climate change law. She completed her PhD - which examined legal responses to energy efficiency failings - at UCL Energy Institute / Laws in 2016. She is currently researching litigation and activism in response to fracking. Kim is the DEI Fellows rep to the AB.
Laurence Carpanini, Director of Smarter Energy Solutions, Europe, IBM UK Limited
Laurence Carpanini is an independent adviser with over 30 years’ experience in the energy sector. Prior to becoming an independent, Laurence led the strategic development of Smarter Energy Solutions for IBM in Europe, where he played a leading role in defining, communicating, and deploying smart energy systems, working at the interface between strategy, organisation change and technology enablement. As well as sitting on the DU Energy Institute Advisory Board, Laurence is a Lay Member of Council of Swansea University; a Chartered Engineer; Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers; and a Fellow of the Energy Institute.
Prof. Andrew Crossland, Director of New Energy at solarZero
Prof. Andrew Crossland is Director of New Energy at solarZero and advisor to numerous energy startups. Follow a Durham Engineering Masters and PhD, he has built a career around the interdisciplinary problems needed for decarbonisation. In doing so, Andrew has worked on solar, energy storage, microgrid, regulatory and education projects across four continents. He is now an Associate Professor in Practice in the DEI and the School of Engineering.
Professor Jon Gluyas, Department of Earth Sciences
Jon holds the Ørsted / Ikon Science Chair in Geoenergy, Carbon Capture and Storage at Durham University. He was Head of the Earth Sciences Department between 2011 and 2014, Dean of Knowledge Exchange from 2014 to 2018 was DEI’s Executive Director 2017-2023. Jon’s career includes extended periods in industry and academia. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society and has just been elected to be president of the same from 2024 to 2026.
Prof Helen Goodman, Independent Energy Advisor & Parliamentary Liaison
Helen was MP for Bishop Auckland 2005-2014. Prior to that, she was on the Treasury Select Committee 2015-17; Public Accounts Committee 2005-07 and on the Committee for the groundbreaking Climate Change Act of 2008. She initiated Parliamentary debates to mandate ministers prior to the Paris summit and on Geothermal Energy. Helen is also a Professor in Practice in the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham.
Professor Simon Hogg, Head of Engineering Department, Durham University
Simon holds the Ørsted Chair in Renewable Energy at Durham University. He has been Head of the Engineering Department since 2017 and was DEI’s Executive Director 2014-2017. Simon’s career includes extended periods in industry and academia. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Patrick is an ex officio member of the advisory board through his role as President of the Durham University Student Energy Society. His leadership of the society is informed by placement year experience in the Strategy and Environment team at Centrica. He is a student at the University, reading Geography.
Helen Stockton, Head of Research, National Energy Action
Helen is the Head of Research at national fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) with over 15 years of applied social research experience spanning the quantitative and qualitative paradigms. She oversees a broad and varied programme of social research for the Charity that foregrounds the lived experience of fuel poverty. Research interests include social policy, energy and social justice and poverty. She is enthusiastic about exploring the ways knowledge can be brokered between academia, policy and practice.
Dr Benj Sykes, Vice President in Ørsted's UK offshore wind business
Benj is Head of Environment, Consenting and External Affairs for the UK and Ireland at Ørsted, the world leader in offshore wind. He is former co-Chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council, setting the UK’s offshore wind strategy. Benj has worked in the Energy sector for over 30 years, across the renewable energy and upstream oil and gas sectors. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society, an Honorary Fellow of the Energy Institute, Chair of the Durham Energy Institute Advisory Board, and President of the Society of Underwater Technology.
Rob Williams, Procurement Director - AstraZeneca
Rob is Director of Sustainability in AstraZeneca’s Global Procurement team, working with their global supply chain to remove Scope 3 emissions and deliver Net Zero goals. Rob has worked across the energy sector for over 20 years, from electricity generation to procurement for large energy consumers. Rob also lectures in energy procurement for the Energy Institute and is a member of the Advisory Committee for RE100.