James Earl, CEO, Future Energy Networks

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference? 

How the gas and electricity networks can work together to advance a realistic and deliverable approach to decarbonisation, in a particularly challenging political and social context.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

The biggest challenge for the gas networks is a perception that they are part of the problem when it comes to decarbonisation, rather than part of the solution. I hope to help change this perception through my contribution at the conference.

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026 important to the industry and to you?

It’s really important that we continue to share best practice and work in close partnership between electricity and gas networks. The Future Networks Conference 2026 is a great chance to bring both industries together to do just that.

Bridget Hartley, Head of Regional Energy Strategic Planning, NESO

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference? 

How the different strategic energy plans (the strategic spatial energy plan, the centralised strategic network plan and the RESPs) will come together to form a coherent plan for Great Britain.

How the RESPs will be providing the opportunity for local voices & needs to be at the heart of the way we plan the energy system.

How we’ve accelerated this by providing initial RESP outputs to inform the ED3 price control.

Charles McAllister, Director, Green Gas Taskforce

What can we expect from your contribution at the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026?

I will be providing an update on the reports the Green Gas Taskforce has released in 2026 as well as our policy and political progress in driving forward with our ambition to increase the profile of biomethane and improvement the policy environment, driving growth in the sector.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

When the Government will properly account for biomethane on the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). What the future framework for biomethane will look like (as is due to be consulted on in 2026).

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026 important to the industry and to you?

Great opportunity to share updates and developments with colleagues and interested parties across the highly regulated utility industries.

Paul Killilea, Asset and Investment Director, SP Electricity North West

What can we expect from your contribution at the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026?

To invite debate around the role of asset management in the wider energy transition and also the perennial challenge of “cheap fixes vs longer term solutions”. Also will give an understanding of asset management and resilience in terms of serving Critical National Infrastructure.

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference?

Strategies and insights to turn strategy into tangible delivery.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

Need for an affordable long term energy policy. Net Zero to be as efficient as possible against a background of cost of living crisis.  Resourcing and supply chain challenges for the future networks.

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026 important to the industry and to you?

Gain great insights from key industry leaders on the challenges of today.

Simon O'Loughlin, Future Networks Innovation Project Manager, SSEN Distribution

What can we expect from your contribution at the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026?

I would hope to bring a thought-provoking presentation which engages the widest possible range of delegates. From Customer focused people to network planners and investment manager. VERIFY is striking the balance between capacity needs and consumer requirements to aid network investment and customer delivery.

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference?

I am looking forward to seeing the trends, patterns, and what might be coming next. Specifically, I am interested in what progress is happening in RESP, the Panel Discussions and what Jodie Giles has to say right ahead of my session. 😄

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

In my opinion, connections and capacity are the big issues. On a personal level, I'd like to see more SIF Challenges that benefit customers and communities.

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026 important to the industry and to you?

It is so important to connect, collaborate, and co-create projects for the benefit of utilities, customers and the country as a whole. I also feel that there should be more whole system focus between gas and electricity to ensure customers are invcluded in the transition of energy.

Corinna Burger, Head of Innovation, National Gas

What can we expect from your contribution at the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026?

I’ll be sharing insights on how innovation is driving the transformation of gas transmission networks to support a low-carbon future. My focus will be on practical steps we’re taking to integrate hydrogen and other clean energy solutions into existing infrastructure, and how collaboration across the sector is essential to accelerate progress.

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference?

I’m keen to hear how other companies in the sector are approaching flexibility, digitalisation, and resilience. The energy transition is a shared challenge, so learning about new technologies, regulatory frameworks, and collaborative models will be invaluable.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

The biggest challenge is balancing the urgent need for decarbonisation with maintaining security of supply and affordability for customers. We also face the complexity of adapting legacy infrastructure for hydrogen and biomethane, while ensuring safety and reliability. Innovation is critical to overcoming these hurdles.

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026 important to the industry and to you?

This conference brings together thought leaders and practitioners at a pivotal time for the energy sector. For me, it’s an opportunity to share best practice, build partnerships, and ensure that innovation is not just a buzzword but a tangible driver of change. For the industry, it’s a chance to align on priorities and accelerate the transition to a net-zero future.

Jodie Giles, Programme Director, Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund, Innovate UK

What can we expect from your contribution at the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026?

Stories from the SIF portfolio, what’s working in innovation projects, what isn’t and a call to action to resolve some of the barriers to delivery of impact.

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference?

Other projects and innovations outside the SIF portfolio.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

Lack of accountability for delivery of impact on customers who pay for networks.

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026 important to the industry and to you?

It brings us together to share and solve the challenges we face.

Lorna Millington, Future Networks Manager, Cadent

What can we expect from your contribution at the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026?

Insights to the challenges of decarbonisation in a regulated environment.

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference?

The update on the Project Union work by National Gas Transmission.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

The integration of the NESO into the Energy Networks processes in the most efficient way possible.

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026 important to the industry and to you?

Collaboration is fostered in environments such as these conferences and shared views of the challenges all utilities face is key to new innovation.

Simon Harrison, Former Clean Power Commissioner & Fellow, Mott MacDonald

What can we expect from your contribution at the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026?

Having been a part of the work done by the Clean Power Commission and CP2030 an informed perspective on how the issues have been looked at in government.

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference?

Progress in responding to changes already made by government to drive cost efficiency, resilience and accelerated decarbonisation, challenges overcome and challenges remaining.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

Affordability, leveraging the transformative opportunities in the whole system rather than in its different silos, access to supply chain and human capacity, addressing the key building blocks for what will be needed post 2030.

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026 important to the industry and to you?

It is a major meeting place where pragmatism sits alongside challenge, with key people in the room.  Testing and extending the limits of the possible.

Eric Brown, executive advisor, Energy Systems Catapult

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference? 

• The progress we are making in delivering on our ambitions and commitments.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

• Lack of clarity on roles, responsibilities and accountability.
• The implications of supply chains on the ability to deliver.
• People and skills.

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2025 important to the industry and to you?

• It brings together the community and provides a focussed forum for exchanging ideas and gaining useful insight.

Nick Dagnall, Business Strategy Specialist, Cadent

What can we expect from your contribution at the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026?

I will share our learnings from the gas networks in Europe, namely Italgas and GRDF. On the Continent, there is a clear ambition to make the best use of the gas networks – for the environment, and for the economy and society

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference? 

Learning about innovations in the electricity networks that may drive value in gas networks, and taking steps forward together as an energy sector

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

Determining what is the future role of the gas networks if gas demand reduces, and to ensure we retain safety and reliability in all circumstances

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2025 important to the industry and to you?

It brings a focus on combined learnings from gas and electricity networks in a way no other conference does.

Akshay Kaul, Director General for Infrastructure, Ofgem

What can we expect from your contribution at the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026?

I will focus on three key areas (but all three nested within an overarching topic) as follows:

• How to regulate networks to meet competing objectives such as consumer protection, net zero and economic growth;
  • How to reduce prices for consumers
  • How to speed up grid connections
  • How to increase grid resilience

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference? 

I’m keen to hear industry views on how to meet these three challenges, particularly in the role that innovation and R&D can play in helping us meet these objectives.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

The most pressing issues include:

• Reducing prices for consumers
• Speeding up grid connections
• Increasing grid resilience
• Maintaining public and community support as the network build out gathers pace

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2025 important to the industry and to you?

This event is a vital forum for collaboration across the sector. It provides an opportunity to share Ofgem’s vision, listen to industry concerns, and work collectively on solutions that will enable a fair, secure, and sustainable energy future.

Jon Saltmarsh, CTO, Energy Systems Catapult

What can we expect from your contribution at the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026?

I will be looking to explore three points around the connection queue in my contribution to the conference:

• The importance of strategically prioritising grid reinforcement and anticipating future growth so we only reinforce once.
• The need to provide clear locational guidance / signals to developers on when and where capacity will be available.
• The importance of flexibility to enable more effective management of the grid reinforcement process.  

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference? 

Seeing some of the great innovations and new ideas that the brightest and best companies from across the sector have come up with to address some of the remaining challenges in delivering a better, cheaper and cleaner energy system fit for the future.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

Reducing the cost of energy to consumers in a system that has been historically underinvested in and now requires huge reinvestment for the future.

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2025 important to the industry and to you?

It brings together key players from across the sector to exchange views, share ideas and drive improvement and innovation in a well structured event.

Mike Wilks, Partner Energy Networks, Baringa

What can we expect from your contribution at the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2026?

An independent and candid expert point of view based on direct experience with UK energy networks and key stakeholders.

What are you most looking forward to hearing about at the conference? 

The opportunity to both share views and discuss with fellow panel members the industry’s biggest topics of the day.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry at the moment, in your opinion?

Planning and delivering both the connections and enabling network infrastructure at the scale and pace needed to enable the UK’s Net Zero ambitions – and doing so efficiently and securely.

Why is the Utility Week Future Networks Conference 2025 important to the industry and to you?

This is the flagship event annually for anyone with an involvement or interest in UK energy networks, their role in delivering Net Zero and the challenges they face to come together and discuss these as an industry.