Putting customers at the heart of
Northern Gas Networks’ plans and actions

Jenny has over 30 years’ experience providing policy and thought leadership to the energy industry. As Chief Executive of National Energy Action, Jenny was instrumental in raising awareness of the impact of fuel poverty on the most vulnerable in society, challenging and influencing the development of both government and industry policy and programmes. She was awarded a CBE in recognition of her efforts to end fuel poverty and holds an honorary doctorate from Newcastle University.

Jenny is a member of the UK Energy Research Centre’s Advisory Board, Innovate UK’s Advisory Group for its £200m Clean Growth Challenge Fund programme ‘Prospering from the Energy Revolution’ and she is also a non-exec director of affordable warmth solutions, a non-profit distributing community interest company. She sat on the Government’s Committee on fuel poverty between December 2015 – March 2022 and she is also a member of Northern Powergrid’s Customer Engagement Group. Jenny has had extensive experience in providing critical challenge to both retail and distribution energy companies. Her work has helped ensure that the needs of millions of customers and wider stakeholders across the UK have informed the strategies of these businesses, through membership of Scottish Power’s Stakeholder Forum, EDF Energy’s Standards of Conduct Panel, Northern Powergrid’s Social Expert Group, Centrica’s Corporate Responsibility Advisory Group and she chaired SSE’s Northern Customer Forum. Jenny was also a member of Ofgem’s Sustainable Development Advisory Group.

Eddie is Technical Director of the Major Energy Users’ Council (MEUC), an independent body representing leading companies in the industrial, commercial, retail and public sectors of the market, for who energy is a major cost. Eddie works closely with gas and electricity transporters, suppliers, Ofgem (the industry regulator) and government bodies including BEIS, Treasury and DEFRA. He is the Ofgem nominated representative for I&C consumers on the gas UNC modification panel.

He’s a Chartered Engineer and has held the role of non-executive director of an NHS Trust, where as Chair of the Audit committee he had first-hand knowledge of the impact of energy costs on the public sector.

Rupika has significant experience of independent regulation in public interest. She is currently working for the Bar Standards Board (regulator of Barristers) as Director of Standards and is responsible for supervision, qualifications and exams functions. Previously she has worked in energy, water and rail regulation, and was an independent policy expert on the Customer Challenge Group (CCG) of South East Water. Rupika holds an MSc in Regulation from London School of Economics, MSc in Business Economics from City University and a B.A. (Honours) in Economics from Delhi University.

A Northumbria University student, currently studying BSc Geography and is passionate about working in the energy sector. She has always had an interest in clean energy and how this will benefit the planet in the future. Her degree not only allows her to learn about the physical environment, but also about the impact it has on our lives. Charlotte is also a graduate of NGN’s Young Innovators Council where she was able to share her perspectives on different energy issues as a future NGN customer. This provided valuable experience of an engagement group, as well as well-rounded knowledge of NGN’s business planning, which allowed an easy transition onto the ISG.

Yvana is a Enviromental Geoscience Student at the University of Plymouth where she uses knowledge of Geology and the environment to learn how to solve and mitigate for crucial issues such as climate change. She was part of the first NGN YIC (Young innovators Council) which was a collaboration between the charity Solutions for the Planet and Northern Gas Networks. As a member of the YIC, Yvana along with the other members actively informed and influenced the agenda and decisions of NGN. Their valuable insights and perspectives have played a crucial role in shaping discussions and driving positive change within the organization. Yvana uses her 3 years of experience in the YIC to continue to give a youth perspective to represent the future customers.

An experienced consultant and involved and trusted Director, Non-Executive Director and Trustee with a proven track record in understanding the needs of consumers, advocating for them and representing their interests in regulated and non-regulated arenas, delivering improved customer experiences, corporate change and streamlining operations at a senior level in competitive and regulated environments within the utilities sector and beyond.

Alan has over 30 years’ experience working in the international energy and utilities sectors, specialising in research, development, innovation and intellectual property commercialisation. Alan has held senior roles in major corporations such as NEI/Rolls Royce, British Gas, Suez, Shell, Mott MacDonald and Jacobs. Alan was awarded an OBE for services to U.K.-US offshore wind collaboration.

He has also held the positions of Director of Technology & Innovation at the UK’s National Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) – now part of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult which he helped to establish and lead as interim CEO in 2012 on behalf of the then Technology Strategy Board. Alan is a Professor in Practice & Member, Durham Energy Institute Advisory Board, as well as holding non-executive director positions at HR Wallingford (Oxon), Leeds University spin-out, Acuity Robotics, and Hartlepool-based, CFB Risk Management. Alan is also an offshore wind advisor to the North of Tyne Combined Authority, and splits his time between the UK and the USA where he acts as Director of Strategic Development for the National Offshore Wind Institute in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His technical specialism is fluid-structure interaction, and he is a Professional Mechanical Engineer and a Fellow of the UK Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Brian has worked in the energy sector since 1997 and specialises in nuclear power, climate change communication, operational leadership, energy policy and strategy, and supports STEM in education at all levels. He has worked internationally with the world association of nuclear operators (WANO) and worked with Durham University since 2017. He has been focused on supporting Net Zero targets without impacting the customer for the last decade mainly around energy and climate change awareness.