Secretary of State completes Conference line-up

The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, The Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at Energy UK’s flagship annual conference, which takes place today (Wednesday October 18th) at One Great George Street.

The Minister will make one of her first major speeches in the role, following her appointment at the end of August, completing a prestigious line-up of speakers and panelists on a day when Energy UK will also publish a new manifesto from the sector.

“Energy Matters: People, Power, Prosperity” is a proposal for a new partnership between industry and Government to unlock investment, transform the economy and deliver change. As recent weeks have amply demonstrated, energy and its crucial role in the transition towards a Net Zero economy is set to play a major part in the next election campaign and Energy UK’s manifesto will set how and where the sector hopes to work with the next government.

The Conference will be sponsored by National Grid and other keynote speakers include:

  • Ed Miliband MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
  • Jonathan Brearley, CEO, Ofgem.
  • John Pettigrew, CEO, National Grid.
  • Nick Winser, Electricity Networks Commissioner and author of recent report into accelerating the delivery of electricity infrastructure.
  • Emma Pinchbeck, CEO, Energy UK.

There will also be panel discussions based around each of the manifesto’s themes – looking at the opportunities and challenges facing the future retail market and how it can support customers through the transition to Net Zero; how infrastructure and regulatory policy can support the development of renewables and the wider energy system over the coming years; and how the UK and its government can best attract the private investment needed to fund the energy transition.

Full details on the Conference programme are available here

Emma Pinchbeck, Energy UK’s chief executive said:

“We’re delighted that the Secretary of State will be joining our Conference. It’s very evident that energy will be featuring prominently in the political and media agenda over the next year so it’s great to see the Minister engaging with industry as she gets stuck into an exciting but daunting workload. 

“On a day when we publish a manifesto setting out how the sector can work in partnership with the Government to deliver the aims of the energy transition, those attending the conference will be very keen to hear from the Minister about her vision and hopes for the role.”