Media releases

Deputy Chair of Ørsted Andy Brown OBE FEI is the EI’s new President, succeeding Juliet Davenport OBE HonFEI, who is stepping down after two years, but will remain on Council.

Officially appointed today by members at the professional membership body’s AGM, Andy Brown brings experience and expertise developed over four decades in energy. Currently on the board of Ørsted, having also just completed a 5-month stint as Interim COO, he was formerly CEO of Portuguese energy company Galp and prior to that in many roles with Shell, including seven years on the Executive Committee as Upstream Director.

Two new Vice Presidents were also appointed - Cordi O’Hara OBE FEI, President of UK Electricity Distribution at National Grid, and Tim Pick MBE FEI, the UK's first Offshore Wind Champion and Chair of the UK Government’s Offshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce.

Other new faces joining the EI Council are Laura Hardiman FEI, a Partner at Engineering Consultants Black Goldfish, and Natasha Patel FEI, Senior Manager at Bain & Company.

Commenting on his appointment, Andy Brown said:

“I am deeply honoured to have been elected President of the Energy Institute. Its mission of building a better energy future, through accelerating the global transition to net zero, is one of the most pressing challenges that faces the world today. I am committed to playing my part to help the Energy Institute achieve its mission.

“Working with the Council, we will help steer and support the excellent executive team to deliver the essential tasks of informing decision makers on energy matters, helping industry and consumers make good energy decisions, and developing the workforce to take on the enormous challenge of delivering a just energy transition.”

Energy Institute Chief Executive, Nick Wayth CEng FEI, said:

“I’m delighted to see Andy assume the role of President. He’s already become incredibly engaged in our work since joining as Vice President last year, and we look forward to benefiting from his wide-ranging insight, expertise and enthusiasm in his new role.

“He’ll be ably supported by his fellow trustees – bolstered with the addition of Cordi O’Hara and Tim Pick and the wealth of experience they bring with them.

“I’d like to thank Juliet Davenport for the passion, innovative ideas and wise counsel she’s provided while President, and also those leaving Council for their dedicated service during a period when the EI has really stepped up and into the changes needed across the world of energy.”

Leaving Council, having reached the end of their terms, are Charles Hendry CBE HonFEI, Greg Jackson FEI, Dr Joanne Wade OBE FEI, Emily Spearman CEng FEI and Andy Hadland AMEI.

Notes for editors

1. For media enquiries, please contact Neil Michie on 020 7467 7132 or nmichie@energyinst.org
2. A biography of Andy Brown can be found here, and a photograph here.
3. A biography of Cordi O’Hara can be found here.
4. A biography of Tim Pick can be found here.
5. The EI’s new Council of Trustees in full:
   • President:
     - Andy Brown OBE FEI, Deputy Chair, Ørsted
   • Vice President and Honorary Secretary:
     - Cordi O’Hara OBE FEI, President, UK Electricity Distribution, National Grid
   • Vice Presidents:
     - Aleida Rios FREng FEI, Senior Vice President of Engineering, bp
     - Tim Pick MBE FEI, former UK Government Offshore Wind Champion
   • Honorary Treasurer:
     - Simardeep Soor FEI, Assistant Director, UK Government Investments
   • Past President:
     - Juliet Davenport OBE HonFEI, Founder, Good Energy
   • Members:
     - Professor John Currie CEng FEI, Director, Scottish Energy Centre, Edinburgh Napier University
     - Professor Robert Gross FEI, Director, UK Energy Research Centre, UCL
     - Laura Hardiman FEI, Head of Technology and Methodology, bp
     - Michael Howie AMEI, Strategy and Business Development Manager, Global E&C
     - Natasha Patel FEI, Senior Manager, Bain & Company
     - Lisa Rebora FEI, Senior Vice President of Emerging & Future Business, Equinor

6. The Energy Institute (EI) is the chartered professional membership body for people who work across the world of energy.
   Our purpose is to create a better energy future for our members and society by accelerating a just global energy transition to net zero.
   We do this by attracting, developing, and equipping the diverse future energy workforce; informing energy decision-making through convening expertise and advice; and enabling industry and consumers to make energy lower carbon, safer, and more efficient.