Volunteering

Q. Tell us your background and how you became a member of the Energy Institute (EI).

When I joined the Institute, I was a corporate financier specialising in the oil & gas and mining sectors. I have subsequently become a serial non-executive director in those sectors and others. I joined as a Fellow by virtue of my industry experience.

Q. What motivated you to go the extra mile by volunteering with the EI?

I have been volunteering for the RNLI and the Worshipful Company of International Bankers for over 20 years and for the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (“CISI”) for nearly 20 years.  I have also been a Trustee of Diabetes UK, Reach Volunteering, the Brokerage Citylink, the CISI and, currently, the CISI Educational Trust. I am also a volunteer watchkeeper at the National Coastwatch Institute.  So, it just seemed natural to take up an opportunity to help at the EI.

Q. How did you first get involved with volunteering in the EI?

I responded to an advert looking for volunteers to join the Energy Institute Benevolent Fund (EIBF) Committee in the EI’s magazine.

Q. What specific roles have you played over your years of volunteering in the EI?

I have been a member of the Energy Insitute Benevolent Fund (EIBF) Committee for four years. During that time, I co-led the development of its Operations Manual which, for the first time, set out in a single document its terms of engagement and operating procedures and introduced some forward-looking objectives and KPIs.

Subsequently, I now chair the Committee’s strategy group.  On a day-to-day basis, like other committee members, I help to assess the merits of the applications for assistance that we receive and monitor the progress of cases and usage of the benefits that we offer to EI members.

Q. How have the projects you worked on impacted the energy community and our cause as an organization?

The EIBF continues to provide vital financial and other support to EI members who need it most, those under financial stress or who are facing difficult times in their lives.  During Covid, the EIBF also provided financial assistance to members who were struggling to pay their membership fees.  It is also a source of a wide range of information and advisory services that would equally well suit members who are not in crisis but living wholesome and successful lives.  Unfortunately, the membership seems to be largely unaware of the latter.

Q. What are some of the challenges you faced and how did you navigate through them?

The biggest challenge has been getting more members to use our helpline and free advisory services.  Is it stigma or lack of awareness? We are still working on that.

Q. How has being a volunteer contributed to your personal and professional development?

Any form of volunteering provides new opportunities to learn and grow in addition to putting something back.  I have taken things I have learned from volunteering into the workplace and vice versa.  Specifically, my experience with the EIBF Committee has opened me up to new experiences and new problems to solve.  I had not previously worked in the field of addressing poverty and assessing that type of need.  It has been another learning process that will help inform other areas of my professional and volunteering work.

Q. Any final thoughts or reflections you would like to share about your experience volunteering with the Energy Institute?

Membership of any professional institute is a journey, the full length of which runs from professional education and early career stages through an entire career and into retirement.  In the early to mid-career stages, members are benefitting from this.  Volunteering allows members to put something back.

Q. What would you say to someone considering volunteering with the EI?

If you have free time and want to broaden your horizons, learn new skills and make a difference within your industry and to the lives of others, try volunteering.

Amazingly it was thirty years ago that I became actively involved with the Institute of Petroleum, one of the two legacy institutions that we merged to create the Energy Institute. Over those many years I have served in a wide range of voluntary roles... on Council, as a Vice President, and as Honorary Secretary, as well as chairing and sitting on committees of Council.

Some of you might think I’m a glutton for punishment but I'd like to explain why it’s been so worthwhile. From my perspective each of us needs to have three elements for our lifelong learning... a continued development of our technical knowledge, an increasing understanding of the organisation we work for, and a broadening understanding of our industry. It was this third element that brought me to our Institute.  I have had the opportunity to meet and learn from people in the many varied parts of our sector, to expand my awareness and understanding of technological advances, and to play a part in energy policy development. It has also both given me experience in chairing and influencing that has helped my career with other organisations, and has given me the opportunity to contribute to the work of the Institute. What’s more, it’s been fun!

When I joined the industry in 1979 it was a turbulent year with economic and geopolitical issues heavily driven by energy. It was also a period of extraordinary technical innovation and a very exciting time to be in the industry. Now, over 40 years later, I think the industry is going through another period of transformation that is every bit as exciting as when I joined, and even more important. The urgent need to decarbonise the energy system, whilst simultaneously making energy affordable for the many people who remain energy poor, is the critical driver for today and the next thirty years. We are seeing technical innovation across many energy sources and we’re going to need all of them.

As a volunteer, the Energy Institute gives members the opportunity to make a contribution to the wider energy transition whilst enhancing their ability to contribute to their own company’s initiatives. In my experience the best way to start is just to get involved... I did and have never regretted it!

Q. Tell us your background and how you became a member of the Energy Institute.

I originally studied to become a Chemical Engineer without much enthusiasm before pursuing my dream career in Energy Management following completion of MSc Clean Technology. I’ve worked in various in-house and consultancy roles for over 20 years. I was lucky enough to be mentored by two EI members who shared their knowledge with me and imparted on me how invaluable membership to the EI was. I joined as a student member and have gained Chartered Energy Management status.

Q. How did you first get involved with volunteering in the EI?

I won the Energy Institute’s Energy Manager of the Year award in 2017 and realised I did actually have a lot of knowledge and experience that I wanted to use to mentor others.

Q. What specific roles have you played over your years of volunteering in the EI?

I have undertaken Chartered Energy Manager and Member applications. I also undertake interviews for ESOS register.

Q. How have the projects you worked on impacted the energy community and our cause as an organization?

I’ve worked on delivering energy reduction projects for over 20 years covering all kinds of energy management projects which have delivered significant carbon savings. My strength has been getting everyone I work with excited about energy management projects. The thing I am most proud is my involvement to mentor people at the start of their career journey. I established a Masters course in Sustainability in which I taught a module on Practical Sustainability. I am currently acting as supervisor for final year projects on a range of topics; from the carbon impact of feed on cows, changes soil management has on biodiversity to investigating the impact of COVID on energy and transport.

Q. What are some of the challenges you faced and how did you navigate through them?

When I initially wanted to work in the energy world, there were very few jobs and they all required energy management experience making a catch 22 situation! To overcome this, I volunteered through the Groundwork/Princes Trust scheme to get some experience. This still wasn’t enough! I then took jobs in the pharmaceutical industry and did everything I could to get involved in any sustainability projects whilst doing additional courses to top up my knowledge.  Thankfully my stubbornness paid off and I’ve had a career in energy and sustainability ever since. This really fired my passion to help others get their foot in the door.

Q. How has being a volunteer contributed to your personal and professional development?

I learn so much from the applications and interviews. Everyone has come into Energy Management from a different route, and I love finding out how people ended up in the role.

I was an assessor during two periods of maternity leave which helped me feel connected to the industry and made it less daunting on my return to work, as I felt like I’d kept up with the advances.

Q. What would you say to someone considering volunteering with the EI?

EI members have such a wealth of knowledge and experience it would be a shame not to share it with others!

Thank you!

Q. Tell us your background and how you became a member of the Energy Institute.

I started in energy management in 1986 when I joined Land Securities, and I believe I was probably just the second in-house energy specialist in the UK property sector. I took a MSc in Environmental Engineering at South Bank University and was sponsored to join the Institute by then-President.

Q. What motivated you to go the extra mile by volunteering with the EI?

I think I am a natural volunteer!  I have been a committee member of various sports clubs since I was 17 and was on the committee of the Central London Energy Management Group for over 20 years, serving as Secretary, Chairman and Treasurer.

Q. How did you first get involved with volunteering in the EI?

I began back in the 1990s by serving on the Educational & Technical Committee but then, about 15 years ago, the Institute was asking for people to support the membership process. So, I volunteered and, after receiving some training, was soon asked to participate in an interview.  I maybe did about ten before starting to act as lead interviewer.

Q. What specific roles have you played over your years of volunteering in the EI

I served on the technical committee for a number of years, although its name evolved over time, and of course I support the membership programme as an interviewer and, more recently, with the initial assessments. I started out with a focus on memberships and CEng but now also cover CEnv and the Energy Management side. I recently delivered training to the next cohort of volunteer interviewers and assessors. I was also one of many participants, in a small way, when the Institute played a part in developing ISO:50001

Q. How have the projects you worked on impacted the energy community and our cause as an organization?

I have been lucky enough to work principally for two large companies that have helped spearhead the built environment’s movement towards energy efficiency and low carbon. This led to my involvement with both UKGBC and the Better Buildings Partnership and I think that along with the EI that the knowledge sharing and collaborative nature of these organisations has helped further the cause of energy and sustainability.

Q. How has being a volunteer contributed to your personal and professional development?

As interviewers, we get to meet a range of candidates from across the world working in many different industries and facing varying political and economic challenges. It is fascinating to learn how they meet these challenges, and we also get to learn of new technologies and approaches.

Q. Any final thoughts or reflections you would like to share about your experience volunteering with the Energy Institute?

I enjoy it. Most of the candidates are interesting to talk to and you can offer as much or as little time as suits you, the EI doesn’t put any pressure on its volunteers.

Q. What would you say to someone considering volunteering with the EI?

Do it – all it costs you is a little bit of time but it broadens your own knowledge and you also get the satisfaction of knowing you are helping fellow professionals.

Thank you!

Q. Tell us your background and how you became a member of the Energy Institute.

I have a Doctorate and Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from South Bank University London, with a background in Civil & Structural Engineering. My dissertation during the master’s programme was Application of Solar energy in the Tropics and my thesis during the doctorate was on Environmental Impact Assessment. My work with Atkins under Carbon Management and Renewables at the Oxford Office exposed me to Energy Efficiency and directed the need to seek chartership with the Energy Institute.

Q. What motivated you to go the extra mile by volunteering with the EI?

Shortly after becoming a Chartered Engineer, I was encouraged by a director in Atkins who was a Fellow of the EI to get involved with the EI Committee as he noticed my outgoing nature.

Q. How did you first get involved with volunteering in the EI?

I became a Member of the London & Home Counties Branch Committee where we had meetings and arranged Branch events.

Q. What specific roles have you played over your years of volunteering in the EI?

I was the Membership & Education Adviser for the London & Home Counties Branch and so automatically became a Member of the Membership Panel as an Assessor and Interviewer. I later became Chair of the London & Home Counties Branch and was subsequently voted as a Trustee & Member of the Governing Council.

My latest role is as Deputy Chair of the Membership Panel

Q. How have the projects you worked on impacted the energy community and our cause as an organization?

During my membership of the EI Branch Committee, I went round to universities to speak to postgraduate students about membership benefits of the Energy Institute and most of them took up the opportunity. I also invited some experts on the Membership Panel to give keynote addresses at major events organised by the Engineering Forum of Nigerians EFN UK when I was President of the charity.  Most of the members became interested with the EI.

Q. How has being a volunteer contributed to your personal and professional development?

My being a volunteer gave me the fulfilment of giving something back to society. I am also well respected in the industry and within the Community. It also gave me a wide range of connections within the professional community in terms of networking.

Q. Any final thoughts or reflections you would like to share about your experience volunteering with the Energy Institute?

My experience as a volunteer within the EI gave me a sense of belonging to a respectable peer group and my time and effort have been productively applied for the betterment of society.

Q. What would you say to someone considering volunteering with the EI?

There is great fulfilment in applying personal skills and effort to have influence in the lives of others through mentoring and improvement of standards in the profession.

Q. How long have you been a member of the Energy Institute (EI)?

I have been a member of the Energy Institute for over 15 years. I joined the Institute when I started work in the renewables sector in Northern Ireland. Prior to that, during maternity leave with my eldest daughter (now 20), I completed online courses in energy and environmental awareness. At that time, I was living in Canada and was inspired by Vancouver’s approach to hosting a carbon neutral 2010 winter Olympics.

Q. What motivated you to go the extra mile of volunteering with the EI?

Volunteering with the Energy Institute Northern Ireland (EI NI) Branch started when I worked at Action Renewables in business development. My role entailed growing the Action Renewables Association.

The EI NI Branch holds numerous events throughout the year including technical seminars, symposiums and the annual dinner, all of which are apt for networking and learning. Fifteen years ago, a colleague who worked for DETI (now the energy department within Department for Education) asked me if I would be interested in joining. He was a member, and he thought that I would benefit from joining.

At that time (2009) the EI NI Branch committee akin to many other branches was predominantly male dominated. It provided me with the opportunity to, over time, increase the number of females on the committee/board, which I am pleased to say is currently 50% female with a fabulous female Chair, Sam McCloskey.

Q. What specific roles have you played over your years of volunteering in the EI?

Over the past 15 years I have held several roles, from Chair (2020 to 2022), Vice Chair (2018 to 2020), Treasurer (2015 to 2018), to Secretary (2009 to 2011). From 2013 to 2014 I held the position of Branch representative which involved travelling to in person meetings at the EI headquarters in London and sharing best practices with other branch chairs from the UK and internationally. I have been instrumental in organising annual dinners including guest speakers, technical visits to various companies throughout Northern Ireland, debates, symposiums as well as chairing many of these events.

I was involved in launching the Women In Energy group with Women in Business. Nicola Murphy, new Chair of Energy Institute, NI Branch | Women in Business NI. I am also a member of POWERful Women.

Q. How have the projects you worked on impacted the energy community and our cause as an organization?

The projects that I have worked on, along with my colleagues on the committee, have had a positive impact on the energy community in Northern Ireland and beyond. They have imparted expert opinions, provided time for discussion and most importantly, networking opportunities. During Covid I chaired an online webinar on Green Gas with members joining from as far as Malaysia, and the United States!

Q. What are some of the challenges you faced and how did you navigate through them?

The first few years of my tenure on the committee I found difficult as I was often the only female. I was younger and not as confident as I am now! As a committee (and with support from the EI head office) we then made a commitment to invite more females onto the committee, as well as attract more female members. This took some time and convincing but proved to be fruitful in the end.

I also struggled at times to make the meetings as they generally took place after work, often starting at 6 pm. This was a tough time for me, as I had a young family. The first thing that I did was to change the times of the meetings from after work to lunchtimes. This took a while to instigate but after having done so, more members turned up. Now many of our meetings take place late morning or lunchtime and are online, in person or hybrid. Keeping up with new technology is still something I struggle with, there are so many innovations in energy but being a member of the EI is an ideal way to focus on the gamechangers which are often discussed in the online magazine, at webinars, and/or during conferences etc.!

Q. How has being a volunteer contributed to your personal and professional development?

I have a strong sense of good governance, fairness and inclusivity. From being a committee member, I have a deep understanding of ensuring that things are done properly and that we, as a committee, are following the correct codes, rules and regulations. This could be from making sure that we have equal female representation when organising seminars etc. or getting 3 quotes for anything we are procuring (venues/catering), to following protocol in relation to organising AGMs etc.

Personally, I feel incredibly blessed that I have a group of energy professionals from various sectors that I know I can count on to discuss ideas with and learn from (and vice a versa). The NI Branch committee are diverse in gender, expertise and backgrounds which makes for a wonderful space to flourish in.

Q. Any final thoughts or reflections you would like to share about your experience volunteering with the Energy Institute?

Fifteen years have gone by in a flash. The first few years were tough, and reflecting on that time, I realize it was my first committee/board position, so I had a lot to learn. On the flip side, it gave me the confidence to sit on several other boards over the years, most recently at Northern Ireland Fencing and Holywood Shared Town. I have learned a lot from my colleagues as a committee member, for which I am incredibly thankful. I continue to learn and share knowledge to this day and look forward to the committee meetings. Over the past few years, my work has ramped up, but I do my best to prioritize the Energy Institute and my colleagues.

Q. What would you say to someone considering volunteering with the EI?

I would say try it out! You don’t have to commit initially, to quote CS Lewis, You never know what you can do until you try, and very few try unless they have to.