Energy

Who’s who in energy

agendaNi takes a look at the key movers and shakers in Northern Ireland’s energy sector, at a time when energy is top of the political agenda, at both an international and local level.

Arlene-Foster-November-2010Arlene Foster MLA
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Arlene Foster MLA was appointed Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in 2008, having previously served as Environment Minister.  She represents Fermanagh and South Tyrone for the DUP in the Assembly.  She joined the DUP in 2004 and has represented the party on the Northern Ireland Policing Board.  Prior to her appointment as Minister she was party spokesperson for human rights, equality, children and young people’s issues.  She was awarded Parliamentarian / Assembly Member of the Year at the Women in Public Life Awards in London in February 2008.

Shane-Lynch-2012Shane Lynch
Chief Executive, Utility Regulator
Shane Lynch was appointed as Chief Executive of the Utility Regulator in January 2011, before which he had been the Director of Electricity since September 2009.  He is also a member of the SEM Committee. He has worked in the electricity industry for 28 years. This included various engineering positions with NIE from 1983 until 1992.  He then worked for the AES Corporation as Managing Director for both Belfast West and Kilroot power plants and as Development Director for Ireland.

patsy-mcglone-2009Patsy McGlone MLA
Chairman, Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
Patsy McGlone MLA is Chairperson of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee at the Northern Ireland Assembly, a role he took up during 2012. He is SDLP MLA for Mid-Ulster. Elected to the Assembly in 2003, he is the party spokesperson on the economy. He is former General Secretary of the SDLP and has served on a number of boards and public bodies including Foras na Gaeilge, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Northern Ireland Housing Council.

Fiona-HepperFiona Hepper
Director, Energy Division, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Fiona Hepper is the Director in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) with responsibility for Energy Division.  The division’s functions embrace policy development and implementation relating to electricity, gas, sustainable energy in Northern Ireland and the all-island energy market.  Prior to taking up this post, Fiona was Director of DETI’s Strategic Policy Division where she was responsible for economic policy, including innovation and telecommunications policy.

Ian-ThomIan Thom, Group Chief Executive, Viridian Group PLC
Ian Thom was appointed as Group Chief Executive of Viridian Group in February 2011.  He was appointed Group Company Secretary and General Counsel in 2001 and assumed responsibility for PowerNI’s supply and procurement businesses in September 2007.  He has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2003.  He was previously European Legal Director for OSI International Foods and is a barrister by profession.

Michael-Scott-eiyb-2011Michael Scott, General Manager, firmus energy
Michael Scott is General Manager of firmus energy. Michael started his gas career in British Gas – North Thames and since moving back home to Northern Ireland he worked for over 10 years in the local natural gas industry before taking up a post in January 2006 as Head of Business Development with firmus energy. Michael was appointed General Manager of firmus energy in 2012.

paddy-Larkin-2010Patrick Larkin, Chief Executive
Mutual Energy Limited
Patrick Larkin was appointed Chief Executive of Mutual Energy Limited in January 2010.  He joined what was then Northern Ireland Energy Holdings in 2007 as Executive Director and Managing Director for the Moyle Interconnector.  Prior to this he worked with Premier Power, and formerly for NIE at Ballylumford power station, serving as the station’s Chief Executive.

Aodhan-O'DonnellAodhan O’Donnell, Director of Policy
Consumer Council
Aodhan O’Donnell is the Director of Policy at the Consumer Council, leading the energy, water, transport and money affairs policy teams. The Energy Team in the Consumer Council work with the energy companies, the Utility Regulator and social partners, and lobbies government to ensure that consumers are placed at centre of all decision making. The Consumer Council has a statutory role to represent consumers during the review of energy tariffs, price controls and the development of the energy market within Northern Ireland. The Consumer Council also handles complaints about electricity, natural gas and coal.

Nigel-BradyNigel Brady, Director of Bryson Energy
Nigel Brady is Director of Bryson Energy, part of the Bryson Charitable Group, Northern Ireland’s leading social enterprise.  As the Energy Agency for Northern Ireland, Bryson Energy is the leading provider of independent energy advice and also administers the DSD Warm Homes Scheme in 13 local authority areas.  It employs 55 staff located in offices in Belfast, Enniskillen and Londonderry and has a turnover of £9 million.

Mark-Ennis-2012Mark Ennis, Executive Chairman, SSE Ireland
Mark Ennis is Executive Chairman of SSE Ireland, which includes Airtricity, Airtricity Utility Solutions; SSE Renewables; and SSE Generation. Mark was previously CEO of Airtricity NI Ltd from 2002 to 2007 and was appointed a main Airtricity Holdings Board Director in charge of Retail and Corporate Affairs in 2003. He is an Economic Honours Graduate of Queen’s University Belfast, with an Open University MBA. In 2011 Mark Ennis was appointed Chairperson of Invest NI.

Peter-Dixon-Phoenix-GasPeter Dixon
Group Chief Executive
Phoenix Energy Holdings
Having joined Phoenix Natural Gas as Commercial Director in February 1997, Peter was appointed to the Board as Chief Executive Officer in July 2000.  Peter is a Fellow of the Institute of Energy, a Companion of the Institute of Gas Engineers and Patron of the Energy and Utility Skills Council.  Peter is a Belfast Harbour Commissioner and Chairman of the Energy for Children Charitable Trust.  He is also a Lord Tavener and board member of Men Against Cancer.

Joe-OMahonyJoe O’Mahony
Managing Director
Northern Ireland Electricity
Joe O’Mahony was appointed Managing Director at NIE in July 2011. Prior to this role he has held a number of positions at ESB and ESB International. These include leading ESB’s Wind Development business and managing the company’s €2.5billion network asset investment programme.

Stephen-McCullyStephen McCully
Managing Director
Power NI
Stephen McCully is Managing Director of Power NI, the new name for NIE Energy. Power NI supplies electricity to 730,000 domestic and small business customers within Northern Ireland. Stephen’s background in the industry goes back to when he joined NIE in 1987 to set up an energy services consultancy, and since then has held several engineering, commercial and management posts within the wider Viridian organisation. He is leading Power NI into an increasingly competitive environment stimulated by the all island Single Electricity Market and a fully open retail market in Northern Ireland.

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