Utilities are uniquely positioned to drive positive change beyond service delivery by acting in the public interest and investing in the communities they serve. This session will explore how utilities can embed social value, equity and local partnerships into their strategies to create lasting community impact.

Chair welcome and introduction
Adam John, Deputy News Editor - Utility Week

Overcoming the trust barrier with public engagement in communities
Chani Courtney, Volunteer Representative - Surfers Against Sewage

From classroom to career: creating opportunities for young people and building workforce pipelines
Erica Chamberlain, Head of Strategic Partnerships - Careers and Enterprise Company

Providing energy benefits for communities – EON Solar in Schools and supporting the local community
Gayle Harrison, Senior Entrepreneur in Residence - E.ON Next Growth Studio

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To be announced

As the Clean Power 2030 target draws nearer, public discourse around net zero intensifies and future water security becomes a national priority, utilities must inspire meaningful engagement from both domestic and non-domestic customers. This session will explore how to deliver buy-in through transparent communication, tailored education and community engagement. Understand how to empower customers with the knowledge and tools they need to actively participate in building a resilient and sustainable utility network.

Chair welcome and introduction
Adam John, Deputy News Editor - Utility Week

Successful approaches to automation: helping customers to self-serve and reducing dropout rates
Kathryn Salisbury, Head of Customer Contact - Welsh Water

Implementing a WhatsApp strategy
Sally Ainsworth, Customer Service Director - United Utilities

Using AI to summarise call outcomes to allow time for agents to really focus on the customer
Louise Walsh, Chief Customer Contact Officer - Utilita

Talk title to be advised
To be announced

As the public debate around net zero intensifies and securing future water supply is at the top of the agenda, networks need domestic and non-domestic customers to engage with the water and energy system. This session will explore how to deliver buy-in through transparent communication, tailored education and community engagement. Understand how to empower customers with the knowledge and tools they need to actively participate in building a resilient and sustainable utility network.

Chair welcome and introduction
Adam John, Deputy News Editor - Utility Week

Successfully bringing consumers with us on the net zero journey
Amy Turner, Senior Policy Manager - Smart Energy GB

No one gets left behind: turning live data into cleaner choices
Ella Moorey, Group Sustainability Lead - Utilita

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Simon Fosbraey, Clean Rivers and Seas Taskforce - Southern Water

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Chair welcome and introduction
To be announced

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Encouraging customers to embrace and adopt LCT is a critical element in the UK achieving net zero objectives. Utilities have a responsibility to introduce customers to these technologies and gain their trust. This session will delve into the innovative financing options being trialled, how to appeal to a diverse and inclusive audience, and mechanisms to make LTC more accessible.

Chair welcome and introduction
Louise Evans, Policy Manager - Energy UK

EON Next Gen Home: energy as a service revolution/transforming how customers can power their homes
Zac Curtis, Project Lead - EON Next Gen Homes - EON Next

SIF funded Net Zero Terrace: finding solutions for harder to treat terraced homes
Dr Geraldine Paterson, Innovation Development Manager - SP Electricity North West

Findings from the Equal LCT project on reducing impact of heatpumps on the network
Ross Bibby, Project Lead - SSE

Talk title to be advised
To be announced

Both domestic and wholesale customers need to be more engaged with water and energy networks than ever before. Reducing use and driving a conscious use of utilities to manage demand on the networks is critical. Join this session to discover how utilities are harnessing smart meters and changing consumer behaviour.

Chair welcome and introduction
Daisy Cross, Head of Future Retail Markets - Energy UK

Innovation in behaviour change for diverse communities
Mumin Islam, Head of Innovation - South Staffs and Cambridge Water

The role of partnerships, incentives and gamification in prompting valuable customer actions
Amy Conlen, Senior Propositions Development Manager - OVO

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To be announced

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As customer expectations rise and perceptions of utilities continue to fall short, how can water and energy utilities refine, evolve and optimise how they serve their customer base? Join this session to discover how emerging and existing technologies can improve satisfaction with customers, optimise call centre agents and help utilities deliver gold standard customer service.

Chair welcome and introduction
Adam John, Deputy News Editor - Utility Week

Successfully using chat bots to support consumer experience
James Hennerley, Head of Data - Everflow

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Alex Williams, Head of Customer Contact Centre - UK Power Networks

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To be announced

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As economic pressures grow, utilities face increasing responsibility to identify and support vulnerable customers through effective, empathetic, and inclusive approaches. This session will explore whether the Priority Services Register (PSR) is fit for purpose, how regulation intersects with affordability, and showcase real-world case studies on supporting customers through hardship.

Chair welcome and introduction
Adam John, Deputy News Editor - Utility Week

Innovative solutions and partnership approaches to help those in crisis
Matt Cole - Fuel Bank Foundation

Supporting customers through hardship
Helen Patterson, Customer Service Manager – Credit Management - Northumbrian Water Group
Lisa Connell, Customer Manager – Inclusivity and Affordability - Northumbrian Water Group

Spotlight Project: using AI to identify vulnerable customers
Jo Lomax, Customer Vulnerability Manager - UK Power Networks

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To be announced

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As demand on the electricity grid intensifies—from the rapid growth of renewable energy sources and low carbon technologies to the electrification of industry and transport—the need for smarter, faster and more flexible grid connections and capacity has never been greater. This session explores how the grid must evolve to meet these challenges, including the role of ED3, innovative approaches to unlocking capacity and the future of grid connectivity.

Chair welcome and introduction
Lucinda Dann, Features Editor - Utility Week

Enabling businesses to connect to the grid at pace
To be announced

Proactivity shifting demand to minimise curtailment: harnessing the potential of flex for grid resilience
To be announced

Creative connections and flexibility: enabling a more coordinated grid
Peter Clutton-Brock, Chief Executive - Yottar

Talk title to be advised
To be announced

As environmental expectations rise, utilities must move beyond compliance to adopt nature-first strategies that deliver meaningful biodiversity gains in operations and infrastructure delivery. This session will unpack how to measure and monitor biodiversity, harness the power of nature and deliver a positive impact to the local environment.

Chair welcome and introduction
Gabriela Dotro, Chair - Constructed Wetlands Association

Biodiversity net gains explained
Nick White, Principal Advisor - Net Gain - Natural England

Delivering biodiversity net gain: across varying habitats
Emily Johns, Nature Strategy Manager - SSE

Benefits of nature-based solutions for the water industry
Ruth Barden, Director of Environmental Solutions - Wessex Water

Talk title to be advised
To be announced

As utilities face more extreme weather events and growing pressure to secure supply for future generations, integrating climate resilience into asset management and operations is critical. Join this session to gain the latest insight into what utility networks are doing to mitigate climate risk and environmental impact, ensure operational resilience and minimise disruption to consumers.

Chair welcome and introduction
Ruth Williams - Utility Week

SIF Funded Predict 4 Resilience: accurate fault insights during adverse weather events
To be announced

Climate Resilience Demonstrator (CReDo+): resilience against climate stresses of extreme heat, wind, flood and soil moisture
Alanna Gluck, CReDO Engagement Lead - Connected Places Catapult

Talk title to be advised
To be announced

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To be announced

Utility networks need to transform operations to be more sustainable. Understanding the ways to benchmark, monitor and report of ESG initiatives is critical to improving the current way of working. Join this session to learn how companies are decarbonising operations, improving sustainability reporting and meeting regulatory requirements.

Chair welcome and introduction
Matt Mace, Editor - edie

The breadth and depth of sustainability and net zero in water
Dan Green, Group Sustainability Director - YTL Group/Wessex Water

Less talk, more action: moving beyond reporting to delivering sustainably
Sarah Beattie-Smith, Senior Sustainability Manager - SSE Transmission

Making carbon visible: turning transparency into transformation
Ella Moorey, Group Sustainability Lead - Utilita

Talk title to be advised
To be announced

What does the future hold for the gas network? Will gas use decline due to electrification? What role could green gases like biomethane and hydrogen play? And what does that mean for our gas infrastructure? Will we still need it? If so, how much and for what purpose? What might the regulatory impacts of a declining user base be? This session explores all of these things and more.

Chair welcome and introduction
James Earl, Chief Executive - FEN

Talk title to be advised
Adam Bell, Director of Policy - Stonehave

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To be announced

The role of Gas Networks in supporting integrated energy systems
Jonathan Martindale, Director of Business Development - Phoenix Energy

The role of biomethane in a GB whole energy system
Nic Crowe, Co Chair - Green Gas Taskforce

Leakage poses a major challenge due to resource loss, increased operational costs, and environmental impact. Aging infrastructure, poor monitoring, and delayed maintenance often contribute to undetected leaks. This session explores the latest innovations, maintenance strategies and technologies helping networks drastically reduce leakage.

Chair welcome and introduction
Jeremy Heath, Innovation Manager - SES Water

Targeting 50% reductions by 2050: how will we meet the 50 by 50 challenge?
Jeremy Heath, Innovation Manager - SES Water

The industry-wide ambition on customer side leakage and the impact of wide-spread smart metering
Sarah Watts, Smart Solutions Project Lead - Dayworth Consulting

Deep dive into Welsh Water’s leakage strategy and rollout of innovative approaches
Chris Rees, Head of Water Engineering - Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water

Talk title to be advised
To be announced

With increasing pressure on water companies to mitigate environmental harm from combined sewer overflows (CSOs), the sector must embrace innovation and smarter operations to reduce spills. This session will examine emerging technologies, regulatory expectations and nature-based solutions to address the challenge.

Chair welcome and introduction
To be announced

Regulatory expectations and finding a way forward for nature based solutions
Matthew Stembrowicz, Senior Advisor - EA

Tackling the problem at source: pre pipe solution
Matt Wheeldon, Director of Infrastructure Development - Wessex Water

Treating more with nature based solutions
Claire Green, Manager of Environmental Planning and Governance - Yorkshire Water

Talk title to be advised
To be announced

As heavy industries move toward decarbonisation, the UK must align its energy system to support cleaner processes without compromising reliability. This session explores how policy and innovation are driving the necessary infrastructure build and innovative solutions to deliver security of supply.

Chair welcome and introduction
To be announced

Decarbonising industrial clusters with microgrids
Paul Glendinning, Director of Energy Systems - Northern Power Grid

Innovation for industrial water users: finding alternatives to drinking water for industrial processes
Mallak Mustafa, Innovation Project Manager - Southern Water

Leveraging the value of co-location in meeting demand (for data centres)
Alex Howison, Director - Eclipse Power Optimise

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To be announced

To truly reap the rewards of NBS and ensure long-term impact, utilities need to take a catchment approach to deployment. By considering the entire landscape and upstream-downstream interactions, utilities can better manage resources, reduce risks, and enhance ecosystem services. Join this session to uncover holistic strategies, how to maintain successful partnerships and how to integrate NBS into broader water management plans.

Chair welcome and introduction
Gabriela Dotro, Chair - Constructed Wetlands Association

River basin management engaging with multiple players across a catchment
Mike Morris, Technical Director - Stantec

Managing catchment scale risk management of assets: responding to climate change
Laura Burnett, Climate Change Adaptation Technical Lead - Scottish Water

Talk title to be advised
Amina Aboobakar - Rivers Trust

Talk title to be advised
To be announced

As utilities become increasingly digitised and adopt the power of AI, the need for robust cyber resilience has never been greater. This session explores how the sector can strengthen operational resilience while safeguarding customers, assets, and critical national infrastructure. With rising threats and regulatory pressure, utilities must evolve their strategies to detect, respond to and recover from cyber incidents. Join us to examine best practices, emerging technologies, and collaborative approaches to building a secure and resilient energy future.

Chair welcome and introduction
To be announced

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With aging infrastructure across water, gas, and power networks, utilities must harness smart technologies to predict failures and enable proactive maintenance. This session will explore how data-driven insights, intelligent monitoring and automation can extend asset life, reduce unplanned outages and support more efficient long-term planning.

Chair welcome and introduction
To be announced

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Utilities need to make more decision at a faster to pace to deliver upgrades necessary for resilience and support for customers in a complex environment. Join this session to uncover the latest digital tools, data platforms and AI-powered insight tools which are transforming decision making.

Sponsored by: 

Chair welcome and introduction
Lucinda Dann, Features Editor - Utility Week

Ice Mapping project: using meteorological, topological and orographical data to model ice accretion expectations across a network to inform investment decisions

Improving decision making through enhanced data sharing
Naomi Andreson, Head of Industry Projects - Xoserve

RDMAI: If rivers could talk, what would they be saying?
George Gerring, Partnership & Programme Lead - River Deep Mountain AI - Northumbrian Water Group

Talk title to be advised
Felix Wright, Senior Director - Solutions Consulting - Vitruvi Software

Utility networks need to transform operations to be more sustainable. Understanding the ways to benchmark, monitor and report of ESG initiatives is critical to improving the current way of working. Join this session to learn how companies are decarbonising operations, improving sustainability reporting and meeting regulatory requirements.

Chair welcome and introduction
Sarah Hayes, Chair, Data Sharing Working Group - Digital Twin Hub

Progress in developing energy data sharing infrastructure and plans for adoption across the sector
Sasha Shipulina, Programme Manager– Virtual Power System - NESO

Stream: sharing data sharing best practice and learning from other sectors
Melissa Tallack - Northumbrian Water Group

Joining up initiatives for data sharing best practice from outside the sector
Dr George Economides - Department for Transport

Case study: Cadent and Veolia – AI-generated digital twins for project & asset management

Digital twins are unlocking new levels of control and visibility for network owners and operators, but the real value is realised when they are embedded across the asset lifecycle. This session will take a deep dive into how to maximise the impact of digital twins through design, delivery and maintenance. Understand why data quality, accessibility and integration across the supply chain are critical to success.

Sponsored by: 

Chair welcome and introduction
Alanna Gluck, CReDO Engagement Lead - Connected Places Catapult

Understanding crisis response and resilience capabilities of the transport system
Dr George Economides - Department for Transport

CReDO: decision optimiser – considering interdependencies in resilience planning

Talk title to be advised

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The Energy Geeks, in association with CGI, present headline findings from their report into the role of digitalisation in the energy transition. The report sets out why digitalisation is an essential building block of clean power; who should orchestrate it; how we identify value to consumers and society as a whole and the risks and opportunities inherent in the project. It will also look at the concept of building a ‘highway code’ to underpin this digital revolution. This session will explore the key themes of the report along with the provocative views of the Energy Geeks on why progress to date has been limited.

Chair welcome and introduction
To be announced

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Modern utilities are moving beyond reactive operations to embrace real-time network optimisation through AI and predictive analytics. This session examines how advanced algorithms, digital twins, and adaptive systems are transforming network performance, supporting decarbonisation, and unlocking new levels of efficiency.

Sponsored by: 

Chair welcome and introduction
To be announced

The Intelligent Gas Grid: autonomous and intelligent monitoring and control for operational planning and maintenance
Oliver Machan, Innovation Delivery Manager - SGN

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Utilities are sitting on a mountain of operational data - but turning that data into actionable insight requires the right people, processes and technology. Join this session to explore how utilities can leverage advanced monitoring practices and analytics to optimise performance.

Chair welcome and introduction
To be announced

How data can be used as a strategic asset: setting the right foundations
Dilani Pararajasingam, Head of Data - Pennon Group

Citizen science and data for better decision making
Melissa Tallack - Northumbrian Water Group

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Michael Milligan, Senior Engineer - SSE

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The successful roll out of smart meters across energy and water is essential to unlocking the full potential of networks. Smart meters provide a wealth of data that can delivery unprecedented visibility into consumption patterns. Improve operational efficiency and enhance customer engagement with utilities. Join this session to learn how to successfully deploy smart meter, mine data to better understand human behaviour and gain better insights to the network.

Chair welcome and introduction
Lucinda Dann, Features Editor - Utility Week

Real homes, real data: insights from smart meters plus household profiles
Claire Rowland, Senior Manager: Living Lab and Whole Energy Systems Accelerator - Energy Systems Catapult

Insight that matters: reducing demand with smart meters

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To scale flex markets at pace, energy networks and retailers need to design products and tariffs that are attractive, engaging and offer the right level of incentives to consumers. Join this session to delve into the detail of how the industry is taking innovation and pilots to BAU and the measures they’re deploying to scale flexibility services capacity.

Chair welcome and introduction
Andrew Schein - Centre for Net Zero

Designing next generation products
Geraldine de Boisse, Global VP Product - Octopus

Monetising consumer flex to improve customer acquisition and retention
Karl Bach, Founder and Chief Executive - Axle Energy

Using AI user simulation to inform service design for flexibility
Michael Fell, Principal Research Fellow - UCL

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Digital infrastructure underpins efficient and accessible flexibility markets, but more needs to be done to share data and enable innovation to scale. Join this session to uncover the innovative approaches being adopted to build digital infrastructure, bridge data gaps and unlock flexibility market access.

Chair welcome and introduction
Nina Klein - Ofgem

Driving innovation through digital systems
Jessica McGoverne, Director of Corporate Affairs - Elexon

Building data sharing infrastructure to support flex
Sasha Shipulina, Programme Manager– Virtual Power System - NESO

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Gaining traction with I&C customers is critical to unlocking more flex capacity. The challenge is demonstrating the value for end users and minimising disruption to their businesses. Join this session to learn more about partnerships with major energy users and what needs to change to encourage more participation into flex markets.

Chair welcome and introduction
Rachel Cary, Head of Industrial Strategy - Energy UK

Optimising assets with a day job: industrial and commercial assets in flexibility markets
Claire Addison, Head of Regulation - Flexitricity

Are data centres an opportunity or obstacle for energy flexibility?

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Jake Miller, Electric Assets Lead - Drax

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Chair welcome and introduction

Panellist

 

The UK’s Clean Flexibility Roadmap sets out an ambitious vision for scaling low-carbon flexibility to 51–66 GW by 2030 in support of decarbonisation and security of supply. Consumer leg flexibility is a critical enabler of a net-zero power system. But to unlock this at scale, energy retailers, utilities, network operators and regulators must coordinate across infrastructure, markets, and digital systems — and resolve emerging commercial, operational and regulatory tensions.  

• Do market design standards go far enough and are markets and revenue model investable? 
• What needs to happen within the next 1–2 years to put the UK on a credible trajectory to hit the short‑term milestones? 
• Where are the sticking points in delivery — and who is responsible for unblocking them? 
• What is the role will governance and accountability play in scaling flex? 

Chair welcome and introduction
Sarah Honan, Head of ADE:Demand - The ADE

Panellist
Fiona Campbell, Interim Deputy Director Retail Flexibility and Consumer Experience - Ofgem
John Lucas, Head of Market Design - Elexon
Becky Hart, Head of Flexibility and Electricity Markets Development - NESO

Creating flexibility markets that are accessible is critical to scaling and enabling all customers to have more control over their energy bills. This session delves into how to best consider all energy users when designing flexibility products to avoid a two-tier system and ensure an equitable marketplace.

Chair and scene setting: unlocking flexibility for all
Dr Rose Chard, Senior Advisor – Fair Futures - Energy Systems Catapult

Inclusive Flex
Ella Pinder, Vulnerability Policy Manager - Northern Power Grid

Equitable approaches to heat with heat pump flexibility from pilot to BAU
Ryan Huxtable, Innovation Programme Lead - National Grid Electricity Distribution
Luke Harker, DSO Engineer - National Grid Electricity Distribution

Talk title to be confirmed

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Making flex markets as easy to participate in as possible is key to driving successful engagement and leveraging the flex potential of the UK. This session will explore the work being done to improve automation, remove barriers and improve integration of markets.

Chair welcome and introduction
Naomi Baker, Senior Policy Manager - Energy UK

Building better markets: the first five months as market facilitator
Steven Gough, Head of Flexibility - Elexon

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Emma Burns, Market Design Manager - Octopus Energy

Maximising participation through improved customer journey and DSO: NESO coordination
Alex Howard, Head of Flexibility Markets - UK Power Networks DSO

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As energy systems grow more complex and decentralised, understanding, managing and forecasting flexible assets is more critical than ever. This session explores how visibility, forecasting and automation can unlock the full potential of flexible assets. 

Chair welcome and introduction
Tom Grimwood, Insights Editor - Utility Week

Increasing visibility: AI for forecasting
Stephen Haben, Senior AI Consultant - Energy Systems Catapult

Diversity of response and engagement from a range of customers
Elizabeth Allkins, Director of Future Energy - OVO

Exploring the latest advancements using forecasting in the DSO
Jamie Bright, Data Science & Development Manager - UK Power Networks DSO

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To best maximise renewable energy and achieve Clean Power 2030 objectives, the UK needs to increase its short and medium energy storage capability. Understanding the infrastructure needed to enable V2G storage, domestic batteries and more is critical to the successful use of flexible storage. In this session, discover the latest updates into storage technologies, grid readiness programmes and innovation.  

Chair welcome and introduction
Naomi Baker, Senior Policy Manager - Energy UK

Delivering short and medium flexibility
Rebecca Rosling, Head of Future Energy Systems - EDF

Optimising battery flex with OVO’s Battery Boost

Wheels to Watts: Can V2X save the grid?
Ben Krikler, Head of Energised Futures and Director of Research & Innovation - Centrica

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