Surfacing innovation to lead utilities into the next era of operating

19 May 2026
Innovation Lounge

Sponsored by:

Utilities shouldn’t innovate for innovation's sake but seek to uncover hidden inefficiencies. Finding breakthrough solutions and scaling them responsibly is far from straightforward. This session explores how utilities and innovators can work together to surface innovative solutions, validate new approaches and navigate the financial and operational risks of moving from pilot to business‑as‑usual. 


Facilitator
Matthew Hempstead, Commissioning Editor - Springwise

Panel
Rob Ambrose, Technical Validation and Scoping Lead - Energised Futures - powered by Centrica
Phil Steele, Future Technologies Evangelist - Octopus
Jeannette Henderson, Principal - Innovation - Ofwat
Susan Fox, Client Director - Energy - Frazer-Nash

Chairperson
Matthew Hempstead
Matthew Hempstead, Commissioning Editor - Springwise
Speakers
Rob Ambrose
Rob Ambrose, Technical Validation and Scoping Lead - Energised Futures - powered by Centrica
Phil Steele
Phil Steele, Future Technologies Evangelist - Octopus
Jeannette Henderson
Jeannette Henderson, Principal - Innovation - Ofwat
Susan Fox
Susan Fox, Client Director - Energy - Frazer-Nash