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.

Sponsored by: 

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

Strategic planning for future grid needs
Robert Gibson, SSEP Senior Analysis Manager - NESO

Unlocking flexibility: How DSOs enable demand shifting to maximise local renewable generation
Doerte Schneemann, Head of Flexibility Markets - National Grid

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

Talk title coming soon
Stefanos Anagnostopoulos - EA Technology

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

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.

Sponsored by:

Chair welcome and introduction
Ella Jessel - Utility Week

SIF Funded Predict 4 Resilience: accurate fault insights during adverse weather events
Fraser Lynch, Control Room Manager - SP Energy Networks

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

Building climate resilience through utility collaboration
Daniel Perry, Climate Change and Carbon Manager - Affinity Water

Designing for disruption: strengthening water resilience in a changing climate
Chris Falconer, Managing Director - Water Direct

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

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.

In partnership with: 

Chair welcome and introduction
James Earl, Chief Executive - FEN

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

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

Evolving gas market arrangements in a changing energy system
Lizzie Blaxland, Head of Future Market Design - NESO

Things you need to believe to decommission the gas network
Adam Bell, Director of Policy - Stonehaven

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

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

The latest leakages research and innovation updates
Jeremy Heath, Innovation Manager - SES Water

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 and update from the National Storm Overflow Hub
Nik Perepelov, Head of Natural Environment - Water UK

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

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.

 Sponsored by: 

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

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

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

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

Integrated water management planning: enabling water resilient places using nature based solutions
David Owen - Yorkshire Water

Rivers as infrastructure: scaling nature-based resilience
Amina Aboobakar - Rivers Trust