How to prepare your projects for a general election and the next government
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In the UK, party leadership elections in Wales, local elections across the UK and a general election are set to take place this year. These will all have an impact on how developers plan to navigate potential changes in government policy and planning for energy projects. Taking a proactive strategy and understanding what changes might lie ahead are vital to help ensure successful project delivery.
This webinar brings together our consenting strategy experts, Copper Consultancy, Derek Hastings, Head of Onshore Projects at Bute Energy, and Adam Ezzamel, Head of Offshore Development E&W at RWE, for a lively discussion that pinpoints key considerations for the strategic planning of development projects in the run up to elections and potential changes to government.
Webinar speakers
Lisa Childs
Senior Account Director, Copper Consultancy
Lisa is a charismatic, determined and versatile leader specialising in public affairs, campaigns, strategic communication and stakeholder engagement. A fluent Welsh speaker, she works on a hybrid basis from west Wales. Lisa has significant experience working in UK and Welsh politics, regularly engaging with government ministers, members of parliament and members of the Senedd to meet business critical objectives, influence opinion and build coalitions of support around issues.
She joined Copper in summer 2023 from the National Union of Students, where she was the director in Wales and UK-wide public affairs lead for the union. Prior to this, Lisa gained major project experience working as stakeholder engagement and communications lead for Heathrow Airport, including the Heathrow Expansion programme, from recommendation by the Airports Commission to preparing for development consent order submission. She played a pivotal role as the link between the Expansion programme and corporate communications teams, leading on public affairs and stakeholder relations and working as part of the senior programme team on supply chain, procurement and construction strategies.
Through this blend of experience, Lisa provides real value to clients, whether they are navigating politically contentious stakeholder and media landscapes or the intricacies of Welsh politics at both a local and a national level.
Patrick Traynor
Associate Director β Public Affairs, Copper Consultancy
Patrick leads Copperβs public affairs activity. He works with clients across the energy and infrastructure sector to help them to influence key stakeholders and to understand, engage with and shape the national political agenda. Patrick has worked on a diverse range of energy projects at Copper, including in the carbon capture, hydrogen and floating offshore wind sector.
Derek Hastings
Directorβ―ofβ―Onshoreβ―Projects, Bute Energy
Derek is director of onshore projects at Bute Energy. He is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He currently leads a multi-GW portfolio of wind, solar and grid projects. Prior to joining Bute, Derek was the director of operations and services at SSE and later head of onshore projects.
Adam Ezzamel
Head of Offshore DevelopmentβEngland and Wales, RWE
Adam is currently head of offshore development at RWE. He has a PhD in fluid mechanics and supports RWE in its development of 9 GW of offshore wind energy. Prior to joining RWE, he was a project director at Vattenfall and directed the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm at Red Rock Power.
Featured business
Copper Consultancy
Copper is a full-service communications agency providing bespoke, data-driven strategies that combine the right blend of services to support clientsβ business objectives. With offices in London, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham in England and Swansea in Wales, its client base includes government departments, combined authorities, private developers and most of the top 20 major UK contractors, with schemes spanning road, rail, aviation, energy, logistics and waste across the UK.