Marine Conference 2021 Speakers

Gareth Davies

Managing Director, Aquatera

Gareth is MD of Aquatera and has worked as an environmental consultant for over 20yrs. Trained as a marine biologist, completing a PhD in Deep Sea Biology, he has since completed over 350 projects in the sector from strategic planning and assessment, through baseline investigations, risk assessment, site selections and resource assessment studies to operations support for wave and tidal developers. Renowned for innovative thinking, unbounded enthusiasm, and commitment to finding solutions, Gareth has worked in many areas of the world. Latterly becoming involved in the strategic thinking to enable the marine renewables sector to develop to its full potential.

Wade Islan

Analyst – Public Policy Consulting, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Wade Islan is a Research Analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit. He is passionate about leveraging innovation and technology for social and business impact, and has developed research for leading global technology firms, US government agencies and civil society groups on this topic.

He has worked in rural southwest China as a teacher, in the health sciences and health education in New York City, in the financial sector in Hong Kong, and with the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank in Washington, DC. Wade has a Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, concentrating in international development, and an undergraduate degree in cognitive science from Dartmouth College.

Jason Hayman

CEO, Sustainable Marine

Jason is a qualified Naval Architect and has worked in the marine sector since 1996. He has extensive experience in the design, build and refit of vessels, and complex engineering solutions at sea. Jason delivered his first tidal turbine installation for Voith Hydro, in Korea, in 2010, before dedicating himself to developing and delivering a simple, cost-effective, tidal energy system which is easy to install and maintain. As an entrepreneur, Jason initially formed a technology development company which secured a number of funding competitions and support from a strong network of investors and partners, including propulsion experts SCHOTTEL. In 2018, he led the merger of SCHOTTEL’s tidal energy business units in Germany and Canada with Sustainable Marine, before leading the development of the PLAT-I floating tidal energy platform. He now leads a growing team in Germany, Scotland and Canada which is currently delivering the world’s first floating tidal array in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia.

Tim Hurst

Managing Director, Wave Energy Scotland

Wave Energy Scotland’s Managing Director Tim Hurst is a familiar name in marine energy circles, now managing Scotland’s leading wave technology development programme. After almost 4 years in the driving seat, his team of 15 has awarded £38.6 M in 86 different contracts working with more than 200 separate engineering and academic institutions. He says, “Scotland is an incredible hub for wave energy testing and WES is driving the country’s progress. Our latest Innovation Call for Quick Connection Systems is about to close soon and we’re about to see the most promising NWEC technologies test at sea next year in Scotland. Projects from our PTO programme have developed four strong power take-off options and with Structural Materials projects concluding alongside Controls Systems technologies, next year is looking very exciting for WES.

Eileen Linklater

External Relationship Manager, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)

Based in the world class sea conditions of the Orkney Islands, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) is the world’s first and only accredited, grid-connected test centre for full-scale wave and tidal devices. Attracting developers from around the globe, to date more devices have been tested at EMEC than any other single site in the world. The Centre has become a focal point for the emerging marine renewables industry as Orkney has become home to some of the most innovative marine, hydrogen and energy systems projects currently in development.

In more than a decade working at EMEC, Eileen has worked with 20 different wave and tidal technology companies from 11 different countries. As External Relationship Manager Eileen now manages stakeholder engagement and public affairs activities, as well as pursuing new business opportunities with the wider commercial team.

Heather McLarty

Project Manager, ORE Catapult

Heather joined the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult in 2018. As a Project Manager in the Research and Disruptive Innovation Directorate, she is responsible for delivering a wide range of renewable energy projects in the wind and tidal sectors - including EnFAIT.

Heather has an academic background in Sustainable and Mechanical Engineering, which enables her to have a strong understanding of the technical aspects of complex engineering projects. Before joining the Catapult, she worked in the distribution and transmission industry. Heather’s combination of professional and academic experience enables her to work effectively on complex projects with a wide range of partners to successfully deliver projects.

Gavin McPherson

Head of Policy and Research, Nova Innovation

Gavin McPherson is Head of Policy and Research at Nova Innovation, a world leading tidal energy device and project developer. In 2016 Nova deployed the world’s first offshore tidal array in the Bluemull Sound, Shetland, which has been generating clean power to the grid for over 5 years. In 2018 Nova integrated a Tesla battery into the array and in 2020 they installed the world’s first 100% tidal powered electric vehicle charging point. The company is developing projects in the Sound of Islay (Òran na Mara), Wales (Ynys Enlli) and the 15 turbine Nova Tidal Array in Nova Scotia. Gavin heads up Nova’s research programme, including the flagship EnFAIT and ELEMENT Horizon 2020 projects. He holds a PhD in Particle Physics from work conducted at the CERN laboratory in Geneva.

Andrew Scott

Chief Executive Officer, Orbital Marine Power

Andrew leads the team at Orbital Marine Power, having joined the business as CEO in 2015, with a background of over 15 years in the Scottish marine renewables industry; active and committed at the leading edge of multiple pioneering Scottish R&D programmes in the marine space over that period.

Andrew has a background in engineering with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Strathclyde University and a postgraduate in Energy from Heriot-Watt University. Andrew remains closely involved across all aspects of technology development at Orbital; helping to provide challenge and vision to the development process. As CEO he is also responsible for leading the outward facing functions for the company; working extensively with external stakeholders, public and private, to grow the value of Orbital and progress the commercial development for the emerging tidal sector.

Gauri Singh

Deputy Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Gauri Singh is a career bureaucrat with over thirty years’ experience in policy formulation, implementation and policy advocacy in the field of renewable energy, sustainable development and livelihoods. She has worked at federal level in the Government of India and in Madhya Pradesh.

At federal level, in the field of new and renewable energy, she has vast experience of policy formulation, coordination, and international cooperation. Policy initiatives led by her include, the policy framework of National Solar Mission of India 2010, to build solar power capacities in India.

Ms. Singh has also worked at IRENA earlier, as Director, Country Support and Partnerships and was responsible for regional and country level initiatives. She spearheaded partnerships with regional energy and economic organisations.

Sean Parsons

Director of External Affairs, SIMEC Atlantis Energy

Sean Parsons is the Director of External Relations for global energy company, SIMEC Atlantis Energy. Sean is responsible for all of Atlantis’ external engagement, spanning media, stakeholders and investors.

Before joining Atlantis, Sean has worked with some of the largest energy companies in the world, including EDF, Siemens Gamesa, RWE and Statkraft. Most recently, Sean was Head of External Affairs for the GFG Alliance where he was a key member of the team that helped the Group establish itself as one of the largest industrial and sustainably focused companies in Europe.

Sean has been a key member of award-winning teams throughout his career, specifically his work in marketing campaigns, innovation projects and PR have received both internal and external recognition. He also completed his MBA in 2014.

Sam Porteous

Mechanical Engineer, ORE Catapult

Sam Porteous is a Mechanical Engineer at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult. Since joining the Catapult in 2017, Sam has worked on a range of projects in the marine and offshore wind energy sectors. Much of his work has been focused on the tidal energy sector where he has developed experience in the mechanical design of offshore structures, deployment of hydrodynamic sensors and analysis of environmental data. He has also been involved in the floating offshore wind sector, delivering Scottish Government funded work to assess the suitability of different floating offshore wind turbine substructures for deployment in Scottish waters.

Sian Wilson

Senior Development Manager, Crown Estate Scotland

Sian Wilson, is now a Senior Development Manager for Crown Estate Scotland. Sian studied Offshore Technology at Cranfield University before beginning work in the wave and tidal sector in 2006. During that time she worked on and managed the due diligence and initial device assessments for all the leading technology developers. At Crown Estate Scotland some key pieces of work Sian has been involved in includes, championing the development of the new, non ‘round’ based, wave and tidal application process that is still open today, worked on the first arrays investment competition and today she now manages all marine energy and infrastructure activities for Crown Estate Scotland.