Planning the Energy Transition Seminar Speakers

Richard Baldwin

Head of Consents and Environment, SSEN Transmission

Richard Baldwin has been Head of Consents & Environment at SSEN Transmission for 9 years and has responsibility for developing and implementing the businesses consents and environmental strategies. He oversees a team that gains development and environmental consents for our large capital projects portfolio and was instrumental in driving forward the company's BNG approach and sustainability strategy. Richard started his career as an environmental regulator in SEPA focusing on waste, water and air emissions, has a background in environmental sciences, and a degree in Environmental Geography from Aberdeen University.

Finley Becks-Phelps

UK Development Director, Fred. Olsen Renewables

Finley Becks-Phelps has been UK Development Director at Fred. Olsen Renewables for almost three years. Utilising his decade of experience in renewables, Fin has built a team that is pursuing an extensive pipeline of more than 1GW in Scotland alone.

Fin currently serves as a board member of Scottish Renewables, helping to guide the organisation as it works to grow Scotland’s renewable energy sector and sustain its position at the forefront of the global clean energy industry.

As one of the longest standing renewable energy developers in Scotland, Fred. Olsen Renewables has a portfolio in the UK that consists of 258 operational turbines, alongside a further 76 consented. Fin is leading the team on a journey that places collaboration with communities, committing to local businesses and contributing towards Scotland’s sustainable future at its core.

David Bell

Managing Director, David Bell Planning

David is a Chartered Town Planner and planning consultant with over 30 years’ experience of planning and development practice. David established David Bell Planning Ltd (DBP) as a specialist renewable energy planning consultancy in early 2019.
David was previously Head of Planning for JLL in Scotland and held that role for almost 20 years. He has particular expertise in relation to energy planning and onshore wind development. He has advised on some of the UK’s largest renewable energy projects including the Viking, Dorenell, Rothes, South Kyle and Millennium Extension Wind Farms in Scotland, and Scout Moor in England and several in Wales. David has advised on feasibility studies and planning applications covering onshore and offshore wind energy, green hydrogen, solar PV, battery and transmission infrastructure. David is recognised as a leading planning consultant on renewable energy development and frequently acts in the capacity of expert planning witness at Public Local Inquiries and in Appeals throughout the UK.

Shona Glenn

Development Director, BiGGAR Economics

Shona is an economist and MBA with 20 years experience in economic development. She started her career in local government before moving into consultancy, and has also spent time in public sector policy roles.

Shona has substantial experience of assessing the socio-economic impacts of wind farms, both from a project and a sector wide perspective. Her recent project experience has focused particularly on the new expectation brought in through NPF4 to maximise the net-economic benefits of renewable energy projects.

A strong believer in the need for a more holistic approach to economics, Shona has spent much of her career measuring benefits that are often overlooked by traditional economic metrics. As a long-term resident of the Highlands, she is passionate about the transformative potential of renewable development for rural communities.

Suzie Saunders

Senior Policy Analyst, ScottishPower Renewables

Suzie Saunders is a policy professional in the renewable energy sector. She currently works as the Senior Planning and Environmental Policy Analyst at ScottishPower Renewables, with a primary focus on the onshore projects portfolio.

Suzie started her career in environmental policy and advocacy with roles at Natural England and the Woodland Trust. Whilst at the Woodland Trust she led their work on the NPF4 and further developed an interest in planning policy. Her background allows her to integrate a passion for nature conservation with strategic planning, ensuring that onshore projects thrive while supporting the natural environment.

Fraser Mitchell

Partner, Shepherd and Wedderburn

Fraser is a partner at law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn. He has extensive experience advising on all aspects of planning, environmental, compulsory purchase, and roads law. He provides advice across all sectors on planning strategy and applications, the review of environmental impact assessment, planning appeals, negotiating planning agreements, and legal challenges in the Court of Session.

His practice primarily focusses on mainstream commercial planning and renewables. Fraser has significant experience advising on the consenting process for renewable energy projects, including onshore wind farms and pumped storage hydro schemes. He also advises national house builders on the planning process, the negotiation of planning agreements, planning appeals, and legal challenges.

Jo Wotton

Associate Environmental Planner, LUC

Jo Wotton BSc (Hons) MSc MIEMA CEnv is an Associate Director of Environmental Planning at LUC with over 15 years of professional experience across the private and public sectors, including project management of numerous complex EIA projects involving large multi-disciplinary teams, from feasibility through to discharge of planning conditions. Jo has managed several EIAs for onshore wind farms and energy transmission projects across Scotland and is currently leading the Onshore Wind Sector Deal (OWSD) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 'Task and Finish Group' in collaboration with Ramboll.