We are pleased to announce our full agenda and speaker session details!

Agenda

• 08.30 Event Registration and Exhibition opens
• 09.30 Main Stage talks
• 10.35 Refreshment & Networking Break
• 11.00 Conference Zone talks 
• 12.00 Lunch and Networking Break
• 13.00 Main Stage talks
  
  Panel Session – Delivering Net Zero, Skills and Collaboration:
  – Matt Wilson, Head of New Energy Markets, Navigator Terminals
  – Dave Talbot, Chief Executive Officer, CATCH
  – Nishma Patel, Policy Director, Chemical Industries Association (CIA)
  – Daren Smith, Chairperson, Tees Valley Industrial Net Zero Leadership Group
  – Tees Valley Combimed Authority – Speaker TBC
  
• 14.00 – 15.00 Conference Zone Talks
• Business Exchange Appointments will also take place from 14.00 – 16.30
• 16.30 Wrap up and event close

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Main Stage Speakers

• Joanne Fryett, Chief Executive, NEPIC
  Welcome and Introductions
  
  About Joanne:
  Joanne has spent over 25 years working within the Tees Valley, County Durham and North East region, with an extremely successful career so far which has included working across the Public, Private and Voluntary Sector. Joanne’s roles have all recognised her strengths in building and developing long term meaningful relationships.
  
  Joanne’s passion for the North East and its business community will be an advantage in supporting NEPIC’s Members and ensuring that the Cluster will grow and support the wider supply chain activities.
  
  
• Daren Smith, Chairperson, Tees Valley Industrial Net Zero Leadership Group and Chris Rowell, Head of Net Zero, Tees Valley Combined Authority
  The Roadmap to Net Zero 2040 for the Tees Valley Industrial Cluster
  
  About Daren:
  Daren is a manufacturing leader who has worked in the process industry for more than 35 years. A Mechanical Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Daren has worked in a variety of engineering, management and leadership roles, culminating in leading SABIC’s UK manufacturing operations on Teesside. Daren has been at the very heart of the energy transition on Teesside since its inception and was recently appointed as the Chairperson for the Tees Valley Industrial Net Zero Leadership Group. The group’s mission is to own and deliver the Tees Valley Net Zero Cluster Plan.
  
  AND
  
• Chris Rowell, Head of Net Zero, Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA)
  The Roadmap to Net Zero 2040 for the Tees Valley Industrial Cluster
  
  About Chris:
  Chris has had a varied career covering mechanical engineering in the renewable energy and automation sectors, software, communications, and public policy. As part of his role at TVCA he Chairs the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, a BEIS-funded initiative to accelerate the transition to Net Zero, though such initiatives as developing a pipeline of clean local energy and related projects.
  
  
• Mark Edge, Director of Sales Northern Europe, Cyolo
  Unlocking Efficiency: The Power of Secure Remote Access in Chemical Manufacturing and Process Industries
  
  In the chemical manufacturing and process industries, secure remote access to operational technology (OT) is proving to be a game-changer, driving efficiency and safety. Research shows that companies implementing secure remote access experience up to 25% faster incident response times and a 20% reduction in operational downtime. This presentation will highlight how real-time remote monitoring and control can streamline troubleshooting, cutting downtime by nearly 30%, and enabling teams to collaborate across locations for quicker, data-driven decisions.
  
  About Mark:
  Mark is now in his fourth decade of partnering with customers to realise business benefit and value from technology solutions. Having started on the IT side of the house, Mark has moved into OT and in the last decade has been fortunate enough to work with global manufacturers such as Mondelez, Orbia and Volvo Cars, to help them drive safety and efficiency by enabling secure remote operations in their production facilities.
  
  
• Dave Robson, External Relations Lead, H2, Kellas Midstream
  Kellas Midstream and our Role in Decarbonising the North East
  
  Kellas Midstream own and operate critical energy infrastructure which transports c. 40% of UK produced gas. They are also developing blue and green hydrogen projects. Following a brief introduction to the projects, their role in supporting the North East economy and decarbonization will be discussed, including how they sit in the wider national context.
  
  About Dave:
  Dave manages stakeholder engagement activity relating to the supply of low carbon hydrogen, including the H2NorthEast low carbon hydrogen development on Teesside. As a key member of the Kellas hydrogen team, Dave is helping bring the company’s extensive experience in natural gas infrastructure to clean energy initiatives that will play a key role in delivering UK net zero by 2050.
  
  
• Abigail Bell, Innovation Executive, NEPIC and Professor Justin Perry, Professor of Chemistry and Departmental Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange
  
  AND
  
• Professor Justin Perry, Professor of Chemistry and Department Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange, Newcastle University
  Tees Valley Process Sector Mapping Study
  
  Extensive work has been undertaken for the comprehensive collection of data around the inputs, outputs, and operational procedures of a series of varying sites in the Tees Valley region. This thorough assessment encompasses the origins and destinations of the chemicals used, with some inclusion of the logistics transportation of included chemicals. The primary objective of this project is to shed light on and emphasize the significance and importance of Industrial symbiosis, with considerable attention directed to the analysis of waste streams to enhance waste valorization.
  
  About Abigail:
  Abigail has a passion for supporting STEM and the upcoming talent to the region. She has recently moved from working on innovation work to overseeing the planning and organisation of NEPIC’s events offering and sponsorship opportunities for member companies.
  
  About Justin:
  Justin is Professor of Chemistry and Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange in the Department of Applied Sciences at Northumbria University. His research interests include the development of new scalable chemical processes especially in polymer chemistry and biotechnology.
  
  
• Sarah Daun, Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson
  Diversity: Women in the Process Sector
  
  Sarah will discuss diversity and women in the process sector, including the benefits of diversity in the workplace.
  
  About Sarah:
  Sarah has experience of drafting and negotiating a variety of commercial agreements across the public, private and third sectors on a national and international basis. Her experience includes advising on a variety of purchase and sales contracts including terms and conditions for goods and services, a broad range of services agreements and outsourcing agreements. Sarah also advises on and drafts legal documents in relation to different business models, such as subcontracting, distribution, agency and contractual joint ventures.

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Conference zone speakers

• Sean Sargent, CEO, Green Lithium
  Refining Lithium in the 21st Century
  
  The electrification of transport represents a huge opportunity towards global decarbonisation. However, if we continue to make the raw materials required for the Energy Transition in the same way that we have always made them, then some of the benefit is offset by new carbon emissions. This is why we must seek to decarbonise every step of the process.
  
  About Sean:
  Sean has worked in process and infrastructure programmes, predominantly in the nuclear industry, for the last 33 years. During this time, he was the Site Director at Berkeley Nuclear Power Station and Programme Director for a programme to retrieve, process and store intermediate level radioactive waste. For many years, Sean has worked for Jacobs Engineering where he led the nuclear new build business, the defence business and post-acquisition integration teams.
  
  
• Paul Herman, Vice President – UK Energy, Victaulic
  Engineered Piping Solutions – delivering non-welded piping solutions supporting project
  fabrication & construction
  
  Utilising Victaulic Engineered Piping Solutions can help resolve many of the challenges that new build construction projects currently face. Victaulic provides an alternative non-welded solution to pipe jointing which would traditionally be designed using welded or flange methodology. The benefits Victaulic non welded solutions can bring to fabrication & construction are, reduced project costs & schedule, lower future O&M costs, improve safety, lower carbon emissions, and help solve the current skills shortages that we are seeing in the construction industry.
  
  Victaulic has a long track record of engaging with Owners & EPCs on many global projects to provide a safe, fast, and efficient method of joining metallic (carbon & stainless) and plastic (HDPE) pipes without the requirement of hot work / welding.
  
  About Paul:
  Paul started his career on Teesside in 1983 with ICI as a welding apprentice, before moving into management, starting off supervising and then moving into Project Management, working on construction projects and turnarounds across the UK.
  
  
• Brian Gilmer, Business Development Manager – Eastern England & Ireland, Flexitallic (UK)
  The use of EN13555 and EN1591-1 to Ensure Leak Tightness and Reliability in Jointed Connections-Engineering
  
  Understanding gasket behaviour in a bolted flanged connection, during assembly, and subsequent load conditions, is fundamental for predicting seal performance.Many common flange designs and integrity calculations require the generation of gasket factors that are not clearly defined:ASME VIII D1 App2 (m & Y values) and ASME PCC-1 App O (Sgmax, Sgmin-s, Sgmin-o, SgT and øf). BS EN 13555 is a European standard that defines gasket parameters and test procedures required for the application of BS EN 1591-1 (design rules for gasketed circular flanged connections).
  
  Data generated using BS EN 13555 indicates significant differences in the loads required and tightness achieved using different filler materials in spiral wound gaskets. These differences are particularly interesting to those looking to achieve high integrity sealing of small molecular media such as hydrogen.
  
  About Brian:
  Brian joined Flexitallic eight years ago to provide sealing solutions to the power industry, among others, and is now responsible for customers in the East of England and all of Ireland.
  
  
• Russ Holmes, Operation Director, JBA Engineering & Darby Tech
  The Plant is no Place to Practice
  
  As part of the TVCA Net Zero Strategy ten-point plan there is a requirement to deliver training and employment opportunities aligned to the new green economy. This presentation focuses on the challenge of delivering the correct skills in the right timeframe for the future workforce and identifying future trends for education and training equipment.
  
  The presentation will also touch on some of the future skills that are required for industry, construction and manufacturing and how DarbyTech are incorporating future skills training in their product development.
  
  About Russ:
  For the last 14 years, Russ has been an Engineer and then Director at JBA Engineering. Following the acquisition of DarbyTech in 2019, he has been involved in the development, marketing and sales of new and existing products.
  
  
• Emma Johnston, Consultant, Frazer-Nash Consultancy
  Carbon Capture as a Service
  
  As the UK advances towards its legal commitment to net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, decarbonising industry – which accounts for 14% of total greenhouse gas emissions – is a critical enabler. With a clear strategic commitment to carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies from government; these feature heavily in the decarbonisation strategy of the industrial clusters that will pioneer their adoption. However, there are industrial emitters within the clusters which are essential candidates for carbon capture to achieve decarbonisation but for whom there are significant barriers in adopting and operating these technologies. Carbon capture as a service (CaaS) could offer a decarbonisation pathway for such emitters lacking the scale for economically viable point source capture or the expertise to implement and operate a plant. The CaaS market is still emerging and lacks clarity, necessitating a deeper understanding of the key challenges and feasible implementation pathways to support industrial arrangements and inform policy makers. To better understand the current CaaS landscape and explore the pathways for developing a thriving market we will:
  • Look at the feasible pathways for the deployment of CaaS for industrial emitters in the UK.
  • Explore the components of the business case for carbon capture service providers.
  • Understand the type and scale of emitters suited to access the service.
  • Clarify the roles and responsibilities of each party involved with carbon capture services.
    
    About Emma:
    Emma has a particular keenness for alternative energy technologies and systems thinking, with enhanced skills in technology selection, requirements engineering, systems modelling and feasibility-focused critical thinking. She has worked closely with a number of public and private sector organisations seeking to decarbonise by deploying hydrogen and other low-carbon technologies.
    
    
    
• Professor Phil Dyer, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, Durham University
  Sustainable Chemical Processes: Durham University Capabilities & Opportunities
  
  The presentation will give an overview of the fundamental and applied research being undertaken across the Chemistry for Sustainability group of Durham University’s Chemistry Department, showcasing the group’s work in the areas of green and sustainable chemicals manufacture spanning commodity, platform and fine chemicals. Details of Durham Chemistry’s unique facilities, in particular its integrated high hazard chemical handling laboratory, flow chemistry and associated state of the art research instrumentation, will be highlighted.
  
  About Phil:
  Phil currently leads the Chemistry for Sustainability research theme in Durham’s Department of Chemistry. His own research spans sustainable chemistry, in particular around thermochemical transformations of sustainable biomass feedstocks (e.g. seaweed), organometallic and coordination chemistry, and industrially-orientated homo- and hetero-geneous catalysis, with particular emphasis on the production and transformation of olefins.
  
  
• Peter Ginn, Executive Vice President, Store CO2
  “Beyond the Pipe” – New Thinking to Enable Decarbonisation
  
  Climate change is a pressing issue, and under the 2008 UK Climate Change Act, there is a legal obligation to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Despite successes in various emission reduction areas, the cost and schedules associated with CO2 capture, transportation and disposal remain significant barriers to achieving net-zero emission ambitions by 2050. Traditional approaches using non-pipeline gas value chain thinking lead to familiar but inefficient outcomes in terms of cost and schedule.
  
  StoreCO2 has developed an innovative solution that employs transformational thinking to address the challenges of non-pipeline transportation of CO2 from emitters to geological storage. This solution results in a markedly safer, more cost-effective, and potentially faster project execution that can be tailored for individual Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) projects.
  
  About Peter:
  Peter, as co-founder of storeCO2, plays a pivotal role in guiding clients within the energy sector towards innovative net zero solutions.
  
  
• Gareth Fletcher, Technology Manager, Tees Valley Combined Authority
  Building a Net Zero Industrial Cluster: An Informal Briefing
  
  About Gareth:
  Gareth Fletcher is now Low Carbon Specialist Technology Manager for the Tees Valley Combined Authority, with specific responsibilities across Decarbonisation of Industry and the Hydrogen Economy.
  
  Recently, Gareth played the lead role in establishing the strategic collaboration between Tata Steel and CPI which ultimately drove the divestment of the Materials Processing Institute, subsequently establishing the Institutes commercial and collaborative research capabilities.
  
  During this stage in his career, Gareth developed a strong interest in the decarbonisation of Industry, combined with extensive experience in driving the wider innovation and collaborative research landscape. This led to a job move to a joint role, combining Business Development for TWI with Technology Management, especially related to the future Cluster planning, for the Tees Valley Combined Authority.
  
  
• Stephen Byard, Principal Research Fellow, Quotient Sciences
  The Internal Collaboration within Quotient and External Collaboration within skills
  
  About Stephen:
  Stephen has strong interests in physical and molecular characterisation for the optimisation of pharmaceutical products, with extensive involvement in the applications of solution/solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging.
  
• Richard Holdsworth, Head of Sales & Marketing, Trident Utilities
  Are Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) the Gold Standard to Drive Sustainable Business Growth?
  
  The presentation will look at:
• Introducing SBTi – One Data Set to Rule Them All
• Why is SBTi so important?
• Adoption – Challenges and Benefits to Your Business
• The Future of Carbon and Energy Optimisation
• Conclusion – Act Now to Unlock Your Full Potential
  
  About Richard:
  Richard has over 20 years experience working as an energy consulting professional, and has been in customer-facing roles for 35 years.
  
  Richard has worked with some of Britain’s best known brands and largest energy consumers, helping them to effectively manage their costs, reduce their carbon emissions, deliver budgetary objectives and stay compliant.
  
  More recently, he supported his team to develop a range of services to enable customers to understand the SBTi, engage their colleagues and supply chain to support their carbon reduction efforts and set ambitious reduction targets.

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Panel Session Speakers

Matt Wilson, Head of New Energy Markets, Navigator Terminals

About Matt:
Matthew Graduated from Teesside University with a BEng (Hons) in Chemical Engineering in 2010 and is the Energy Transition Manager for Navigator Terminals UK.

Matthew is focussed on addressing the demand for storage and handling of new energy carriers and emissions reduction, for which Navigator Terminals are geographically and technically well positioned to offer energy infrastructure solutions to the Ammonia, Hydrogen and Carbon Capture markets.

Matthew joined Navigator Terminals from Johnson Matthey, where he gained more than 12 years’ experience in the oil and gas and chemicals market, most recently in the role of Global Commercial Manager for one of Johnson Matthey’s proprietary catalyst, used in the production of Hydrogen.

Daren Smith, Chairperson, Tees Valley Industrial Net, Zero Leadership Group

About Daren:

Daren is a manufacturing leader who has worked in the process industry for more than 35 years. A Mechanical Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, he has worked in a variety of engineering, management and leadership roles culminating in leading SABIC’s UK manufacturing operations on Teesside.

Daren has been at the very heart of the energy transition on Teesside since its inception and was recently appointed as the Chairperson for the Tees Valley Industrial Net Zero Leadership Group.

Dave Talbot, Chief Executive Officer, CATCH

About Dave:
David spent 21 years as an RAF officer specialising in logistics and training. He left the forces as a Squadron Leader after an exciting career that included numerous operational deployments, to then work for Serco.

David took on a new role with TQ Education and Training Ltd (a Pearson company) in 2010, where he specialised in outsourced work based learning business development and operational delivery.
He eventually moved on to work for BAE Systems as the Head of the Aircraft Maintenance Academy at Humberside airport, training the next generation of aircraft technicians working on fast jet aircraft for BAE’s military contracts within the UK and overseas.

The opportunity arose in late 2015 to lead the next phase in the development of CATCH and David took over as Chief Executive on 4 January 2016.

Nishma Patel, Policy Director, Chemical Industries Association (CIA)

About Nishma:
Nishma is responsible for leading the associations work on policy as it relates to climate change, environment and chemicals management.

Nishma also manages the associations subsidiary business REACHReady, providing support to companies affected by REACH and related regulations.