Neil Copeland, Connections Strategy Manager (NESO)
Neil is works in the connections strategy team in the National Energy System Operator. Before joining NESO Neil worked in consultancy and for the energy regulator in Great Britain.
At NESO Neil has been thinking most about how to align the connections process to strategic plans. Initially this will be the Clean Power Action Plan and in the future will include the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan.
Max Dowland, Senior Energy Strategy Adviser (DESNZ)
Max is a Senior Energy Strategy Adviser in the Clean Power Unit at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ).
He has worked at the department for just over 6 years on a variety of policy schemes. Prior to joining the department Max worked as a field engineer in the oil and gas sector.
Max is the renewables lead in the Clean Power unit focusing on how we can unblock barriers for renewable deployment.
Alasdair MacMillan, Head of Connections Policy (Ofgem)
Alasdair leads Ofgem’s policy work on grid connections. This includes delivery of the November 2023 Connections Action Plan (CAP), the end-to-end review of connections regulations, and the NESO-led connections process reform programme.
Alasdair joined Ofgem in 2016, having previously spent 10 years in the upstream UK oil and gas industry.
Paul Addison, Director of Policy and External Affairs (GB Energy)
As Director of Policy and External Affairs Paul Addison is a member of the Great British Energy executive leadership team.
Responsible for shaping and delivering GBE's policy agenda and external affairs activity to enable delivery of its mission, he works with senior leaders to build Great British Energy’s reputation as a business that is responsibly accelerating the UK's energy transition.
Previously, he was a policy adviser to the Opposition Treasury Team in the run up to the General Election, shaping infrastructure, planning and investment policies. He championed the creation of a 10 year national infrastructure strategy and the formation of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority through his leadership of the Major Capital Projects Review in 2024.
Paul spent a number of years working for Siemens, and more recently leading public policy and engagement for Arup and Yorkshire Building Society.
Jan Thompson CMG OBE, British Ambassador to Norway
Jan Thompson has served as the British Ambassador to Norway since April 2023. Previously, she was appointed Deputy High Commissioner to India in August 2018.
She served as British Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2013-2017 and then, temporarily, as Deputy High Commissioner to Canada prior to her arrival in New Delhi.
