Regina Finn

Chief Executive, Ofwat

Biography

Regina Finn is the Chief Executive of Ofwat, the water regulator for England and Wales. She has extensive experience regulating utility sectors, including the electricity and natural gas sectors in Ireland, the telecommunications, post and electricity sectors in Guernsey in the Channel Islands and the communications sector in Ireland.

Philip Green

Chief Executive Officer, United Utilities

Biography

Philip Green became Chief Executive of United Utilities PLC in February 2006. United Utilities is one of the largest utilities (water, gas, and electricity) companies in the UK, ranked mid-way in the FTSE100, with a market cap of £3bn+ after recently returning £1.5bn to shareholders. During the last three years it has restructured and strengthened management, created strategic focus through some disposals, and improved operational performance.

In 2003 Philip was appointed CEO of P&O Nedlloyd, one of the largest container shipping companies in the world, and a joint venture between P&O and Royal Nedlloyd. He led the company to its successful listing as Royal P&O Nedlloyd BV in Amsterdam in April 2004. Under his leadership operating profit increased from $77m in 2003 to approximately $550m in 2005. In August 2005, the company was acquired at a share price of €57 compared to a market price of less than €10 in 2003.

He was previously Chief Operating Officer at Reuters Group plc, which he joined in 1999. His responsibilities included the design and implementation of a global change management programme. From 1990 to 1999 he was at DHL, the global market leader for cross-border express delivery, becoming Chief Operating Officer for Europe and Africa.

He holds an MBA from the London Business School and a BA (Hons) from the University of Wales.

Philip is a member of the Commission for Skills and Employment. He is also a Director of Business in the Community, and Chairman of BitC’s Environment Campaign. He is a Trustee of the Philharmonia Orchestra.

He was born in 1953 and is married with two daughters.

Martin Wells

Vice President, Utilities, Capgemini

Biography

Martin has worked at the senior executive and operational levels of the largest utility companies in the UK and Ireland, helping household-name clients in the electricity and water industries to transform customer service and increase efficiency in front and back offices, and in the field. He has 15 years’ experience of programme and change management, CRM and customer operations, human performance management and outsourcing, all gained in the utilities sector. Currently he is working with a number of our UK water clients to help them respond to the challenges they face in AMP5.

Ian Moore

Director, Energy and Utilities Centre of Excellence, Capgemini

Biography

Ian has 30 years’ experience in global energy, and was exploration co-ordinator at Chevron before joining Capgemini in 1997. He helps international blue chip companies to keep abreast of leading industry practice, drawing on his specialist knowledge of business and IS strategy development and technology management, as well as his programme and change management skills. A recognised thought leader for Digital Oil Fields of the Future, he has spoken on the subject at many conferences. Clients that Ian has worked with include household-name energy companies and the UK government.

Anna Walker

Chair, Independent Review of Household Charging for Water and Sewerage Services

Biography

Anna was appointed to lead a review of charging for household water and sewerage services in August 2008.

She has wide ranging experience in the public sector particularly in regulation, the needs of disadvantaged customers and the interrelationship between economic and environmental issues.

Anna was appointed as chair of the Office of Rail Regulation in July 2009 the statutory board which is the combined economic and safety regulatory authority for Great Britain’s rail network.

 Prior to that, Anna was Chief Executive of the Healthcare Commission which was created in April 2004 and regulates both public and private sector healthcare.

 She was Director General, Land Use and Rural Affairs at Defra from 2001-2004. Her responsibilities there included drawing up a new rural policy following the foot and mouth outbreak. . She was also responsible for a review of the regulation Defra was responsible for worked on Defra’s strategy as a then newly established department.

Anna was Director General, Energy at the Department of Trade and Industry (1998-2001) – responsible for all aspects of the government’s energy policy including the regulation of the energy industry.  She was Deputy Director General at the Office of Telecommunications regulating the telecommunications industry from 1994-98. Anna joined the Department of Trade and Industry in 1975 following jobs at the British Council and the Confederation of British Industry,. She was Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Industry (1977-79).  She is a member of the new National Consumer Council which brings together the functions of the National Consumer Council energywatch and postwatch.

Anna is married and lives in London.  She has 3 daughters:  When time allows, she likes to travel, cycle and walk.

Alan Sutherland

Chief Executive Officer, Water Industry Commission for Scotland

Biography

Alan Sutherland was the Water Industry Commissioner from November 1999, when the position was created. During that time, he developed a framework for economic regulation of Scottish Water.

Under his leadership, the Water Industry Commission of Scotland (WICS) introduced competition into the Scottish business market for water, becoming the first country worldwide to do so.   Since the implementation of competition to Scotland in April 2009, over a third of Scottish businesses have benefitted from changing supplier or negotiating a better deal.

On June 30^th 2009 WICS published its draft determination on Scottish Water charges for 2010-14.  Once finalised, this determination will see price rises for Scottish Water consumers fixed below the rate of inflation for the next five years, representing savings on water bills for both household and business customers in Scotland. WICS final determination is due to be announced in November 2009.

Alan continues to lead WICS in its mission to further the value delivered to water customers by suppliers and to raise awareness of the benefits of competition both throughout Scotland and across the world.   Alan has a MBA and MA from the University of Pennsylvania and a MA (Hons) from the University of St Andrews.

Dafydd Thomas

Chief Technical Officer, i3 Group Limited

Biography

Dafydd Wyn Thomas has over 28 years experience in the fibre optic industry.  He commenced his career with Pilkington Communication Systems as a Quality Engineer and progressed through to Production Manager, Plant Manager and finally Operations Director until the then named Pinacl Communication Systems was bought out by Tyco in 2001.

 At this time with his wealth of industry knowledge and expertise Dafydd decided to create ‘Fibre Associates’.  Fibre Associates Ltd started supplying H2O Networks Ltd in 2003, and after 6 years as a supplier, Fibre Associates Limited was acquired by i3 Group Ltd in February 2009. 

As CTO of i3 Group Limited, Dafydd’s vision is to continue developing cost effective solutions for the deployment of fibre infrastructure which will be used to revolutionise an ageing network. I3 Group is committed to the ongoing FIBRECITY® network and FIBREZONE® network programmes and the deployment of high speed broadband, typically 100Mbit/s FTTH (Fibre To The Home).

This may be achieved by utilising a water company’s existing infrastructure including sewers, fresh water and storm drains, iin order to provide the water companies with alternative revenue streams.  In addition we have the ability via the fibre network to have a real-time activity reporting for monitoring / metering & sensing which will yield lower operating costs and increased efficiencies.

Jean Spencer

Director of Regulation & Executive Director, Anglian Water

Biography

Jean Spencer was appointed as Regulation Director with Anglian Water in May 2004. Prior to joining Anglian Water, she held a number of positions with Yorkshire Water and Kelda, including Head of Regulation, Head of Internal Audit and Regulatory and Accounting Controller.

A qualified chartered accountant, Jean began her career at Grant Thornton in 1980. In 1984 she joined the Audit Commission, leaving in 1989 to join Yorkshire Water.

During 2006-2008, Jean chaired the Steering Group for Waterwise's Evidence Base for Large-scale Water Efficiency in Homes. The Evidence Base brought together and analysed for the first time around twenty large-scale water company water efficiency retrofit projects, and produced cost-benefit data and scenarios to inform water company and regulatory delivery of retrofit programmes, to help the supply-demand balance as demand increases, and supply is threatened as a result of climate change. The Evidence Base was used by water companies and Ofwat in the PR09 process. The Steering group has now reconvened to deliver phase 2 of the evidence base.

Colum Goodchild

Water Asset Strategy Manager, Northumbrian Water

Biography

• Academic background in Environmental Sciences and Water Management (posh Geography).
• Joined Essex & Suffolk water as a graduate trainee in 2000, working in various areas of the business before finding a home in Water Distribution.
• From 2002 responsible for overseeing maintenance and refurbishment activities on the Companies strategic network (big pipes). Also, co-ordinating investment activities in the Distribution Network arena. I developed skills in engineering and finance.
• Transferred to Northumbrian Water in 2006 to compile the Company’s period review submission for water networks – analysing investment needs to compile a robust forecast for the 2010-2015 period. Also managing the day to day activity of the Asset Strategy team responsible for all water assets. 
• Recently completed an MBA with Durham University
• Actively involved with my local church in Durham – sitting on the PCC and helping out with the youth group.

Keith Harris

Director of Finance and Policy, Wessex Water

Biography

Keith Harris has 20 years of experience in utilities specialising in regulation, competition and government affairs, capital markets and mergers and acquisitions.

Keith oversaw the 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2009 Price Reviews and had the dubious pleasure of being the global head of regulation at Azurix, Enron's water subsidiary. He was then integral to protecting Wessex Water and realising value from the Azurix group upon Enron's collapse.

After gaining an Economics degree with a specialisation in the privatisation of public utilities, Keith continues to study the increasingly important part that utility companies play in delivering social and sustainability policies. He introduced Wessex Water’s innovative “Assist” social water tariff, and pioneered the company’s approach to contracting with farmers not to pollute water sources.

He is a member of the Water UK Council and Steering Committee and is Vice Chairman of Norton Radstock Regeneration Limited.

Mark Powles

Chief Executive, Business Stream

Biography

Mark Powles joined newly formed Business Stream in March 2007. Since then he has created a dynamic, customer focused company that successfully operates in the non-household Scottish retail market.

Powles brings a wealth of relevant senior management experience operating in highly regulated, competitive retail service markets across travel, transport and Financial Services, with Companies such as Sealink Stena Line, National Express Group and AEGON UK.

At Business Stream, Powles has created a strong, sustainable brand where the customer sits at the heart of all activities and business is retained on merit by the strength of the products, services and value for money it provides. Since 2008 customer satisfaction has increased to 81% and the range of services was expanded from 6 to 57 and Business Stream won best business performance at the European Utility Awards.