BE News is delighted to reveal that Julia Prescot, deputy chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, will be the keynote speaker at our high-level, free-to-attend event on 23 January asking: ‘How do we pursue renewable energy with renewed purpose?’
Prescot is a trusted adviser to government and industry and the co-founder of Meridiam, which has grown to become one of the world’s leading infrastructure funds. She took on the role of deputy chair of the commission in 2023, having served five years as a commissioner, and will set the scene at the first BE News event in front of a live audience, which will also feature a Question Time-style panel debate chaired by BE News editor Liz Hamson and a networking session.
Renewable energy is one of the key battlegrounds ahead of the general election. Yet UK investment in renewable energy has lagged significantly behind the rest of the world in recent years, with capacity growing just 7.74% in 2022, well down on the 24.26% growth recorded in 2025. During this must-attend event, we will ask what can be done to close the gap and explore which types of renewable energy are the future, and which not.
Audience members will have the opportunity to ask Prescot questions following her keynote and later the chance to grill our expert panel, comprising:
- Claire Petricca-Riding, national head of planning and environment, Irwin Mitchell;
- Florence Carasse, head of infrastructure debt, PIC;
- Chris Gill, investments director and head of renewables, Taiyo;
- Octavia Peters, director of strategic growth, SEGRO;
- Josh Bullard, divisional director, smart energy and sustainability, Hydrock;
- and Lynda Shillaw, chief executive, Harworth Group.
The event, which is sponsored by leading partner Irwin Mitchell and supporting partners Taiyo – a UK renewables joint venture between Kajima and Low Carbon Alliance – and Hydrock, will take place at the City of London office of event host PIC.
Places are strictly limited and there are only a few left, so if you would like to be part of the high-level audience, get in contact now. To find out more and secure your free place, please email BE News head of operations Sian Wilde at sian@benews.co.uk.
