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igem news

IGEM WELCOMES NEW CEO look to our future with excitement;

working with our membership,
central and devolved governments,
THE AGM as an advocate of the gas sector and its wider organisations and our
WAS ONE of role in the whole energy system for colleagues overseas to transform
Neil decarbonising buildings, industry, into a net zero gas system in an
Atkinson’s transport and power generation to increasingly integrated gas and
last acts as meet the UK climate change targets. electricity market.
IGEM CEO He brings with him a wealth of “This next decade will see a rapid
as he experience in this area, plus extensive pace of change as we connect more
decided to knowledge of the gas industry and the biomethane and flexible generation
step down challenges it faces as the UK capacity; develop accelerated
from the role earlier this year. transitions to hydrogen and hydrogen demonstrator networks;
Following a careful search, the biomethane sources. work to provide pioneer pipelines
institution is pleased to announce the Oliver said: “It is an incredible with industry and firm power
appointment of Oliver Lancaster as its honour to be appointed as CEO of generation in their fuel switching
new Chief Executive Officer. Oliver IGEM – an institution rich in the process; advance wider network
joins the institution from Wales & history of energy. From the earliest conversion plans for hydrogen and
West Utilities where he has worked days of the gas industry – with hybrid home heating; and provide
since 2009, most recently as Net Zero William Murdoch producing and transport refuelling infrastructure
Relationship Manager. using gas in Redruth and Frederick for road and rail, as well as green
Oliver is an IGEM Fellow and an Windsor introducing gas distribution ships and planes.
Engineering Technician member. He in London – our sector has risen to “With gas evidently key to achieving
is also a Fellow of the Geological challenges and innovated its way over on our climate change commitment,
Society. He joins IGEM at an exciting the last 200+ years. I look forward to working with you all
time in its history as it positions itself “As we learn from the past, we can on this journey.”

MY YEAR AHEAD over the last three years. Neil has been that be through the development and
training of net zero skills, or even
instrumental in driving through
several key changes, all of which have directly through the benevolent fund in
New President Ben Clarke greatly benefited our institution, but if cases where our members have been hit
harder by the pandemic.
I could just highlight two in particular:
addresses the AGM in his the governance changes and also the Finally, we need to inspire the next
inaugural address digital delivery programme were both generation and encourage a younger
critical in enabling IGEM to pivot and and more diverse workforce to join
LET ME manage our response to the pandemic our industry. I currently chair the
START by last year and we have heard the Scholarship, Grants and Awards
saying that it positive results of that today. Clearly, Committee and it is an absolute
is an the pandemic is not over. However, the pleasure to meet with and support
absolute efforts of Neil and the team mean that the young engineers and technicians
honour to be we are in an extremely strong position looking to progress their studies and
elected to to face this challenge going forward. careers and we should look for more
serve as Thank you, Neil, you will be missed. opportunities to do this. Regardless
IGEM’s As for my own aspirations for the of what the final decarbonisation
President. To paraphrase Duncan, we coming year, you may have noticed picture looks like, the scale of the
stand at the juncture of enormous the theme “engineering a sustainable challenge means industry needs
changes within the energy industry, gas future” on recent IGEM messaging more engineers, more technicians -
and this will form the basis of my and this reflects my own passion and and we at IGEM must do our part.
ambitions for this year. focus for the year ahead. To finish; a few years ago, then
Before looking too far ahead, Firstly, we must continue to support President Antony Green issued a call
however, I would like to first thank the profession to tackle the to arms – for IGEM to help drive the
Duncan for his extremely successful decarbonisation agenda by developing energy transition. Two years on, I
year in office. It has been a challenging tools such as the Hydrogen Knowledge believe we have responded and IGEM
year for our members and Duncan has Centre and our updated technical has taken great strides in pushing
done an outstanding job in helping to standards. We must also not forget forward the hydrogen agenda.
guide our institution through the that as critical as hydrogen will be, However, we are still only in the early
pandemic; not an easy feat, especially biomethane and hybrid solutions will foothills of this change, and we must
given the time difference. also have a significant role to play in go further and faster if we are to
We also say goodbye to Neil any sustainable future. successfully engineer a sustainable
Atkinson, our CEO. I would like to Secondly, during this time of change, gas future. I look forward to working
personally thank Neil for all his work we must support our members, whether with all of you to make that happen.

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