Infrastructure Asset Management

George Butler

Director of Asset Management, Northern Ireland Water

Biography

George has worked in most aspects of the water industry as a consultant, independent contractor, regulator, financier and operator.

He is a chartered engineer, member of ICE, CIWEM and IWO and is a director of UKWIR.

George's role with Northern Ireland Water has responsibility for strategic asset management, H&S and the company's environmental services. He is married with 3 children and lives in Belfast.

Jerry England

Director of Engineering, Network Rail

Biography

Jerry is a Chartered Chemical Engineer, and has worked across the infrastructure sector in various capacities for nearly 30 years.

He joined Network Rail in October 2007 as Director, Civil Engineering and was promoted to Director, Engineering in February 2009.

Prior to joining Network Rail he was Interim Major Projects Director with the Highways Agency, where he was accountable for the delivery of all major road schemes in England.

Before joining the Highways Agency Jerry was Chief Operating Officer for Thames Water Utilities, responsible for the provision of water and wastewater services to over 13 million customers in London and the Thames Valley. He had Board accountability for all aspects of operational performance and customer service, over £1.4bn of revenue, around £500m pa of operational expenditure, and more than £600m pa of capital expenditure.

Prior to joining Thames Water Jerry spent 20 years in the oil and gas industry, project managing the design and construction of oil refineries, gas processing plants, and petrochemical plants for many of the major oil companies. Jerry has worked in the USA, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian sub-continent, as well as in the UK and Europe.

Kevin Dunning

Head of Asset Management, London Underground

Biography

Kevin, a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with a Masters in Asset Management joined London Underground only 11 months ago and brings 17 years of water experience from Asset Maintenance, renewals and operations. He has a hands on operational background and previously headed up the maintenance and renewals department for Anglian Water, managing the operational and capital maintenance for 4500 sewage pumping stations and 1100 sewage treatment works spanning from the Humber to the Thames. Kevin decided to take up his new challenge in an effort to widen his experience of Asset Management across a diverse asset base.

Graeme Thompson

Director, Finance and Regulation, Central Networks

Biography

Graeme Thompson is the Finance and Regulation Director for Central Networks.

Central Networks distributes electricity to homes and businesses in central England, serving 4.9 million customers and employing around 3500 people. Central Networks is part of E.ON, the world’s largest investor-owned power and gas company.

Graeme trained as a Chartered Accountant at Coopers & Lybrand in Birmingham before joining Powergen in 1996. He worked in various finance roles within Powergen’s generation business before moving into the central M&A team, taking a key role in the acquisitions of LG&E in the US and TXU and Midlands Electricity in the UK. Following the E.ON acquisition of Powergen, in 2003 he was appointed Director, Controlling and Accounting within E.ON UK and since 2006 has been leading the strategy, regulation and finance team within Central Networks. Graeme lives in Warwickshire, is married and with no children enjoys travelling and the other freedoms this brings.

Jeremy Bending

Director of Network Strategy, National Grid

Biography

Jeremy is a chartered engineer with over 25 years experience in the gas industry. He joined the industry as a Graduate Trainee.

His work experience includes 10 years in the construction, commissioning and operation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants within the UK. In 1986 he was seconded to Tokyo Gas Company for 14 months and worked predominantly in their LNG Production Division.

He has also spent significant time in the Gas Distribution and Gas Transmission business within British Gas.

Jeremy was appointed to the Head of National Transmission System (NTS) in 2000 and then became the Network Director for South of England in 2002.

He is now the Director of Network Strategy, Gas Distribution, National Grid. His responsibilities include technical policy development, investment and information management, Network Planning and the operation of the Distribution Control Centres.

Jeremy is currently Chairman of the Distribution Committee of the International Gas Union and President elect of the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM).

Steve Plumb

Head of Asset Management, Tube Lines

Biography

Stephen is Head of Asset Management at Tube Lines. He is responsible for ensuring Tube Lines deliver their asset management obligations under the PPP contract and for helping Tube Lines to develop their asset management approach and make whole life cost decisions.

Previously Stephen spent 15 years in the water industry with Anglian Water in a variety of engineering, operational and asset management roles.

Stephen is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and more recently completed an MBA.