Colin Skellett

Executive Chairman, Wessex Water

Biography

Colin Skellett was born in Nottingham and has lived in the Bristol and Bath area for over 40 years.  He is a scientist and engineer by training, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and has worked largely in the water industry for over 40 years.   

He has had non-executive roles in rail, travel and international infrastructure businesses.  He served on the Board of the South West Regional Development Agency and is involved with a number of charities.

Colin is currently Executive Chairman of Wessex Water, non-executive Chairman of European Connoisseurs Travel, joint Chairman of BusinessWest, and Chairman of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.

Colin Skellett

Executive Chairman, Wessex Water

Biography

Colin Skellett was born in Nottingham and has lived in the Bristol and Bath area for over 40 years.  He is a scientist and engineer by training, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and has worked largely in the water industry for over 40 years.   

He has had non-executive roles in rail, travel and international infrastructure businesses.  He served on the Board of the South West Regional Development Agency and is involved with a number of charities.

Colin is currently Executive Chairman of Wessex Water, non-executive Chairman of European Connoisseurs Travel, joint Chairman of BusinessWest, and Chairman of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.

Martin Silcock

Strategy Manager, Anglian Water

Biography

Martin is head of Business Strategy at Anglian Water, a role which encompasses leading its work on market and regulatory reform, and directing regulatory price reviews. Before joining AW in 2005 he worked as consultant in energy, water end transport sectors in a number of countries, with a particular focus on reform and the introduction of markets.

Trevor Bishop

Head of Water Resources Policy, Environment Agency

Biography

As Head of Water Resources for the Environment Agency, Trevor's responsibilities include all aspects of the management and operation of water resources across England and Wales. Specific responsibilities include Access and Allocation of Water Resources across sectors, Strategic Water Resource Planning, Securing Sustainable Catchment Abstractions, Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation, Water Competition, Water Demand Management and Monitoring. Trevor has recently been responsible for the delivery of the Environment Agency's Water Resource Strategy, looking out to the 2050's.

Prior to his current role Trevor worked for over 10 years in the Water Industry with a wide range of both strategic and operational roles in a number of water companies. Trevor's final role before joining the Environment Agency was Head of Regulation and Asset Performance at Mid Kent Water. Before joining the Water Industry Trevor worked as a consultant and a geologist in the oil industry.

Martin Silcock

Strategy Manager, Anglian Water

Biography

Martin is head of Business Strategy at Anglian Water, a role which encompasses leading its work on market and regulatory reform, and directing regulatory price reviews. Before joining AW in 2005 he worked as consultant in energy, water end transport sectors in a number of countries, with a particular focus on reform and the introduction of markets.

Trevor Bishop

Head of Water Resources Policy, Environment Agency

Biography

As Head of Water Resources for the Environment Agency, Trevor's responsibilities include all aspects of the management and operation of water resources across England and Wales. Specific responsibilities include Access and Allocation of Water Resources across sectors, Strategic Water Resource Planning, Securing Sustainable Catchment Abstractions, Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation, Water Competition, Water Demand Management and Monitoring. Trevor has recently been responsible for the delivery of the Environment Agency's Water Resource Strategy, looking out to the 2050's.

Prior to his current role Trevor worked for over 10 years in the Water Industry with a wide range of both strategic and operational roles in a number of water companies. Trevor's final role before joining the Environment Agency was Head of Regulation and Asset Performance at Mid Kent Water. Before joining the Water Industry Trevor worked as a consultant and a geologist in the oil industry.

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.

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.

Richard Flint

Chief Executive Officer, Yorkshire Water

Biography

Richard was appointed Chief Executive of Kelda Group and Yorkshire Water Services Ltd in April 2010.  Prior to that he was the Chief Operating Officer of Yorkshire Water (2008-2010) and Director of the company’s Water Business Unit (2003-2008).  He is Chairman of Kelda Water Services, a member of the Water UK Board and a WaterAid Trustee.  He was previously chairman of Bradford’s Business in the Community initiative. 

Richard's  career  has  had  a  heavy  focus  on  leading change, including introducing  competitive  market working practices into the regulated water business,  the  real-time  automation  of  the Yorkshire Water production platform and innovations in service experience and delivery. 

He has recently led a major reorganisation of Yorkshire Water to ensure the company’s 4.8m customers continue to benefit from industry-leading levels of service and environmental excellence.

Martin Brough

Director European Utilities Research, Deutsche Bank

Biography

Martin leads analysis of UK energy and pan-European thematic research in the Deutsche Bank Utilities equity research team. He has been working in the UK and European utilities sector since 1993, including 7 years at the leading economic consultancy company Oxera, and 10 years as an equities analyst in Pan-European utilities teams.

Tony Smith

Chief Executive, CC Water

Biography

Tony joined the Consumer Council for Water in December 2005 as Chief Executive.

Since it was set up, CCWater has tried to encourage water companies, their regulators and government to make sure that the industry and the way it is regulated is fully focused on customers and their needs.

His early career was in strategy and marketing, implementing business turnarounds in oil, aerospace, automotive and fast moving consumer goods businesses.

Later Tony joined the utility sector where he has worked at senior level in electricity and as a director in the water industry and the rail sector.  During his career in the utilities, he has led corporate strategy, corporate services and stakeholder relations, customer service, investment programme and PFI procurement and delivery and competitive market business development.

His last job was with Ofwat, as Director of Competition and Consumer Affairs, where he was responsible for consumer issues in the lead up to and through the 2004 price review.