Registration and refreshments
08:45 to
09:30
Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30 to
09:40
Speaker:
Joe Ayoubkhani.
Chair.
RTPI Cymru.
Part 1: Supporting infrastructure development in Wales through current policy
09:40 to
12:00
Supporting renewable energy infrastructure in Wales – updates to policy and guiding current projects
09:40 to
10:05
- Delivering future energy projects in Wales
- Guiding the future of energy infrastructure through policy
Speaker:
Edward Sherriff.
Deputy Director of Energy.
Welsh Government.
Panel Discussion: Planning for future infrastructure in Wales – creating a policy framework that supports new developments
10:05 to
10:50
- Staying ahead of evolving policies and a changing consent process
- How is policy supporting new infrastructure? What more can be done to take projects from concept to reality?
- Learning from recent projects
- Creating a connected Wales post roads review
- Incorporating future generations into planning for new infrastructure
Speakers:
Rhiannon Hardiman.
Change maker - Nature, Climate Change and Decarbonisation.
Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.
Eleri Davies.
Head of Onshore Development: Wales & England.
RWE Renewables.
Ron Loveland.
Energy Advisor.
Welsh Government.
Guto Owen.
Director.
Ynni Glân.
Morning refreshments
10:50 to
11:20
Anticipating changes to the consenting process, how the regime has evolved and where it is going – how do you move your project forward?
11:20 to
11:45
- Current routes and planning policy
- How has the current system worked until now?
- How should projects be preparing for future planning reform? What does this mean in practice?
Speaker:
Cathryn Tracey.
Director.
Burges Salmon.
Part 2: Achieving net zero in Wales through infrastructure development
11:45 to
12:35
Achieving future net zero in Wales – effectively decarbonising infrastructure
11:45 to
12:10
- Moving projects to delivery in a sustainable way
- What challenges are projects facing when aiming to reach decarboniisation targets? how can these be overcome?
Speaker:
Sue Barr.
Chair; Director Marine Energy.
Marine Energy Council: Simply Blue Group.
Embedding design into infrastructure development
12:10 to
12:35
- Guidance and best practice
- The role of behavioural change
- Demonstrating social value
Speaker:
Alister Kratt.
Director.
LDA Design.
Networking lunch
12:35 to
13:35
Part 3: Practical lessons for planning and delivering infrastructure in Wales
13:35 to
15:15
Panel discussion - Future plans and lessons from different types of infrastructure
13:35 to
14:20
- Working with limited resources and stringent timelines
- Best practice and innovative ways of navigating the challenges consenting process
- Working collaboratively with stakeholders to mitigate consenting risks
Speakers:
Andy Billcliff.
Chief Executive Officer.
Menter Mon Morlais.
Cathy Hall.
Masterplanner.
Associated British Ports.
Tim James.
Infrastructure Development Director.
Celtic Sea Power.
Conducting impactful consultation and engagement for your infrastructure projects
14:20 to
14:45
- Reaching seldom heard groups
- Successfully employing digital strategies of engagement
- Effectively engaging with key stakeholders throughout the project
Speaker:
Sara Jones.
Stakeholder Engagement Lead.
Cierco Energy.
Case study: effectively navigating the consenting process and moving towards project delivery
14:45 to
15:10
- Overcoming challenges when planning for new infrastructure
- Minimising the environmental impact of the development
Speaker:
Sean Evans.
Consenting Manager.
Blue Gem Wind.
Afternoon refreshments
15:10 to
15:40
Part 4: Supporting future energy projects in Wales through improved grid and port infrastructure
15:40 to
17:05
Evolving reforms to energy networks – establishing a framework to increase grid connections across Wales
15:40 to
16:05
- Insight into current plans for network reform
- Timelines for network amends and pathways to 2030
- Insight into Holistic Network Design
Speaker:
David Wildash.
Head of Customer Connections.
National Grid ESO.
Ports as gateways to future energy development and growth – delivering infrastructure that supports new energy projects
16:05 to
16:30
- Future plans for infrastructure needed to support offshore wind and marine energy
- Future plans for freeport growth and the role of energy infrastructure
- Successfully providing new infrastructure at ports
Speaker:
Steve Edwards.
Commercial Director.
Port of Milford Haven.
Getting projects connected to the grid – reducing timelines and increasing network capacity
16:30 to
16:55
- Matching planning with grid connections agreements
- Insight into future plans to create more capacity
- Delivering a smart and innovative network
Speaker:
Cuan Rowlands.
Connections Strategy Engineer.
National Grid.
Chair’s closing remarks
16:55 to
17:05
Close of conference and networking drinks
17:05 to
18:00