Overview of the Westminster Energy Forum

The Westminster Energy Forum (WEF), founded 2004, is an established Knowledge Exchange Programme and Senior Leadership Network comprising over 150 organisations from the UK government, regulators, industry, NGOs and diplomats. The WEF aims to:

Deliver expert risk analysis, early warning and strategic guidance for senior leaders in support of a resilient low carbon transition.

In pursuit of this strategic goal, the WEF Secretariat delivers a series of high-level meetings throughout the political year which have the following operational focus:

The evaluation of risks found at the intersection of dynamic and disruptive energy markets, climate change and (geo)political uncertainty.

AGENDA

Session One: 

Energy Market Hot Topics and Trends: Implications of (Geo)Political and Economic Competitions

Brendan Cronin, Director, AFRY
Amy Barnes, Global Head of Energy and Power, Marsh 

Session Two:

Delivering Key Frameworks of the Energy Transition: Dynamic Strategies for Systemic Transformation, incl Critical Minerals

Sophia Brecknell, Deputy Head, International Energy Unit, FCDO
Pelin Zorlu, Senior Research Fellow Lead, Climate and Energy, Chatham House

Derailment Risks: Climate Change, and the Latest on the AMOC …

Dr. Jonathan Baker, Senior Climate Scientist, MetOffice

Session Three:

Derailment Risks: Industrial Perspectives on the Potential Pitfalls Ahead for Delivering Energy Transitions in Highly Dynamic Contexts

Helen Barrow, Managing Director – Power Generation and Net-Zero Solutions, Accenture
Stuart Tester, Head of Government Relations, Baker Hughes
Simon Cutler, Senior Manager Global Policy & Advocacy, Fortescue

Session Four:

Diplomatic Perspectives on EU & Global Challenges in the Wider Context of Climate Change and Global Decarbonisation

Jeremy Mast, Head of Energy, Climate, Environment and Sustainability Division, Embassy of France (France 2026 G7 Presidency)
Elizabeth Bowes, Deputy High Commissioner, Australian High Commission (COP31 Co-Presidency)