Wednesday 29th January 2025
Speakers:
Our Programme
We have developed an exciting agenda for the inaugural Net Zero Finance Leadership Summit, comprising keynote speakers, panel discussions, industry insights and investor perspectives delivered by cross-industry experts. Attendees will gain real insight into how they can deliver value through their sustainability programmes, whilst identifying new approaches to accelerate the pace, scale and financing of local net zero and climate action.
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Morning sessions
09:15-10:00 | Registration
Connect, network and engage with fellow industry experts and leaders at the Net Zero Finance networking area.
Keynote
10:00-10:15 | Opening Remarks and Summit Welcome
Welcome - Miti Davda, Shift to Net Zero Project Manager, ep group Keynote - Patrick Allcorn, Head of Local Energy, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Industry Insight
10:15-10:45 | Net Zero Living
Our opening session sets the scene for the remainder of the Leadership Summit, asking how can local authorities become 'future ready' and captures a snapshot of activities within Innovate UK's Net Zero Living Programme. We explore how the 'Shift to Net Zero' project identified an estimated £46+billion of local net zero projects across just four local authorities and the challenges that delivering those investments pose. Speakers: * Rob Saunders, Systems Integration Director for Net Zero, Innovate UK * Steven Fawkes, Managing Director, ep group
Panel Discussion
10:45-11:25 | The Need to Mobilise Private Capital
Over £500 billion of new investment is required to deliver local net zero projects by 2050, which the public purse cannot fund alone. Half of the investment required must come from private investors, lenders and financial institutions. How can local authorities prepare to attract private capital into local net zero and climate projects and shift their approach to funding decarbonisation programmes? + Steven Fawkes, Managing Director, ep group (Moderator) + Heather Buchanan, Chief Executive Officer, Bankers for Net Zero + Jo Wall, Senior Strategy Director, Local Partnerships + Martin Reeves, Chief Executive, Oxfordshire County Council
Panel Discussion
11:25-12:05 | Delivering Value through Sustainability
When making the business case to approve a local net zero investment the decision often comes down to cost and fails to reflect advances in technologies and approaches that can create new revenue streams, and enable a multitude of economic, social and environmental benefits. How can we build 'energy assets' so that they create value for local authorities and their communities? How can we ensure that these benefits are realised locally? * Peter Littlewood, Director, Better Planet Education (Moderator) + Alex Green, Head of Let's Go Zero, Ashden + Peter Gudde, Net Zero Programme Lead, Greater South East Net Zero Hub + Rufus Grantham, Partner / Co-Founder, Living Places
12:05-12:50 | Lunch
Connect, network and engage with fellow industry experts and leaders at the Net Zero Finance networking area.
Afternoon sessions
Panel Discussion
12:50-13:30 | What Private Finance Will (and Won't) Fund
Climate and net zero targets are well documented, but to meet those targets local authorities will need to play their part in accelerating the pace, scale and financing of local net zero action. At least £250 billion of private investment is needed to support the delivery of local net zero projects by 2050. But how can a local authority attract that investment? What are private sector investors, lenders and financial institutions looking to fund? And how do they envisage working with local authorities to mobilise that finance? + Leo Bedford, Partner, ep group (Moderator) + Daryl Murphy, Managing Director Infrastructure, Aviva Investors + Murray Birt, Senior ESG Strategist, DWS + Pete Radford, Investment Director, Amber Infrastructure
Investor Perspective
13:30-14:00 | The Role of the National Wealth Fund and Local Authority Strategy in Accessing Private Capital
The National Wealth Fund will help create a stable investment environment by mobilising private capital around the Government’s strategic priorities, enabling the market to invest with confidence in clean energy and growth industries. This session explores how innovative public and private expertise can come together and support the delivery of local net zero action. + Sophie Kempthorne, Innovation Lead - Local Net Zero Investment, Innovate UK (Moderator) + Stuart Leslie, Director, Local Authority Advisory & Lending, the National Wealth Fund. + Justin Olosunde Senior Funding & Investment Manager, West of England Combined Authority
Fireside Chat
14:00-14:40 | Can a Regional Approach Work?
One of the barriers for local authorities outside of large cities and mayoral devolved areas is reaching a critical scale of projects that can attract private investment. This session asks what priority local net zero projects could a regional approach help deliver? + Moderator Chris Livemore, Director, Ibex Earth + Tom Day, Head of Energy & Low Carbon, Essex County Council. + Paul Bourgeois, Strategy Director, Local Partnerships + Katie Sargent, Green Futures Manager, Surrey County Council + Rob Robinson, Low Carbon Kent Manager, Kent County Council
Industry Insight
14:40-15:20 | An Innovative Solution for Local Authorities - Exploring the Net Zero Delivery Vehicle
How can local authorities within the two-tier local government structure adopt the funding mechanisms, commercial models and governance structures that are required to mobilise private capital and reduce the pressures on the public purse? Over the course of the Shift to Net Zero project, the consortium has identified over £46 billion worth of local net zero projects, how could a net zero delivery vehicle help to realise those investments? And what is needed to reduce investment risks and transaction costs? + Leo Bedford, Partner, ep group + Matt Daffurn, Partner Energy, Environment & Infrastructure Team, Bryan Cave Leighton & Paisner + Alex Rathmell, Local Net Zero Accelerator - Programme Lead, Greater South East Net Zero Hub.
Closing Remarks
15:20-15:40 | Next Steps & Closing Remarks
How can we get these new funding mechanisms, commercial models and governance structures working in practice? How can existing resources and internal skillsets best be deployed by local authorities to accelerate decarbonisation programmes and drive down costs? The final session recaps key messaging from the event. Speakers: + Dr Steven Fawkes, Managing Partner, ep group + Jessica Schneider, Consultant, ep group
15:40-16:00 | Networking | Coffee Break
Connect, network and engage with fellow industry experts and leaders at the Net Zero Finance networking area.
