A number of organisations representing the gas industry have been honoured at the annual Gas Industry Awards in London this week.
The awards were hosted by the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) and the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA).
A total of 12 awards were handed out – ten category awards and two special awards.
The winners were:
- Manager of the Year – Carly Gilchrist, Fulcrum Pipelines
- Engineer of the Year – Jonathan Strain, Firmus Energy
- Young Person’s Achievement Award – Ben Kuchta, Quantic Corporation
- Leadership Award – Jane Haswell, Pipeline Integrity Engineers
- Safety Award – National Grid Grain LNG for Breaking Safety Records
- Customer Service Award – Wales & West Utilities and Morrison Utility Services
- Innovation Award – Sustainable Vehicle Auxiliary Power System by Cadent in collaboration with Bri-Stor Systems and Perpetual V2G Systems
- Product of the Year – VSRT Vertical Steam Boiler by Fulton
- Project of the Year – H21 by Northern Gas Networks in collaboration with Cadent, SGN, Wales & West Utilities, DNV GL and the Health & Safety Laboratory (HSL)
- Company of the Year – SGN
- Special Recognition Award – Mike Foster, Energy and Utilities Alliance
- Outstanding Achievement Award – Chris Train
Responding to his company’s project of the year accolade Northern Gas Networks chief executive Mark Horsley said: “I am delighted that H21 has been recognised for the work it is delivering through the collaboration of all four gas distribution networks.
“Customers are ready to embrace cleaner, greener solutions in their homes and harnessing hydrogen as part of this would represent a huge step towards meeting climate change targets.”
Helen Bray, president of EUA, said: “What a great opportunity for us all to learn from innovative ideas and leaders across the industry. The awards have inspired me to think about how the winning concepts could be applied in different contexts.”
Antony Green, president of IGEM, added: “Once again, the Gas Industry Awards has delivered a worthy set of winners.
“As always, the calibre of the shortlisted entrants was extremely high, but our judges have worked hard to identify the best of the best for 2019.
“I’m especially heartened to see the winners display a diverse mix of talents across the spectrum of gas operations, which I think demonstrates the level of commitment to safety, future technology and professional excellence evident in the industry today.”
Earlier this week the IGEM announced the creation of a new executive board, which it believes will help the institution be “more agile in its strategic decision making”.
Chief executive Neil Atkinson announced the board at the institution’s 156th annual general meeting in London on 15 May.
Atkinson said: “These strengthened governance arrangements will help free council for greater discussion of strategic matters by ensuring membership and learned society matters can be discussed more fully.
“This improvement to our organisation’s structure and processes will in turn aid the delivery of the institution’s public benefit obligations. The expertise of our membership extends right across the gas sector and IGEM must leverage this to the full at this time of huge change for the energy sector.”
The following officers will serve on the new IGEM executive board:
- President Antony Green
- Vice President Duncan Wong
- President Elect Ben Clarke
- Past President Steve Edwards
- Honorary Secretary Gordon Davies
- CEO Neil Atkinson
In addition, following elections, the council has appointed the following trustees to the board:
- Phil Jenkins, GATC, representing Industrial Affiliates members
- Martin Alderson, NGN, representing the gas networks
- David McLeod, ULC Robotics, representing IGEM’S Young Persons Network
There will also be two co-opted advisers, to be announced in due course.