Renewables expert joins NOF Energy’s board

NOF Energy, the energy industry business development organisation, has appointed Dr Alan Lowdon, a specialist in renewable energy, to its board.

Lowdon currently advises the UK Government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, on all renewable energy matters as well as the US Department of Energy on offshore wind issues. He holds non-executive director positions at Port of Blyth, and Innovation North East Ltd and is Chair of the Innovation Board of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Previously Director of Technology and Innovation at NaREC, now the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, Lowdon currently operates a broad portfolio of interests of an executive, non-executive and advisory nature, NOF said. He is CEO at asset inspection start-up business Invisotech, as well as holding advisory roles at the Green Port Hull Initiative, the University of Strathclyde’s Technology & Innovation Centre and water purification technology business CatalySystems.

He is also a visiting professor of Durham University and is the chair of Durham Energy Institute’s Advisory Board.

Lowdon has previously worked in major corporations, including Rolls Royce, PB Power, British Gas, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, Shell, Mott MacDonald and Sinclair Knight Merz.

George Rafferty, Chief Executive of NOF Energy, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Alan to the NOF Energy board. The role of our board has never been so important as NOF Energy evolves to meet the changes and challenges facing the global energy industry, so it is fantastic that Alan is joining our highly experienced cohort of directors.”

NOF Energy’s board, which is made up of 14 industry professionals from the energy sector supply chain, works to inform and direct the organisation’s strategy.

The organisation provides a suite of services for its network of 500 members that help identify new business opportunities in the UK and around the world as well as delivering industry intelligence and hosting an extensive calendar of networking events and briefings.