Neil McCulloch — CEO, Adura

Neil McCulloch leads Adura, the joint venture created by Shell and Equinor to combine their UK North Sea oil and gas operations. The company is expected to become one of the basin’s largest independent offshore producers, giving McCulloch a central role in maintaining domestic energy supply while the UK manages its transition towards lower-carbon energy. His experience across the energy industry positions him to oversee mature assets, production efficiency, safety and decommissioning. Adura’s significance extends beyond hydrocarbons: its infrastructure, technical workforce and offshore supply chain could support future carbon-capture and energy-transition projects.

Francesco Mazzagatti — Founder and CEO, Viaro Energy 

Francesco Mazzagatti is the founder and chief executive of Viaro Energy, an independent company that has grown through acquisitions in the UK and Dutch North Sea. He founded Viaro in 2020, including through the £247 million takeover of RockRose Energy, and has pursued a counter-cyclical investment strategy focused on established offshore assets. Viaro reports production of around 25,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and interests across roughly 60 North Sea fields. 

David Whitehouse — CEO, Offshore Energies UK

David Whitehouse is the chief executive of Offshore Energies UK, the principal trade body representing companies across the country’s offshore energy sector. His influence reaches oil and gas producers, offshore-wind developers, technology companies and the wider supply chain. Whitehouse has consistently argued that the North Sea transition must protect skilled employment, industrial capability and energy security while expanding renewable energy. He is an important voice in debates over licensing, taxation, domestic production and the future of offshore workers. As the industry faces regulatory uncertainty and investment pressures, Whitehouse’s role is to articulate a long-term strategy for a diverse and economically productive North Sea. 

Stuart Payne — CEO, North Sea Transition Authority

Stuart Payne leads the North Sea Transition Authority, the regulator responsible for managing the UK’s offshore oil and gas resources and supporting an orderly transition to a net-zero energy system. His position places him at the centre of politically sensitive decisions involving licensing, production, infrastructure and decommissioning. Payne joined the organisation at its creation and became chief executive in 2023, bringing deep institutional knowledge to the role. He must balance energy security and economic interests with climate policy, while encouraging collaboration between conventional energy companies and emerging industries such as offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture. 

Martin Pibworth — CEO, SSE

Martin Pibworth leads SSE, one of Britain’s most important electricity and renewable-energy companies. Under his leadership, SSE is advancing major offshore-wind projects, including Dogger Bank and Berwick Bank, helping strengthen the UK’s low-carbon generation capacity. The company’s Berwick Bank project secured a 1.4-gigawatt contract in the UK’s latest offshore-wind auction, marking a significant step towards investment and construction. Pibworth’s challenge is to deliver large infrastructure projects while controlling costs, strengthening supply chains and supporting grid development. His decisions will influence Scotland’s industrial base and the broader role of offshore wind in Britain’s energy security. 

Charlie Jordan — CEO, ScottishPower Renewables

Charlie Jordan is chief executive of ScottishPower Renewables, the renewable-energy division behind several of the UK’s most significant offshore-wind developments. He has been closely associated with East Anglia THREE, a 1.4-gigawatt project being developed with Masdar in the North Sea. The project’s construction includes 95 foundations and major investment in offshore engineering, manufacturing and installation. Jordan’s leadership reflects the growing importance of large-scale renewable projects to Britain’s energy strategy. His priorities include delivering infrastructure safely, expanding clean-power capacity and creating opportunities for regional businesses and skilled workers across the East of England and Scotland.