Cristina Garcia-Duffy is ORE Catapult’s Technical Director, leading the strategic development of our technical capabilities and new areas of innovation.

She was formally Head of Technology at the UK Aerospace Technology Institute with accountability for the sustainability strategy, bringing together UK industry and government to address the environmental impact of the aviation industry. This included the development of international relationships to progress towards zero net carbon aviation. Cristina also led the development of the UK National Aerospace Technology Strategy, which determines the priorities for government investment in aerospace research & technology (in the order of £150M per annum).

Prior to joining the ATI in 2014, Cristina held management positions at Leonardo Helicopters including responsibility for the Company’s UK Advanced Rotorcraft Centres. She was also in the leadership team of Project Zero, which delivered the world’s first electric autonomous tilt-rotor demonstrator aircraft. The team and aircraft have been recognised with various international awards since 2012.

Cristina holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and an MSc and BSc in Aerospace Engineering from Saint Louis University, both in the USA.

David Walker is the Offshore Grid Business Development Leader in GE’s - Grid Solutions Business, focussing on AC transmission connections.

GE’s involvement in the offshore market stretches back to the early days of UK Round 1 and David has worked on a number of the UK projects from early business development through to start of construction including Sherringham Shoal, Galloper and more recently Neart na Gaoithe.

With an electrical engineering background he has been in the electrical power industry for over 30 years and held a number of senior sales roles in GE and the former ALSTOM. With a keen interest in the Offshore Windfarm Market, David’s experience in AC offshore connections enables him to guide the Grid Solutions business to make connections with a number of the leading developers, Government Departments and Offshore Wind working groups. GE to continue today to be one of the leading suppliers of both AC and HVDC grid connections worldwide to the rapidly expanding offshore windfarm market.

With 20+ Years’ Experience in Wind Energy Business. Executive & Operational Leadership of industrial manufacturing across the globe –David has numerous experiences include startups, JV’s & M&A of businesses and operations. Currently he is Head of Global Business Development, Vestas Manufacturing. Direct Report to Vestas COO, overseeing Vestas industrial market entry with local content requirements. Working with Governments to find most sustainable supply chain strategy for their Wind Turbine market.

Stephen joined the Catapult in December 2013 as strategy director, bringing considerable experience in the low carbon arena, most notably in his previous role as director of innovation at the Carbon Trust, where he played a key part in writing the business plan and strategy for ORE Catapult.

At the Carbon Trust, he was responsible for managing a portfolio of innovation activity in offshore renewables, biomass heat and industrial energy efficiency, and managed issues relating to both government and industry. He was also previously the head of marine energy, leading a team that designed the Carbon Trust’s wave and tidal energy activity via a series of programmes to prove and develop marine energy and shape government thinking.

Prior to joining the low-carbon industry, Stephen spent three years as materials development engineer at Cosworth Racing Limited, where he led a number of long-term development projects and sourced solutions to in-service problems for the Jaguar Racing Formula 1 engine programme.

Helen K Thomas is a Senior Supply Chain Manager at RWE Renewables. Her work is focused around furthering the company’s engagement activities with businesses and others across Wales, the wider UK and beyond. A key focus of Helen’s role - particularly in relation to RWE’s Awel y Môr project - is building effective relationships with the supply chain, improving tier-to-tier interactions, raising awareness of industry needs and subsequently increasing local content. Helen also liaises with key political stakeholders updating them on RWE’s projects and lobbying for change in the supply chain, ports and manufacturing space with the aim of increasing local benefit.

Helen leads the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) Supply Chain Workstream helping to deliver on Sector Deal targets and during her time at RWE, has also been instrumental in establishing a new supply chain cluster in the North Wales, North West region called The Offshore Energy Alliance.

Before joining RWE, Helen worked for the Trade Association Energy UK and in energy research at Imperial College London. She has a BSc in Environmental Management and a First Class MSc in Renewable Energy Engineering.

Iain is Executive Director at Global Energy Group, leading and developing the company’s growth strategy in the renewable and low carbon energy industries at GEG’s Port of Nigg.  Iain is a Board Member at Scottish Renewables, sits on the Scottish Government’s, Renewables Strategic Leadership Group, Member of SOWEC’s Supply Chain Working Group and a Deepwind Cluster Board member.

James Young is Chief Strategy Officer of JDR Cable Systems, a UK based provider of subsea power cable products and services for the offshore energy sector.  JDR operates from their UK manufacturing facilities in Hartlepool and Littleport and from their service bases located in Newcastle and Tomball, Texas US.

A proud ambassador of British industry, Katherine Bennett joined the HVM Catapult as CEO in June 2021 after 16 years at Airbus where she was a Senior Vice President.

In Airbus, Katherine was the UK voice and face of the global aerospace manufacturer and her responsibilities included developing Airbus in the UK strategy, leading the country’s Public Affairs activities, high-profile media engagement and representing the Company on various committees, boards and initiatives including VentilatorChallengeUK.

Prior to joining Airbus, Katherine headed up the government affairs function at Vauxhall Motors and worked for Hill and Knowlton Public Relations in London, working with a range of industrial clients.

Katherine’s significant contribution to the aerospace and aviation sector was recognised with the Order of Commander of the British Empire in January 2019. She also has an Honorary Doctorate from Cranfield University. Today Katherine continues to invest working and personal time serving numerous public and private enterprises.

Katherine is passionate about people and has led multiple industry initiatives aimed at ensuring diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace.

When Katherine is not hard at work she can be found singing in a choir or playing the organ at her local church.

Mike is the Programme Director for the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF).

This role is responsible for the operations, major programmes governance, and open and commercialisation directorates of Innovate UK.

The ISCF is investing over two billion to deliver the research and innovation that businesses need to transform existing industries, create new ones and deliver economic impact, jobs and growth.

Mike has also worked as Deputy Director for Fund Portfolio, with responsibility for the development of a balanced portfolio of hundreds of millions of grant funding activity.

One of Mike’s first roles with Innovate UK was as co-author on the UK strategy for electronics, photonics and electrical systems. He was the lead for the Assisted Living Innovation Platform, which promoted independence and quality of life among the ageing population. Over five years this platform invested more than £50 million to connect business to societal challenges and help the UK to access this global market opportunity. During this time he was also President of the Ambient Assisted Living Association, part of a pan-European investment activity worth over €600 million.

Prior to Innovate UK, Mike worked in the photonics industry for 10 years after graduating with a masters in physics from Imperial College, London. He is a Chartered Physicist and Fellow of the Institute of Physics.

Tony is Director of Technology Development at ORE Catapult, the UK’s leading innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy. He is responsible for some of the world’s largest wind turbine test facilities.

He is a strong advocate of the validation process which is equally important to small scale disruptive innovators as it is to OEMs in their quest to bring new products to market. He is also Chair of Energi Coast, the North East of England’s Offshore Wind Cluster, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Chair of its Renewable Power Committee.

Tony is equally passionate about the skills agenda and is actively involved in ensuring education providers are fully attuned to the new job opportunities presented by our transition to a low carbon economy.

Ronnie Bonnar started his career in the offshore oil and gas sector, working initially in the fabrication yards in the North of Scotland, followed by a number of assignments overseas.

In 2005 he took on the role as Project Manager on the Beatrice Demonstrator Project and subsequently, in 2008, became co-founder and Operations Director of SeaEnergy Renewables Ltd.

Following the acquisition of SeaEnergy Renewables in June 2011 by Repsol, he took up the role of General Manager responsible for all renewables activities in the UK, which included the development of three major offshore wind farms, Beatrice, Inch Cape and the Moray Firth projects.

In 2016, he set up his own consultancy business focussed on the renewables sector in the UK and abroad.

Ronnie is also a former Chairman of Scottish Renewables.

Tim was appointed in May 2022 by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to serve as the UK's first Offshore Wind Champion, co-chairing the Offshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce (OWAT) established by the British Energy Security Strategy. He has more than 25 years experience in major international law firms advising on the development and financing of some of the largest and most complex energy projects in the UK, Eastern Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf, East Africa and beyond, including senior roles at Shearman & Sterling and Freshfields. Tim spent around half his legal career living and working in Abu Dhabi.

Zoe Barnes has worked in the wind industry for 19 years, initially in R&D for a turbine manufacturer and more recently in offshore wind strategic consultancy. She is currently a partner in Everoze,  working primarily within Quaybridge, Everoze’s offshore wind development arm. Her work is primarily focused on innovation, supply chain and industry strategic development. She is and NED for OWGP and is currently co-chairing the UK FLOW Task Force Working Groups.