National Grid ESO has made Roisin Quinn its inaugural chief engineer. Quinn joined the electricity system operator’s graduate scheme in 2004 and has worked on a number of key projects since then. She also heads up the national electricity control centre.
The ESO hopes creating a chief engineer role will help underline the importance of engineering to the clean energy transition and attract new talent.
The UK energy sector will require 117,000 new workers between now and 2030 to stand a chance of hitting net zero, according to its recent report, Building the Net Zero Energy Workforce. More than half of those required, some 65,000, are data analysts and renewable energy engineers.
“I’m incredibly proud to have been appointed chief engineer,” said Quinn. “We have a variety of different engineers, in a variety of different roles, all working to balance supply and demand second by second and deliver safe, secure and reliable electricity.
“I hope my appointment spotlights the fantastic work they do as well as encouraging the next generation of young engineers to join us and help shape the future of electricity in Great Britain.”
Meanwhile, the ESO’s director of operations, Duncan Burt, has taken on a new role as COP26 director for the National Grid Group.
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