Full Network Members

Tell us a little bit about you

I’m an academic and engineer with 15 years of industry experience before moving into academia full time in 2009. Originally from Ireland, I’ve lived in Germany and France, travelled extensively, and now feel very much at home in Manchester thanks to the warm welcome from colleagues and friends across the UK.

I’ve navigated a long health journey, having been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) after managing a series of autoimmune illnesses since I was 12. In 2023, I lost both of my incredible parents, Mercy and Joe, within the space of 12 weeks, shortly after taking up my Chair in Net Zero Infrastructure at Manchester. I had been their primary carer for several years as they each dealt with cancer and the complexities of ageing. It was a profound and life-shifting period.

Then in January 2024, I had a lumpectomy, another chapter in my resilience journey. With the unwavering support of my husband Martin and our two wonderfully sporty teenagers, and close friends and colleagues I’ve finally returned to prioritising myself. I’m going to the gym weekly, dancing again, and feeling strong in 2025. Music is a lifeline, my Spotify playlist is a global soundtrack to my days. I also love to bake, read, and still dream of writing a bestselling novel. Balancing the four quadrants work, health, family, and community hasn’t been easy, but I’ve learned that meaningful change begins from within, and small, daily acts of self-kindness are where real resilience starts to balance health, and wellbeing.

What is your area of research and what project(s) are you working on now?

My research focuses on energy systems, net-zero infrastructure, digitalisation, and cross-sectoral decarbonisation. I’m currently working on the EPSRC HIACT programme and the IDRIC industrial decarbonisation cluster, alongside government and industry-funded projects on system resilience and sustainable innovation.

In parallel, I do extensive policy work, advising Ofgem, the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy, the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator, policymakers in Westminster, and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change, as well as a number of other agencies across Europe. I also collaborate with several industry organisations and energy companies, helping to bridge cutting-edge research with strategy and implementation. Working across these spaces keeps me energised and reminds me daily why this work matters.

What do you think are the challenges for equity/equality, diversity and inclusion in the energy research community in reaching netzero targets by 2050?

One major challenge is recognising that not all voices are equally heard or equally resourced. Structural barriers, ranging from gender, sexuality, race, religion, and both visible and invisible illness, to caring responsibilities, class, financial constraints, and even accents, shape who gets to flourish, lead, publish, or even be in the room. If we’re serious about reaching net zero equitably, we must take these hidden dynamics seriously and act on them meaningfully.

We also need to accept that not every technology will scale in time or within budget—and that some so-called “solutions” are red herrings. Honest, open dialogue is essential. Progress requires tough decisions, and equity means making space for underrepresented perspectives and creating room for truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Research doesn’t always succeed, and it shouldn’t have to be dressed up to look like it did. Failure is not only inevitable, but also necessary. It’s how we learn and get better. The climate crisis won’t be solved by one narrative, or one technology and it will take many, shaped by diversity, honesty, and courage.

What should a supportive, inclusive energy research community look like?

A truly supportive and inclusive energy research community should be open, honest, and grounded in mutual respect. It must create space for a wide spectrum of technologies, methodologies, perspectives, and lived experiences. That means not just tolerating difference but actively valuing it and recognising that progress depends on collaboration across disciplines, sectors, geographies, and worldviews.

We need to move beyond rigid silos, professional defensiveness, and the competitive mindsets that often undermine meaningful exchange. Instead, let’s build a culture where researchers feel safe to share not just successes, but also uncertainties, failures, and alternative approaches. Inclusion also means recognising the emotional and invisible labour many researchers carry—whether related to health, caregiving, or systemic barriers and ensuring those realities are met with empathy, flexibility, and structural support.

We must also appreciate that innovation is rarely linear, and that real breakthroughs often come from the margins from voices or technologies initially overlooked. A supportive community listens deeply, uplifts others generously, and centres collective impact over individual prestige. If we want to deliver a just energy transition, then inclusion cannot just be an add-on—it has to be the foundation.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in Energy Research?

Go for it. Energy research is one of the most dynamic, innovative, and varied fields you could step into, and it’s never been more urgent or more exciting. If you want to make a tangible difference in the world, shape the future, and be part of solving the biggest challenge of our time, climate change, this is where you belong.

Engineering has always been a brilliant career path for go-getters, people who are curious, motivated, and willing to roll up their sleeves to get the job done. While historically it may have been associated with a narrow demographic, I’ve seen enormous progress since I began my career over thirty years ago. The field is evolving, adapting, and diversifying and we need that momentum to continue.

Engineers are not just problem solvers, we're bridge builders. We connect ideas, technologies, sectors, and people. In the context of the low-carbon transition, we are the architects of systemic change, working across policy, technology, infrastructure, and community. If you bring your passion, resilience, and creativity, there is a place for you in this story and we need your voice, your perspective, and your drive.

So be bold, be curious, and don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. The energy transition needs people who think differently, act with purpose, and care deeply. You could be one of them.

Fun question: If you had a magic wand, what is one thing you would change right now?

On a personal level? I’d probably zap my baby belly, perhaps it’s selfish, but it really does annoy me! That said, I’m doing the work and getting back into shape and feeling stronger every week after years of caregiving and recovery. This new phase is about reclaiming joy, energy, and ownership of my own wellbeing and enjoying my life. I’ve finally learned to say no in my fifties, which has been lifechanging.

Professionally, I’d wave the wand to dissolve the silos that still fragment our academic and industry efforts. We desperately need more constructive, cross-disciplinary collaboration, especially if we’re serious about addressing climate change at the pace and scale required. Too often, we operate in echo chambers. Real progress demands shared purpose, open minds, and a culture of collective ambition.