Tuesday 4th March marked the first Lightning Bolt Talk of 2025, held at EastCheap Records in London. For the third consecutive year, Engage Consulting was a proud sponsor of the event organised by Energy UK. This is a continuation of nearly 20 years of successful collaboration between Energy UK and Engage Consulting.
About the Event
Energy UK’s Lightning Bolt Talks bring together professionals from across the energy sector, policymakers and beyond. The evening is an opportunity for the audience to hear from several industry professionals about the innovative ways they are using data to address key industry challenges and support the journey to net zero. As always, attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions and network afterwards.
Event Highlights
Charles Wood, Deputy Director of Policy at Energy UK, hosted the evening, introduced the speakers and led the discussion. Engage Consulting, the event sponsor was represented by Matthew Johnson, who extended his thanks to all those attending.
The four speakers on the night were:
Maja Stone, Head of Data and AI Talent at National Grid: introduced National Grid’s Skills Development Framework, which supports data-driven decision-making across the organisation, building confidence and skills among staff who may not traditionally work with data or technology space.
Shannon Gehan, Energy Data Product Owner at Electralink: presented the API for energy data transfer, which uses estimated annual consumption data to help find energy prices. Shannon illustrated this with a real-life example of how an announcement to ‘fix or switch’ energy providers leads to a surge in API requests.
Michael Avant-Smith, Senior Vice President at BMA: introduced Decisio AI, which is BMA’s AI-assisted software platform. His presentation explored how AI and other technologies can enhance critical infrastructure planning through more joined-up thinking and cohesive decision-making.
Pranav Menon, Research Associate at Aurora: presented compelling insights on forecasting and data-driven intelligence to power the global energy transition. His presentation included some fantastic data visuals showcasing the rise of renewables in the UK power market.
Our Role and Vision
As a long-standing supporter of this initiative, Engage Consulting is passionate about fuelling fresh thinking and equipping individuals and organisations with the tools to harness the power of data. In an era of rapid energy transformation, collaboration and innovation are more essential than ever. Our continued sponsorship underscores our unwavering commitment to driving positive change and empowering the future of energy.
