Introducing the team behind HI-ACT
Prof. Sara Walker, Newcastle University
Professor Walker is the lead for HI-ACT and leads on WP4, Social and Political Intervention and is the UK-HyRES Theme Champion. Professor Walker was the Director for the National Centre for Energy Systems Integration, Deputy Director of the Supergen Energy Networks Hub and Deputy Director of the Active Building Centre. Her work is on systems integration, and the role of built environment in particular.
Prof. Jianzhong Wu, Cardiff University
Professor Wu is a Co-Investigator for HI-ACT and leads WP1, The Way Forward, and is the International Champion. Professor Wu is leading the Work Package on expertise mapping. He is also a theme lead for the UK Energy Research Centre, and Work Package lead for the Supergen Energy Networks Hub. His work is around network integration modelling and optimisation.
Prof. David Flynn, University of Glasgow
Professor Flynn is a Co-Investigator for HI-ACT and leads WP3, Cyber Physical Architecture, and is the Industry Engagement Theme Champion. Professor Flynn is a Work Package leader for the National Centre for Energy Systems Integration, and the academic lead for ReFLEX, which is the Orkney future energy systems demonstrator. His work is around digitalisation of energy systems.
Prof. Adam Hawkes, Imperial College London
Professor Hawkes is the lead for WP2, Whole System Understanding. Adam Hawkes is the Director of the Sustainable Gas Institute and Professor of Energy Systems in the Dept of Chemical Engineering. He is Editor-in-Chief of the new open-access Elsevier journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition.
Prof. Muhammad Imran, University of Glasgow
Professor Imran is a Co-Investigator for HI-ACT on WP3, Cyber Physical Architecture. He is a Professor of Communications Systems with expertise in wireless communication systems and the applications of connectivity solutions.
Prof. Aoife Foley, Queen’s University Belfast/University of Manchester
Professor Foley is a Co-Investigator on HI-ACT for WP3 Cyber Physical Architecture and WP4, Social and Political Intervention. She is a Professor in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Editor in Chief of Elsevier’s Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, a member of the Editorial Board of Elsevier’s Renewable Energy and an Editorial Panel member of the Institution of Civil Engineers Proceedings in Transport.
Prof. Karen Henwood, Cardiff University
Professor Henwood is a Co-Investigator for HI-ACT on WP4, Social and Political Intervention. Professor Henwood is based in Cardiff University’s School of Social Sciences and its Understanding Risk Research Group. She works on how it is possible for people to meet the challenges posed to themselves and society by the dynamics of environmental risk and socio-cultural change, including infrastructure and technology transitions in decarbonising energy systems.
Prof. Alok Choudary, University of Warwick
Professor Choudary is a Co-Investigator for HI-ACT on WP3, Cyber Physical Architecture. Professor Choudary is a Professor of Supply Chain Management and the Head of the Supply Chain Research Group (SCRG), a leading centre for supply chain research to address challenges related to sustainability (net-zero and circular economy), resilience and digital transformation.
Prof. Goran Strbac, Imperial College London
Professor Strbac is a Co-Investigator for HI-ACT, on WP1, The Way Forward and WP2, Whole Systems Understanding. He is also the Europe Engagement Theme Champion. He is a Professor of Energy Systems, with extensive experience in advanced modelling and analysis of operation, planning, security and economics of energy systems, with a focus on cost effective evolution to smart low carbon energy future.
Prof. Tapas Mallick, University of Exeter
Professor Mallick is a Co-Investigator for HI-ACT on WP1 The Way Forward and WP3 Cyber Physical Architecture. He is a Chair in Clean Technologies and Head of the Solar Energy Research Group (SERG) at the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI). He is Fellow of World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies.
Prof. Paul Dodds, University College London
Professor Dodds is a Co-Investigator for HI-ACT on WP2, Whole Systems Understanding. He is a Professor of Energy Systems, is a member of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Supergen Hub, the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) and the UK CCS Research Centre.
Prof. Meysam Qadrdan, Cardiff University
Professor Qadrdan is a Co-Investigator on HI-ACT for WP1, The Way Forward, and WP2, Whole Systems Understanding. He is also the EDI Theme Champion. Dr Qadrdan is an EPSRC-UKRI Innovation Fellow and a Reader in Energy Networks and Systems at Cardiff University. His research area covers expansion and operational planning of interdependent energy networks at different scales from community to national level.
Associate Prof. Dawei Wu, University of Birmingham
Associate Professor Dawei is a Co-Investigator on WP1, The Way Forward. He is a Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering and an EPSRC Fellow, at the University of Birmingham. His research strength lies in zero carbon fuels (hydrogen, ammonia and e-fuels) and zero emitting propulsion technologies for heavy transport.
Dr. Clara Crivellaro, Newcastle University
Dr Crivellaro is a Co-Investigator on HI-ACT for WP4, Social and Political Intervention. She is a Senior Research Fellow in Digital Local Democracy, conducting research on participatory approaches and Human-Centre Design of digital innovations that promotes equity and social justice. CC is Co-I on the EPSRC Centre for Digital Citizens.
Dr. Yiji Lu, University of Glasgow
Dr Lu is a Co-Investigator on HI-ACT for WP2, Whole Systems Understanding and WP3, Cyber Physical Architecture. He is a lecturer of Energy Conversion and Storage Systems and Associate Editor of Energy Reports. His expertise covers low carbon technologies.
Dr. Zoya Pourmirza, Newcastle University
Dr Pourmirza has expertise in Digital Energy Systems with the focus on the design and development of energy system ICT architecture, data comms efficiency, and cyber-security issues. Zoya works on WP3, Cyber Physical Architecture.
Dr. Nabila Rufa’I, Newcastle University
Dr Rufa’I is a Research Associate for HI-ACT. Her research is around exploring decarbonisation pathways to achieve UK net zero target by 2050. Her most recent work involves techno-economic analysis of integrated biomass gasification technologies for hydrogen production.
Dr. Adib Allahham, Newcastle University
Dr Allahham is a Co-Investigator on HI-ACT for WP1, The Way Forward, WP2, Whole Systems Understanding, and WP4, Social and Political Intervention. He is a Senior Research Associate at the School of Engineering. His research activities are addressing the need to cost-effectively decarbonise the energy sector over the next thirty years by facilitating innovative network integration of new generation, and the integration of different energy vectors including the Hydrogen.
Dr. Jamie Blanche, University of Glasgow
Dr Blanche is a research associate for HI-ACT working on stakeholder engagement, website administration and WP3, Cyber Physical Architecture. Recently working with the Offshore Robotics for Certification of Assets (ORCA) Hub, Dr Blanche specialises in non-destructive sensor integration for the offshore energy sector and energy systems analysis.
Rhiannon Lamb, Newcastle University
Rhiannon is a Project Administrator supporting the EPSRC National Centre for Energy Systems Integration (CESI), Clean Tyne Project and the Centre for Energy at Newcastle University. Her role in HI-ACT will encompass dissemination of news and updates, communication, and event planning. Rhiannon is currently completing her master's in marine biology and has a strong interest in maritime energy production.
Kate Kelly, Newcastle University
Kate is a Research Coordinator and Project Manager supporting the EPSRC Active Building Centre and the Centre for Energy at Newcastle University. Her role in HI-ACT will include supporting engagement with stakeholders and proposal development.