Emma Pinchbeck is to step down as Energy UK’s chief executive next month to become chief executive of the Climate Change Committee.
She was appointed as Energy UK’s chief executive in January 2020 and since then has led the trade association through a critical period that has incorporated the pandemic and gas price crisis as well as six different Secretaries of State.
Pinchbeck (pictured) has also been an advocate for the economic as well as environmental benefits of the transition to clean energy, through the investment, growth and employment that the industry can bring to all parts of the country.
She will start work at the Climate Change Committee on 11 November 2024 at which time Energy UK’s deputy chief executive Dhara Vyas will step up as interim chief executive if the recruitment process for Emma’s replacement is continuing.
Pinchbeck said: “It has been the privilege of my life to work for Energy UK during these challenging and interesting years for the industry.
“Energy has moved from the fringes to the very centre of economic policy and I hope that I have played my part in making sure that the importance of our sector and of the energy transition is clear to government.
“It has been an honour to lead the staff of Energy UK over the past five years, and our talented team will continue to deliver impactful work on energy whilst the Association recruits a new chief executive.
“I will not forget the way that people supported Energy UK’s team when we lost our deputy chief executive, the late Audrey Gallacher OBE, just before my second child was born.”
Energy UK chair David Laws said: “Emma has been a formidable chief executive because she has such a broad range of skills – mastery of a complex policy area, superb powers of communication with both our partners and the public, an extensive network across the energy sector and beyond as well as the ability to build, lead and motivate a team. It is rare to find one person with all these skills.
“We will be very sad to see Emma leave Energy UK but we are delighted for her that she will be taking up this important post at the Climate Change Committee.”
“I have full confidence in Dhara and our strong leadership team to guide Energy UK through this change, whilst continuing our work in 2024 helping the government to deliver on its clean energy mission and to support our customers through the ongoing impact of the energy crisis.”