Cheshire’s regional sustainability explored at COP26 themed event.

Sustainability in Cheshire and the hydrogen agenda will be the focus of the University’s latest Business Growth Club event.

‘COP26 Spotlight: Our Regional Sustainability’ will be held on Wednesday, September 15 from 9am to 12noon at the Riverside Innovation Centre (RIC) as an in-person event and also live streamed on Microsoft Teams.

Returning to the ever-popular theme of sustainability, the programme will pay close attention to the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) hosted in Glasgow in November and the wider regional focus on the hydrogen agenda.

The panel of expert speakers, will discuss the importance of sustainability, especially given the world’s focus on COP26 and the expectations of the ‘Greta Generation’. Attendees will learn about local and regional priorities in addressing climate change and achieving the target of reaching Net Zero.

The key note speaker will be John Egan, North West Lead at Progressive Energy (the lead developer of HyNet North West, of which the University is academic partner) he is also Project Director for the low carbon hydrogen production project being developed as a joint venture with Essar at Stanlow in Cheshire.

Following 25 years’ experience in the chemical industry, John joined Progressive Energy in 2019 as North West Regional Lead based in Cheshire. A Chartered Chemical Engineer with a degree from the University of Cambridge, previously he was Operations Director for the Specialty Carbons business of Cabot Corporation and the Global Energy Technical Director for Cabot. 

John is also a Director of Cheshire Heritage and Sustainability Enterprises, a Community Interest Company seeking to educate the public about the heritage and sustainable future of the city of Chester and the surrounding area by organising events and exhibitions and managing museums and other buildings.

Other speakers include: Tamara Hunt, Sustainability Officer, University of Chester; Simon Gardner, Pharma General Manager, Koura Global/Mexichem and Will Pearson, Climate Change Strategy Manager, Cheshire West and Chester Council. As with all Business Growth Club live events, attendees will be able to submit questions and engage with the panel in person and online.

Professor Joseph Howe, Executive Director, Energy Research Institute, University of Chester and Chair of the North West Hydrogen Alliance, said: “The Cheshire and Warrington region is home to some major projects that are playing a critical role in the region's transition to Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions. But does the region have the requisite skills and supply chain capacity to realise the opportunities that these present? There is a pressing need to engage with, and capture the imagination of, the Greta generation who are so passionate about the climate and ecological emergency that we face.”

The University of Chester's Business Growth Club provides businesses and entrepreneurs with the opportunity to network, hear updates from the business community and find out about the business support available from the University and other local organisations.

In person seating and tickets are restricted to a limited number of guests. The University of Chester is still abiding by the ‘Hands, Face, Space' policy. This means attendees will be required to wear a mask whilst around the Riverside Innovation Centre and University of Chester sites. Online attendees will receive an email with details on how to join live.

To book a free place visit https://cop26-spotlight.eventbrite.co.uk/

Please email businessgrowth@chester.ac.uk if you have any queries regarding this event.