The team at WhiteLight Consulting have worked with Engineers Ireland over the last few months to plan and manage their latest Regional Forum. Taking place in the shadow of Dundalk’s majestic wind turbine, the Forum addressed the topic of Ireland’s Future Energy.

Hosted by Engineers Ireland, the Future of Energy Forum brought together Engineers, industry leaders and policymakers in the field of energy to debate what lies ahead for Ireland. Guest speakers included

• Mark Foley, CEO, EirGrid
• Marguerite Sayers, Executive Director, Customer Solutions, ESB
• Eamon Ryan, Leader of the Green Party
• Denis Duff, Co-founder, Better Environment with Nuclear Energy (BENE)

Each brought a different perspective with EirGrid and ESB outlining the long term actions that they are taking to innovate and drive change in the Irish energy market. Eamon Ryan talked about the importance of changing behaviour in individuals through big picture policies and government action. Denis Duff made a compelling argument for the inclusion of nuclear in our future energy supply. After the presentations, a lively debate ensured afterwards, moderated by Pat McCormick of DkIT’s Engineering Department.

The second half of the Forum was chaired by Engineers Ireland north-east branch chair Barry Hyland. This session focussed on organisations and individuals in the North-East driving change and innovation. Leaders in innovation Martin McVicar of Combilift and Jonathan Jennings of Glen Dimplex discussed how they are engineering solutions to drive energy efficiency while Eamon Dillane presented a case study on how he and his family live an almost carbon neutral life by the way they’ve designed their home and lifestyle.

Lively questions and answers followed and the chat and networking continued in the foyer of the TK Whitaker Building at DkIT long after the Forum ended.

Our role at WhiteLight Consulting is always to work with clients to ensure that their events and conferences are challenging and valuable learning experiences. However after last nights’s event, we feel we’ve also learned some valuable lessons about Ireland’s Energy Future!