Sir Richard Needham to Address Unconventional Audience

Release--Disruptive technology key to the energy future

Former Dyson director Sir Richard Needham to address Aberdeen dinner -

The need for game-changing technology to revolutionise the energy market is essential for the future viability of the industry, according to Sir Richard Needham, former deputy chairman of Dyson and non-executive chairman of Seamwell.

Sir Richard believes the oil and gas sector needs to adapt, and if it can’t be imaginative it risks falling behind. He will give his views on the need for alternative technologies and approaches as the after dinner speaker at the Unconventional Gas Conference in Aberdeen on November 27.

Disruptive technology is something Sir Richard has been heavily involved in throughout his career. He has been non-executive chairman of Seamwell for three years, a firm which specialises in the commercialisation of underground coal gasification (UCG).

Sir Richard was also Sir James Dyson’s right hand man and a director of Dyson, the purveyor of its own unique kind of disruptive technology, for 15 years. He was also deputy chairman of the firm which revolutionised the vacuum cleaner market.

Seamwell is currently involved in a joint venture programme in Inner Mongolia with the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group. The scheme will see the development of in-situ coal gasification which could save 50% on emissions compared to a traditional coal-fired plant.

Sir Richard said: “This is an exciting project to be involved in, and these pioneering solutions to energy generation will become commonplace as the oil and gas industry changes. We need to bring innovative methods for sourcing energy to market to ensure the viability of the industry going forward, and unconventional gas has a major role to play.

“Disruptive technology is all about changing markets, by doing things differently. It is like comparing England and Spain playing football; Spain takes a completely different perspective and approach and it makes them successful. In the UK, we need to innovate to compete on the global stage and the common theme is that companies which don’t go to the next stage of research and innovation suffer.”

Sir Richard will speak about the Seamwell project and other forms of disruptive technology at the Unconventional Gas Conference, which will take place over 27 and 28 November 2012, and is set to attract hundreds of delegates. He will also give insight to how Dyson’s creative approach to business strategy ensured the company’s success.

Sir Richard started his own company aged 23 before entering the world of politics. He served as minister for Northern Ireland under Baroness Thatcher and as trade minister under John Major. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1994 and knighted in 1997 in recognition of his work. He has been involved a number of businesses and is currently a director of Avon Rubber Plc and vice chairman of NEC Europe.

Tom Pickering, chairman of the Unconventional Gas Conference said: “It is an honour to have such a high profile speaker at our event and we welcome the insight Sir Richard can bring to the debate. It will be a huge draw for those at the dinner and also the wider energy industry because the issue of disruptive technology is very important as unconventional gas revolutionises the energy market.”

Delegates will also hear first-hand from organisations including Baker Hughes, Geolorn and Heriot Watt University on the technologies that are enabling and shaping developments globally and Simmons and Co International on deals and market opportunities. Other organisations set to give their perspectives include AMEC, Buccleuch Estates, Dart Energy, Instinct Energy, URENCO, and WWF.

The key themes include:

·         The political environment for exploration and exploitation of unconventional gas resources, focusing on the approaches taken by different governments and the lessons to be learned.

·         New technology development and how these mitigate against risk.

·         The evolution of exploiting the market opportunity – investment, risk management and business model development.

To view the programme and book delegate and exhibition places, or tickets for the conference dinner priced at £75, please visit www.unconventionalgasaberdeen.com.