AIRTO – the Association of Innovation, Research & Technology Organisations – is delighted to announce the appointments to its Board of Neil Kermode OBE, Managing Director of EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre) and Hannah Wade, Managing Director of CPI Enterprises.
Neil is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, CIWEM member and a Chartered Environmentalist. Neil was awarded an OBE in the Kings Birthday Honours in 2023 for services to Renewable Energy and the community of Orkney.
Hannah is a lawyer and prior to joining CPI in 2015, she worked in private practice at an international law firm.
Neil Kermode FICE OBE , Managing Director, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd
Neil has been the Managing Director of EMEC – the world’s leading test facility for wave and tidal energy converters – since 2005 and has overseen the deployment of more marine energy technologies in the seas around Orkney than has been deployed at any other site in the world. Established as the world’s first accredited testing laboratory for wave and tidal devices Neil has extensive experience of quality systems and also a deep understanding of the challenges that innovators face.
Through Neil’s leadership, EMEC is also pioneering the production of hydrogen in Orkney and that has led to multiple projects to seek the best ways to use it, particularly in transport. Most recently EMEC hosted the demonstration of production of synthetic fuel for aviation from hydrogen and is now supporting offshore wind development.
Neil hosts VIPs, policy makers and stakeholders on visits to the test facilities in Orkney on a regular basis and advocates continuously for support for R&D activities both in the marine energy space but also more widely on matters relating to Net Zero.
Prior to working at EMEC, Neil worked as a project developer of a potential tidal scheme, following six years at the Environment Agency dealing with regulation and development issues.
Hannah Wade, Managing Director, CPI Enterprises
Hannah is Managing Director of Enterprises at CPI, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, overseeing CPI’s access to funding and finance activities. CPI brings together cross-sector expertise and support services to drive the commercialisation of novel products and processes. Hannah focuses on building and maintaining relationships with CPI Enterprises’ partner investors, supporting early-stage technology companies to secure private investment and managing CPI Enterprises’ investment portfolio.
Previously she was Principal Solicitor at CPI, drafting and negotiating a variety of complex, high value contracts, including framework agreements, construction contracts, grant funding agreements and collaboration agreements.
