#ProjectNetZero Roadshow Speakers
Mike Pitts
Deputy Challenge Director, Transforming Construction, Innovate UK
Mike is Deputy Challenge Director at Innovate UK leading on Net Zero Heat. He ran the Transforming Construction challenge from 2018 to 2023. He acted as interim Challenge Director in securing the programme as part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. Mike was previously Head of Urban Systems at Innovate UK, covering the priority areas of Urban Living and Smart Infrastructure. He joined Innovate UK in 2012 to lead on embedding sustainability across Innovate UK's strategy. He has also led Clean and Cool entrepreneur Missions in 2013 to Brazil and 2015 to San Francisco and ran the Resource Efficiency programme during 2013/14.
Wyn Pritchard
Wyn is currently the Director of Construction Skills and Business Strategy at NPTC Group of Colleges, and has been in post there, for nearly 3 years. His role is to look at partnerships with bodies in the UK and beyond, to deliver for the sector, the skills they need. During his time at the Group, a number of Alliances have been agreed, and are meeting the emerging needs of the construction industry. The slogan of the Group, is more than just a College, and Wyn’s role is to meet that statement.
Previously Wyn, was employed by CITB Wales, for over 14 years, with a majority of that time being Wales Director and overseeing the performance and strategy of CITB in Wales, in partnership with industry and representative bodies, as well as being involved in a number of Wales Government Committees.
Wyn has also worked with Wales Government and Training/Enterprise Councils, and his early career was in Banking.
Mike Smith
Technical Director
Mike is a member of the IET and CMI he became ECA’s Technical Director in 2019, he also currently holds positions of Secretary of the Fire and Security Association, NET Board member and trustee, observer on SSAIB Board, member of BAFE Council, Electronic Call Handling Operations Ltd Board Member, NPCC Security Systems Group member and is a member of various BSi Standards Committees. Mike previously held a variety of technical and commercial roles at SES Engineering Services over a 25 year period, including as the firm’s Sector Director. Mike has worked on projects of all sizes from small domestic to projects totalling tens of millions of pounds.
Gary Parker
Senior Technical Manager
Gary has over 25 years’ experience in electrical contracting, Standardisation and Membership organisations. He is an experienced and practical Engineer having worked in heavy industry, water treatment, medical locations and general electrical contracting.
Luke Osborne
Energy and Emerging Technologies Solutions Advisor
Luke joined ECA's technical team in 2018. Luke completed a mechanical and electrical apprenticeship with the Ford Motor Company in 1997 and has since held many technical roles, from site engineer to development engineer and global support. Following completion of an engineering degree with a specialisation in sustainability, Luke ran his own renewable energy installation company, with a particular focus on solar, storage and heat pumps.
Darren Crannis
Technical Manager
Darren is an industry leading practitioner and has recently joined ECA's Technical team having previously been Managing Director of an ECA member firm and chair of the ECA Technical Committee. He has also advised on on various electrical and technical safety standards including BS7671 and other British Standards. He is a degree-educated engineer who holds a master’s degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from Loughborough University.
Darren is an experienced engineer with great passion for the electrical industry and specialises in Electrical Inspections (EICRs), Telecommunications, Datacentres including Generators and Critical Power Systems.
Paul Reeve
Director of CSR
Paul Reeve is ECA’s Director of CSR. He has held several senior policy and business roles in leading industry bodies. He has an extensive track record in H,S&E and public affairs, having previously held senior roles at the Engineering Employers’ Federation (now Make UK) and the Chemical Industries Association.
Paul is a Chartered Fellow of both IOSH and IEMA. He is on the impartiality board of certification body BM Trada and he Chairs HSE’s construction ‘Managing Risk’ group and Build UK’s CAS pre-qualification review Group.
Andrew Eldred
Director of Workforce and Public Affairs
Before joining ECA, Andrew spent four-and-a-half years as Crossrail’s Head of Employee Relations. Prior to this he worked for the Olympic Delivery Authority’s delivery partner, and for several years in employee relations roles at the BESA and the Engineering Construction Industry Association.
Andrew is a member of the JIB National Board, director of Evolve (formerly Blue Sky) Pensions Ltd,. a trustee-director of the apprentice training charity JTL and a regular guest lecturer at Exeter University’s Business School.
Rob Driscoll
Director of Legal and Business
Having joined ECA in 2018, Rob qualified as a solicitor and mediator with extensive construction and FM experience, obtained in private practice and trade associations. He is widely known in the industry for his active contribution to dialogue between industry players and Government on a range of business-related issues, on behalf of the engineering services sector.
Rob is also an SME Business Advisor to the Cabinet Office/Crown Commercial Services. He is an active advocate of digital business solutions and, based on his personal experience, a passionate advocate of the commercial benefits of mentoring, diversity and wider inclusion in industry.