Interviews 2025

We sat down with Shuanna Berendsen, Chief Innovation Officer at Anglian Water, to discuss how innovation and technology are shaping the future of the UK water sector. From smart infrastructure and real-time data analytics to sustainable water management, Shuanna shares insights on balancing modernisation with affordability, building resilience, and the importance of collaboration through platforms like Innovation Zero.

In this interview, Sandrine Ricard, S&R Communications Director at Chivas Brothers and Pernod Ricard, shares how the company is advancing its net zero goals through clean tech, value chain decarbonisation, and sustainable innovation. From green fertilisers to low carbon distillation, Shaunna offers insights into the scalable solutions driving sustainability in a global FMCG company.

Aidan Davy, Co-COO of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), shares insights on the EU’s growing influence in the global critical minerals market. With the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) at the forefront, he discusses opportunities for international collaboration, the rising importance of ESG standards, and the alignment of private finance with responsible sourcing. 

We caught up with Exolum's Commercial Lead NWE Gorka Penalva to discuss the scalability of SAF, the Aviation industry's lofty emissions reduction targets, and the role innovation can play to bridge crucial gaps. Gorka will take part in the Aviation Forum session "Turbulence Ahead: Can Aviation Meet the 2030 Emission Targets?"

We spoke with Director Paul McNeillis, who shared how dss+ is working to support large organisation in upholding their commitments in an ever-changing net zero landscape, whilst also hinting at what we can expect from the dss+ Working Group at Innovation Zero World 2025! Paul will join us at the Working Groups Theatre (Rooms 1 & 2) for the session "Reconciling net zero and net profits" on the 29th of April.

We sat down with EDF UK Chair Sir Alex Chisholm to explore the work that the organisation is doing to facilitate a just transition to a decarbonised future. He highlights the opportunities presented by the energy transition to workers and the wider economy, and touches on the steps businesses can take to ensure their consumers are factored into the low carbon journey.

E.ON Next CEO Chris Norbury joined us in the final week before Innovation Zero World 2025 to explore the scale of the challenge facing the energy industry. In our chat, Chris outlines how E.ON Next are keeping their communities front-of-mind as they work to deliver the energy system of the future.

We caught up with Clémence to explore the huge opportunities presented by the blue economy to markets ready to be disrupted, and to touch on the conditions needed to be met in order to support and accelerate innovation in the space.

Jonathan stresses how important addressing key concerns surrounding VCMs is to rebuilding trust, whilst also highlighting the ways in which organisations can minimise risk when creating a diverse portfolio of carbon reduction projects.

We caught up with Angie in the lead-up to her involvement at #IZWorld25 to discuss how the Agricultural sector can be revolutionised by developments in advanced breeding and genetic engineering. Angie also touches on the wider impacts such breakthroughs could make on the environment, the economy, and consumers.

We caught up with Zitouni, who shared his thoughts as to how technological advancements, robust policy and regulatory reforms, and the mobilisation of capital can be aligned to deliver a resilient future food system.

Kathryn shares her thoughts as to how – through investment, policy and collective, responsible action – we can help to stem the decline of the natural world.

We sat down with Octopus Electric Vehicles' Public Policy Director James Court, who broke down the roadblocks to a wider adoption of EVs, and discussed the work that Octopus EVs are doing to bring about a smooth transition to an electrified automotive industry.