Where are you now?
Today, I am the CEO of EDP, a global energy company that generates, distributes and supplies electricity, and one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies. We employ around 12,000 people worldwide and work with customers ranging from households and businesses to some of the world’s largest technology companies, including those developing the infrastructure required for artificial intelligence.
It is a role I could never have imagined when I graduated in 1998. In fact, when I left Strathclyde, I had no clue what a CEO did! I knew I was curious, ambitious and willing to work hard, which turned out to be a reasonably good starting point.
The energy sector is changing at extraordinary speed. We are moving from a system centred on large, centralised and predominantly fossil-fuel-based generation to one that is more distributed, digital and renewable. It is an exciting place to be. There is never a dull moment.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
"the work we do at EDP contributes to something bigger than the company itself and serves a real purpose"
Fortunately, there have been many highlights, as well as great moments and opportunities. However, if I had to choose one, it would be leading EDP through the period since 2020, when the energy transition moved from being an important item on the industry agenda to becoming one of the defining economic, technological and geopolitical challenges of our time.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting European energy crisis, and more recently the conflict in Iran, made something very clear: energy is not only about producing electricity. It is also about resilience, competitiveness, security and the ability of societies to shape their own future.
What has been most rewarding is seeing how the work we do at EDP contributes to something bigger than the company itself and serves a real purpose: helping countries strengthen their energy independence, supporting economic competitiveness and accelerating the transition to cleaner, more affordable energy.
What is the next big breakthrough in green energy we should look forward to?
The next breakthrough is unlikely to be a single technology. It will come from the combination of several innovations working together and our ability to scale them more quickly.
Renewable energy sources such as hydro, wind and solar are already the most competitive forms of energy in many parts of the world. The next chapter will also include greater flexibility: better battery storage, smarter grids, digitalisation and artificial intelligence that can help match electricity supply and demand in real time.
AI and clean energy are becoming increasingly interconnected. AI requires enormous amounts of electricity, while the energy system itself is becoming more complex and data-intensive.
For young engineers and innovators, this is an incredibly exciting moment. The energy sector increasingly sits at the intersection of technology, data, infrastructure, economics and sustainability.
This is why we need to keep an open mind about where progress will come from.
I am sure of one thing, though: when it comes to the energy of the future, harnessing the power of the sun, wind and water will always be necessary. So will people. However advanced technology becomes, energy will ultimately be about working sustainably with nature to serve humanity.
