About the Speakers:
John Twidell has promoted, practiced and taught renewable energy for the last 40 years. He lectures at Reading, City and Oxford Universities. Previously he held the Chair in Renewable Energy at De Montfort University, was Director of the Energy Studies Unit of Strathclyde University, served on the Board of the British Wind Energy Association and was an adviser to the UK Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy. He is Editor Emeritus of the academic journal Wind Engineering on Energy Advisory Committees of the Institutes of Physics and Civil Engineering, and on the Board of Westmill Windfarm Cooperative. His books include Renewable Energy Resources and Offshore Wind Power, and he is an expert reviewer for the UN/IPCC report Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change.
Ian Hore-Lacy is Director of Public Communications with the World Nuclear Association www.world-nuclear.org, and author of Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century. A former teacher, he joined the mining industry as an environmental scientist in 1974. Prior to teaching he worked in a part-time education role with the Australian Conservation Foundation, was an intervarsity staffworker for three years and studied theology at Ridley College, Melbourne. His particular interests range from the technical to the ethical and theological aspects of mineral resources and their use, especially nuclear power. His book Responsible Dominion - a Christian approach to Sustainable Development, was published in 2006 by Regent College Press.
Andy Brown is a founder member of Progressive Energy, a company developing 'clean coal' power projects, as well as waste and renewables. He worked for the CEGB on power stations for 20 years covering coal, gas turbine and nuclear, and then as a technical/engineering strategist with the successor companies, considering what generating technologies would best meet the needs of the future. Andy is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and provides a formal link between IChemE’s Energy Conversion Technology Subject Group and IMechE's Energy Environment and Sustainability Group and their Power Industries Division. He was awarded the Hebden Medal for 'outstanding services by an individual in the field of gasification research, development and commercialisation' in 2007.
Brendan Bowles is Director of Climate Stewards, A Rocha’s global initiative to help people and organisations respond to climate change. Its extensive actions range from planting new forest in Ghana to syndicating climate prayer updates in several continents. A creative communicator with a background in maths, business, charities, campaigning movements and Africa, Brendan is well-placed to offer a compelling overview of climate science, its likely implications, why Christians should care and what we can do.