John Loughhead
John Loughhead | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 24, 1948 Derby, England |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer, business executive, academic |
| Known for | Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change; Industrial Professor of Clean Energy at the University of Birmingham; Chair of Redwheel-Turquoise ClimateTech Investment Committee; Fellow of multiple engineering academies |
John Neil Loughhead (born 24 September 1948) is a distinguished British engineer and business executive. He currently holds the position of Industrial Professor of Clean Energy at the University of Birmingham, chairs the Redwheel-Turquoise ClimateTech Investment Committee, and serves on the Council of the University of York. A Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Loughhead previously acted as Chief Scientific Adviser to both the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the former Department of Energy & Climate Change. His contributions to technology were recognized with an OBE in 2011 and a CB in 2018. In 2014, Debrett's and The Sunday Times listed him among Britain's Top 500 Most Influential Individuals.
Education
Loughhead was educated at Bemrose Grammar School in Derby before earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London. He further dedicated five years to computational fluid dynamics research at Imperial College. Additionally, he holds honorary roles at Cardiff University and Queen Mary University of London and has been granted the Freedom of the City of London.
Career
John Loughhead held the role of Corporate Vice-President for Technology and Intellectual Property at Alstom. In 2004, he became Executive Director of the UK Energy Research Centre and represented the UK within the European Energy Research Alliance. His advisory roles have included work for the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and assessment duties for the Technology Strategy Board. He has also served as a Non-Executive Director on the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) Research & Development Board and participated in the UK's Energy Research Partnership. Loughhead co-led the Implementation Panel for the European Commission Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform, influencing European fuel cell market development, and co-chaired the Implementation Committee for the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy. His involvement extended to membership on EPSRC Council and a past presidency of the UK's Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Between 2013 and January 2015, he acted as the UK's focal point for energy and renewable collaborations with China. Later that year, he was appointed chairperson of an independent scientific board overseeing a cross-European study on hydraulic fracturing.
In October 2014, Loughhead was named Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), which merged into BEIS in 2016. His responsibility was to ensure that DECC’s policies were informed by cutting-edge science and engineering expertise. Presently, he serves as Industrial Professor of Clean Energy at the University of Birmingham, chairs the Redwheel-Turquoise ClimateTech Investment Committee, is a member of the University of York Council, acts as a non-executive Director for Carbon Management Canada Ltd, and contributes to multiple advisory boards spanning public and private sectors.
Awards
John Loughhead is a Chartered Engineer with fellowships at several prestigious institutions: Royal Academy of Engineering; Institution of Engineering and Technology (where he served as President in 2008); Institution of Mechanical Engineers; City & Guilds of London Institute; and Royal Society of Arts. He is also recognized by international bodies including the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering. Furthermore, he holds a Distinguished Visiting Professorship at Nanjing University.
His services to technology earned him an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2011. Debrett's and The Sunday Times acknowledged him in January 2014 as one of Britain’s Top 500 Most Influential People.
In June 2018, Loughhead was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath for his significant contributions to research and development within the energy sector.
See also
External links
- Living people
- 1948 births
- Alstom
- Alumni of Imperial College London
- English mechanical engineers
- Fellows of the Institution of Engineering and Technology
- Fellows of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering
- General Electric Company
- People educated at Bemrose School
- Engineers from Derby
- Businesspeople from Derby
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
- Foreign members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering
- Engineers from Yorkshire