WIG/UKRN | Regulation and Emerging Technologies: Balancing Agility with Certainty
Author WIG Date 28 Apr 2022
A recording and slide deck for the WIG/UKRN Webinar: Regulation and Emerging Technologies: Balancing Agility with Certainty with Jim Foudy, Deputy Director of Better Regulation, BEIS; Rachel Fletcher, Director Regulation and Economics, Octopus Energy & Cathryn Ross Strategy and Regulatory Affairs Director, Thames Water, and Chair of the Regulatory Horizons Council
The rapid advent of disruptive and emerging technologies such as AI, UAVs and 3D printing has the potential to impact all regulated industries in the UK, as well as representing huge opportunities for economic growth and job creation. WIG was delighted to partner with the UK Regulators Network (UKRN) to discuss how regulators can effectively work with businesses to adapt to ever-changing technological contexts; continuing to support fair competition, investment and innovation alongside consumer protection.
Join our expert panel online for your opportunity to:
- Learn how the Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC) and UKRN are working with key stakeholders to futureproof the UK regulatory landscape
- Discuss how we can balance consumers and investors need for certainty, with the agility required to respond to emerging and disruptive technologies
To access this resource you must be a WIG member and logged in to our website.
You can register or log-in here.
To access this resource you must be a WIG member and logged in to our website.
You can register or log-in here.
Speakers at the Event
Rachel joined Octopus Energy in 2021, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge following more than two decades of experience in energy regulation.
Rachel’s remit is to create the regulations and markets needed to achieve net zero quickly and affordably. Day-to-day, she works closely with regulators, industry bodies and policy makers to shape the energy system of the future. Rachel also works hand-in-hand with consumer bodies to ensure all customers are well served and benefit from the transition to net zero.
Before joining Octopus, Rachel served as the Chief Executive of Ofwat, the UK's water regulator, and as a Senior Partner and Board member of Ofgem, the UK energy regulator. Her work focused on making essential services sustainable, high quality and affordable. Rachel started her career in utilities as a consultant where she worked on a number of international energy industry privatisation and restructuring projects. Rachel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Sussex, as well as a Masters in Economic and Politics from the University of Cambridge.
At Thames, Cathryn is responsible for shaping and embedding a strategy to ensure that Thames Water delivers for customers, communities and the environment. She is an experienced regulatory and competition economist and has worked across a number of different sectors advising on economic, regulatory and competition issues.
Before joining Thames Water, Cathryn was Group Regulatory Affairs Director at BT Group. Previously Cathryn was Chief Executive of Ofwat and has also held a variety of executive roles across regulators in economic consultancy.
In January 2020, Cathryn was appointed the inaugural Chair of the Regulatory Horizons Council, an independent committee established by BEIS. As Chair, Cathryn is responsible for leading the work of the council to ensure that UK regulation keeps pace with innovation and enables it to thrive while safeguarding the public.
Deputy Director for the Better Regulation Executive in the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Jim leads on the Innovation Friendly Regulation policy agenda which aims to develop an agile approach to regulation to promote innovation. Prior to this he worked on the post EU-Exit agenda with a focus on the onshoring of EU regulations. His previous experience includes senior roles in local authorities; developing and delivering services at the ‘sharp-end’ of public policy.