Home / Professional Development / IPI Events / CPD Webinar: Planning and Infrastructure CPD Webinar: Planning and Infrastructure Go Back Event Date: 16/09/2025 Event time: From: 10:00 am - 11:30 am Location: Online Event type: Webinar CPD Points: 2 Overview The availability and resilience of critical infrastructure – particularly water and electricity – is essential to meeting our housing targets, and also achieving our climate and environmental goals. At this CPD webinar a panel of expert speakers and thought leaders will address the challenges, opportunities and implications for planning policy required to align infrastructure delivery with Ireland’s ambitious goals for housing delivery, compact growth, decarbonisation, and sustainable development. Programme Moderator: Alison Hardiman, Philip Lee Introduction from Gavin Lawlor MIPI, President Irish Planning Institute Catherine Kelly, Forward Planning Manager, Uisce Éireann Brendan Allen FIPI, Planning Team Leader, ESB, and John O’Connor, Head of Programme Delivery, ESB Networks Response from Claragh Mulhern MIPI, Principal Adviser, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Q&A Speakers Alison Hardiman - Moderator Alison Hardiman is a dedicated consultant in the Climate and Environment practice at Philip Lee. She is a qualified barrister with extensive knowledge of planning and environmental law and a particular focus on delivering sustainable strategic infrastructure within the evolving requirements of EU and Irish law and policy. Alison has been a member of the ‘Major Projects Advisory Group’ (MPAG) under the Department of Public Enterprise and Reform since 2022. She is a regular speaker at key events in the climate, renewable energy and planning sector and has authored academic publications in highly respected international journals. Gavin Lawlor MIPI, Irish Planning Institute Gavin Lawlor MIPI has worked in planning for almost 30 years and is a Director at Tom Phillips + Associates. Gavin’s expertise covers a wide range of areas and he has extensive knowledge across the industrial, energy and waste management sectors. He obtained a Masters in Regional and Urban Planning from UCD having graduated with a Bachelors degree in Social Science at the Belfield Campus. He is President of the Irish Planning Institute 2024/2025. Catherine Kelly, Uisce Éireann Catherine Kelly, Forward Planning Manager, Uisce Éireann John O’Connor, ESB John O’Connor is the Head of Programme Delivery in ESB Networks and is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of ESBN’s capital programme. John reports directly to the Executive Director of ESB Networks. John has held many senior manager positions within ESB including previously leading the “Generation Projects” department. This role spanned projects and technologies ranging from significant offshore windfarms in the UK, solar parks, on-shore wind, thermal generation including CCGT, biomass, Energy from Waste, Aero derivative’s and synchronous condensers (Flexible Generation Technologies to support renewables). John was also previously the plant manager for both of ESB’s Midland Power Stations. As Program Director for ESB’s 910 MW Carrington gas fired power plant (€1bn project) located in Manchester John brought that project from early concept, through development and financing, into construction and in turn transitioning the project successfully into operations. John has over 29 years’ experience in various roles in the energy and high-tech sectors with leading blue – chip companies such as General Electric and Intel. John worked internationally in Asia, USA, Europe and Africa. John also sits as a director of numerous renewables joint venture company boards. John has a Hons. degree in Engineering and an MSc Business (Leadership & Management Practice) from the Smurfit Business School, UCD. John is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland. Brendan Allen FIPI, ESB Brendan Allen, Planning Team Leader, ESB Registration Category Online livestream only IPI Member* €0 Non-member €60 *Please note you must be paid up to avail of this rate. Bookings for members who are not paid up at time of booking will be cancelled. To Book Book online using the dropdown below, email [email protected] or call +353 (0)1-8788630. Select a category to book IPI Member (Free) Non Member (€60) All bookings are subject to our terms and conditions. In particular please refer to the section on Cancellations, Substitutions and No-Shows. For more information please email [email protected] or call +353 (0)1-8788630.