CPD Webinar: Planning and Infrastructure

 

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

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, Forward Planning Manager, Uisce Éireann

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, 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.
 

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.

 
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