CPD Webinar: Planning and Infrastructure

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 is a civil engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the private, public and semi-state sectors. She has been with Uisce Eireann since its inception as Irish Water over 11 years ago and has had the privilege of working in Operations, Planning & Strategy in that time. She is currently the Forward Planning Manager overseeing Uisce Eireann’s involvement in the development planning process, as well as the consideration of growth internally. She lives in north Dublin with her 4 children who keep her much busier then forward planning.

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 is the Planning and Environmental Group Manager in ESB Networks Engineering and a fellow of the IPI.

He has nearly 30 years’ experience working primarily in the area of infrastructure planning. He has been in ESB for 14 years and prior that worked in consultancy.

He will be managing the planning requirements for the significant development of the electrical network that will occur over the coming years.

Senior planning adviser, DHLGH.