Our FPC2024 Keynote Speakers
Check back soon for updates as we announce this year's keynote speakers
Prof. Nigel Brandon
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Imperial College London

Prof. Nigel Brandon
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Imperial College London
Professor Nigel Brandon holds the Chair in Sustainable Development in Energy and is Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Imperial College London. His research is focused on electrochemical devices for low carbon energy applications, with a particular focus on fuel cells, electrolysers, and flow batteries. He was Director of the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cells SUPERGEN Hub from 2012 to 2022, and is Chair of Imperials Sustainable Gas Institute. He is a founder of Ceres Power, a FTSE 250 fuel cell and electrolyser company spun out from Imperial College in 2000, a founder and Chairman of RFC Power, a flow battery company spun out from Imperial College in 2018, and Director of Nigel Brandon Consulting, offering specialist Consultancy services in the electrochemical technology space. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Royal Society and an International member of the US National Academy of Engineering.
Mario Brunner
Executive Vice President Engineering and Technology Powertrain Systems, AVL

Mario Brunner
Executive Vice President Engineering and Technology Powertrain Systems, AVL
Professional Education Industry Experience
- University of Applied Sciences Vehicle Technology – FH Joanneum Graz
- Secondary College for Mechanical Engineering Aeronautical Engineering – HTBLA Eisenstadt
Industry Experience
- Executive Chief Engineer Systems Engineering, Powertrain
- Electrification & Transmission Passenger Car Transmission
- Head of Passenger Car and Light Duty Transmissions, System
- Engineering and Powertrain Electrification
- Business Development Director PC transmission EAST ASIA
- Manager PC transmission System, Software, Simulation and Testing
- Manager Mechanical Simulation
- Lead Engineer CAE, Durability and Heat Transfer
Projects / Skills
Extensive project work from concept definition to SOP in technical leading position (powertrain, combustion engine, battery and transmission development programs)
• Several innovations in different product areas (e.g. DHT and electric drive patents)
• As Team Manager responsible for:
- • Vehicle development
• Complete Vehicle Functions & Systems, Vehicle Driving Functions & Systems, Thermal Management & HVAC - • ADAS/AD & E/E
• System Design, Targets KPI Development, SW & Controls Development, Integration, Verification, Validation, Homologation Support, System Design, - • Powertrain and powertrain element development – ICE, electrified Transmission, E-Drive, Battery, Fuel Cell
• Powertrain Functions & Systems, Design, Simulation, SW, Verification/Validation & Reliability, Calibration, Testbeds
Prof. Emma Kendrick
Professor of Energy Materials, University of Birmingham

Prof. Emma Kendrick
Professor of Energy Materials, University of Birmingham
Professor Emma Kendrick, CChem FIMMM FRSC FIMMM is Professor of Energy Materials, in the School of Metallurgy and Materials at the University of Birmingham, co-director of the Centre for Energy Storage (BCES) and group lead of the energy materials group (EMG). Prior to UoB, she spent two years as Reader in WMG, University of Warwick. Before academia, she led innovations in the battery industry, latterly as Chief Technologist in Energy Storage at SHARP Laboratories of Europe Ltd (SLE) and prior to that for two lithium-ion battery SMEs, Fife Batteries Ltd and Surion Energy Ltd. Prof Kendrick holds a PhD from Keele University, obtained as part of a postgraduate transfer partnership (PTP) scheme with CERAM Research, a MSc in new materials from the University of Aberdeen and a BSc in chemistry from the University of Manchester. She has been recognised for her research in sustainable batteries and her continued support to the research community through several awards; 2021 Faraday Institution (FI) Researcher Development Champion, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) 2021 Environment, Sustainability and Energy Division Mid-Career Award, and the 2019 Hothersall Memorial Award for outstanding services to Metal Finishing.
Danielle Lane
Director of Offshore Development UK & Ireland @ RWE

Danielle Lane
Director of Offshore Development UK & Ireland @ RWE
Danielle is Executive Vice President and Director of Offshore Development UK & Ireland for RWE. She joined RWE in January 2022 from Vattenfall where she worked from 2018 as Director of Asset Value & Partnering and Director of Offshore Market Development on the offshore leadership team. She was also Vattenfall’s UK Country Manager.
Danielle previously worked for Ørsted where she headed their UK regulatory and public affairs team, leading engagement with UK Government for the first CFDs awarded to UK offshore wind projects. Prior to Ørsted, Danielle worked at The Crown Estate where she had responsibility for design and implementation of the Round 3 offshore wind leasing tender and Centrica where she was Project Manager for the Round 2 offshore wind farms.
Danielle was educated at Imperial College and the University of Bath and holds an MBA from Open University.