John Clegg

Connector

37-year veteran of the energy industry, having lived and worked in the UK, USA and UAE. Now settled back in the UK. Author of two books on strategy and innovation, I blog on the same topic and teach as a Visting Lecturer at a Business School in Birmingham, England on strategy, innovation and international business. Recent talks and podcasts have included the importance of diversity to innovation. Masters in Engineering Science (1984) from Oxford University, England and Masters Diploma in Global Business (2013) from Saïd Business School, also part of Oxford University. Most recently CTO of Hephae Energy Technology, a startup based jointly in the US and Europe and set up to enable a new unconventional geothermal industry by creating high temperature, high accuracy steering and measurement tools for geothermal wells. These wells will be capable of being drilled anywhere in the world (anywhere there is heat beneath the surface - so it's just a question of how deep) to provide clean, high capacity baseload energy. Hephae will enable this by allowing wells to be drilled deeper and hotter, and thereby significantly improve the economics of generation. Previous career highlights have included technical, sales, operations and project management leadership positions in a variety of energy service companies. Active member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and a Distinguished Lecturer for the same organisation. Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the UK and a Chartered Engineer (CEng FIMechE). When I'm not working, I enjoy walking my French Bulldog, spending time with family and attending to games to watch my favourite football (soccer) team - unfortunately my playing days are long gone!

Strategy and innovation - and recognising that innovation is not inventing things but the process of using ideas to match organisational capabilities with stakeholder needs to create value. And it doesn't have to be monetary value. Innovation can be a powerful force for societal good and there is evidence that organisations who choose to do good also end up prospering. There does not need to be a conflict between being good and being financially successful.

Geothermal energy! If it scales in the same way as other energy technologies, it gas the potential to be plentiful, economic, clean and effectively inexhaustible. And the ability to tap it anywhere in the world can significantly increase energy security and reduce conflict.

Building effective teams, Development of products, services and business models, Drilling and well construction, High reliability electromechanical systems, Innovation, Strategy

I spent most of my career in the oil and gas industry. I saw the industry do some great things (primarily reducing poverty by providing energy) but also a lot of not-so-great things (exploitation, pollution, emissions). I'd like the next stage of my career to be a high point whereby I can refashion techniques designed for the exploitation of oil and gas into techniques for the creation of a new energy source. A new energy source that has both the capacity and the controllability to replace gas as a swing producer for electric power.

Translating. Not between languages but between cultures and personality types. We have to recognise and celebrate differences and make sure that understanding and collaboration triumphs over misunderstanding and fear.