John is the University Director for Energy Transition at Aberdeen University. He has had a distinguished academic career based at Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt and Aberdeen Universities. While at Heriot-Watt, he helped establish the Lyell Centre for Earth and Marine Science and Technology and was University Chief Scientist. His research focuses on the role of geoscience in the energy transition and use of technologies, methods, and data to deliver low-carbon net zero goals. He has led the GeoNetZero Centre of Doctoral Training, a £22M academic-industry pan-UK partnership comprising 12 Universities and 8 companies investigating the role of Geoscience in the Energy Transition. John also chaired the National Energy Skills Accelerator (NESA), where he helped secure £1M from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund to up- and re-skill workers for careers in renewable energy. John populates the UK Subsurface Task Force and was on the Scottish Science Advisory Council (SSAC), the leading independent advisory board for Scottish Government. An unusual fact is that John was an international soccer referee who officiated European and Scottish Premier League football matches.
