Director of Technology Infrastructure

I’ve spent more than two decades working across telecoms, IT services and R&D, so joining Smart DCC in 2016 felt like a natural next step for me, at a time when the energy industry was moving towards a new era of digitisation. It was a clear, conscious decision I made to want to be part of that shift and connect with an organisation playing a key role in shaping the UK’s digitisation and decarbonisation journey.

I was initially attracted to Smart DCC because of the strength of its purpose and the role it plays at the heart of that change. Being someone who enjoys being close to nature, and seeing the role technology can play in a more sustainable future, made it an easy decision.

In my role as Director of Technology Infrastructure, I’m accountable for the technology strategy that underpins the DCC network. That includes making sure our products, services and solutions are reliable, resilient and secure, while aligning to customer, operational and security needs and delivering against the wider DCC roadmap. A big part of my role is also bringing clarity to our objectives and making sure our people understand the direction we’re working towards.

A good day is one where purpose, collaboration and accountability come together to create meaningful progress, and where the work we’ve done contributes to a positive, long-term impact for our customers, colleagues and the wider DCC mission.

Working at this scale brings complexity. You’re often balancing different priorities, managing internal and external stakeholders and working through ongoing change as the organisation evolves. I believe in keeping my approach to both life and work simple, which is especially important in a fast-paced environment. That means being clear on what you can control, staying open to feedback and using setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. Then reset, recover and move forward.

One of my proudest moments was being part of the team that delivered the DCC end-to-end system go-live in 2018. It was the result of years of collaboration across teams, suppliers and stakeholders, often working late to meet key milestones. Seeing millions of smart meters now connected at scale, and the impact that has on how energy is generated and consumed across the UK, is something I’m incredibly proud of.

  Culture plays a big part in what makes Smart DCC such a rewarding place to work. I’d describe it as purpose-driven, collaborative and accountable. Everyone is working towards the same outcome, which creates an environment where people support each other and take ownership of what they do.

Over my time at DCC, I’ve grown from a technically focused contributor into a more strategic leader. My role now is about bringing people together, aligning teams and stakeholders, and communicating complex ideas in a clear and meaningful way. It’s been a journey of continuous learning, growth and stepping up to shape direction and deliver outcomes.

So, if you’re thinking about joining Smart DCC, my advice would be to stay open, stay positive and be ready to embrace change. You’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow, and you’ll get plenty of support from people across the organisation and its leadership.