Meet the Team
Dr Nigel Holmes
Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association
Nigel Holmes first became interested in low carbon energy generation while at the UK Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB), and after completing Chemistry at Oxford he returned to the CEGB at Berkeley for his PhD studies with the CNAA. In 1988 he joined BP Chemicals at their Grangemouth petrochemicals complex, working in R&D, process technical support, and change management roles until 2003. While studying for an MBA at the University of Edinburgh in 2004 he first became involved in renewable energy and hydrogen, becoming an individual member of the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (SHFCA) in 2005. From 2006-2011 he led the national industrial symbiosis programme (NISP Scotland), with the team achieving large carbon and cost reductions for a significant number of industry members through recovery and reuse of materials. In April 2011 he became Chief Executive Officer for SHFCA, and over the past ten years the Association has quadrupled in size with the membership increasing from under 40 to over 180 members by October 2022.
Katie van Eeden
Finance & Communications, Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association
Previously a solar energy and electric floor heating company owner, her passion for protecting the environment and fighting climate change has been spurred on by her personal experience of extreme weather conditions. Having survived hurricanes at sea in the Caribbean and living on a farm in South Africa, during drought conditions, has made her aware of the threat that many people live with. She had worked in renewable energy in South Africa before joining SHFCA. Scaling up Hydrogen to meet the challenge of Net Zero will go a long way toward achieving her personal goal of being involved in making a lasting contribution to fighting climate change.
Patrick McCarthy
Business Development Manager, Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association
Dr Patrick McCarthy is the new business development manager for the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association. Patrick trained as a research scientist at Guy’s & St Thomas’s NHS Trust and after a short time in academia, joined the NHS where he managed an analytical facility in London designed to support the effective management of patients given neuroleptic and cardioactive drugs. Since coming to Scotland in 1998, he has worked at the interface of academia and business in a business development capacity. He first became interested in low carbon- and renewable energy generation whilst working for the School of Engineering at Heriot-Watt University where he was responsible for finding grants for the University’s renewable energy research and for building business collaborations. Patrick has a particular interest in working with early-stage companies developing the next generation of renewable energy technologies.
David Hogg
Director, Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association
David is an experienced Technical and Project Manager with a demonstrated history of working on new energy technologies. David gained extensive knowledge and experience in hydrogen and local energy systems through the development of the Levenmouth Community Energy Project (LCEP). Since joining Arup, David has played an active role in developing further hydrogen and smart grid projects throughout the UK including H100 Fife and previously lead the Scottish Hydrogen Assessment Project. He has also led several electrolyser technology assessments including the Scottish Electrolyser Assessment. He also has close links within the hydrogen sector as a Director of the Scottish Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association and Bright Green Hydrogen.
Professor Jon Clipsham
Director, Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association
Jon is an Industrial Chemist with over 25 years experience of working with Hydrogen processes. He is a proponent of hydrogen production from renewables, and was instrumental in the development of the global ‘first of a kind’ demonstration of an industrial scale prototype hydrogen economy in Orkney. Jon currently splits his time between academic / skills / training and industrial advisory / due diligence work through his own successful business - Hydrojon Limited - supporting start ups, project developers, investors, and government agencies internationally. Jon sits on the board of SHFCA (the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association) and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde, having developed Hydrogen courses for industrialists for the Universities of Highlands & Islands, Strathclyde and The Renewable Energy Institute. During 2021/22 he was an advisor to the Dutch Government for hydrogen policy. He is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a frequent speaker at Hydrogen conferences and events.
Robert Evans
CEO, Cenex
Robert Evans is CEO of Cenex (www.cenex.co.uk), a not-for-profit consultancy and research organisation with a strategic focus on supporting supply chain and market development for Automated, Connected, Electric and Shared (ACES) mobility.
During his 15+ years as CEO, Robert has overseen the development and delivery of a range of low carbon vehicle and energy infrastructure projects for hydrogen, electric and gas vehicles, as well as shared mobility projects. He has also established the Cenex Expo event (www.cenex-lcv.co.uk) as major UK technology showcasing and networking events for the low carbon vehicle and connected automated mobility communities.
For hydrogen and fuel cell technology Cenex includes hydrogen vehicles in its fleet assessment work as well as helping broker, monitor and report on hydrogen vehicle trials. Cenex’ consultancy on hydrogen matters includes techno-market research and strategy development for clients.
Prior to joining Cenex, Robert developed international markets for energy, environmental and automotive technologies, including fuel cells and vehicle emissions control.
Bruce Farquhar
Partner, Anderson Strathern
Bruce is a partner (and former chair) of leading Scottish law firm Anderson Strathern. He is in the corporate/commercial team and leads the firm’s clean energy practice.
Bruce has a wide experience of acting for developers and funders and is recognised as a leading lawyer in the sector by independent legal directories.
In addition to being a director of Scottish Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association, Bruce is a director of a charity and not for profit organisation.
Elizabeth Johnson MBE
Business Development Manager, Pure Energy Centre
Elizabeth Johnson MBE has been employed as Business Development Manager for the Pure Energy Centre (PEC) since 2006. Through her work, Elizabeth helped develop the first renewable energy hydrogen training course, helping thousands of trainees from around the globe to understand better how to reduce their impact on the environment. She was involved with the development and deployment of renewable hydrogen technologies in communities across the globe and also manages all PECs projects all of which focus on supporting communities to reduce their negative environmental impact by developing solutions for Storing Excess Energy and to supply Green Fuel to fleet vehicles, heat, green fertilisers, green community businesses.