Mark Horsley, Chief Executive Officer of Northern Gas Networks, returns to share how his organisation is tackling one of the most pressing challenges of our time: building a secure, sustainable, and fair energy future. Serving 6.8 million people across Northern England, NGN has become a leader in the UK’s net-zero transition under Mark’s guidance.
Since our last conversation in 2021, Mark has pushed bold initiatives forward—from investing £25 million in a hydrogen development fund with JCB, to projects like East Coast Hydrogen, part of a wider industry collaboration to secure the UK’s energy resilience.
In this episode, Mark shares why hydrogen remains central to industrial energy, how electrification is reshaping government priorities, and why pragmatism is essential to balancing decarbonisation with affordability. Beyond infrastructure, Mark highlights NGN’s citizen-led accountability model, new consultation panels to engage young people, and training their teams not just in technical skills but also in social listening to better serve vulnerable households.
At the heart of his leadership is a question that continues to drive NGN’s purpose: Can we do more than simply operate a network? For Mark, the answer lies in putting people first—customers, communities, and colleagues—and building an energy system that supports them all.
Supported By Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/
Mark Horsley