Programme

09:30

Registration and exhibition viewing (refreshments available)

10:00

Welcome

Ben Saltmarsh, Head of Wales, National Energy Action
Nigel Winnan, Customer and Social Obligations Manager, Wales & West Utilities

10:15

Keynote address

Jane Hutt MS, Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip

10:30

Views from the frontline: Is the worst of the energy crisis over?

This panel discussion will investigate the ongoing impacts of the energy crisis and address whether the worst of the crisis is over. The session will focus on the challenges faced by low-income and vulnerable households across Wales, and highlight what change is needed. We will hear from frontline organisations and subject experts on key issues relating to poverty, debt, and the hardest hit communities.

Chair: Danni Barnes, Director of Development and Partnerships, National Energy Action
Dr Victoria Winckler, Director, Bevan Foundation
Simon Hatch, Director, Citizens Advice Cymru
Nerys Sheehan, Project Coordinator, ACE – Action in Caerau & Ely

11:30

Break and exhibition viewing (refreshments available)

12:00

Making warm homes a preventative health priority

The direct health impacts of cold homes are getting worse. This session will explore the physical and mental health impacts the energy crisis is having, and opportunities to work together to make warm homes a preventative health priority and put an end to a cycle of hospital admission, discharge and readmission, or even premature deaths.

Chair: Adam Scorer, Chief Executive, National Energy Action
Dr Sumina Azam, National Director of Policy and International Health, and Dr Rebecca Hill, Senior Public Health Specialist, Public Health Wales
Dr Danielle Butler, Project Development Manager, National Energy Action
Faye Patton, Policy Manager, Care & Repair Cymru
Sophie Shorney, VCMA Manager, Wales & West Utilities

13:00

Lunch and exhibition viewing

14:00

CHOICE OF BREAKOUT SESSION

A) Keeping tenants warm, safe and healthy at home

This seminar will focus on the needs of renters in Wales across both the private rented and social housing sectors. It will explore the key roles of landlord licensing, minimum energy efficiency standards, enforcement, and frontline support in ensuring all low-income and vulnerable tenants can afford to keep warm, safe, and healthy at home.

Chair: Peter Smith, Director of Policy and Advocacy, National Energy Action
Bethan Proctor, Policy and External Affairs Manager, Community Housing Cymru
Ben Gait, Senior Systems Developer and Analyst, Rent Smart Wales
Keryl Lanfear, Housing Strategy Officer, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

B) Ensuring a fairer and more affordable energy market for fuel poor households

Energy debts, prices, and standing charges have reached record highs. This seminar will provide an update on recent developments in the retail energy market. It will explore which outstanding areas need to be prioritised to ensure fairer, and more affordable outcomes for fuel poor households.

Chair and speaker: Matt Copeland, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, National Energy Action
Darcy Collings, Policy Manager, Energy UK
Adrienne Briggs, Senior Policy Manager, OVO

14:45

Break and exhibition viewing (refreshments available)

15:15

Making fuel poor homes in Wales fit for the future

There is an urgent need to upgrade the energy efficiency of fuel poor homes in Wales, making them much warmer, greener, and healthier places to live. Ahead of the launch of the Welsh Government’s next Warm Homes Programme, this session will explore the details of its new demand-led scheme, how we can maximise opportunities from other UK-wide schemes and ensure a fair and affordable transition to net zero. It will also comment on the need to get retrofit right, first time.

Ben Saltmarsh, Head of Wales, National Energy Action (Chair)
Rhiannon Phillips, Head of Domestic Energy Efficiency & Fuel Poverty, Welsh Government
Andrej Miller, Team Leader, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Andy Regan, Mission Manager – A Sustainable Future, Nesta
Colin Timmins, Director of Homes, National Energy Action

16:00-16:15

Look ahead and closing remarks

Adam Scorer, Chief Executive, National Energy Action introduced by Claire Durkin, Chair, National Energy Action