This week, the podcast reports from the POWERful Women Annual Conference, one of the most influential gatherings in the global energy calendar. In a year where the UK prepares for 40% of women to be in energy leading roles by 2030, the stakes have never been higher and neither has the opportunity to reshape who leads the industry.

Across a packed day of panels, workshops and networking, our host, Alex Wolfe, interviewed an extraordinary lineup of energy leaders, policymakers and diversity champions. They all stand by one clear message: advancing gender balance in energy leadership is essential to powering the future.

Wolfe Power Club and POWERful Women will be at the upcoming International Energy Week in February 2026.

Special thanks to our featured guests for contributing to this episode (in order of appearance):

Chris McDonald MP (Energy Minister)
Jessica Taylor (Korn Ferry)
Dr. Nick Wayth (Chief Executive of Energy Institute)
Georgina Worrall OBE (POWERful Women)
Alison Flower
Ola Balbaa (BP)
Yasmin Ali (RWE)
Gamiel Yafai (Diversity Marketplace)
Senda Kavindele (KPMG)
Joanna Aunon (WiHTL & Diversity in Retail)

POWERful Women (PfW) is a professional initiative, based at the Energy Institute, that seeks to address the continued underrepresentation of women at the top of the UK energy industry and in the leadership pipeline.

Visit POWERful Women's website here

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This is the Collector's Edition of our timely conversation between our host Alex Wolfe and The Spectator's Editor Michael Gove, who are co-hosting The Spectator Energy Summit (Monday 24th November 2025).

The Summit brings together political leaders, industry CEOs and climate experts to debate the final energy issues of the year. The day opens with Alex's overview of a year marked by nuclear expansion, North Sea challenges and major policy decisions on affordability and transition.

Michael Gove sets the scene with a keynote on the UK’s energy direction, followed by Emma Pinchbeck outlining the UK’s climate strategy. Panels then explore:

• Backing a broad energy mix for UK security, with leaders from Equinor and National Grid
• Innovation and consumer energy with Greg Jackson of Octopus Energy
• The future of storage with major storage firms and Baroness Luciana Berger
• A major wind-power debate between RenewableUK and Kathryn Porter
• Ports and industrial electrification, including the Port of Dover and CCS Association
• Industry and mobility, with Bosch and automotive expert Harry Metcalfe
• Sustainable aviation fuels, featuring Firefly, Wizz Air, Boeing and Graham Brady

The Summit closes with Amber Rudd reflecting on the Paris Agreement ten years on, remarks from Claire Coutinho and final words from Gove, before a drinks reception.

The original episode between the two hosts, that was recorded in the Spectator boardroom, tackles the UK’s central energy dilemma: how to balance Net Zero, security, and affordability without losing the engineering talent and resources that already make Britain a global energy leader.

From the North Sea debate to international lessons on resilience, Michael Gove offers a clear view of how policy, markets and innovation must work together and why the UK’s energy future depends on building its strengths.

Michael Gove was Member of Parliament (MP) for Surrey Heath from 2005 to 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, Gove twice ran to become its leader, in 2016 and 2019, finishing in third place on both occasions. He has been editor of The Spectator since October 2024.

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Today, we’re joined by one of Britain’s leading economic commentators: The Spectator’s economics editor, Michael Simmons. Together, we explore an alternative budget for the energy industry and why it’s not too late for the Government to adopt some of our proposals.

We examine OEUK’s suggested replacement for the Energy Profits Levy and discuss why the GMB union views lower taxation as a means to safeguard jobs. We also pay tribute to the late Quentin Willson, who, beyond his well-known Top Gear career, championed the FairFuelUK campaign, a movement credited with preventing fuel duty hikes at the pump for nearly two decades.

We then turn to the question of VAT on electricity and gas, before concluding with fellow Spectator writer Rory Sutherland’s ideas on how to make tax more aspirational.

Join us and Michael Gove for The Spectator Energy Summit. Book your tickets now to have the last word on energy debates. Make sure you use discount code: WPC25 at checkout for 25% off your purchase: https://events.spectator.co.uk/events/the-spectator-energy-summit-2025

Michael Simmons, Economics Editor of The Spectator, joins host Alex Wolfe in the studio to discuss the UK Budget, The Spectator Energy Summit and how Westminster’s decisions are reshaping Britain’s energy and economic future. 

Listen and download Michael Simmons' podcast, Reality Check, here:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reality-check/id1676225649

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fIxijJIuHXpFLLZiK7rzb?si=4756c8f6336240e6

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDCXLWdvtIuZWz4RZype5YoX8zSWRQqIk

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Director of Government Relations: Max Austin

Designer: Nick Pelekanos

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Recorded at Studio 55 - that has produced Breaking the Taboo and The ABTO Podcast

Join us and Michael Gove for The Spectator Energy Summit. Book your tickets now to have the last word on energy debates. Make sure you use discount code: WPC25 at checkout for 25% off your purchase: https://events.spectator.co.uk/events/the-spectator-energy-summit-2025

Wolfe Power Club's Max Austin has just been to COP30, the biggest climate event every year. This week, we examine COP30's ambitions, relevance in a time of economic pressures on climate outcomes and why Britain is not funding the Tropical Forest Forever Fund. The Fund is aiming to raise $125 billion to make it more economically worthwhile to keep a tree in the ground than to sell for forestry tree.

We also look into the economic reality of Brazil's government also supporting new oil and gas licenses at the same time investing into COP30. 

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Account Manager: Emilia Donovan

Director of Government Relations: Max Austin

Designer: Nick Pelekanos

Editor: Adam Woodward

Social Media Manager: Bella Carter

Recorded at Studio 55 - that has produced Breaking the Taboo and The ABTO Podcast

Join us and Michael Gove for The Spectator Energy Summit. Book your tickets now to have the last word on energy debates. Make sure you use discount code: WPC25 at checkout for 25% off your purchase: https://events.spectator.co.uk/events/the-spectator-energy-summit-2025

In a political twist few saw coming, Rob Jetten's D66 (Democratics 66) has defeated Geert Wilders’ PVV (Party for Freedom), marking a new chapter for Dutch and European politics.

In this week's episode, host Alex Wolfe is joined by Adriaan Andringa, VP of Business Development at GetFocus, to examine how Jetten led D66 to victory, what it means for the Netherlands’ energy and climate policies and how this centrist success challenges the rise of right-wing populism across Europe.

Adriaan Andringa is VP Business Development for AI Tech forecasting startup GetFocus in the Netherlands. He worked as a lobbyist for the Dutch technological industry for many years, after having worked for political party D66 as political advisor, press secretary and national campaign manager. He was elected to city council as party leader twice and joined the Obama campaign in New Hampshire in 2016. He's also a published author and political commentator, analysing politics in the US, the Netherlands and increasingly Germany where he now lives.

GetFocus website: https://www.getfocus.eu/

Thumbnail credit: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/29/exit-poll-suggests-progressive-d66-party-will-become-largest-in-dutch-parliament

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Join us and Michael Gove for The Spectator Energy Summit. Book your tickets now to have the last word on energy debates. Make sure you use discount code: WPC25 at checkout for 25% off your purchase: https://events.spectator.co.uk/events/the-spectator-energy-summit-2025

Since the introduction of Russian sanctions in 2022, the governments of the US, UK and Germany have each faced major political downfall, driven by soaring energy costs. This week, we ask: ‘Who are the real winners and losers of these sanctions when Vladimir Putin remains firmly in power?’

View previous guest Ron's and Reuters' article on the sanctioned oil companies here: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-sanctioned-russian-oil-majors-rosneft-lukoil-2025-10-23/

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Designer: Nick Pelekanos

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Recorded at Studio 55 - that has produced Breaking the Taboo and The ABTO Podcast

Join us and Michael Gove for The Spectator Energy Summit. Book your tickets now to have the last word on energy debates. Make sure you use discount code: WPC25 at checkout for 25% off your purchase: https://events.spectator.co.uk/events/the-spectator-energy-summit-2025

An increase of 1.1 billion barrels of oil and gas have been discovered in the North Sea, according to new figures from the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA). This massive find could reshape Britain’s energy strategy, but it comes just as the UK debates a ban on new exploration licences. 

In this episode, host Alex Wolfe unpacks how this discovery challenges Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s energy policy, what it means for the UK’s oil and gas future and whether this could reignite the debate over Britain’s homegrown energy versus international imports.

View the NSTA report here: https://www.nstauthority.co.uk/media/hgnp1k2x/reserves-and-resources-report-2024.pdf

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Join us and Michael Gove for The Spectator Energy Summit. Book your tickets now to have the last word on energy debates. Make sure you use discount code: WPC25 at checkout for 25% off your purchase: https://events.spectator.co.uk/events/the-spectator-energy-summit-2025

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) joins host Alex Wolfe to explore the future of trucking and how the UK’s logistics sector is steering towards Net Zero.

Featuring Chris Ashley (Head of Policy of the RHA) and Moreton Cullimore (Managing Director of The Cullimore Group), this episode packs everything from the RHA’s ‘The Future of Fuels’ report to real-world fleet challenges. Discover how HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil), hydrogen, and new technologies can help UK hauliers cut emissions without compromising efficiency.

View the RHA's 'The Future of Fuels' report here: https://www.rha.uk.net/Campaigns/Net-Zero

Chris Ashley joined the RHA in September 2019 to lead its environment policy work. He is actively engaged in shaping the Net Zero agenda to deliver sustainable outcomes for commercial vehicle operators and, in particular, small businesses.

Moreton Cullimore is the managing director of The Cullimore Group, based in Frampton-on-Severn, a family-owned business.

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Recorded at Studio 55 - that has produced Breaking the Taboo and The ABTO Podcast

Join us and Michael Gove for The Spectator Energy Summit. Book your tickets now to have the last word on energy debates. Make sure you use discount code: WPC25 at checkout for 25% off your purchase: https://events.spectator.co.uk/events/the-spectator-energy-summit-2025

Can you really make a fortune from solar? Energea have raised $456 million!

Recorded at Climate Week NYC 2025, Energea co-founder Mike Silvestrini joins host Alex Wolfe on this week’s Wolfe Power Club episode, to reveal how investing in solar can grow your wealth and help the planet.

From selling his first energy company for $200 million to building Energea’s global clean-energy platform, Mike shares how everyday investors can earn strong returns through projects in Brazil, Africa, and the USA. Energea proves that investing in sustainability can deliver real financial returns whilst driving both a cleaner planet and a more equitable future.

Mike Silvestrini is the co-founder of Energea, and is a seasoned renewable energy professional with a longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability. He has played a central role in developing over 500 solar projects across the United States, Brazil, and Africa - contributing meaningfully to the global transition to clean energy. Prior to Energea, Mike co-founded and served as CEO of Greenskies Renewable Energy LLC. 

Outside of Energea, Mike serves on the board of the Big Life Foundation, which protects 1.6 million acres of wilderness in East Africa.

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Recorded at Studio 55 - that has produced Breaking the Taboo and The ABTO Podcast

Join us and Michael Gove for The Spectator Energy Summit. Book your tickets now to have the last word on energy debates. Make sure you use discount code: WPC25 at checkout for 25% off your purchase: https://events.spectator.co.uk/events/the-spectator-energy-summit-2025

How will energy storage change everything for the UK’s energy future and what impact could it have for policy?

In this episode, we explore how energy storage will transform the UK energy sector and beyond. Host Alex Wolfe speaks with Baroness Luciana Berger, Chair of the newly founded Energy Storage Association. She shares her vision for the industry and lessons from Britishvolt’s collapse and how the UK can work with China and other storage leaders without repeating Germany’s mistakes on energy dependency. This discussion also covers policy priorities for the new UK Government, technologies beyond lithium-ion, and how storage will shape energy security, affordability, and decarbonisation.

Energy Storage Association website: https://esa-uk.org/

Luciana Berger served as the Member of Parliament for Liverpool Wavertree between 2010 and 2019. During her three parliamentary terms, Luciana was the Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Shadow Minister for Public Health and was the first ever Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental Health. Luciana has held executive roles with Accenture, the NHS Confederation, Edelman and iNHouse Communications. Luciana joined the House of Lords in March 2025 and is now chairing the newly founded Energy Storage Association. 

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