EEEGR Board

After studying for an HND in Engineering at Dundee College of Technology, Mark began his working career in Aberdeen with Swire EPD in 1983. In 1984 a temporary assignment in Great Yarmouth became permanent and since then he has held senior Management and Director positions with former Crane & Stevedoring Business EH Clarke ('85-'90), Great Yarmouth Port Authority ('90-‘98) and Kvaerner (now Aker Kvaerner) since 1998, currently looking after the company's interests in the Southern North Sea. Mark has been an active Board Member of EEEGR since 2001 and is currently non-executive Chairman. Mark has extensive experience, knowledge and networks both in the energy industry and the East of England and is committed to further assisting the economic development of the region with EEEGR. Mark is also a Trustee of Petans Ltd and sits on the regional forum for the ECITB.

Mark lives in Norwich and having retired from playing National League Rugby with North Walsham several years ago he still keeps active either in the gym, on the golf course, playing tennis or trying to stay upright on skis!

Chief Executive Officer for Blue Sky Leisure, a family owned Norfolk business. Employing around 200 staff it operates holidays parks (Including Kelling Heath Holiday Park), the famous Zaks American Diners and a number of property interests. Ian is passionate about customer service believes in building good business through supporting and developing good people.

Ian is a Chartered Accountant, who has worked in various sectors. He owned, with his brother, hydraulic engineering business, Specialised Management Services until 2004 when it was sold to a PLC.

Ian is married to Jo and has three daughters, Evie, Betsie and Gracie. He is a keen marathon runner and triathlete.

Andrew Wood is a locally qualified solicitor and has practised for more than 30 years in this area.  He graduated from UEA where he read History, looking at Anglo Dutch History and naval warfare - which later sparked his interest in Dutch trade.

A substantial part of Andrew's practice is working for Dutch owned companies working in the UK, some of which are involved in the oil and gas industry. Regularly visiting the Netherlands, Andrew has strong working links with the Netherlands-British Chamber of Commerce, The Embassy in the Hague Dutch government agencies and other trade organisations.

Through in his involvement in Chairing the European Cross Sector Working Party of Shaping Norfolk's Future, Andrew, became the founder member and company secretary at the inception of EEEGR. He has been closely involved in many local European initiatives - leading to the close ties of Norfolk with Trondheim, Norway in particular and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.  He has also championed European and International links for EEEGR.

Recent initiatives include looking at the transport link between the East of England and the Netherlands and the use of the Outer Harbour in Great Yarmouth. 

He is keen to see EEEGR take the initiative on a local supply and procurement chain, enabling its members to take full advantage of the strategic position of Norfolk and the East of England, not only in the North Sea but in the wider markets internationally.

Family life takes up weekends and Andrew enjoys travelling, history, good food and wine and the occasional rugby international.

Celia took on the role of director of Skills For Energy for the East of England in April 2008. This followed her dual role of programme director and liaison between the oil and gas industry and national government on skills issues.

To undertake these roles, Celia has been seconded out of the Government's Department of Business Enterprise Business and Regulatory Reform (BERR) since 2005.  She has also worked in a diversity of areas in the Civil Service including ergonomics, staff training and environmental protection.

Having originally graduated from Aberdeen University, she has recently completed an MBA with the Open University and a 26.2 mile marathon."

Johnathan has more than 10 years experience working in the energy and related sectors and has a strong background in business growth, technology commercialisation and strategy/policy development.

Johnathan is currently responsible for all aspects of EEDA's work on low carbon, sustainable development, energy and climate change, and the transition to a low carbon East of England. His role provides strategic leadership and advice in the preparation and implementation of the low carbon and sustainable development aspects of regional strategies, and developing programmes to support and drive innovation and business growth in low carbon sectors, helping to improve the regional economy. Johnathan's role also supports EEDA as an exemplar in sustainability having recently become a carbon neutral organisation.

Before joining EEDA, Johnathan was General Manager for EEEGR, where he guided and supported the company's development from 2001 to 2007.