UWE Bristol hosts Peter Mather, Group Regional Vice President, Europe and Head of Country, UK BP

Peter Mather, Group Regional Vice President, Europe and Head of Country, UK BP, is the latest speaker to address the business community at the Bristol Distinguished Address Series (BDAS).

Date: 11 February 2015

Venue: 2D67 (Glendinning Lecture Theatre), Frenchay Campus, UWE Bristol

Time: 18:00

In a talk – ‘Energy: A Challenging Future’ Peter will address the long-term context for the energy industry and then look more specifically at what this long-term view means for Europe and the UK's energy challenges.

The Bristol Distinguished Address Series (BDAS) is a highlight of the University calendar and provides a unique opportunity to hear about the challenges, issues and decisions being made at the highest level of strategic leadership, directly from the leaders of organisations driving forward UK business. The series is delivered by the Bristol Business School in partnership with ACCA, Bristol City Council,  Bristol Junior Chamber, Bristol Post, Business West, CBI, CMI, FSB, ICAEW, IoD, and the West of England LEP.

About ‘Energy: A Challenging Future’

“The global energy arena is very different today than it was a year ago. The current turbulence in the oil markets is not new, but it is having a profound effect on our industry today. However, although we expect demand growth to slow, we will still need an additional 40% of energy by 2035 - which is the equivalent of adding the consumption of another US and another China put together. If we are to meet that demand – securely, affordably and sustainably – we need to consider this shorter term volatility in the context of addressing the longer term fundamentals.”

Following the talk there'll also be a chance for the audience to put forward their issues and questions at this event.

Peter was appointed BP Group Regional Vice President for Europe in April 2010. Before this he was Head of Country, UK and Vice President Europe Region. Peter has held onto his UK roles as part of his expanded European brief.

Peter's early career in BP included oil trading, refining and shipping, in London, New York, Paris and Brussels. Then he held senior strategic planning roles, initially in BP's upstream Global Gas group, and then in the Corporate Centre. On moving back into Refining and Marketing he worked on the establishment and implementation of the BP/Mobil JV, led the European Supply and Distribution activity and sat on the Management Board of the Nerefco refinery in the Netherlands, managing BP's shareholding. Then he was appointed to run the supply, trading and marketing business for BP's new North Europe Gas Business and was subsequently appointed Managing Director of the UK Gas and Power activities and sat on the Board of the UK Interconnector pipeline and the Great Yarmouth power station.

His current role has overall responsibility for the governance, reputation, co-ordination and integration of all BP's European activities. He is the Chairman of BP Oil UK, BP Lubricants UK, BP Norway, as well as being the Chairman of the BP Europe Supervisory Board. He also sits on the Boards of BP France, BP Italy and assorted other internal boards.

Peter is Vice President of Europia/Concawe and a Council Member of ICC UK. He is also an Honorary Director of the Royal Opera House, a Trustee of Dartington Hall and a Trustee of the BP Pension Fund. He sits on the Business in the Community Leadership Teams for Education and Arts & Business and is a member of the British Museum Chairman's Advisory Group.

Series organiser, Professor Nicholas O'Regan says, “We are delighted by the calibre of this year's speakers, the series is an excellent opportunity for members of the business community in Bristol, as well as our own students, alumni and staff to hear directly from inspirational figures in industry with a wealth of strategic experience and leadership skills at the highest level.”

The series of talks continues throughout the year and features Chairmen, CEOs and institutional leaders representing a number of sectors.

The Bristol Distinguished Address Series is free to attend and open to members of the business community. Discuss this event on Twitter using the hashtag #BristolLectures

Full details of forthcoming talks can be found at: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/bdas