Olivia Powis has been appointed the new CEO of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA), succeeding Ruth Herbert, who will be leaving the trade association in September.

Since Ruth joined the CCSA in October 2021, membership has grown from just over 50 to 120 companies across the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) value chain, with the profile of CCUS significantly raised and the first UK clusters on the cusp of deployment. Ruth leaves the trade association to pursue a career in the CCUS sector as the technology moves into implementation.

Following a thorough selection process, the CCSA Board has appointed UK Director, Olivia Powis, as the new CEO, taking up the role from 16 September. Olivia has led the CCSA’s UK policy and external affairs work since 2021, focusing on advocating for the commercial deployment of carbon capture and the development of large-scale integrated CCUS clusters.

Olivia brings to the role over 20 years’ experience in the public sector, focused primarily on energy regulation, infrastructure, and strategy. During her career, Olivia has led on project workstreams at the National Infrastructure Commission, including a review of UK Economic Regulation, and at Ofgem where she led on Strategic Investment and Connections.

With Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) due to be taken in September for the UK’s Track-1 Clusters, and significant growth in CCUS projects in Europe and beyond, Olivia steps into the CCSA CEO role at a critical time.

Olivia Powis, UK Director of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, said:

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to take on the role of CEO and lead the CCSA at such a critical and exciting time for the industry. We have made significant progress over the last three years towards deploying carbon capture projects, and I look forward to delivery of the first two clusters in the UK and leading the next phase of the CCSA’s strategy to see the deployment of CCUS across the EU.”

Ruth Herbert, Chief Executive of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, said:

“It’s been an honour to serve the CCUS community for the past three years and I’m proud of the progress we have made in advancing CCUS in Europe. I want to thank the CCSA Board and members for all their support during what has been a pivotal period in the development of the industry. I am looking forward to playing my part in CCUS delivery going forward.”

Tom Glover, Chair of the CCSA Board and UK Country Chair RWE, said: 

“On behalf of the CCSA Board, I would like to thank Ruth for her fantastic achievements whilst being CEO and we look forward to continuing to work with her, and wish her every success in her future career in the CCUS sector.”

“We are delighted to have found such a highly experienced and outstanding successor in Olivia and are looking forward to her further developing the association as the sector continues to expand and moves into delivery.”

Notes to Editors

Olivia Powis Biography

Olivia Powis is currently the UK Director at the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA), where she works in partnership with the Chief Executive, and CCSA Board on developing the UK strategy and work programme of the association, representing its 120+ members to UK decision-makers.

Olivia joined the CCSA in February 2021 following a public sector and trade association career in energy and infrastructure spanning two decades. Before joining the CCSA, Olivia worked as a Senior Policy Manager at the National Infrastructure Commission where she led on a number of projects workstreams including; a review of UK Economic Regulation and The Role of infrastructure in Housing.

Prior to this, Olivia worked at Ofgem leading workstreams on Strategic Investment, Connections and running a procurement project for a new energy solution in Shetland.  From 2010-2012, Olivia was Account Director at the Madano Partnership leading strategic communications for major energy and infrastructure accounts and she began her career in the Local Government Development Programme – a fast-track stream for local government, before working as London Regional Manager for the National Housing Federation, leading advocacy and European programmes for affordable and sustainable housing.

About the CCSA

CCUS, or Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, is a key low carbon solution – vital to meeting the UK’s statutory Net Zero target at least cost. CCUS enables industrial decarbonisation as well as the production of clean power, clean products (such as cement and chemicals) and clean hydrogen – which can also be used to decarbonise industry. In addition, CCUS also enables greenhouse gas removal from the atmosphere through Direct Air Capture with Storage (DACS) or Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS).

The CCSA is the trade association accelerating the commercial deployment of CCUS, with offices in the UK and Belgium. We work with members, governments and other organisations to ensure CCUS is developed and deployed at the pace and scale necessary to meet net zero goals and deliver sustainable growth across regions and nations.

The CCSA currently has over 120 member companies who are active in exploring and developing different applications of carbon capture and removals, CO₂ transportation by pipeline and ship, utilisation, geological storage, and other permanent storage solutions, end-users in the power, industry, waste management, fuels, and hydrogen production sectors, plus supply chain, engineering, construction and management, legal and financial consulting sectors.

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Source : ccsassociation