Ministerial Address

National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
9-11 February 2026, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

Ministerial Address

Martin McCluskey MP
Minister for Energy Consumers

45 years of fighting fuel poverty

National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
9-11 February 2026, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

45 years of fighting fuel poverty

1. Adam Scorer, National Energy Action
2. Dr Brenda Boardman, Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University
3. Rt Hon Caroline Flint, Chair, Committee on Fuel Poverty
4. Ian Preston, Centre for Sustainable Energy

Warm Homes Plan

National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
9-11 February 2026, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

Warm Homes Plan: Will it deliver?

1. Andrej Miller, National Energy Action
2. Abigail Ward, Energy Saving Trust
3. Sara Edmonds, National Retrofit Hub
4. Jessica Skilbeck, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Breakout A: digital exclusion

National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
9-11 February 2026, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

Offline and Left in the Cold: How to include the digitally excluded

1. Tessa Kirby, National Energy Action
2. Nicol McConnell, Sunderland City Council
3. Robert Shapiro, Good Things Foundation
4. Joseph Chambers, FarrPoint

Breakout B: Retrofit

National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
9-11 February 2026, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

Retrofit: More than just the measures

1. Andrej Miller, National Energy Action
2. Lisa Beaney, Green Isle of Wight CIC
3. Lorenza Casini, Carbon Co-op

Breakout C: Futures

National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
9-11 February 2026, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

From Black Report to Blueprint: 45 years on the road to Warm Homes, Healthy Futures

1. Dr Danielle Butler, National Energy Action
2. Dr Brenda Boardman, Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University
3. Laura Ratcliffe, Northern Gas Networks
4. Jo Bibby, The Health Foundation
5. Dr Ffion Prothero, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Breakout D: NECA Taskforce

National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
9-11 February 2026, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

An Introduction to the North East Combined Authority Warm Homes Taskforce

1. Matt Copeland, National Energy Action
2. Ross Armstrong, Warmworks
3. Dr Sharon Grant, North East Institute of Technology
4. Laura Hood, North East Combined Authority

Little lives

National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
9-11 February 2026, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

Little Lives, Big Struggles: The hidden toll of fuel poverty on children

1. Dr Jamie-Leigh Rosenburgh, National Energy Action
2. Amanda Bailey, North East Child Poverty Commission
3. Natalie Morris, The Lead
4. Terri White, Investigative journalist specialising in child poverty

Shaping regional solutions

National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
9 – 11 February 2026, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

Shaping Regional Solutions to Fuel Poverty

1. Laura Beesley, National Energy Action
2. Tina Gandhi, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
3. Ross Lowrie, North East Combined Authority
4. Andy Clark, Energy Systems Catapult

Partners Panel

National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
9-11 February 2026, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

Partners’ Panel

1. Danni Barnes, National Energy Action
2. Cat Divers, National Support Network
3. Helena Russell, The Warm Welcome Campaign
4. Steve Brogden, OVO

 

National Energy Action Annual Conference and Exhibition
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead

We’re delighted to invite you to National Energy Action’s Annual Conference 2026, taking place from Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 February 2026.

It’s a special year for us. 2026 marks our charity’s 45th birthday and we’re coming home to the north east – the area where we were founded.

This three-day event is the UK’s leading forum on fuel poverty, energy justice, and the transition to affordable, sustainable warmth for all. It brings together delegates from across government, industry, housing, health, and the voluntary sector to explore the latest policy developments, practical solutions, and partnerships driving change.

Our programme will feature:

• Expert panels and workshops exploring the government’s Warm Homes Plan, how energy efficiency improvements can be delivered at scale, and how communities can be empowered to take action.
• Lived experience sessions, hearing directly from those facing the daily realities of fuel poverty and what meaningful support looks like in practice.
• Collaboration across the health, housing and energy sectors to ensure that every intervention contributes to better outcomes for people and places.

Alongside the main sessions, there will be opportunities to network and visit our exhibition area. Whether you’re a policymaker, practitioner, funder, or community partner, our Annual Conference offers the ideal space to learn, share insights, and help end fuel poverty.

Places are limited and this event is always in high demand – we encourage you to secure your place early.

If you have any questions about conference, please contact brian.hart@nea.org.uk