New CEO Appointed at Sustainable Energy Ireland
Media Information
18 November 2008
Professor J Owen Lewis to take a leading role in Ireland's drive for a sustainable energy future
 | Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has today announced the appointment of Professor J Owen Lewis as its new Chief Executive Officer. Professor Lewis is a long time proponent of sustainable energy practice in the built environment and was founder of the UCD Energy Research Group in 1975. Professor Lewis was elected Dean of Engineering and Architecture at UCD in 2001, a post he held for four years before becoming Principal of the UCD College of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences. More recently, Professor Lewis has been Bórd na Móna's Director for Innovation and R&D. Announcing the appointment Mr Brendan Halligan, Chairman of SEI, said, 'We are delighted to have Professor Lewis as CEO to lead SEI in the next phase of its development, a role which will be both challenging and exciting. Professor Lewis's demonstrated vision, conviction and passion to the sustainable energy agenda will be a huge asset to SEI. His background in energy innovation will ensure that SEI will play a leadership role in the delivery of national energy policy objectives and in Ireland's efforts to meet its international energy and environmental obligations. |
Professor Lewis added, 'The challenges for Ireland in terms of energy security, price competitiveness and emissions abatement are clear and the targets ambitious but achievable. I am delighted to have been offered the opportunity to lead SEI in the delivery of its wide ranging programmes in pursuit of these targets. The agenda is one of transforming Irish society and the economy towards overall carbon neutrality and I have been given the full backing and mandate of a strong board and a committed staff complement to achieve this ambition.'
SEI was established in 2002 as a statutory agency with a mission to promote and assist the development of a sustainable energy economy. It is funded by the Irish government through the national development plan with programmes part financed through the European Union. Professor Lewis takes over as CEO in January 2009 following the retirement earlier this year of SEI's first CEO, Mr David Taylor.
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