RIDG director Mike Hay elected to board of Scottish Renewables
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An Inverness man who was an early advocate of the potential of marine energy has been returned to the board of Scottish Renewables following the industry body's most contested election.
Mike Hay, commercial director of independent offshore wind project development company RIDG, brings more than 15 years of senior public and private sector experience to the board.
A graduate of the University of Aberdeen and Imperial College London, Mr Hay has worked in the offshore wind industry since 2003 and brings a broad range of senior management and international business experience to the team.
Throughout his career, he has delivered a number of high-profile projects, including designing and delivering the Offshore Wind Accelerator at the Carbon Trust and playing a key role in creating the unique supply chain-led consortium that won and developed the 4GW Hornsea Zone.
In 2014 he was invited to join the Offshore Wind Investment Organisation (OWIO) within the UK government as a sector specialist to deliver the trade and investment objectives of the 2013 Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy, and three years later he co-founded RIDG as an independent offshore wind project development company to identify, design and deliver high-quality consented assets for strategic partners to build and operate.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Hay said: "It is heartening that fellow members have voted for an independent Scottish offshore wind developer to join the board.
"At RIDG we want to work with the Scottish supply chain to increase the attractiveness of Scotland, and the Scottish offer, in this increasingly competitive and international sector. I will therefore ensure that these voices are heard in the strategic direction of the association, helping to increase the positive impact of Scottish Renewables on the wider economy.
"I also appreciate the competing interests at play within trade associations, and the importance of consensus building at board level, so look forward to working with my fellow directors as we support the team with the excellent work they do."
Reflecting on an election that saw a record 24 candidates, a record number of total votes cast and a record turnout (of nearly 60 per cent of eligible commercial members), Scottish Renewables chief executive Claire Mack said: "It is great to see so many members engaging in what is a vital process for the proper governance of the organisation at a complex and challenging time for all parts of our industry.
"Increased participation in the election process, alongside the introduction of greater gender diversity, was one of our key organisational objectives, so I am pleased to see both reflected in this outcome."
