Energy Sector Honourees in the 2026 UK New Year Honours List
Several leaders and professionals from the UK energy sector were recognised in the 2026 New Year Honours List for their contributions to energy security, net zero transition, innovation, sustainability and community engagement. (Rigzone)
Case Study: John Mark Pettigrew — CBE for Services to Energy
Honour: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Recognition: For outstanding services to the UK energy sector. (Rigzone)
Career & Contributions
- Former CEO of National Grid, where Pettigrew spent his entire career, rising from a graduate entrant to the company’s top executive. (Rigzone)
- Led one of the UK’s most strategically important infrastructure companies responsible for electricity and gas transmission — pivotal to energy security as the UK transitions to net zero. (Rigzone)
- Oversaw major strategic transformations in the company, including adaptation to renewable integration and grid resilience. (Rigzone)
Comment (Pettigrew)
“I couldn’t feel prouder or more humbled… this is a testament to the many wonderful people I have worked with… across the wider energy industry.” — John Pettigrew (via social media) (Rigzone)
Impact:
His leadership reflected decades of work in guiding a national infrastructure business through energy transition challenges, especially grid adaptation for renewables and innovation. (Rigzone)
Case Study: Jeffrey David Asser — CBE for North Sea Transition
Honour: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Recognition: For services to the North Sea energy transition. (Rigzone)
Role & Contributions
- Assistant Director, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) — involved in strategy shaping for UK’s offshore energy and decarbonisation policies. (Rigzone)
- Played a significant role in policy frameworks enabling the move away from fossil dependency and toward sustainable offshore energy. (Rigzone)
Impact:
Supports the UK’s energy transition — notably efforts to align North Sea energy infrastructure with emergent clean energy frameworks. (Rigzone)
Case Study: Joanna Louise Butlin — CBE for Services to Net Zero & Diversity
Honour: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Recognition: Services to net zero and to diversity in the energy sector. (Rigzone)
Role & Contributions
- Founder, Director and Chair of the Women’s Utility Network — championing diversity, inclusion, and representation in utilities and energy industries. (Rigzone)
Impact:
Butlin’s work has helped open up pathways for women in energy — a sector historically dominated by men — while also advocating for outcomes that support clean energy and workforce equality. (Rigzone)
Case Study: Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer — CBE for Low Energy Technologies
Honour: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Recognition: Services to low energy technologies. (Rigzone)
Profile
- Director, Research Centre for Carbon Solutions, Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh). (Heriot-Watt University)
- Internationally recognised academic leader driving innovation in low carbon and energy technologies. (Heriot-Watt University)
Comment (Maroto-Valer)
“This honour reflects the collective efforts of outstanding colleagues, partners and students — driving innovation, competitiveness and a sustainable transition to net zero.” — Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer (Heriot-Watt University)
Impact:
Her work significantly supports UK research leadership in efficient, low-emissions energy systems, influencing both academic and industrial decarbonisation pathways. (Heriot-Watt University)
Other Energy Professionals Recognised
George Nicholas Munson — MBE
- Former Energy and Climate Change Manager (Leeds City Council).
- Recognised for services to net zero and the heat network sector. (Rigzone)
Patricia Welsh — MBE
- Former Warm Homes Team Manager (Hull City Council).
- Recognised for services to energy efficiency and to alleviating fuel poverty. (Rigzone)
Katy Louise Woodington — MBE
- UK Team Lead, Community Investments, RWE Renewables.
- Recognised for services to the charitable and energy sectors. (Rigzone)
Impact:
These MBEs highlight how professionals supporting community energy projects, efficiency programmes, and renewable investments are also being recognised. (Rigzone)
Why These Honours Matter
1. Recognition of Energy Transition Leadership
The UK’s New Year Honours list increasingly recognises the role of energy professionals in sustainable transition, highlighting careers that shape policy, technology and infrastructure. (Rigzone)
2. Industry & Policy Synergy
Honourees span both industrial leadership (e.g., energy company CEOs) and public policy roles (DESNZ), illustrating how coordinated effort across sectors is critical to achieving net zero goals. (Rigzone)
3. Diversity & Community Impact
Recognition of leaders in diversity initiatives, fuel poverty reduction, and community energy engagement shows a broader interpretation of service — not just technical achievement but social and community benefit. (Rigzone)
Summary Table: Energy Sector Honourees
| Name | Honour | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| John Mark Pettigrew | CBE | Services to energy leadership and infrastructure |
| Jeffrey David Asser | CBE | North Sea transition policy & net zero strategy |
| Joanna Louise Butlin | CBE | Diversity and net zero advocacy in energy |
| Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer | CBE | Innovation in low energy technologies |
| George Nicholas Munson | MBE | Net zero & heat network development |
| Patricia Welsh | MBE | Energy efficiency & fuel poverty reduction |
| Katy Louise Woodington | MBE | Community investments & renewable energy |
Overall Impression
The UK’s 2026 New Year Honours List showcases a broad spectrum of energy professionals — from industry leaders and policymakers to community champions and academic innovators — reflecting the sector’s critical role in national prosperity, sustainability, and societal benefit. (Rigzone)
Here’s a case-study-led analysis with comments on energy professionals honoured in the UK New Year Honours List, focusing on why they were recognised and what their work says about the direction of the UK energy sector.
Case Study 1: John Mark Pettigrew – CBE
Former CEO, National Grid
Honour: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
For: Services to the UK energy sector
Why He Was Recognised
Pettigrew spent his entire career at National Grid, ultimately leading one of the UK’s most critical pieces of national infrastructure. During his tenure, he oversaw:
- Major investment in grid resilience and reliability
- Adaptation of the electricity network to handle renewable energy growth
- Long-term planning for net zero-aligned infrastructure
Comment & Insight
Pettigrew described the honour as a reflection of team effort across the industry, rather than an individual achievement. His recognition highlights how system-level leadership—not just innovation—has become central to the UK’s energy transition .
Case Study 2: Jeffrey David Asser – CBE
Assistant Director, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
Honour: CBE
For: Services to the North Sea energy transition
Why He Was Recognised
Asser played a key role in shaping policy for the transition of the North Sea, balancing:
- Continued energy security
- Decarbonisation commitments
- Workforce and regional economic stability
His work sits at the intersection of government policy, offshore energy, and long-term transition planning.
Comment & Insight
This honour reflects how policy architects—often working behind the scenes—are now being publicly recognised for enabling a managed transition rather than abrupt change. It signals government acknowledgement that net zero requires careful sequencing, not just ambition .
Case Study 3: Joanna Louise Butlin – CBE
Founder and Chair, Women’s Utility Network
Honour: CBE
For: Services to net zero and diversity in the energy sector
Why She Was Recognised
Butlin has been a prominent advocate for:
- Gender diversity and inclusion in utilities and energy
- Leadership development for women across the sector
- Embedding diversity as part of long-term sustainability and net-zero delivery
Comment & Insight
Her recognition shows that the UK now sees workforce transformation as essential infrastructure. The honours list sends a clear signal: achieving net zero isn’t just about technology—it’s about who designs, operates and governs the energy system .
Case Study 4: Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer – CBE
Director, Research Centre for Carbon Solutions, Heriot-Watt University
Honour: CBE
For: Services to low-energy technologies
Why She Was Recognised
An internationally respected academic, Maroto-Valer has led research into:
- Carbon capture and storage
- Low-carbon industrial processes
- Translating academic research into real-world energy solutions
Comment & Insight
She described the honour as recognition of collective research effort. Her inclusion reinforces the importance of science-to-industry pipelines, showing how universities are increasingly central to the UK’s energy competitiveness and decarbonisation strategy .
Case Study 5: Community & Local Energy Champions – MBEs
Several MBEs went to professionals working at local authority and community level, including:
- George Nicholas Munson – for services to net zero and heat networks
- Patricia Welsh – for services to energy efficiency and tackling fuel poverty
- Katy Louise Woodington – for services to community investment in renewable energy
Why These Matter
These honours spotlight:
- The importance of heat networks, home energy efficiency, and fuel poverty reduction
- The role of local delivery in achieving national climate targets
Comment & Insight
Recognising these roles sends a strong message that net zero happens street-by-street, not just in boardrooms or offshore wind farms. Community engagement and social impact are now firmly part of energy excellence.
What the Honours List Says About UK Energy Priorities
Key Themes Emerging
| Theme | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Infrastructure leadership | Energy security remains vital |
| Policy & transition | Managed decarbonisation is the focus |
| Diversity & workforce | People are central to net zero |
| Research & innovation | Science underpins long-term success |
| Community action | Local delivery is critical |
Overall Comment
The 2026 New Year Honours List reflects a broad, mature view of the energy sector—one that values engineers, policymakers, academics, and community leaders equally. It underlines that the UK’s energy transition is no longer just about building assets, but about building systems, skills, and social trust .
Summary
- Energy honourees span infrastructure, policy, research, diversity and community action
- Recognition reflects the complex, multi-layered nature of net zero delivery
- The honours list acts as a barometer of where UK energy strategy is heading: resilient, inclusive, and locally grounded