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NETWORK / 14 / FEBRUARY 2020 INDUSTRY INTERVIEW SP Energy Networks' Future Networks Manager, Professor James Yu, received an MBE in the New Year's Honours List. Here Network catches up with him to discuss challenges, past, present and future Q What did receiving the MBE mean to you? A "I am humbled and deeply honoured to be awarded an MBE as part of the 2020 New Year's honours list. It's truly been a privilege to live in the UK for the last 20 years, where I essentially spent my youth. I feel I've been able to contribute to the com- munity I am now part of, particularly in my work within SP Energy Network for the last eight years, and feel this recognition belongs as much to my colleagues and mentors over the years as it does myself. This country has become home to my young family and I hope that this award is something they, my wife and two sons, can be proud of. My role requires a significant amount of travel and time away from home, which simply wouldn't be possible without their support and understanding. My parents displayed a great deal of faith in me - emptying their pensions and savings to allow me the oppor - tunity to come to this country two decades ago. I've always strived to measure up to that trust and hope that this recognition goes some way to vindicating their confidence in me. I have been very lucky throughout my career to have had encouragement and guid- ance from various mentors and colleagues, who have all been a part of my journey to get to where I am today. With this in mind, I receive this honour on behalf of those who have empowered me in my career thus far." An honourable mention for an energy innovator