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David Bird will be at the Utility Week Energy Customer Confer- ence on 22 Janu- ary 2015, where he will speak about how Eon is approaching its goal of becom- ing a trusted energy partner in the eyes of its customers. Given the challenges the energy sector faces with increasing regulation, media comment and public concern over rising bills, he will outline how an organisation-wide approach to putting custom- ers at the heart of business transformation is starting to pay dividends. He says: "Our biggest challenge has been making the complex simple. This includes how we listen to our customers, how we communicate with our colleagues and how we redesign and improve industry and organisational processes." People & Opinion Utility Week community Speaker's corner David Bird, customer service director, Eon Personal notes What have been your best and worst career moments? Best: Being recognised by Uswitch two years in a row for leading the industry on overall customer satisfaction. We set ourselves this goal when we had been at the bottom of the league table and achieved the award two years earlier than we expected. Worst: Anytime I've had to make people redundant. It's sadly occasionally necessary for the medium and long-term health of the whole organisation. But that doesn't make it any easier. Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? HM the Queen. She may not agree to attend but whatever your views on the monarchy she is an exceptionally impressive woman who has met more influ- ential and interesting people than probably anyone else in the world. Nelson Mandela. Another hugely impressive individual from whom I could learn a great deal about leadership. William Hague. He's bright, amusing and has real breadth. One of Eon's frontline col- leagues. They're by far the most fun at any event and make sure everyone keeps a sense of perspective. Gordon Ramsey. If you think I'm cooking with this guest list, think again! Name four items you keep on your desk/with you at work: Costa Coffee – three a day to keep me going. My iPad – how did we survive without them? My little black book of things to do and Penny Wood, my PA – who actually runs the organisa- tion while I pretend to. The main event The Utility Week Energy Customer Conference 2015 takes place on 22 January at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham City centre. Speakers include: • Dame Yve Buckland, chair, Consumer Council for Water • Heidi Mottram, chief executive, Northumbrian Water • Jonathan Harding, head of customer services, Yorkshire Water Services • Gary Dixon, domestic retail director, United Utilities Find out more at www.uw-watercustomer.net UtILItY WeeK | 7th - 13th November 2014 | 7 "The RET can save 30% on bills and dilutes the power of the big energy firms who've gouged Australian families for a decade. Watering down the policy just doesn't make sense." Ben Burge, chief executive of Powershop Australia, commenting on controversial changes to Australia's renewable energy target Disruptive utilities news from around the globe African clean water initiative US pump manufacturer Grundfos has partnered with charity World vison to give two million people in sub-Saharan Africa access to clean water. the partnership will see more than 1,000 solar-powered pumps installed at wells in the region. the technology, which includes storage and usage moni- toring equipment, is thought to be more cost effective than traditional borehole techniques. Renewables row down under Australia has seen a period of renewed controversy over the role of renewable energy. the govern- ment has proposed changes to the renewable energy target (ret) which would tie it to declining household consumption. Green energy advocates say this under- mines the industry and reflects a lack of commitment to environ- mental issues as well as failing to recognise the scheme's achieve- ments in driving down energy costs for consumers. the government says the changes maintain the original ret target of achieving 20 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2020. Leaders converge on the 'Living Lab' Singapore's second minister for trade and industry, S Iswaran, opened the seventh annual Sin- gapore International energy Week (SIeW) on 27 october. he spoke about the energy security chal- lenges Singapore faces as a country heavily reliant on gas imports. A significant element in Singapore's strategy for energy security was building its first LNG terminal in 2013. this has widened its options in terms of sourcing gas and its ability to negotiate favourable prices, said Iswaran. BRAve new woRLd