Neil was appointed as Managing Director of the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney in November 2005. EMEC is the world’s first and only grid-connected wave and tidal test facility, and has ensured Scotland’s position at the forefront of marine energy development. Neil describes the best part of his job as: “Seeing metal getting wet. It is only by getting these new machines into the water and getting them working that the technology developers can learn what they need to in order to progress. EMEC plays a critical role in enabling that to happen, and contributing to a new, clean, renewable, secure energy source.”

Before EMEC Neil worked as a project developer of a tidal scheme in Orkney following 6 years at the Environment Agency dealing with regulation and development issues, particularly relating to public participation in decisions on flooding, waste and water resources. He was a keen scuba diver is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist.