Members of the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (UK HFCA) voted to elect representatives from the wider membership, with the new team promising to bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their roles.

Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo Ltd, has been announced as new Chair of the UK HFCA, while the new Deputy Chairs are Neil Filkin of Conrad Energy and Ross Fairley of Burges Salmon.

The new team will support Celia Greaves, the UK HFCA’s CEO and Founder, as the organisation works towards achieving its three key priorities for the coming year.

These are to accelerate progress on the development of hydrogen storage in the UK, see the government develop a strategy for hydrogen for transport, and ensure that measures are put in place to prevent issues around codes, standards and regulations hampering the development of the sector.

Read more: Great to be back – but so much more to do in the UK’s hydrogen sector

Lyne, whose firm specialises in dual fuel technology enabling commercial vehicles to convert the fuel they run on to include hydrogen, has been involved in the UK HFCA for 12 years. She said of the appointment, “I’m delighted to have been voted into this position – what a fantastic opportunity there is now that we’re heading into the next phase.

“We have worked really hard and been in the sector for a long time, but the opportunity we have now to make it happen has never been more obvious.

“With the UK HFCA growing in the way it has, it is so exciting to have the chance to make it everything it deserves and more.”

Deputy Chair Filkin, Technical Director at Conrad Energy, has 25 years’ experience in energy, engineering and manufacturing sectors. Formerly operations director of Viridis Power, he has also worked for Infinis, Rolls-Royce and Philips.

Fairley is a Partner at independent UK law firm Burges Salmon, and specialises in environmental and low-carbon projects, particularly in the renewables sector. He has spent more than 20 years advising businesses on energy projects, electricity regulation, commercial contracts and environmental matters.

“We are delighted to welcome the new Chair and Deputy Chairs, and to have such a strong team at the helm of the UK HFCA,” said Greaves. “With these new appointments, we have a fantastic mix of experience and perspectives, and a great combination of skills to bring to the table.

“We thank Elizabeth Skerritt, from Ceres, who has been our co-Chair with Amanda for the last year and has done an excellent job.”

The UK HFCA is the largest and longest running pan UK hydrogen focused association, dedicated to supporting stakeholders across the entire value chain of both the hydrogen sector and fuel cell industry.

It began after Greaves received three years’ funding from the UK Government to establish Fuel Cells UK as a precursor to a trade association. Once the government funding ran out, industry rallied together to form the UK’s first standalone trade group in the space.

Following a merger with the UK Hydrogen Association, she then founded the UK HFCA in July 2010 to help accelerate the deployment and development of hydrogen and fuel cells in the UK.

Today, the association’s members represent more than 200,000 employees globally, with combined revenues over £400bn, and cover the entire value chain from raw material sourcing, to supply chain components, financing, professional services, B2B and consumer-facing solutions.