Prof. dr. Beth Scott
University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences
Working title:
Will offshore windfarms produce effects across entire marine ecosystems?
Beth Scott is a Professor in Marine Ecology at the University of Aberdeen. She has a multi-disciplinary background in marine ecology, oceanography and fisheries. Her approach focuses on the functional linkages between fine scale bio-physical oceanographic processes, flexible individual life history traits and population dynamics of a range of fish and seabird species through both empirical data collection and modelling approaches. Her focus has been the spatial and temporal identification of critical marine habitats where mobile predator and prey species interact. Recently her research portfolio has been focused on the understanding of the effects of marine renewable energy systems on multi-trophic interactions and the methods for co-developing a Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) decision-support system with a range of stakeholders (industry, government, NGOs) to better incorporate ecosystem services knowledge and values into effective policies. She is currently a Co-Director for the EPSRC Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Supergen Hub and is a member of the Scottish Government Offshore Renewables Research (ScotMER) and on the European Marine Board Working Group on Marine Renewable Energy.
Lori Anna Conzo
Global Biodiversity Lead International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group
Working title:
A wildlife-friendly transition to renewable energy development in new and emerging markets
Lori Anna Conzo is the Global Biodiversity Lead and a Senior Environmental Specialist in the Sustainability & Gender Solutions Department of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group. Lori specializes in the development of mitigation and management strategies to address biodiversity-related risks and impacts for private sector developments in emerging market and developing countries globally. She is the lead author of IFC’s Performance Standard (PS) 6,
Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources (2012) and its accompanying Guidance Note (GN) 6. Lori has 20 years’ experience in negotiation on biodiversity issues with industries ranging from the extractives, energy, infrastructure and agribusiness sectors. Since 2014, she’s worked extensively in the wind energy sector. She serves as the Lead Environmental Specialist on IFC’s Scaling Wind Program and on the World Bank Group’s Offshore Wind Development Program. Lori also serves as Vice Chair of the Convention of the Conservation of Migratory Species Energy Task Force and is a member of the Board of Executive Directors of IUCN-US. The keynote by Lori Anna will serve as an introduction to the
special session on Emerging Markets.
Steinar Eldøy
Head of environment, Rogaland County Council
Working title: What is needed to scale up towards wildlife-friendly wind energy development?
Steinar Eldøy is currently head of environment, Rogaland County Council, leading a team responsible for climate issues, natural environment, water management and outdoor recreation, including issues linked to the impacts of wind power development in the region.
Prior to that, from 1992 to 2016, worked for Statoil as discipline adviser and specialist within ecology, responsible for impact assessments and environmental management in numerous projects in different countries worldwide. These projects included both oil and gas exploration and development project, and offshore wind power developments. Has also extensive experience from managing different environmental studies and R&D programmes linked to the energy sector, including the development of guidance on integrating biodiversity conservation in the oil and gas industry (Energy and Biodiversity Initiative – EBI and the IPIECA/IOGP Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Working Group). Was also heavily involved in the establishment of the national Norwegian seabird programme SEAPOP and SEATRACK and represented the petroleum industry at the steering committee for SEAPOP over a period of 10 years and represented Statoil in the INTACT project on mitigating impacts of wind turbines on birds.
Before that, Steinar worked 15 years for Norwegian environmental authorities first at a regional level at the County Governor’s office in Rogaland (1978-1985) and then at the national level with the Directorate for Nature Management (1985-1992) as advisor/international coordinator representing Norway in different international conventions on nature conservation and management and other international fora.