As part of the transfer of the IFRF from Livorno to Sheffield,  Philip Sharman  will establish and become Director of the new IFRF. During January, and pending the formal establishment of IFRF in UK, he will join the staff of the Livorno office on a part time basis as Director Designate.

The formal establishment of the UK IFRF as a legal entity is expected to be completed by April 2016, when Philip will become its first Director. The process of closing down the Italian IFRF will take somewhat longer. Neil Fricker will continue to head the Italian IFRF until an official liquidator can be appointed, probably in the summer of 2016.  Although the two organisations will exist in parallel until the liquidation of the Italian IFRF is complete, Member facing activities are expected to transfer to the UK under Philip’s Directorship before the summer.

Philip brings a wealth of experience of the world wide energy industry to the IFRF. Since 2012, Philip has been involved in a range of executive/non-executive director, advisory and contract appointments/assignments for public and private sector organisations in low-carbon energy technology areas.  These have included Alstom Power, EPRI Inc., the UK’s Research Councils, Innovate UK, the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change, the UK Health & Safety Laboratory, the Global CCS Institute, the UK’s Energy Knowledge Transfer Network and the universities of Nottingham, Oxford and Sheffield.
 
Prior to this, he held the twin roles of Director of Technology (External Affairs) and Director of Technology (University Relations) for Alstom Power, where his focus was to develop stronger linkages with governments, research organisations and technology providers worldwide creating opportunities for Alstom’s power businesses.

Before joining Alstom, Philip worked on various UK Government R&D programmes, undertaking roles including: Programme Manager for the Clean Fossil Fuels R&D Programme (1990-1998); Programme Manager for the Advanced Fuel Cell R&D Programme (1991-1993); International Technology Promoter – Sustainable Energy for the DTI Global Watch Programme (2001-2007); and R&D Specialist for UK Trade & Investment.  He also worked in international consultancy as Chief Consultant/Business Manager (Fossil Fuels) for AEA Technology plc, leading/undertaking consultancy assignments in C&E Europe, South Africa, China and India.

Philip currently chairs the UK Research Councils’ Fusion Advisory Board (since 2013) and represents the UK on the Technical Group of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) climate change initiative (since its formation in 2003).  He is a member of EPSRC’s Strategic Advisory Network; RCUK’s Expert Group on UK Nuclear Fusion; the University of Nottingham’s Industry Advisory Board on Energy and the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in CCS & Clean Fossil Energy Industrial Advisory Board. Other recent appointments have included Chair of the Board of the UK Advanced Power Generation Technology Forum (APGTF) (2009-2015); Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the RCUK Energy Programme (2010-2014); Chair of the Board of the UK Carbon Capture & Storage Research Centre (2012-2014). 

A Chartered Engineer, Philip studied at Imperial College London and completed the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD (Singapore/France). He was appointed as Honorary Professor of Energy Technologies by the University of Nottingham in 2015.  

The IFRF and its Joint Committee are looking forward to working closely with Philip during the move from Livorno to Sheffield.