The Sir Denis Rooke Memorial Lecture is given annually in celebration of Sir Denis Eric Rooke. The first lecture was delivered by David Varney, Chief Executive of British Gas on 3 March 1999 and was entitled ‘Professionalism in the new gas industry’. Since then lectures have been given on a variety of themes by many eminent speakers, a list of which is provided below.

The next lecture in the series will be delivered by Dame Judith Hackitt on 20 March 2019. 

Previous lectures

14 March 2018
Professor Dame Ann Dowling, President, Royal Academy of Engineering
Engineering a future for all, the power of education, research and innovation

29 March 2017
Mark Horsley, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Gas Networks
Developing a smarter network, people, pipes, passion

5 April 2016
Dieter Helm CBE, Professor of Energy Policy, University of Oxford
The future of energy generation, networks and supply, smart, low carbon and electrified?

31 March 2015
Professor Jim Skea CBE FRSA, Professor of Sustainable Energy, Imperial College London
The global energy outlook, what we agree on and what we don’t

19 March 2014
Peter Dixon, Group Chief Executive, Phoenix Energy Holdings
Why does opportunity come dressed as overalls?

11 March 2013
Jeremy Bending, Director, National Grid Gas Distribution
Gas innovation, past, present and future

26 March 2012
Arthur Stoddart, Managing Director, GL Noble Denton
Gas in a low carbon world

14 April 2011
Dr Claire Curtis-Thomas CEng FIMechE FIET FCGI FRSA, CEO, IGEM
Placing corporate bets in a post-recession world

20 April 2010
Sir Piers Clark, Managing Director, Regulated Industries, Rail and International, Mouchel
Tomorrow's world today: stories to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists

20 April 2009
Sir John Parker DSc (Eng) FREng, MIGEM, Chairman, National Grid
Engineering on an industrial journey

2008
No lecture in view of Sir Denis’ serious illness
30 May 2007
Sir John Mogg KCMG, Chairman, Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
Pipe dream or reality? A competitive gas market for Europe

17 May 2006
Kevin Myers, Head of Hazardous Installations Directorate, Health and Safety Executive
Safety in the gas industry - past, present and future

25 May 2005
Will Hutton, Chief Executive, The Work Foundation
Leadership - making a difference

26 May 2004
Steve Holliday, Group Director UK Gas Distribution, National Grid Transco
Linking technology, engineering and people to develop superior performance

29 April 2003
Peter Lehmann, Chairman, Energy Saving Trust
Gas, Energy and Society

16 April 2002
Jonathan Stern, Royal Institute of International Affairs and Imperial College
Security of European gas supplies: the impact of import dependence and liberalisation

10 April 2001
Callum McCarthy, Director General of Electricity and Gas Supply
Regulation versus Markets

9 March 2000
James Ball, Managing Partner, Gas Strategies Group
Too big for its own pipes

3 March 1999
David Varney, Chief Executive, British Gas
Professionalism in the new Gas Industry