Aurora Energy Services (Aurora) has appointed highly experienced Utilities and Infrastructure Executive Pauline Walsh as a Non-Executive Director, while offshore wind veteran Ronnie Bonnar will act as an Advisor to the Board.
Ms Walsh brings more than 35 years of senior leadership experience across infrastructure, utilities and industrial sectors and her appointment will strengthen Inverness-headquartered Aurora’s governance, strategic capability and operational expertise as it continues to scale internationally.
She previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Water, the UK’s largest water-only supplier, held senior leadership roles within National Grid Gas Transmission, where she was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the UK’s high-pressure gas transmission network, and is former CEO of Fred Olsen Ltd.
Ms Walsh is also a senior adviser to Macquarie Asset Management and currently holds a portfolio of non-executive appointments, including Non-Executive Director at VIRTUS Data Centres, and is a board member at EirGrid, the Irish electricity transmission system operator.
In just four years, Aurora has grown to employ more than 750 people across international bases in Scotland, the United States, Australia and South America, and is targeting revenues of £300 million within the next five years.
Doug Duguid, Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Energy Services, said, “Pauline is an outstanding appointment for Aurora and will add gravitas to our existing team through her board-level governance experience and strategic planning oversight. She has led major infrastructure and utility businesses operating in highly regulated and operationally demanding environments, and that background is highly relevant to Aurora as we continue to grow our footprint across the renewable energy and industrial services sectors in UK and international markets.”
Pauline Walsh said, “Aurora has built an impressive business with strong technical capability, talented leadership and a clear strategic direction aligned to the energy transition. Doug and the executive team have decades of experience in the oil and gas sector and a strong track record of developing successful companies with international reach. I am looking forward to supporting them in realising Aurora’s potential through a combination of organic and acquisitional growth.”
A former chair of Scottish Renewables, Ronnie Bonnar has more than 20 years’ experience in engineering, finance and policy related work in the wind sector, and has advised international investors, developers and governments on large-scale wind projects.
Doug Duguid, added, “I’ve known Ronnie for 30 years and he is one of the most experienced figures in offshore wind, with high-level connections in the UK, Norway and internationally. His relationships with financiers, developers and regulators will be a great asset as we transition our technology from concept to a commercial reality, while also looking to acquire other renewables technologies.”