There is a wonderful Irish phrase we use quite a lot in Kent to describe people…Touched. It’s a nice way of saying someone is slightly mad.
We say people have to be touched to work in this industry.
I guess to work long rotations away from home in some of the most remote and challenging environments on earth, you’ve got to be missing some of your faculties, right?
But we also think being touched is what gives you the power to be innovative – to think anything is possible.
Technological advances, new geographical frontiers and figuring out ways to create a sustainable future in energy generation, this industry has innovation in spades.
Spark Generation is Kent’s podcast where we will hear personal, generational stories from people in the Energy industry.
We’ll be listening in to conversations between friends talking about their experiences and what changes they have witnessed over the years.
Some of the greatest brains in the industry will tell us what they think sparks the evolution of change.
Belonging in Action: Voices from Kent’s Shadow Hub
In today’s global organisations, creating genuine inclusion and belonging is not just a moral imperative, it is a driver of innovation, resilience and sustainable success. While many companies aspire to foster environments where everyone feels valued, few take the steps to translate commitments into daily action.
In this special episode of Spark Generation, produced as the closing conversation of Kent Inclusion Week 2025, Aswathi Mohandas from Kent’s Shadow Hub sits down with our Head of Inclusion and Belonging, Karen Blanc, to explore how Kent is turning intent into impact. Together, they reflect on the actions shaping a more inclusive culture, share personal stories that illuminate the lived experience of belonging, and invite us to hear directly from other Shadow Hub members on what belonging means to them.
This episode shines a light on the voices behind our Inclusion and Belonging strategy and reinforces the shared responsibility we all hold in making Kent a place where everyone can thrive.
22 Apr 2022
Andy Malpas, Coming to America
The United States has retained the sense of being a new frontier, and will probably always feel that way. The Americas are, until now, uncharted waters for the offshore wind industry, but after years of lobbying by key stakeholders, 2021 saw the Administration secure the future of offshore wind by committing to double lease capacity by 2030.
Andy Malpas has not only witnessed but been a driving force within the offshore wind revolution in the UK. And now he is taking the lessons learned over the pond to Boston to brave a market that is gearing up for huge changes in the years ahead.
8 Apr 2022
The Transient Life of a Project Manager with Maurice Dinneen
Imagine a job that truly gives you the gift of global travel. Think of the places you would see and the people you would meet and the different cultures you would experience. This is what it can be like in a global projects organisation. An organisation just like Kent, and for Construction Manager, Maurice Dinneen, this is exactly the life it has given him. In this episode of Spark Generation, join Jo Hennigan, Kent VP Communications & Advocacy as she chats to Maurice about the his experiences as a global project manager and the changes and similarities he has witnessed throughout his travels.
25 Mar 2022
Leading the Energy Transition with Emma Conway
Born in Glasgow and educated at Cambridge University, Emma Conway discovered an early love for engineering and followed her gut. Blazing a trail in our industry for herself and for others to follow, she’s now been identified as one of the Top 100 Women in the Energy Transition and one of the Top 10 in the Professional Services category. In this episode of Spark Generation, join Jo Hennigan, Kent VP Communications & Advocacy in conversation with Emma Conway, Principal Engineer at Kent, as we look at what it takes for a person to lead in the Energy Transition.
11 Mar 2022
The Digital Challenges of Integration with Damian O’Gara
In so many instances, when businesses are acquired or merged, the combining companies are left on their own separate and individual technology systems. Because the mission to integrate technology platforms is hard and messy and requires a lot of change – which everybody HATES. But in the long run, it doesn’t help all the parts of the new business to ever feel integrated, to feel like one team, and major efficiencies are lost. We’re not making that mistake at Kent. In this episode of Spark Generation, join Jo Hennigan, Kent VP Communications & Advocacy in conversation with Damian O’Gara, Kent Chief Digital & Information Officer, as his team embark on their biggest challenge yet – integrating the Kent digital landscape.
25 Feb 2022
Culture and Leadership with Mel Wombwell & Kylie Roberts
Culture has emerged as one of the dominant barriers to effective integrations. In one study, culture was found to be the cause of 30 percent of failed integrations. So, as we embark on our first full year as Kent, how do we ensure that our company culture is set up for both personal and organisational success? In this episode of Spark Generation, join Jo Hennigan, Kent VP Communications & Advocacy, in conversation with leadership and behavioural experts Mel Wombwell and Kylie Roberts from Shift2Unlimited as they talk about how we can co-create a vision for the future, and then make it a reality
4 Feb 2022
Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em with Bev Kaye
New research reveals one in four employees plans to leave their organization once the pandemic is over. In a demanding business environment, where fear, frustration, burnout, and isolation are at all-time highs, building a culture that engages, inspires, and retains talent has never been more important. In this episode of Spark Generation, join Sharon Paul, Kent Chief People Officer, in conversation with Bev Kaye, author of Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em: Getting Good People to Stay as they discuss how to inspire, motivate and ultimately keep top talent.
18 Jul 2021
The Will to Change: The Diversity Episode
In this episode of Spark Generation, we are diving into the topic of Diversity & Inclusion. Kentech’s Jo Hennigan leads the discussion with two industry experts from Atkins, Karen Blanc, UK Operations Director, and Ceri-Anne Cummings, Market Director for Offshore Wind.
Listen in as they unpick why it can be so difficult to talk about sensitive topics around discrimination but why talking about it, no matter how uncomfortable it can be, is exactly what we need to do. Our voices can achieve things that can’t be achieved if we all stay silent.
You might even get some hints and tips to introduce a new way of thinking into your lives and be the catalyst for change.
15 Apr 2021
A new kind of energy
A new kind of energy with John Kent
As we take our business into a new phase, the world is demanding a new kind of energy and a transition away from fossil fuels. We couldn’t think of a better person to unpack this topic with than our newly appointed Chief Energy Transition Officer, John Kent.
Did you know that fossil fuels still supply 84% of world energy? Environmental impact is an increasingly important issue and sustainability is certainly more than just a buzzword.
In this episode of Spark Generation, in conversation with Joanne Hennigan, Head of Kentech’s Marketing & Communications function, John tells us where we stand in the energy transition and what the next key steps will be.
Welcome to Episode 7 of Spark Generation.
1 Mar 2021
Resilience with Chris Fussell
Chris Fussell is President of McChrystal Group, Best-Selling Author, Leadership Expert and Former Navy Seal Commander. His leadership work centres around helping organisations break down silos and promote cross-team collaboration. In this episode of Spark Generation he talks David Touhey through what he thinks it takes to create a fully networked organisation and why we should all do it
20 Jan 2021
Creativity is contagious
John Goulding has a front row seat to how organisations shape cultures where people find purpose and meaning in their work.
As CEO and CoFounder of Workvivo; one of the world’s fastest growing providers of internal communications technology, he’s building tools to support those businesses build emotional connection in their culture.
He joins the conversation today, with Mandy Kennedy, sharing the positives he has found in 2020 and how it’s that emotional connection that can transform our day job into an experience that sparks a sense of belonging.
An advocate for more creativity in the modern workplace, he might just have pinpointed the thinking we all need to be successful as we continue to adapt in 2021.
Welcome to Episode 5 of Spark Generation
24 Nov 2020
Difficult Roads and their Beautiful Destinations
Mike Scotland was born for a career in HSE. The brainchild behind an every growing energy industry mental health support group as well as tackling environmental issues one black bin bag at a time, Mike's one mission in life is to make a difference. His energetic enthusiasm is inspirational and in this episode of Spark Generation, he takes Jo Hennigan, Head of Marketing at Kentech, through his journey so far. Mike is 29 years old. His journey is just beginning but he is wise beyond his years. This is a must listen for anybody needing an energy boost for the brain and an injection of positivity at the end of a very dark year.
19 Oct 2020
Values Driven Leadership with David Touhey
We are not the sum total of where we're from, it's our journey through life and how we navigate our experiences and interactions with others that shapes us. In this episode of Spark Generation, Dave Touhey takes Les Cox through his journey. Dave is a man who takes life's knocks as lessons for the future and through his own personal journey has learned to focus in on what's truly important.
15 Sept 2020
From Kilkenny to Kathmandu: The Life & Times of a HR Director
John Kavanagh, Group HR Director at Kentech knows about company culture. Witnessing our business evolution over the last 36 years, he knows more than most about how we’ve shaped the culture that we hold dear today. One that he says carried us through 2020 and will accelerate us into the future.
In this conversation Mandy Kennedy, Head of Learning and People Connections at Kentech, shares a conversation with John about why a combination of the Irish weather and a lost pair of wellington boots transformed his career path in a way he never expected, and his advice for the next generation entering the industry.
Welcome to Episode 2 of Spark Generation.
17 Aug 2020
The journey to CEO
Earlier this year, John Gilley stepped into the CEO seat at Kentech, fulfilling a lifelong ambition.
In this conversation, John talks Jo Hennigan, Head of Kentech’s Marketing & Communications function, through some of the evolutionary changes he’s pushed through so far in his tenure with Kentech.
Hear his thoughts on what future organisations will look like and what advice he would give to the next generation of people coming into the industry.
Welcome to Episode 1 of Spark Generation.
12 Aug 2020
This is.... Spark Generation
There is a wonderful Irish phrase we use quite a lot in Kentech to describe people…Touched. It’s a nice way of saying someone is slightly mad.
We say people have to be touched to work in this industry.
I guess to work long rotations away from home in some of the most remote and challenging environments on earth, you’ve got to be missing some of your faculties, right?
But we also think being touched is what gives you the power to be innovative – to think anything is possible.
Technological advances, new geographical frontiers and figuring out ways to create a sustainable future in energy generation, this industry has innovation in spades.
Spark Generation is Kentech’s podcast where we will hear personal, generational stories from people in the Energy industry.
We’ll be listening in to conversations between friends talking about their experiences and what changes they have witnessed over the years.
Some of the greatest brains in the industry will tell us what they think sparks the evolution of change.
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