Professor Hongda Shi is interested in the research fields of marine renewable energy, coastal hydrodynamics and coastal engineering. He has focused on theoretical, numerical and experimental research of wave energy converter for many years, including hydrodynamic analysis, array deployment, hydraulic system research etc. He and his team have developed several new wave energy convertors, including Combined Oscillating Heaving Buoy, Circular Ramp Overtopping Convertor, the caisson breakwater OWC and Multi-freedom Floater. He also devotes to the integrated energy development of various marine energy converters. He has published over 70 papers and 17 patents. He has been in charge of 50 research projects, including the projects supported by National Natural Science Foundation, National Key R&D Program, the International S&T Cooperation Program etc.

A master mariner and offshore renewable energy professional, Steve is Executive Chair at Wave Hub Ltd and a Non-Executive Director, with lead for marine and energy, on the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (CIOS LEP). His 35 years’ offshore sector experience includes ships’ diving, fishery protection, sea command, and offshore aviation. In the offshore renewable energy sector, he has worked for Mojo Maritime Ltd and James Fisher Group plc, both world-leaders in wave and tidal energy, and has led three major offshore renewable energy R&D projects. In addition to his day role at Wave Hub, he now heads up: the regional task force created to take forward floating offshore wind in Cornwall, the Great South West and Wales; Zero Carbon Cornwall, the CIOS LEP’s strategy to achieve net-zero in Cornwall by 2030. Steve has a BSc in Applied Mathematics and Physical Oceanography from Bangor University, an MPhil in International Relations and International Economics from Cambridge University, and is a Fellow of both the Nautical Institute and the Institute of Marine Engineers, Scientists and Technologists.

Simon Cheeseman is an experienced engineer and programme manager, having worked in both the private and public sectors. Working within the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s Research and Innovation directorate, Simon manages the Catapult’s Cornwall office. He is responsible for the Catapult’s marine renewables strategy and South West regional development programme focusing on floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. During his career Simon has held various senior manager roles with responsibility for high value technology development projects across the aerospace, communications and marine renewables sectors.

Peter Mazurenko is a Renewable Energy and Project Engineer at AMOG Consulting. Peter has a background in mechanical engineering and has held various roles associated with the delivery of marine fabrication projects. He also has a broad range of experience working on inshore marine deployments, from design and fabrication, to operations and decommissioning. Peter is currently engaged at AMOG's Perth office in Australia, undertaking engineering consultancy work and developing the AMOG IOT smart sensor offering for the mining and shipping industries.

Professor Beth Scott has a multi-disciplinary background in marine ecology and oceanography and her current focus has been the spatial and temporal identification of critical marine habitats where mobile predator and prey species interact. Her research portfolio is central to the understanding of the effects of marine renewable energy systems on multi-trophic interactions. She is a Co-I in the Supergen ORE Hub and is the Environmental Champion.

Dr. Andrea Copping is the research lead for marine and hydrokinetic energy development, and for offshore wind development, for Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, on behalf of the US Department of Energy. Dr. Copping's projects focus on environmental impacts from the development of wave, tidal, offshore wind, ocean current and riverine energy installations, and the role that these effects could play in technology development and project initiation across the nation. Using risk-based approaches, the marine and hydrokinetic and offshore wind team lead by Dr. Copping integrates laboratory, field and modeling measurements into a coherent body of evidence to support siting and permitting decisions. Dr. Copping works across several scientific disciplines to determine implications of human stressors on marine resources and ecosystems processes, working with stakeholder groups and resource managers to ensure that the available scientific information is accessible and available.