Call for proposals: Committee Chairperson

Urgent need for coordinated EoL planning

Offshore wind has a key role to play in achieving net zero targets and its rapid growth in recent years has brought much-needed green energy. However, this progress also raises challenges – one of which is ensuring that the emergent asset base of offshore wind is dealt with safely and sustainably when it reaches the end of its design life. A lack of planning and preparation for EoL could have far reaching consequences for the safety of those involved, the environment, as well circularity efforts.

Over the past 1.5 years Engineering X, a growing collaboration founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, has initiated critical action on this challenge. Following an online roundtable, publication of a challenge statement, assembly of an expert advisory group and convening of a 1.5 day international in-person workshop, a set of key findings and recommendations emerged, published in the workshop report. From this extensive scoping and engagement, a gap is clear in the guidance, ownership, capacity and skills needed to establish EoL processes for offshore wind infrastructure that are fit for purpose, safe, sustainable and inclusive.

One of the key findings sets out the need to coordinate and work together for safe, sustainable, and effective EoL management that is mindful of impacts worldwide and contextual differences. The report calls on the sector to “launch a global, inclusive working group – a neutral body to establish an inclusive, international working group that can raise awareness across the sector, convene stakeholders, set benchmarking targets, and coordinate activities across regulation, supply chains and technological developments for safe, and sustainable end-of-life processes for offshore wind.”

Engineering X is setting up and chairing a committee focused on safe and sustainable EoL management, in partnership with the World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO). WFO will function as secretariat to the committee and host it alongside its portfolio of existing committees bringing together experts and stakeholders dedicated to specific topics, such as floating offshore wind and offshore dispute resolution. Engineering X will chair the action-focused committee to identify and promote the highest standards at end of life in the offshore wind sector, building on its experience in taking catalytic action on EoL challenges.

Aims and focus

The group will aim to:

• Identify and set out good practice for EoL processes of offshore wind infrastructure, including technical, logistical and regulatory aspects. This will be achieved through regular meetings, research and engaging with/convening subject matter experts on specific technical, regulatory and supply chain problems to provide guidance on EoL challenges as needed.
• Facilitating learning and knowledge exchange on EoL including between established and emerging offshore wind markets.
• Coordinating local, regional and national EoL activities and needs with global level efforts.
• Raise awareness across the sector to ensure end of life is on the agenda both regarding the development of processes for existing infrastructure as well as to ensure new wind farms consider EoL in the design phase.

In its work, the group will focus on:

• Pragmatic challenges for EoL initially, which will then be used to inform advocacy activities for appropriate regulation, industry standards and supply chain development.
• Geographies beyond Europe to ensure the inclusion of voices from regions with emerging offshore wind markets, so that learning can be integrated into new developments and to prevent offshore wind EoL consequences to be borne in regions far from where the benefits were felt, as seen in shipping and large parts of the waste sector.
• Issues beyond just decommissioning, to integrate wider EoL/circularity considerations along the whole life cycle and to include the logistical management of components and materials such as port, reuse and recycling infrastructure.
• Taking a systems approach to this challenge, building on the work on governance in complex systems and principles identified by the Engineering X Safer Complex Systems programme.
• Ensuring that safety and sustainability are at the heart of the initiative

Expected outcomes

Enhanced safety and sustainability at EoL through:

• Increased awareness of the need to consider EoL in the offshore wind sector as well as with national and international governmental organisations.
• An evidence base created for what safer and more sustainable EoL could / looks like for priority EoL areas through guidance documents with best practice or similar.
• Processes set in motion for the development of
  • Industry standards both for decommissioning and design for circularity/EoL;
  • Regulation at national and international levels;
  • The EoL supply chain including vessel operators, ports, reuse and recycling methods and facilities, waste management companies etc.
• A community built including EoL experts, interested parties and ways of collaborating, sharing and coordinating learning.

Set up and key parameters

• Duration: 18 months, expected start summer 2025, with potential for 12-month extension.
• Lead: Committee Chairperson – an established expert of both the offshore wind industry and decommissioning will chair the committee and steer its activities.
• Membership: The committee will be made up of 10-15 additional members (with some flexibility) of multistakeholder representatives across the sector and around the world. There is potential to develop sub-groups to drill further into detailed topics with their own membership.
• Frequency of engagement: The group will meet quarterly to discuss priorities for action and implement decisions made in between meetings.
• Activities outside of meetings: At an in-person inception meeting, all partners involved (Chair, committee members, Engineering X, WFO) will identify specific objectives and activities to meet the aims and outcomes. The group will establish ways of working and develop an 18month workplan to implement this during and outside of meetings which individual members will take forward.
• Sub-committees: There is potential for the group to split into sub-committees to focus on particular issues, for example circularity or specific technical challenges identified.
• Budget: There is a budget available from Engineering X to support the committee’s work and enable action beyond the meetings. The budget can be used in a variety of ways, this could include convening groups of experts or key stakeholders, event participation, research and evidence pieces etc.

Engineering X is the Chair organisation of the committee and is seeking an experienced, dynamic and inclusive Chairperson to lead this visionary committee in line with the below requirements.

The Chairperson will be pivotal in ensuring the committee is successful in producing high quality technical outputs, as well as facilitating collaboration and learning between offshore wind industry, academia, policy makers, and beyond – it is their vision and leadership that will shape the committee’s work. This is an exceptional opportunity for an individual to steer an ambitious committee. The role is supported by the Engineering X Safer End of Engineered Life programme as Chair organisation and hosted by the World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO) which will also function as the committee’s secretariat.

Responsibilities

As Chairperson you will lead and drive the establishment of the committee together with Engineering X and WFO:

• Establishing and operationalising the committee with Engineering X, including selection of members and setting a work plan for the group.
• Developing the strategic direction for the committee with Engineering X, WFO and committee members, including identifying priority areas for sub-committees.
• Leading a co-design process with the committee to identify the theory of change and activity plan for the group.
• Determining how the budget will be spent to meet the committee’s objectives in collaboration with Engineering X.
• Setting the agenda for and chairing committee meetings.
• Providing guidance on member activities between committee meetings.
• Overseeing and coordinating sub-committees with Engineering X and WFO.
• Drawing on sector knowledge and networks to identify opportunities for the committee.
• Identifying relevant partners and building a "coalition of the willing” to take action on EOL for offshore wind.
• Representing the committee with external stakeholders and at key events.
• Linking committee activities in with wider activities in the sector, including in emerging markets to raise awareness of the need for EoL considerations early on.  

Competencies

Note: We are open to a Chairperson from any sector, this is not limited to engineering, academia, or industry, and from any location worldwide. The only requirement is that the individual has demonstrable, relevant experience and skills for the role.

• Recognised leader in the field with significant expertise, standing and a global, cross-sector network with demonstrated ability to convene a diverse, global group of relevant stakeholders in the offshore wind sector.
• Extensive leadership experience and proven track record and knowledge in directing high impact projects or programmes in the offshore wind sector.
• Prior experience in chairing and leading impact-focused committees with a diverse range of participants and senior leaders.
• Prior experience in chairing and leading groups with diverse range of participants and senior leaders to develop practical outputs.
• Familiarity with current practices and theory on end of life, decommissioning and/or circularity.
• Track record of engaging with other sectors including industry, academia, governments, regulatory bodies and NGOs.
• Collaborative, inclusive and proactive approach.
• Excellent language skills in English.
• Excellent public speaking, communication and facilitation skills.

Deliverables and milestones

• Theory of change co-created with Engineering X and committee members.
• Activity plan for 18 months developed in collaboration with the committee members and Engineering X.
• Effective and efficient oversight of activities under the activity plan working with Engineering X.
• Stakeholder map and engagement plan developed, setting out a clear strategy for raising awareness of EoL issues identified by the committee with the right organisations and people to create changes.
• Participation and representation of the committee at key events, such as at a side event of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France on Tuesday 10 June 2025, the WindEurope End-of-Life Issues & Strategies Seminar, Lisbon, 20-21 November 2025 and WFO Global Summit, Barcelona, 21-22 January 2026.
• Publication(s) developed that capture new information and insights on EoL that can inform and guide the sector towards safer and more sustainable OSW EoL.
• A network of partners developed which will take forward findings and activities surfaced by the committee. A cross-section of organisations from diverse sectors and perspectives incl. safety, biodiversity, circularity, industry, academia etc.
• New partnerships set up with organisations in academia, industry and cross-sector who can take forward recommendations from the committee.

Operating mechanism

• The committee Chairperson will work closely with and be supported by the Chair organisation, Engineering X, in all chairing activities.
• The committee Chairperson will also be supported by WFO as host organisation and secretariat of the committee.
• The Chairperson will report directly into a dedicated Engineering X programme manager under oversight of the Engineering X – Safer End of Engineered Life Board theme lead on offshore infrastructure Professor Susan Gourvenec FREng.

Timeline and remuneration

• The Chairperson is being contracted for 18 months initially, with a possible extension for an additional 12 months, following assessment of impact and need.
• It is anticipated that the Chairperson will require about 2-4 days per month to fulfil the role requirements. We are open to discussing how this can be managed with potential candidates’ other commitments.

Relevant background resources

• Engineering X safer and more sustainable EoL of offshore wind infrastructure workshop report
• Engineering X EoL of offshore win challenge statement
• Engineering X decommissioning of offshore structures and ships work
• Engineering X EoL of workshop video
• WFO existing committees on:
  • Floating Offshore Wind Committee
  • Power Purchase Agreements Committee
  • Offshore Dispute Resolution Committee
  • Offshore Wind to Hydrogen Committee
  • Contract Standardisation Committee
• Systems concepts and the relevant of governance while addressing complex systems

• Introduction
• Concepts and definitions (complex systems and systems approaches)
• Governance in the context of complex systems (formal and informal governance)
• Engineering X Governance of complex systems principles

About Engineering X

Engineering X is a growing collaboration founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Lloyd’s Register Foundation. We work globally to connect people and organisations across sectors and disciplines to solve the most urgent safety and sustainability challenges through high-level advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and systems approaches.  
 
Our work spans 35+ countries, where we connect engineers, academics, policymakers, industry leaders, communities and more to develop sustainable, inclusive solutions. We currently have four programmes. Safer End of Engineered Life champions safety and promotes circularity in structures like wind turbines and ships, as well as leading international efforts on ending open burning of waste. Skills for Safety enables the delivery of skills for safer engineering through education, advocacy, community building and industry partnerships. Safer Complex Systems leads on systems thinking to resolve governance and safety issues in complex systems. Transforming Systems Through Partnership fosters interdisciplinary, industry-academia collaborations that contribute to challenges such as clean energy and better healthcare. 
 
Engineering X amplifies unheard voices, especially from the Global South, and develops evidence-based, locally appropriate solutions that create lasting impact. With over 350 lifetime grants, a network of global experts, and strong partnerships, we continue to advocate for a safer and sustainable future. We welcome new partners to join us in engineering a safer world. 

About the Royal Academy of Engineering

The Royal Academy of Engineering (Academy) harnesses the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. The Academy’s strategy can be viewed here.

About Lloyd’s Register Foundation

Lloyd’s Register Foundation is an independent global charity that supports research, innovation, and education to make the world a safer place. Our vision is to be known worldwide as a leading supporter of engineering-related research, training and education that makes a real difference in improving the safety of the critical infrastructure on which modern society relies. In support of this, we promote scientific excellence and act as a catalyst working with others to achieve maximum impact. Lloyd’s Register Foundation charitable mission:

• To secure for the benefit of the community high technical standards of design, manufacture, construction, maintenance, operation and performance for the purpose of enhancing the safety of life and property at sea, on land and in the air.
• The advancement of public education including within the transportation industries and any other engineering and technological disciplines.

About the World Forum Offshore Wind

 World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO) is the world’s only organisation 100% dedicated to fostering the global growth of offshore wind energy. WFO’s international members represent the complete offshore wind value chain including developers, manufacturers, service firms and non-profit organisations. WFO is registered as a non-profit association (e.V.) in Germany with offices in Hamburg, Taipei and Tokyo. WFO’s unique profile facilitates access to international forums in order to open new markets and to advocate for global offshore wind growth.

Diversity and inclusion

As an Academy, we are committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the engineering profession, and therefore proactively seek to procure services from diverse suppliers. We expect the project to be delivered in line with our values of inclusion and diversity and to the highest ethical standards. Diverse perspectives should be considered in the development of proposals and outputs should be inclusive. Please expect to be asked questions regarding your commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Further information and validity

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