HI‑ACT is delighted to share that Natalia Zografou‑Barredo, one of our Postdoctoral Research Associates and a former HI‑ACT secondee, has been selected as a finalist in the Engineering category at STEM for Britain 2026.
STEM for Britain is a long‑established scientific poster competition and exhibition held annually in the Houses of Parliament. Organised by the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee and chaired by George Freeman FRSA MP, the event has, since 1997, provided parliamentarians with a unique opportunity to engage directly with outstanding research being carried out by early‑career scientists, engineers and mathematicians across the UK.
The competition recognises excellence in communicating complex, high‑level research to a lay audience. Prizes are awarded across five disciplines, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematical Sciences and Physics with the prestigious Westminster Medal presented to the overall winner in memory of Dr Eric Wharton, who played a pivotal role in establishing the event.
Natalia will be presenting a poster based on the research she undertook during her HI‑ACT secondment, showcasing this work in the House of Commons on 17 March 2026.
HI‑ACT is incredibly proud to see Natalia’s work recognised on a national stage and congratulates her on this significant achievement.
On Thursday 11 December 2025, Karen Henwood, Gareth Thomas and Emily Sunman, were invited to present HI‑ACT research at a research celebration event held at Main College, Cardiff University.
This invitation followed the continued success of HI‑ACT’s public engagement programme. After an impactful first public workshop in Milford Haven on 4 March 2025, a second public engagement research workshop was delivered in Port Talbot on 4 December 2025.
Together, these events are generating valuable place‑based insights while contributing to a growing body of social science research that explores how both experts and local communities understand, envision, and respond to the development of hydrogen megaprojects.
This work is helping to build a richer, more inclusive understanding of the social dimensions of hydrogen transitions in South Wales and beyond.
We are delighted to announce that HI‑ACT has been shortlisted for two Hydrogen UK Awards, recognising our continued commitment to leadership, innovation, and impact within the UK hydrogen sector.
Presented annually at the Hydrogen UK Annual Conference & Awards, these prestigious awards spotlight the individuals and organisations driving progress across the hydrogen economy from technological advancement and infrastructure development to transport, industrial applications, and financial leadership that accelerates clean‑energy growth.
What the Awards Celebrate
The Hydrogen UK Awards recognise those who are shaping the future of hydrogen through:
Thought leadership that helps transform the UK’s clean‑energy landscape
Award Nomination: Hydrogen Person of the Year 2026
Breakthroughs in hydrogen technologies and infrastructure
Leadership in transport and industrial applications
Strategic insight and financing that enables sector‑wide scale‑up
We are incredibly proud to share that HI‑ACT Director, Sara Walker, has been shortlisted for Hydrogen Person of the Year 2026.
This award celebrates exceptional leadership and recognises individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the growth and sustainability of the hydrogen sector. Sara’s nomination reflects her outstanding leadership, influence, and tireless commitment to advancing hydrogen policy, innovation, and collaboration across the UK.
Award Nomination: Best Thought Leadership
HI‑ACT has also been shortlisted for Best Thought Leadership, an award recognising organisations that are advancing the hydrogen knowledge base and delivering insight that supports the industry’s development and scale‑up.
The judging panel highlighted HI‑ACT’s ambition, depth of insight, and strong commitment to accelerating progress across this critical sector, reinforcing our role as a trusted voice shaping the future of hydrogen in the UK.
A Shared Achievement
We are honoured to be recognised alongside so many inspiring organisations and individuals who are helping to build a resilient, low‑carbon energy future. These nominations are a testament to the dedication and expertise of everyone involved in HI‑ACT’s work, and a special congratulations goes to Sara Walker for this outstanding personal achievement.
We look forward to continuing our work to support innovation, collaboration, and evidence‑led progress across the UK hydrogen economy.
HI-ACT were delighted to present at a recent event hosted by EPSRC focused on exploring new and emerging opportunities in transport, inspired by the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy and other key mission publications. The event was attended by director Sara Walker and Prof Dawei Wu.
The discussions highlighted critical challenges and future priorities for innovation in transport systems, drawing insights from documents such as the Industrial Strategy, the DfT Science, Innovation and Technology Plan 2025, and UK Transport Vision 2050. A dedicated session also explored potential areas for impactful interventions, ensuring that research and collaboration continue to align with national goals for sustainability, resilience, and technological advancement.
Last month, researchers and industry representatives from HI-ACT and UK-HyRES visited Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany to explore new opportunities in hydrogen technologies, energy systems, and net zero research.
The visit showcased UK research capabilities, fostered academic-industry partnerships, and initiated discussions on joint projects, student exchanges, and future funding.
Highlights included welcome presentations, in-depth discussions on hydrogen innovation, a guided tour of Jülich’s facilities, and a networking dinner with senior researchers.
This milestone visit reinforces HI-ACT’s commitment to international collaboration and its role in shaping the global energy transition.
Last week, members of the HI-ACT Executive Board; Prof. Sara Walker, Prof. David Flynn, Prof. Jianzhong Wu, Prof. Adam Hawkes- along with professional services colleagues Dr Claire Brewis and Sian Allister, came together to reflect on over two years of progress and discuss priorities for the road ahead.
As the hydrogen sector continues to evolve, HI-ACT’s research plays a critical role in addressing uncertainty, evaluating integration scenarios, and supporting a just transition to net zero.
HI-ACT remains a trusted, independent voice in the energy landscape, co-developing research that is relevant, actionable, and aligned with real-world needs.
HI-ACT Wins Prestigious UK Universities’ Award at the 2025 Hydrogen Awards
We’re thrilled to share that HI-ACT has been named the WINNER of the UK Universities’ Award at the 2025 Hydrogen Awards last week.
This incredible recognition highlights the outstanding work of our team in driving hydrogen innovation and fostering collaboration across the UK. The award was announced last week at the Hydrogen Conference, held at Conference Aston in Birmingham, which we have shared some photographs of below. A fantastic event that brought together leaders and pioneers from across the hydrogen sector.
The award was proudly accepted by our director, Professor Sara Walker, on behalf of the HI-ACT team. We’re deeply grateful to the University of Birmingham for representing us on the day and helping showcase the impact of our work.
A huge congratulations to everyone involved in HI-ACT! This achievement is a testament to your dedication, expertise, and passion for shaping a sustainable hydrogen future.
Last week, HI-ACT was honoured to host a hybrid meeting of the International Advisory Board (IAB), chaired by Professor Lourdes Oliva Moya Vega, MBA, FCIM Chartered Marketer, from the University of Khalifa, UAE.
The meeting followed the APEN-disco Workshop, co-hosted by HI-ACT, and brought together leading international experts to explore and discuss hydrogen research priorities across continents.
Attendees Included:
- Prof Sally Brooker – University of Otago, New Zealand
- Martin van Agteren – Gasunie, Netherlands
- Daniel Schwappach – Siemens, UAE
- Roger Dargaville – Monash University, Australia
- Mark Pullinger – EPSRC representative
- Pádraig Lyons – Ireland (joining online)
HI-ACT Research Presentations:
- Dr Modassar Chaudry & Dr Shuai Yao
Opportunities and implications of hydrogen integration in South Wales - Dr Zekun Guo(Flex Fund recipient)
Modelling Hydrogen and Electric Demand at Airports for UK Decarbonised Aviation - Dr Natalia Zografou-Barredo(Flex Fund recipient)
Developing future-proof Climate Resilience Metrics and Indicators for RIIO-ED3 price control
These discussions are vital to shaping the future of hydrogen innovation and infrastructure globally. We extend our sincere thanks to all participants for their valuable insights and contributions to this impactful exchange.
HI-ACT was proud to co-host the inaugural APEN-DISCO Workshop in collaboration with the Applied Energy journal, and our sister hub UK-HyRES. Held over three days in Cardiff University, the event brought together leading voices from academia, industry, and policy to advance the global conversation on hydrogen energy system integration.
A Platform for Collaboration and Innovation
The workshop featured keynote presentations from distinguished experts including:
- Prof Sara Walker
- Prof Jianzhong Wu
- Prof Meysam Qadrdan
- Prof John Loughhead CB OBE FREng
- Prof Xianguo Li
- Prof Sally Brooker
- Mr Martin van Agteren
- Mr Daniel Schwappach
Sessions focused on knowledge exchange, collaborative research, and innovation in sustainable energy systems. The event was generously sponsored by Applied Energy and hosted at Cardiff University, with evening receptions held at Cardiff Castle and St David’s Hotel, offering memorable settings for networking and reflection.
Celebrating Excellence
HI-ACT is delighted to congratulate Dr Saeed Harati and Dr Hadi Heidary, who were both recognised with Best Abstract Awards at the workshop. Their achievements highlight the strength and impact of HI-ACT’s research community.
Looking Ahead
HI-ACT remains committed to fostering international collaboration and driving forward the mission of sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy solutions. Special thanks to Prof Jianzhong Wu, Wenlong Ming, Shuai Yao and Sian Allister for their leadership and dedication in making this event a success.
Last week the HI-ACT professional services team came together at Newcastle University for a fantastic away day focussing on one big question: “How can we make sure our stakeholders are getting exactly what they need from HI-ACT?”
From our researchers and hydrogen partners to industry collaborators, policymakers, and our funding body, we spent the day reflecting on how we can better understand and meet the needs of everyone we work with.
It was a valuable opportunity to step back, share ideas, and explore how we can communicate more effectively and deliver even greater impact across the hydrogen innovation landscape. Thank you to everyone involved!