The Global OTEC team has decades of combined experience in designing and building floating systems for the oil and gas space, as well as developing utility projects in frontier markets.
FOUNDER & CEO
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
BOARD DIRECTOR
LEAD ENGINEER
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
TECHNICAL ADVISOR
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
TECHNICAL ADVISOR
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
BOARD OBSERVER
In 2015, Dan worked as a marketing manager for a luxury fashion company. One evening, while watching ice caps cascade into the ocean during a re-run of Frozen Planet, Dan suddenly realised he needed to do something to help. He quit his job the next day to join the global effort to reverse the climate crisis.
While researching climate solutions, Dan came across Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, or OTEC. It had the potential to provide affordable, clean energy to the Small Island Developing States that urgently need it. But developers had been distracted by huge, mega-scale OTEC systems. This inspired Dan’s vision to start small and reduce tropical island nations’ reliance on fossil fuels through OTEC. Using his experience in building exceptional teams, he assembled world-class OTEC and offshore engineering professionals and launched Global OTEC in 2017. He’s been the main driver of the company’s development, forged partnerships with intergovernmental organisations, and speaks regularly at UN events as an ocean energy authority.
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
A journalist with over seven years of work experience as a print and multimedia news reporter in Brazil, awarded five times in national and international journalism competitions with articles focused on Environment, Health and Gender-based Violence. Experience also as a freelance radio and print media reporter in Uruguay and Portugal.
Graduated in Social Communications – Journalism, Karina holds specialisation courses in marketing, social media and creative writing, and eventual collaborations with podcasts, blogs and online magazines worldwide.
Moving from the press in 2019 to the institutional communications and marketing sector, she takes advantage of her diversified background experience to provide creative solutions that contribute to connecting people not only with the brand but with the Global OTEC’s mission.
Neil Reynolds is an accomplished C-suite executive recognised for growing businesses, building high-performing teams and delivering improved results and mega projects for some of the world’s leading Fortune 500 engineering and construction companies. His broad expertise is thanks to a varied background in developed and emerging economies and both vertical and horizontal construction. This includes: buildings; infrastructure; industrial; defence and security; high technology facilities; water and wastewater treatment; environmental solutions; transportation infrastructure; as well as major programmes and complex projects. A Chartered Engineer (CEng) with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Civil Engineering from the University of South Wales, Neil is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (FICE), a Chartered Companion of the Chartered Management Institute (CMgr CCMI) and a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv).
Following a Board Career, Neil became a Non-Executive Director of Global OTEC in 2021. He provides an external, independent perspective to the board, assists with strategy and helps develop the business to ensure all risks are suitably managed. His wide-ranging skillset and network – from sales to delivery – make Neil a valuable addition to the company.
LEAD ENGINEER
Sam Johnston assumes overall engineering responsibility and multi-disciplinary coordination of all technical packages of the OTEC Barge. Since 2018, Sam has undertaken detailed investigations into the structural and mechanical design of OTEC platform designs to better understand their structural integrity and perfect their electricity generation process.
Sam was drawn to OTEC because of the exciting design challenges it offers. He believes the technology has the potential to provide 24-hour energy without margins on when it can be active and that he can make his mark by improving on previous developments. Sam recently carried out successful thermocline studies at a location in the Gulf of Guinea and presented the company’s findings from feasibility studies at public consultations. He is also passionate about grid-connectivity and works closely with technical experts at utility companies to help design the best solution.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
With 20 years of infrastructure experience Beth has been investing in renewables and cleantech for 10 years. Much of her experience has focused on greenfield development opportunities, complex thermal process plant and taking new technologies from concept to stable operations. Beth is a board adviser for Global OTEC and will particularly focus on the project development, structuring and funding of the pipeline of opportunities.
Beth started her career as a solicitor with Masons before joining Balfour Beatty Investments in a commercial role where she worked across a broad range of project financing. She joined Foresight Group LLP in 2015 and moved to Gravis Capital in 2020. She has worked across a broad range of climate related investment strategies for both listed and private markets. She has an LLB (Hons) from Bristol University.
She is an experienced non-executive board director, and completed the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing in November 2022.
James Diddams was one of the first engineers to work with Global OTEC on its floating OTEC concepts. As co-founder of Achelous Energy Ltd and former Asia-Pacific MD of London Marine Consultants, James is a specialist in offshore renewable technologies with structural engineering expertise spanning a range of marine areas. James advises on technical development of the OTEC Barge, including the vessel’s mooring systems and naval architecture.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Mungo has 40+ years of experience in the capital markets, specifically involved in technology and healthcare innovation, development and implementation. He worked initially with American investment banks such as Alex Brown, Dillon Read, Wertheim and Cowen.
Laterally he launched a multinational merchant banking unit for Nomura. The focus of the unit was to accelerate deployment of healthcare innovation globally.
In 2004, he embraced sustainable technology innovation, such as renewable energy. He is now a director and/or advisor to companies with an ESG focus looking to scale up and roll out. He sees ocean thermal energy conversion as an essential need for SIDS DOCK member countries and more.
Mungo is also a Senior Technology Advisor to SIDS DOCK.
Tim Wood is also the director of Achelous Energy Ltd and a renewables-focused engineering consultancy. To date, he has led Global OTEC’s technical team in its development of a fit-for-purpose commercial product. When Tim met Dan in 2018, there was an instant synergy between Dan’s vision for OTEC and Tim’s deep experience in planning and executing floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) projects in the oil and gas space. Tim saw huge potential in the Global OTEC team’s impressive technical acumen and industry knowledge. He believes offshore engineering lessons learned over the last 50 years can be used to optimise renewable energy solutions for the benefit of tropical island communities.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Karl Farrow is the newest addition to Global OTEC’s advisory board. With decades of industry expertise, including successful energy ventures and leadership roles, Karl’s deep knowledge of offshore engineering will be invaluable. In his role, he will be supporting our leadership’s growth efforts and challenging our project delivery strategy.
Peet Denny is Founding Partner @ Climate VC.
