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
BOARD DIRECTOR
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
SENIOR ENGINEER
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
SENIOR MARKETING EXECUTIVE
TECHNICAL ADVISOR
TECHNICAL ADVISOR
BOARD OBSERVER
PROJECT FINANCE ADVISOR
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.
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.
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
From leaving the Royal Navy, Simon has worked extensively in Africa and Europe within the shipping/logistics industry on various barge conversions in Nigeria, bitumen terminal operations in Africa and Romania and terminal and harbour towage contracts as Operations Manager in Angola and UK.
Understanding logistics for any operation is vital and during all phases it takes a keen eye to be able to navigate around and predict hurdles that remote projects can present you. Simon has honed his leadership and management skills within these roles and has moved across from the position as Operations Manager for Windcat Workboats supporting the Windfarm industry to Global OTEC Operations Director and is looking forward to bringing with him a wealth of experience in managing remote projects.
Simon is passionate about Global OTEC and delivering an industry leading system that will have a profound impact on the lives of people, this is central to why he accepted the
challenge as Operations Director with Global OTEC.
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.
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
Andreas is a senior project finance professional, originally trained as a chartered engineer, with strong expertise and industry networks in renewable energy and municipal and environmental infrastructure. His vast commercial and financial management experience ranges from sourcing, technical and financial feasibility assessments, over commercial and contractual (EPC and O&M) negotiations, to sourcing, developing, closing and delivering equity, project/corporate finance and other contractual structures across major infrastructure projects within Europe, Australia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Andreas served in the past as an SPC Board director and maintains a strong industry network, knowledge, and relationships with technologies, development sponsors, public clients, and investment partners within the SSA infrastructure sectors.
Andreas is a Chartered Engineer, Manager and Global Investment Analyst with the Institute of Civil Engineers and Chartered Management Institute in the UK and the CGIA Institute in the US, respectively. Andreas holds an MBA from Warwick Business School specialising in finance, operations management, governance and business development strategy. He further completed the Galileo Master Certificate in Renewable Energy Management & Finance with the EEC in Edinburgh and qualified as a Certified Expert in Climate & Renewable Energy Finance with the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.
SENIOR MARKETING EXECUTIVE
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.
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.
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.
Peet Denny is Founding Partner @ Climate VC.
Sital Joshi is a social entrepreneur with 20 years of experience in resourcing and financing renewable energy projects. He has provided business plan development, commercial negotiation and fundraising advice for projects ranging from £5m to £6bn in transaction size. Sital advises Global OTEC on project structure and financing with a particular focus on bankability and commercialisation. He was part of the Global OTEC team that presented at COP26 in Glasgow where the company received several endorsements from heads of states including Seychelles, Tonga, Belize, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Sao Tome and Principe.
