NSRI Appoints New Director
The National Subsea Research Initiative (NSRI) has appointed Tony Laing as its new Director of Research and Market Acceleration.
Bringing more than 35 years’ experience, Mr Laing will be tasked with ensuring the UK’s subsea technology needs are understood and met within an increasingly diverse business environment and the associated complex innovation and funding landscape.
Mr Laing has been an independent consultant within the oil and gas industry since 2015, delivering strategic commercial projects for a range of technology and engineering service companies as well as academia.
Prior to this he was global director of integrated solutions at Schlumberger and OneSubsea, where he was responsible for the development and delivery of a new business model, integrating the field development offering of Schlumberger, Cameron and Framo Engineering. He also held positions within Marathon, Boreas (Atkins), Aker and smaller technology companies, where he played an integral role in many industry firsts, both in technology and product commercialization.
Mr Laing is
well known for supporting the wider industry, which includes being a fellow
member of the Society of Underwater Technology and treasurer of the Aberdeen Branch.
Based at
Subsea UK in Westhill, Aberdeen, he will take over the reins from Dr Gordon
Drummond who has returned to Subsea 7 following his three year secondment to
NSRI.
Commenting
on his appointment, Mr Laing said: “NSRI has a major role to play as a
knowledge hub for subsea research and development, not only within oil and gas
but across the wider offshore renewable energy sectors including marine and ocean
science. I believe I can apply my knowledge and experience to build upon the
fantastic work that has been delivered to date, promoting technological
innovation and ensuring the industry needs are met. I look forward to working
with businesses, technology developers, universities and academics as they look
for support in bringing new innovations to market that can push the UK energy
industry forward for years to come.”
As the
subsea focused technology research partner organisation of Subsea UK, NSRI is
supported by companies, including Total, Shell, BP, Subsea 7, Wood and Scottish
Enterprise. The organisation plays a key role in communicating the needs of the
industry to the supply chain, encouraging market-led development of technology.
Chairman of
NSRI, Peter Blake said, “Many know Tony within the oil and gas sector, with his
extensive experience and lateral creative thinking I believe he will take the
robust foundation of NSRI and build upon it within the next phase. There is
considerable challenge driving subsea technology and commercialisation to
ensure the UK remains a preeminent hub within the global industry. The
excellent work done by Gordon Drummond established NSRI as the focal point for
subsea research and development. I look forward in continuing this work with
Tony and I’m sure many others throughout the sector will too”
Chief executive
of Subsea UK, Neil Gordon said: “With extensive subsea experience in developing
and deploying technology and an understanding of the innovation landscape
involved in such work, I believe Tony will help to drive NSRI forward while
ensuring the technology needs of subsea end users are recognised and progressed.”
Working
collaboratively with other organisations to align industry, academia and
government; NSRI aims to lead on the drive to identify and support the
commercialisation of technology that will deliver significant economic gains across
the sector, and in turn advance the export of UK subsea technology.