Who We Are

Dr Simon Todd is an energy industry executive with 30 years of experience in leading businesses in petroleum exploration, development,  and operations around the world with bp and other smaller ventures and projects.  Simon has BSc (1st Class Honours) and PhD degrees from the University of Bristol in geological science.  As well as Co-founder, Managing Director and Chief Technologist of Causeway Energies, Simon is also Non-Executive Director of Senergy Innovations Ltd, a Belfast company developing a breakthrough solar thermal panel, and Adjunct Professor to the School of Earth Science, University College Dublin.

“I am excited to enable Causeway Energies’ Pioneering Spirit of nimbleness, inventiveness and entrepreneurialism as Co-founder, Managing Director and Chief Technologist as I do my part to drive the energy transformation.”

Huw Williams hails from the mining district of Cornwall which now pioneers geothermal and mineral brine resources in the UK. Tradition dictates then, that Huw has worked in the global Groundwater Resources and Geothermal Industry since 2002. His roles have been across regulatory, consultancy and design and build contracting. This diverse experience has allowed Huw to gain robust experience in the conceptual and numerical modelling of groundwater flow and heat transport, across a range of geological settings and applications.

Career highlights include; lead groundwater modeller for two of the UK’s largest Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage systems, depressurisation and inflow modelling for Australia’s largest block cave mine, deep basin unconventional gas depressurisation modelling and hands-on involvement in many of the UK’s largest Open Loop Ground Source Heat Pump systems.

“I am passionate about the protection and enhancement of the environment. I am driven by the opportunity to bring geothermal energy and energy efficiency projects to reality for the environmental and social benefits these bring.”

Brian O’Cathain is an energy industry executive with over 35 years of experience in corporate development and leadership of international energy businesses. He started his career as a petroleum engineer with Shell International and has worked in corporate management roles with Enterprise Oil, Tullow Oil and Petroceltic in a range of international energy ventures. He is currently the chair of Europa Oil and Gas plc, and a non-executive director of Nephin Energy, Ireland’s largest natural gas production business. He was formerly the managing director of Enterprise Energy Limited, responsible for the sanction and development of the Corrib Gas Field. He holds a 1^st class honours degree in geology from the University of Bristol.

“I have long considered geothermal energy to be the cleanest, most sustainable and most reliable form of renewable energy, and I am delighted to be collaborating with my co-founders in Causeway Energies to bring this safe and sustainable form of energy to the market in Ireland and the world. I fully expect that in 20 years’ time geothermal energy will be in ubiquitous commercial use, and I am excited to be involved in accelerating its adoption”.

Dr Helen Doran is the Chief Geologist of Causeway Energies. She has a background in subsurface heat flow, reservoir diagenesis and pressure prediction. Helen obtained a 1st class degree in geology from Queens University of Belfast and a PhD in reservoir quality and diagenesis at the University of Edinburgh. She has over 20 years of global experience in determining heatflow variations in more than 100 sedimentary basins and has held technical leadership roles in bp and Ophir Energy. She is the author of several publications, including her latest book, currently in press; “Strike-slip terrains and transform margins; structural architecture, thermal regimes and fluid systems”. She lives in County Down, Northern Ireland with her husband and two children, Patrick and Órla.

“Throughout my career, I have always sought opportunities to collaborate with like-minded experts to advance my technical understanding, often forming a bridge between academia and industry. I relish the opportunity to continue those relationships and forge new ones with Causeway Energies.”

Dr Niall McCormack is an executive with over 25 years of experience in the resource sector leading exploration, innovation and commercial around the world. Niall gained a degree and PhD in geology from Trinity College Dublin, after which he started in the resource sector as a geologist with bp and GNS. He worked in executive roles in Hess, Afren and BHP. In BHP Niall led global petroleum exploration, commercial and innovation. Niall is also the Chair of the Geothermal Association of Ireland. He is based in Dublin with Kirsty and their two kids. When not working on geothermal you will find him watching, playing or talking about rugby.

“Changing the world for the better drives me, and for me that’s embodied in our value of Ethical Impact. Geothermal has potential to play a big part in changing our world. What we do and what geothermal can deliver are important to building a sustainable world. How we do it decides if we are successful. ”

John O’Neill is an executive with over 35 years of leadership, operational and commercial experience worldwide, in Wells and Operations, with major energy companies including Schlumberger, Shell, BP and Maersk, across 10 countries, offshore & onshore, including Regional VP & Global Functional roles. Accountable for $250m+ annual spend in several projects, through collaborative teams of 400-500 staff & contractors. John graduated from Queens University Belfast with a Degree in Aeronautical Engineering and holds a post graduate MBA.

‘The energy transition, the focus on net zero and renewables energy is a significant challenge for our world. I believe geothermal will be a significant part of that. I am excited to be part of Causeway Energies and the opportunity to play a meaningful and significant part in that transition.’

Les Ward is Causeway Energies’ Chief of Thermal Energy Solutions. He is a senior executive leader with over twenty-five years of experience in the energy generation industry. Les has built and established companies from the ground up and have delivered several successful large-scale energy-efficient projects for multinational companies from all across the globe. He is passionate about Sustainable Energy, and recently completed a Masters Degree in Energy Management at TU Dublin where he is now pursuing an Honours Degree in Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering.

“The future of how we heat and cool our businesses and industries is changing and we can no longer rely on just doing things the same old way. Geothermal can play a key role in delivering secure, affordable and importantly sustainable heating and cooling and Causeway Energies is poised to make it happen”

Nicola Morgan has over 15 years’ experience in the energy industry ranging from field development to frontier exploration and new ventures opportunities. More recently she has moved into team leadership and project management roles.

Nicola obtained a BSc Hons in Geology from University College Dublin and an MSc in Basin Evolution and Dynamics from Royal Holloway University of London. Having lived and worked overseas for many years, Nicola now lives in County Cavan, Ireland with her husband and two children Cian and Eoghan.

“The natural heat below the Earth’s surface has huge potential to become one of the leaders of the energy sector of the future. I am excited to be working with Causeway Energies to deliver projects that will make that potential a reality and lead the energy transition.”

Colin Matthews has spent over 20 years in Low Carbon fuels and technologies in the UK. Passionate about pragmatic low carbon solutions utilising new developments and technology in an inclusive cost effective way, Colin helped kick start the use of Biomethane in the UK vehicle fuels market back in 1999 and then did the same with B30 diesel in 2007. He continued helping develop alternative and innovative low carbon fuel and vehicle technologies with emerging and established companies. He utilised his expertise to help establish successful support programmes with UK government and trade bodies.

Colin is now turning his attention to the potential of Geothermal energy as a net zero carbon solution for heat particularly given that he lives in North Lincolnshire (UK) which is a prime geothermal hotspot. Colin joins CausewayGT to help bring their innovative technology and heat as a service solutions that are economically implementable to the UK marketplace for the specific benefit of both industry and commerce where there are currently too few solutions that are cost effective.

“When I see valuable UK industry struggling to find economic solutions to their use of heat in manufacturing processes whilst being aware of the huge geothermal potential under the feet of such an important industrial cluster around Humberside and Lincolnshire that remains undiscussed, I was delighted to be able to join Causeway GT to drive the innovate solutions they have developed into the marketplace as a tangible ethical green solution to this challenge.”