Dr Cameron Davies
Chief Executive (63)
Cameron gained his PhD from Imperial College, London in 1971 and has more than 38 years’ experience in the international petroleum and mining industries. He has worked in the UK, Latin America and North Africa. In 1989, he led the exploration team that discovered a 70 m. barrel onshore oilfield in Tunisia. He then worked as a management consultant advising energy companies and Governments on oil exploration, legislation and policy. In 1994, he founded Alkane and has overseen its development from concept to its recent expansion into the international climate change technology market. He is part-time Chairman of ACMMO, which successfully lobbied the Government for Climate Change Levy exemption for electricity generated from coal mine methane.
David Oldham
Technical Director (70)
David is a chartered engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in the coal mining industry. He was previously head of engineering for British Coal in Nottinghamshire. His wide responsibilities included the utilisation of methane emitted from working mines for power generation. He managed the design and construction of the 18MW mine gas power station at Harworth now operated by UK Coal plc. David joined Alkane in 1994 to assist in proving the technical and commercial viability of the CMM concept. He has developed Alkane’s unique extraction technology and brought all the operating plants from concept to production.
Stephen Goalby
Finance Director (58)
Stephen has more than 30 years of financial and management experience in the electricity industry. From 1991 to 1997 he was financial controller of East Midlands Electricity plc’s generation business and was involved in establishing that business and in its subsequent sale. He was a director of several subsidiaries of East Midlands Electricity plc, including its renewable energy companies. He then became general manager of Corby Power Limited, which operates a 350MW gas-fired power station, and later a consultant to the US utility company Dominion Resources Inc. and to Alkane, before joining Alkane in February 1999. He was appointed Finance Director in May 2000, and took on the duties of Company Secretary in December 2003.
Lord Fraser of Carmyllie
Non-Executive Director (61)
Peter is a QC with more than 20 years’ political experience. He became MP for Angus South in 1979 and between 1982 and 1989 was Solicitor General for Scotland and Lord Advocate 1989-92. He became Minister for State at the Scottish Office in 1992 and in 1995 was appointed Minister for Energy at the Department of Trade and Industry. In 1997 he became Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords and spokesman on Trade and Industry. He is Chairman of JKX Oil & Gas Plc and a non-executive director of ICE Futures, LME Limited and Ram Energy Limited. He is Chairman of the Statutory Committee of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and in 2003 was appointed to head the Inquiry into the cost overrun of the Scottish Parliament building. Member of Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.
John Lander
Chairman (63)
John is a highly experienced oil company executive with a proven track record in adding significant value for shareholders through successful UK and International oil and gas exploration, production and new business development. He started his career with Shell and has more than 37 years’ experience in the international oil and gas industry, having held boardroom posts at RTZ Oil and Gas, Pict Petroleum plc, Premier Oil plc, British-Borneo Petroleum Syndicate plc and Tuskar Resources plc. From 2000 to 2004 he was a Director of Tullow Oil plc and Managing Director of Tullow Oil UK Limited. He is also Chairman of MedOil plc. Member of Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.
Julia Henderson
Non-Executive Director (46)
Ms. Henderson, 46, has been involved with entrepreneurial growth companies in a wide range of sectors for almost two decades. She is an independent non-executive director and corporate consultant with quoted and private mid market companies. Julia has already gained experience in the renewable energy sector as a non-executive director of GTL Resources plc, the bio-ethanol producer. She was a founder shareholder and later a director of Beeson Gregory (now Evolution Group), the mid market investment bank, and has a wealth of City experience. Member of Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.
Committee Details
The following Committees deal with specific aspects of the Group’s affairs:
Audit Committee
The current members of the Audit Committee are Lord Fraser (Chairman), Julia Henderson and John Lander. The Committee meets at least twice a year to review and to report to the Board its conclusions and recommendations on matters related to the interim and annual financial statements and the effectiveness of internal controls and risk management. It discusses with management on an ongoing basis the reporting of operational results and the financial condition of the Group and presents its findings to the Board.
Meetings are normally attended, by invitation, by the Finance Director and a representative of the auditors. The auditors also have unrestricted access to the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
In addition to the ongoing monitoring of the external audit, the Committee also undertakes, from time to time, an objective review of the appointment of external auditors. A scheduled review was carried out in December 2007 and as a result PKF (UK) LLP were appointed as auditors of the Company. The next review is scheduled for 2010. In assessing the independence and objectivity of the external auditors, the Committee considers the appointment and rotation of the partners responsible for the audit, the nature and extent of non-audit services and the fees paid for audit, audit-related and non-audit services. The Committee is satisfied that the auditors’ objectivity and independence is not compromised.
In addition, the Committee reviews the necessity for the establishment of an internal audit function. It considers that, given the present size and complexity of the Group and the close involvement of the executive directors in the operational management of the business, there is currently no requirement for this function. The Group is keeping under review the need to establish this function. The Committee seeks external specialist and independent advice and receives reports on business performance as required.
Remuneration Committee
The Committee is made up entirely of non-executive directors, currently John Lander (Chairman), Julia Henderson and Lord Fraser. The Committee operates within agreed terms of reference and meets as required, but at least twice a year, to:
- Make recommendations to the Board on the broad policy and framework for executive directors’ remuneration and its cost; and
- Determine the total remuneration package and contractual terms for each of the executive directors.
It is also responsible for overseeing the management and administration of the Group’s share schemes for employees, including the award of share option entitlements.
The members of the Committee do not have any personal financial interests, other than as shareholders, or any conflicts from cross-directorships or day-to-day involvement in the running of the Group. The Committee has access to independent external advisers on all remuneration-related issues and obtains advice in determining individual remuneration levels from remuneration consultants appointed by the Committee. The results of market surveys and other analysis from external sources are also made available to the Committee. When appropriate the Committee invites the views of the Chief Executive and the Finance Director, but they are not involved in discussions concerning their own remuneration.
Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee consists of John Lander (Chairman), Lord Fraser and Julia Henderson. The Committee meets as and when required with its primary function being to provide a formal and transparent procedure for the appointment of new directors to the Board and to advise generally on issues relating to Board composition and balance. In appropriate cases, recruitment consultants may be used to assist the process.
Last updated: 22 January 2008