Emma FitzGerald
Emma is a business leader with a passion for not only building great teams but also bringing innovations to market that address the world’s biggest challenges. As the CEO of Puma Energy she focused on delivering affordable and sustainable energy solutions to emerging markets in Africa, Central America and Asia. Emma holds several Non-Executive Director roles and is also a Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Global Futures Council on Energy Transition. Emma is a mentor on the climate workstream for the Creative Destruction Lab (a not-for-profit organisation that focuses on accelerating the adoption of innovative climate solutions) and also works on a pro bono basis with Cancer Research UK.
Emma demonstrates both authentic and empathetic leadership and believes leaders with these traits have made a big impact during COVID. Her approach is to align an organisations vision to its purpose and to motivate and organise a team in a way that gives them both the context and the space to operate. Emma is people focused, strategic, forward thinking and a lifelong learner with wide interests. She also believes that being passionate about what you do and having a belief in your abilities is the key to maximising your leadership impact and unlocking the potential of your teams.
After completing a DPhil in Surface Chemistry from Balliol College at Oxford University Emma spent over a decade at Shell in various global positions including running Downstream Retail, Lubricants and LPG businesses and spending 3 years in China. She then ran businesses in gas, water and waste networks for National Grid and Severn Trent in the UK before becoming CEO of Puma Energy. Prior to her current portfolio, she served on the boards of plc, privately owned and not for profit organisations in the capacities of both an Executive and Non-Executive Director including UPM Kymmene, Graphene Manufacturing Group, Puma Energy, Severn Trent plc, Cookson Group plc, Alent plc, DCC plc & Windsor leadership Trust.
Emma is married to David, in her spare time her passions are photography, hill walking and mentoring climate start-ups. As a dyslexic herself, she also works with organisations that support adults and children with learning difficulties to realise their potential.