The Speakers:

Kenny Kong, McLaren F1 Reliability Engineer & STEM Coordinator

Mr Kong joined McLaren Racing in 2019 and works as a Reliability Engineer, ensuring that the cars finish a race. Before F1, he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree and had a career as an automotive Quality Engineer. He has worked in a number of British car makers including McLaren Automotive and Jaguar Land Rover. Drawing on his experience and knowledge, he applies design and problem-solving methodologies into the fast-pace, ever moving world of motorsports to get the cars past the chequered flag. This was followed by a spell in McLaren Applied Technologies, as Quality Lead for various projects including software for autonomous vehicles, Gen 2 Formula E batteries and Formula 1 hybrid technologies.

Jim O’Leary, BP Vice president wells, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey region

Mr O’Leary has been with BP for almost 30 years and has degrees in mechanical and petroleum engineering. He has held the various drilling and completions roles globally both onshore and offshore. His most recent role was vice president wells, Africa and Middle East. He has a huge experience in managing wells activities and also led the implementation of the improvement recommendations associated with the Deepwater Horizon accident across BP’s global operations. Over time, as investment goes up in low and no-carbon, bp sees it ‎going down in oil and gas.  New low carbon projects agreed are coming ‎onstream.‎  Jim will discuss the skills and talents companies like bp will need to focus on low carbon investment on low carbon electricity generated from low carbon energy sources – including ‎wind and solar, bioenergy and hydrogen and carbon capture.

Annamie Paul, Green Party of Canada Leader

Ms Paul is a Canadian politician, activist and lawyer who has served as the leader of the Green Party of Canada since 2020. She is the first Black Canadian and first Jewish woman to be elected leader of a federal party in Canada. She was the founder of the Canadian Centre for Political Leadership and has worked international affairs positions, including in Canada's Mission to the European Union and in the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court.

Dr Simon Boxall, University of Southampton Principal Teaching Fellow within Ocean and Earth Science

Dr Boxall is an oceanographer who has a broad overview of ocean processes, from oil spills to climate change. He has worked on secondment for projects for UNESCO, The EU Research Centre, The World Bank, The British Council and the European Space Agency over the years. In media he has been involved in over 100 documentaries, both behind and in front of camera and have covered over 1000 news appearances for Radio, television and the press. He works closely with public bodies such as the National Science Museum, the National Maritime Museum, The Royal Institution and the South Bank in promoting science events.

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