Dr Val Cummins is Chief Impact Officer (CIO) and Ireland Portfolio Director in Simply Blue Group. Simply Blue works with the oceans to address climate change and biodiversity. In her capacity as CIO, she is responsible for the environmental and societal impact of Simply Blue’s offshore wind projects globally. She leads a Joint Venture partnership with EDF to develop the Emerald and Western Star floating offshore wind projects in Ireland and is currently Interim Portfolio Director for IberBlue Wind. Val’s move to industry from academia in 2020 was inspired by a desire to have an impact on the energy transition and to lead blue growth initiatives in a company that is dedicated to Sustainable Development Goals for the oceans and seas. This followed 21 years in University College Cork, where she developed a track record in the field marine resource management. She received the inaugural President’s Award for her leadership in building research capacity in marine science. She played a leading role in the establishment of the MaREI Centre, a national centre of excellence in marine and energy research, supported by Science Foundation Ireland; and was the Director of the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster. Val currently Chairs the Wind Energy Ireland Floating Offshore Wind Committee; is a council member and non-executive director of the Marine Renewables Industry Association (MRIA); and has served as a council member of Wind Energy Ireland. Val is an Eisenhower Fellow and has participated in Women in Leadership executive training at Harvard University.

‍