Northern Powergrid signs up to support wildfire conference
ONE of the UK’s largest energy distributors has shown its support for the 2026 UK Wildfire Conference by becoming a headline sponsor.
Northern Powergrid, which distributes electricity across the Northeast of England and Yorkshire, serving around 8 million people, has signed up to support the international conference which this year takes place at Headingly Stadium in Leeds on 10 and 11 November.
The agreement coincides with the release of the full programme for the two-day event and the announcement that a pre-conference site visit has also been organised for 9 November at nearby Marsden Moor which is owned by the National Trust.
This biennial conference brings together stakeholders from the wildfire sector throughout the UK and across the globe. Keynote speakers from the UK, Spain and the USA will deliver presentations on subjects such as the emerging challenges associated with wildfire exposure of industrial infrastructure, lessons from the Fylingdales Moor wildfire and community-level wildfire preparedness.
The packed programme introduces speakers and panel sessions covering many wildfire-related topics across governance, wildland-urban interface, infrastructure, habitat management, risk and extremes, tools and services. There will also be interactive workshops, exhibitors and a gala dinner, at which The Heather Trust Charles Gimingham Award will be presented to the most promising new entrant in wildfire research.
Commenting on the significance of supporting the UK Wildfire Conference Gareth Pearson, Director of Health, Safety and Training at Northern Powergrid said:
“Protecting our customers, communities and infrastructure from the growing threat of wildfires requires collaboration. As the electricity network operator serving almost 8 million customers across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, we are proud to support this conference and bring together experts to share learning, build partnerships and strengthen regional resilience.’’
The Conference, which is being hosted by the England and Wales Wildfire Forum, has already received significant support from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, highlighting the growing importance of wildfire as a major resilience issue across the UK, especially in light of the devastating wildfires this summer.
Wildfire2026 will bring together experts, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, land managers, and more to share learning, discuss emerging challenges and strengthen collaboration across sectors. The conference theme, “New Perspectives, Shared Solutions”, reflects the need for coordinated action and cross-sector working in response to the changing wildfire risk.
Professor Gareth Clay is chair of the UK Wildfire Conference 2026 Steering Group
Professor Gareth Clay, Chair of the UK Wildfire Conference 2026 Steering Group, said:
“We are delighted that Northern Powergrid is partnering with the UK Wildfire Conference. Their support indicates not just their awareness of the growing risk to the UK’s energy infrastructure but Northern Powergrid’s commitment to communities across the UK in protecting their supply from wildfire threat.
“With sponsors’ support, we can deliver an impactful and meaningful conference which will provide many opportunities for discussion, networking and collaboration, helping attendees take new ideas and connections back into their own organisations and teams, and ultimately progress the UK’s wildfire resilience.”
For more information or to buy tickets please visit:
https://ukwildfireconference.co.uk/attend
For more information and media invitations, please contact:
Katrina Candy
Director
The Heather Trust
E: katrina.candy@heathertrust.co.uk
About EWWF
The England and Wales Wildfire Forum (EWWF) is a multi-agency stakeholder group of public, private and third-sector parties which works to address wildfire issues.
The forum is a voluntary strategic body, independent of government, created to expand knowledge and understanding of wildfire, with the overall purpose of reducing the harmful impact of wildfires by promoting joint working and collaboration.
England and Wales Wildfire Forum | Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service
About The Heather Trust
The Heather Trust works to promote the sustainable management of uplands and heather moorlands across the UK. By supporting collaboration between land managers, policymakers, and researchers, the Trust aims to enhance environmental resilience and biodiversity.
About Northern Powergrid
Northern Powergrid is an electricity distribution business, delivering electricity on behalf of suppliers from the national transmission system to 3.9 million domestic and business customers. Covering an area of 25,000 square kilometres, Northern Powergrid's network extends from north Northumberland, south to the Humber and northern Lincolnshire, and from the east coast to the Pennines. The network consists of more than 63,000 substations and around 96,000 kilometres of overhead line and underground cables.