Get to know the UKRN Expert Panel – Cloda Jenkins

Female

Have you ever wondered who the UKRN Expert Panel are? The UKRN Expert panel consists of four independent advisors who hold expertise in different fields. The Expert Panel advises the CEOs groups and provides vital feedback and challenge to the project teams.

We hope this series of articles allows you to get to know them better. In this article, we are featuring Cloda Jenkins!

Cloda Jenkins is a Professorial Teaching Fellow in the Department of Economics and Public Policy at Imperial Business School and Associate Director for the Centre for Teaching and Learning Economics (CTaLE).

She has worked as a regulatory economist since 1997, providing advice and training to European companies and regulators in the energy, post, transport, and water sectors. In addition to many advisory roles, she was Head of Ofgem’s review of energy network regulation (RPI-X@20) between 2008 and 2010.

  1. Tell me a bit about yourself

I am an economist with a varied career moving from consultancy, to Ofgem to academia since 1996. I moved to the UK from Ireland in 1997, a month before New Labour, and have watched, and ridden, the regulation rollercoaster since then. These days most of my time is spent teaching, 1st year undergraduates through to Executive MBA and professional training for policy making. My research focuses on incentive design, largely for monopoly networks but also in the context of potentially competitive markets. I also work on education research through the Centre for Teaching and Learning Economics.

  1. What attracted you to UKRN?

I always enjoyed working across sectors as a consultant and when at Ofgem I enjoyed sharing experiences and ideas with other regulators through precursors to UKRN. Whilst sectors are different the challenges, opportunities and economic solutions are similar and for me UKRN facilitates sharing to make for better solutions. It is also helpful in an increasingly politicised economy that there is one stakeholder able to take principled ideas to government that focus on the needs of consumers and members.

  1. What achievement has given you the most pride in your career? And also in your time at UKRN?

Although I am not always happy with how it has been implemented over time I am proud of being, from 2008 to 2010, Head of the RPI-X@20 team at Ofgem that designed RIIO. Moving the focus of regulation from low price to value for money was an important milestone. I am not sure when the culture will move sufficiently but at least now conversations happen about what needs to be delivered and how to do that as efficiently as possible. It is important to not forget that has not always been the case with a long period focusing on cost reduction which created longer term issues with asset maintenance and the ability to deliver on the sustainability and vulnerability challenges that all sectors face.

  1. What 3 words best encapsulate regulation for you?

Adaptable, transparent and commitment (what it should be)

  1. What 3 words best describe you away from the day job?

Mum, U2, walking

  1. What is your favourite film and why that choice?

Oh not sure I should say this in public. Something 80s and trash for sure. Maybe Footloose, just cause it is feel good.

  1. What 3 countries/places have you enjoyed visiting the most and why?
  1. Always going home to Ireland, Dublin or Kerry, to be with family and near the sea.
  2. I recently visited a close friend in Seoul, furthest I have ever been, and loved the mix of modern and ancient in the middle of a city.
  3. Italy, for the food, the living culture, the countryside and because I honeymooned there
  1. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t be afraid to bring your own perspective to the table

  1. When your career is nearing completion or you get to retire – what 3 words would you like your career to be remembered by?

Making a difference

We really hope you enjoyed getting to know Cloda more. Look out for our next featured expert panel member shortly!