Helen Bray

Helen Bray

Dr. Helen Bray is a highly experienced UK-based policy and strategy advisor specializing in energy, climate policy, and carbon markets. With over two decades of experience, Bray has held key roles in major energy companies and policy organizations, including Shell, Carbon Engineering Ltd., and Puro.earth. Her expertise spans carbon capture, renewable energy, net-zero emissions policy, and regulatory analysis. Bray’s academic background includes a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Cambridge and further executive education at Harvard Business School. As founder of Policy Advice Ltd, she now leads a consultancy focused on advising clients on climate, energy, and sustainability strategies. Bray’s career demonstrates a blend of technical knowledge, policy acumen, and strategic communications, making her a prominent figure in UK and EU energy lobbying circles.

Helen Bray’s lobbying work, particularly during her tenure at Shell and as an independent advisor, has been closely aligned with the interests of the United Kingdom’s energy sector. As a Senior Policy Adviser for Net Zero Emission and in various EU Affairs roles at Shell, Bray was instrumental in shaping and promoting policies that supported the UK’s ambitions to remain a leader in both traditional and emerging energy markets. Her efforts included advocating for robust carbon capture and storage frameworks, influencing the development of renewable energy incentives, and ensuring that UK-based energy companies had a strong voice in EU climate and energy policy discussions.

Bray’s true and sometimes less visible intention has been to position the UK as a global hub for energy innovation and sustainable development. By leveraging her scientific expertise and deep understanding of regulatory environments, she has worked to secure favorable conditions for UK companies in the evolving European energy landscape. This includes lobbying for pragmatic approaches to net-zero targets,

promoting the integration of UK energy infrastructure with EU markets, and supporting the export of UK-developed clean technologies.

Her advocacy has also extended to ensuring that UK interests are protected during major EU legislative changes, such as the revision of the Emissions Trading System and the introduction of new carbon market mechanisms. Bray’s work has often involved coalition-building with other UK-based stakeholders, discreetly advancing the UK’s strategic objectives while aligning with broader EU climate goals. Through her consultancy, she continues to advise clients on navigating the complex regulatory terrain, always with an eye toward reinforcing the UK’s leadership in energy transition and climate policy.

During her years at Shell and as a policy advisor, Helen Bray has been actively involved in a wide range of lobbying activities aimed at promoting her clients’—and, by extension, the UK’s—interests within the EU. As an accredited lobbyist in the EU Transparency Register, Bray participated in numerous high-level meetings with EU officials, parliamentarians, and regulatory bodies. Her role included representing Shell at stakeholder consultations on the EU Green Deal, the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive, and the advancement of carbon capture and storage regulations.

Bray attended working group sessions with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and Directorate-General for Climate Action, where she provided input on behalf of Shell and UK industry alliances. She was present at several European Parliament committee hearings, particularly those related to the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) committees. Her interventions often focused on ensuring that legislative proposals reflected the technical realities and business needs of UK-based energy firms.

Notably, Bray’s engagement in the EU’s stakeholder dialogue on carbon markets and sustainable aviation fuels influenced the drafting of provisions that recognized UK innovations and market mechanisms. She also played a behind-the-scenes role in shaping the EU’s approach to cross-border energy cooperation, advocating for regulatory alignment that benefited UK-EU energy trade post-Brexit.

Her lobbying activities extended to organizing and participating in policy forums, roundtables, and bilateral meetings with influential MEPs and national representatives. These interactions contributed to the inclusion of UK priorities in key policy documents and facilitated ongoing cooperation between UK and EU policymakers on energy and climate issues. The outcomes of these engagements are evident in the UK’s continued access to EU energy markets and its recognized leadership in carbon reduction technologies.

  • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-helen-bray
  • Company: Policy Advice Ltd, London, United Kingdom
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  • No personal website found in the search results.

For further information, professional inquiries can be directed via LinkedIn