David Wright is responsible for driving safety and engineering excellence across the National Grid group. His remit covers all technologies, including electricity, gas, hydrogen and carbon capture, and extends across all group operations in both the UK and US.
He is an expert in safety and resilience, providing strategic oversight to National Grid’s engineering activities and capabilities, including assurance to the Board.
David is also the company’s engineering ambassador, responsible for growing its engineering credentials at the heart of the energy transition. He advises governments and other key stakeholders, helping to solve the engineering challenges brought about by the transition to net zero.
David joined National Grid in 1992 as an electrical engineer. He has occupied senior management positions on both gas and electricity networks in the UK and US, including leading National Grid’s electricity transmission business in the UK for many years, and has also led its Gas Transmission operations, as well as teams in both the gas and electricity control centres.
Before joining National Grid, David worked for VSEL (now BAE Systems) – the only submarine builder in the UK – designing electrical generation and distribution systems for warships.
He is a Fellow of both the Royal Academy of Engineering and IET, a dual-accredited Chartered Engineer with both the IET and IGEM, and a member of the Institute of Asset Management (IAM) and a Major in the Staff Corps.
David was born in Wales and lives in Northamptonshire. He has two daughters and is passionate about rugby.
About Business in the Community’s Wellbeing Leadership Team
Each area of work Business in the Community (BITC) undertakes is led by a group of senior executives who provide strategic guidance and support us in achieving our objectives.
The purpose of BITC’s Wellbeing Leadership Team is to build a movement that is committed to positioning health and wellbeing as strategic boardroom issues with a particular focus on mental health; driving collective action through evidence-based, practical solutions.
Find out more about BITC’s work on wellbeing.