Britain’s national regulator has announced leadership changes to its Energy Division, which regulates the offshore oil and gas industry and renewables and onshore gas networks, mines and quarries.

Samantha Peace, who has held the position of Director of Energy Division at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will retire in May after serving the regulator for more than 30 years.

Samantha, who has worked in the public sector for 38 years, has held the role since July 2023, overseeing the health, safety, and welfare of workers across the offshore and renewables industries, and supporting the deployment of technologies such as Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS).

Matthew Blackburn has been appointed as interim Director of Energy Division and will take over from February 16 to allow for a smooth and structured handover to take place. Matthew, currently Operations Manager in Energy Division, has more than 27 years’ major hazards experience in HSE.

Jane Lassey, Director of Regulation at the Health and Safety Executive, said: “I would like to thank Sam for her dedication throughout the last 30 years at HSE and, more recently her leadership over the last three years.

“Energy Division is responsible for some of the most important, and most hazardous, industries in Britain, and Sam has played an important role in our efforts to maintain safety, while working with industry as an enabling regulator.”