The Energy Institute (EI) AHI Community has aced its flagship annual dinner, reporting 25% increase in attendance at this year’s sell-out event.
The gathering is one of the highlights of the EI AHI Community’s busy calendar and this year’s gathering, sponsored by Imrandd, attracted a full house of 150 guests at Aberdeen’s Macdonald Norwood Hall Hotel on Thursday, May 21st. Guests were welcomed with a drinks reception sponsored by Stronachs, Strategic Partner to the AHI Community for 2026.
Delivering the keynote address on the night was Judy Murray OBE. In addition to being mother to two champions, Judy won 64 Scottish titles during her own tennis career. The former Strictly Come Dancing star is now an in-demand speaker who offers expert insights on how businesses and individuals can raise their game, focusing on topics such as building teams, developing resilience, nurturing talent, creating a champion mindset and the parallels between sport and business.
Judy was interviewed in a “fireside chat” format by Stacey Will, founder and head coach at the Personal Growth Collective, an organisation dedicated to helping people explore and realise their full potential by working on leadership self-awareness and how they show up day to day.
The format continued when EI AHI Community Chair Michael Howie chatted with Steve Gray and Stumac from Ventex who shared their entrepreneurial journey, inspirational insights and approach to building a business through a different operating model.
The annual dinner forms part of a wider programme of activity being delivered by the EI AHI Community to strengthen collaboration and connection across the energy sector. Earlier this year, the community launched ‘Energy Unplugged’, sponsored by Gary Walker Wealth Management, creating a new dinner seriesfor honest conversations between those shaping the future energy system and those who will ultimately deliver it.
The EI AHI Community also continues to work closely with Net Zero Technology Centre as its Technical Partner, supporting the community’s 2026 technical programme, with events focused on innovation and knowledge sharing.
Michael Howie, EI AHI Community Chair, said: “It’s been incredibly encouraging to see the momentum building within the community. The fact that our annual dinner sold out whilst also launching Energy Unplugged this year, reflects a real appetite across the region to reconnect, engage, and be part of a strong energy community at a time of significant change for our industry.
“We were fortunate to have such high-quality speakers who brought a fresh and different perspective to the evening. Welcoming Judy Murray was a real highlight for me personally as Judy coached me when I was around 10 years old, and her approach to resilience, determination and mindset left a lasting impression. To bring that full circle and hear her share those insights with our community was incredibly powerful.”
He added: “As a branch, our vision is to build a stronger sense of community across Aberdeen, in a way that is bold, different, and meaningful. We want to create spaces where people connect beyond job titles, have honest conversations, and build relationships that genuinely matter. Bringing together people from across the energy supply chain and creating an environment where individuals feel part of something will have a lasting impact on the industry and the region.”
To find out more about Energy Institute (EI) AHI Community, email aberdeen@energyinst.org