Dr David Hard has been an invited keynote speaker and conference chair on five continents. His expertise lies in the analysis of hydrogen energy and fuel cell systems for a wide range of applications with a focus on economic and market issues and on environmental performance. He has advised a range of clients on hydrogen energy issues, including multinational companies and national governments, and been an invited participant at fuel cell and hydrogen events in Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, and North America.
Dr Hart is a Director of E4tech, a Switzerland- and UK-based business consulting company specialising in sustainable energy. He is also a part-time Principal Research Fellow at Imperial College's Centre for Environmental Policy. In his 20 years in the sector, he has led academic and consulting projects for government and corporate clients worldwide on low carbon transport, energy innovation, the impacts of different energy policies, as well as the roles of fuel cells and hydrogen energy in a future sustainable energy system.
Originally a mechanical engineer, he leads E4tech's Lausanne office and focuses primarily on strategic business advisory work in sustainable energy. He has extensive experience on industry committees and boards, including the Investment Committee of Conduit Ventures (a VC focused on low carbon energy), and the UK's Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership. Dr Hart has a background in Mechanical Engineering and holds a degree in Environmental Technology and a PhD in Hydrogen Energy. Following a childhood in Africa, he has also lived in N America, Europe and Asia and speaks grammatically-incorrect French, German and some Japanese.