Laura Jones vows to ‘deliver sustainable energy for the UK, now and into the future’
Laura Jones, Head of Site for Hornsea 2(Image: Ørsted)
A Hull woman has been put in charge of the world’s biggest offshore wind farm and she has the top philosophy to keep staff safe. A graduate of The University of Hull, Laura Jones has been appointed as Head of Site for Hornsea 2 in the North Sea.
Hornsea 2, nearly 90km off the Yorkshire coast, has 165 turbines that can generate enough power for 1.4 million homes. The wind farm is maintained out of Ørsted’s East Coast Hub in Grimsby.
The turbines stand at over 200m tall, with most of the blades being delivered from the Siemens Gamesa factory in Hull. Laura said her focus will be on safety, operational excellence and leadership.
She joined Ørsted’s Projects Transformation team a year ago, where she has been combining day-to-day operations with long-term strategic and commercial thinking for a range of programmes. She said that over the past year at Ørsted, she has gained a deep understanding of the systems and processes that underpin safe, reliable operations.
The new Head of Site highlighted the importance of creating a culture where people feel safe to raise concerns and where safety is truly embedded in every level of the organisation. Laura described her leadership style as direct and unpretentious, with a strong preference for clarity over “management speak.”
She emphasised “honesty, openness, and a practical approach to getting things done,” while staying firmly focused on people and safety. “I want to listen and then get things done, collaboratively and kindly – that’s my approach to leadership,” she said.
She began her career with a philosophy degree from the University of Hull, which she says sharpened her critical thinking and appreciation of diverse perspectives. Her early roles included Hull City Council where she worked on redeveloping the borough’s secondary school estate, followed by the NHS, where she led hospital estates projects and later national policy leadership.
The pandemic highlighted the importance of clear decisions and strong safety and helped Jones prioritise a career change. Two years at Drax Power Station was a deliberate step to broaden her experience in a different sector and culture. In her first year, Laura’s priorities for Hornsea 2 include strengthening safety, reliability, building on the excellent work of the team and the ongoing digital maturation of the site. The new philosophy will be based on safety, building a learning culture and elevating inclusion and diversity as a core strength of the Hornsea 2 team.
She aims to deepen partnerships with suppliers, regulators, and local communities to reflect Ørsted’s broader commitment to responsible energy growth. “I’m here to listen and empower you to be as safe as you can be at work,” she said.
Laura added: “I’m excited to lead Hornsea 2 at this pivotal moment. My focus is on what we can control – safety, reliability, and developing our people and partnerships – to deliver sustainable energy for the UK, now and into the future.
“I’ll bring a stoic resilient mindset to the role: taking decisive action on issues within our influence and collaborating with teams, suppliers, and communities to create real impact. I will listen, learn, and lead with curiosity and positivity.”
In September 2022, AXA IM Alts and Crédit Agricole Assurances together purchased 50 per cent of the windfarm for £3 billion. The Head of Far Shore at Ørsted, Andy Greenleaf said: “Laura comes to Far Shore with significant operational and people management experience from both the energy and health sectors.
“She demonstrates exemplary leadership and stakeholder management qualities, which I’m confident will drive further improvements on safety, operational performance and co-owner satisfaction.”