Our People
Meet Dr. Maureen Paul
Chingford, England, U.K.
Numerophile. Changemaker. Sustainability advocate.
There are many ways to describe Dr. Maureen Paul, but none quite capture the positive impact of her influential career as a leading regulatory economist.
Maureen has worked across both public and private sectors, including a notable tenure in the U.K. Civil Service. Her r茅sum茅 includes two of the Big Four consulting firms, the Competition Commission, the Office of Fair Trading, and Ofgem鈥攖he energy regulator for Great Britain.
Across these roles, one thread is clear: her superpower lies in analyzing and translating economic behavior to drive positive change for clients, communities and the planet.
From an early age, Maureen was determined to drive change that improves lives. Growing up in Dominica, a Caribbean island often hit by hurricanes, she witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change. By age 16, she knew she wanted to become an economist鈥攏ot a doctor or lawyer鈥攕o she could use her fluency with numbers to make a difference.
Maureen has devoted her career to inspiring the next generation of economists and energy professionals to believe in their power to drive meaningful change. She has played a leading role in pioneering initiatives that open doors for individuals from diverse backgrounds鈥攈elping them aspire to careers they may never have considered. Notably, she was a core member of the trailblazer group behind the Civil Service鈥檚 first-ever economics apprenticeship, thereby introducing Ofgem鈥檚 first economics apprenticeship program (the only economic regulator to have had one at the time). Maureen also helped launch a mentoring program connecting Ofgem with students from Greenwich University.
Thanks in part to her work, the regulatory industry is now more effective at data collection, impact assessment, and inclusive economic policymaking.
鈥淚鈥檝e been privileged to lead regulatory change in the U.K., including creating new regulatory frameworks, which now influence how other countries approach regulation and climate actions.鈥
Dr. Maureen Paul
Get to know Maureen
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65896
Population of Dominica, where Maureen grew up
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11
Years at Ofgem, including five roles such as Chief Economist
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2
Big Four consulting firms she has worked for
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2020
Year she helped launch the first professional economic apprenticeship with the University of Greenwich
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1
Ph.D. from the University of Warwick, earned in 2004, on 鈥淓conomic Behaviour and Fairness Perceptions: A Microeconomic Analysis,鈥 which informed Cabinet Office work on pay transparency and the gender pay gap
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3
years as one of the first commissioners for the Caribbean Competition Commission
What inspired you to pursue a career in the energy transition and regulatory space?
It鈥檚 about making a lasting impact, not just for current generations, but for all future residents of the planet. I come from Dominica, a small island known as the 鈥楴ature Isle鈥 of the Caribbean. Growing up, hurricanes were a regular part of my life, but I noticed how much more vicious and frequent they鈥檝e become. The devastation is much worse, and I鈥檝e seen the economic toll of constant rebuilding and the loss of ecosystems and wildlife.
But I鈥檝e also seen incredible solutions鈥攍ike geothermal and solar energy鈥攎aking a difference. That personal experience with climate change shaped my career path. I want to create positive change not only for Dominica but also globally. I鈥檝e been privileged to lead regulatory change in the U.K., including creating new regulatory frameworks, which now influence how other countries approach regulation and climate actions.
How would you describe your personal motivation in your work?
Beyond climate action, I enjoy the strategic side of economic policy and regulation鈥攎aking it more practical and equitable. I鈥檓 always asking: how can this work better for people, countries or organizations? How can we create economic policies that work in a way that is fair and inclusive? The energy sector presents many opportunities to rethink, reframe and innovate鈥擨 find that exciting. In economics, it is often thought that businesses are solely motivated by profit. However, what I have found: when businesses care about the impact of their decisions on communities and the countries they鈥檙e in, it drives long-term profitability and legitimacy.
What鈥檚 one piece of advice you鈥檇 give to young professionals entering the field?
Don鈥檛 be intimidated by complexity. That鈥檚 why I focus on speaking simply about the issues that affect us all. The younger generation is riding a wave of new technology, and they鈥檒l help reshape how we work and think. Especially in energy, they鈥檒l lead the charge. My message: your views carry weight, and you鈥檒l help us, who are relatively 鈥渄inosaurs鈥, transform.
When you're not working, what are you doing?
Gardening. I鈥檓 no professional, but I love it鈥攁nd I have an allotment. It鈥檚 hard work and time-consuming, but I鈥檓 committed to it. It鈥檚 a masterclass in turning theory into practice. You鈥檒l make mistakes, but persistence is key. One day those cucumbers that never seemed to thrive will finally take root. You鈥檒l discover the right method, the perfect patch of soil, and just the right spot for them to flourish.
Otherwise, I鈥檓 running, standing guard so my son does not spend too much time glued to his Xbox, or I鈥檓 watching horror movies. My favorite? Jeepers Creepers.
鈥淏eyond climate action, I enjoy the strategic side of economic policy and regulation鈥攎aking it more practical and equitable. I鈥檓 always asking: how can this work better for people, countries or organizations?鈥
Dr. Maureen Paul
