James Laybourn is the Regional Head of Energy Transition for DNV Energy Systems in the Asia Pacific region, where he leads a multidisciplinary team of more than 70 specialists delivering decarbonisation, ESG, and sustainability services across the Energy and Finance sectors. DNV Energy Systems is a leading independent advisor to the global energy sector, supporting governments and industry to navigate complex energy transitions safely and sustainably.

James joined DNV in London in 2002 and has held senior technical and leadership roles across Asia Pacific, including extended postings in Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia. He has been responsible for DNV’s Hydrogen and CCUS business in Asia since 2019, overseeing a wide portfolio of work ranging from national hydrogen master planning for governments and major utilities to technical and commercial assurance for a wide range of CCUS projects under development in the region.

Earlier in his career, James managed DNV’s upstream and midstream gas business across Southeast Asia and Australia, with a strong focus on LNG, FSRUs, and gas to power developments. He has delivered and overseen numerous consultancy studies across the LNG and offshore energy sectors and brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of engineering, risk management, and the energy transition.