Laura 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. Over the past year at Ørsted, she has gained a deep understanding of the systems and processes that underpin safe, reliable operations. She highlights 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 describes her leadership style as direct and unpretentious, with a strong preference for clarity over “management speak.” She emphasises 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 says whilst being interviewed.
Laura Jones 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. She plans to advance the use of data analytics and predictive maintenance to improve turbine availability and uptime, while ensuring that day-to-day operational pressures are managed through strong strategic direction and robust people development.
Laura is also focused on talent development and retention across the site’s team, with an emphasis on building a learning culture and clear succession pathways. She intends to elevate inclusion and diversity as a core strength of the Hornsea 2 team and to deepen partnerships with suppliers, regulators, and local communities to reflect Ørsted’s broader commitment to responsible energy growth.
She will spend time with the offshore teams to understand day-to-day realities, and engage directly with shifts to listen, learn, and identify where improvements are needed. Laura believes in practical safety engagement and plans to work closely with the site’s quality, health, safety and environment lead to ensure that safety is evidenced through action, not just documentation, with a focus on timely, tangible improvements.
Laura’s message to the Hornsea 2 team and stakeholders is anchored in listening and empowerment. “I’m here to listen and empower you to be as safe as you can be at work,” she said during the interview. She also emphasises the importance of collaboration and practical support, adding that the team’s input will shape how she leads and what priorities are pursued in the first year.
Laura Jones, Head of Site for Hornsea 2, said: " 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.
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. One rotation of the blades on each turbine generates enough electricity to power a home for 24 hours. In September 2022, AXA IM Alts and Crédit Agricole Assurances together purchased 50% of the windfarm for £3 billion.
Head of Far shore for 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.
