Dr. Cian Desmond is a Senior Researcher and Principal Investigator in the Offshore Wind Energy Group in MaREI, Ireland’s National Centre for Marine, Energy and Climate research. His current research is focused on enabling the deployment of floating wind arrays through the development of technical innovations in the areas of resource assessment, commercialisation of platform technologies, hydrogen generation and engagement with key stakeholder groups. He is currently leading the development of an IEA Task in this area in collaboration with colleagues from the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In 2019, Dr. Desmond Chaired the Wind Energy Science Conference (WESC) on behalf of the European Academy of Wind Energy (EAWE). With over 800 delegates attending 700 talks over 4 days, this was the largest scientific wind energy conference organised to date.