In this episode, Suzanne Rab explores how ESG considerations are reshaping regulation across UK network and utility sectors. As ESG rises in prominence in energy, water, transport, telecoms and financial services, regulators face an increasingly complex balancing act: ensuring resilience and fairness while maintaining affordability and driving long-term sustainability. The discussion highlights how the UK Regulators Network (UKRN) provides a unique platform for regulators to collaborate, share lessons and address common challenges in this evolving landscape. Suzanne is joined by three speakers who each bring deep cross-sector regulatory experience. Barbara Perata-Smith, Lead on UKRN’s Net Zero Programme, discusses her work coordinating decarbonisation efforts across sectors, drawing on her background in sustainability and environmental policy at the Civil Aviation Authority. Sital Patel, on secondment from the Financial Conduct Authority, reflects on her 25-year legal and regulatory career and her commitment to public protection, including her work on the FCA’s Motor Finance Review and her advisory role with Ofcom. Kev Smith, who has spent four decades in financial services and regulation, outlines UKRN’s cross-cutting networks and the value of shared regulatory understanding. Together, the speakers examine how collaboration can drive more effective, future-ready regulation in the ESG era.