Hon Dr Megan Woods
Minister of Energy and Resources
Hon. Dr. Megan Woods is a Christchurch local, and has been the Member of Parliament for Wigram since 2011. Under Jacinda Ardern’s leadership, Megan held the ministerial portfolios for Housing, Energy and Resources, Building and Construction, Greater Christchurch Regeneration, and Research, Science and Innovation, as well as being Associate Minister of Finance.
Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Megan worked as a Business Manager at Plant & Food Research. She holds a PhD in New Zealand history from the University of Canterbury. In between a busy schedule, Megan enjoys watching cricket, rugby and spending her free time with friends and family.
Hon Julie Anne Genter
Green Party Spokesperson for Energy and Resources
Julie Anne Genter is a Member of Parliament and the Green Party's spokesperson for Transport, Energy and Resources, Finance, Urban Development, Building and Construction, Infrastructure and State Owned Enterprises.
Julie Anne believes we have an incredible opportunity to create ecologically sustainable, fair and thriving communities through good policy. She is particularly passionate about the wide ranging benefits that could come from a more balanced transport system that caters for all modes.
Before entering politics, Julie Anne worked as a transport consultant in Auckland for several years. It was here she produced ground-breaking research into transport economics and urban design, authoring research reports for the NZTA as well as a chapter on reducing carbon emissions from transport in the book Carbon Neutral by 2020: How New Zealand can tackle climate change.
Even after more than ten years in Parliament, Julie Anne remains as motivated as ever to combat the climate crisis and ensure a liveable future for her children and their peers.
Stuart Smith
Opposition Spokesperson Energy and Resources
Stuart comes from a Canterbury family that were fifth generation sheep & deer farmers. He is married to Julie and father to three adult age children - Hugo, Louis and Fenella.
Stuart and Julie moved to Marlborough in 1994 and began growing grapes. In 1996 they established their own wine label and Stuart became interested in the wider Viticulture industry. He had an early involvement with the Marlborough Grape Growers Association.
Since then he has held several local and national roles including being President of the New Zealand Grape Growers Council and Chair of New Zealand Winegrowers. He was subsequently inducted as a Fellow of the New Zealand Winegrowers Board for services to the industry.
He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. In 2014 Stuart entered Parliament winning with a majority of around 11,000 votes and successfully held his seat in the 2017 election by a similar number.
He is spokesperson for Energy and Resources, EQC and Viticulture.
Anna KominikIndependent ChairAnna is the independent Chair of the Electricity Retailers’ Association of New Zealand (ERANZ), Chair of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship & Hillary Institute and on the Board of Dawn Aerospace. Outside of her governance roles, Anna works in innovation - commercialising emerging technologies locally and globally. Most recently, Anna was Asia Pacific Director of Wisk - sitting on the US executive and working with a multinational team to bring to market one of the world’s first self-flying electric air taxis. |
Anna was a Commonwealth Foundation Emerging Pacific Leader and has a master’s degree from Northwestern University, Chicago, and has been recognised in Aotearoa & globally for her leadership & achievements in driving green innovations that create sustainable, inclusive and distributed social and economic value. In 2022, she was a finalist in the Women of Influence and was named as a global hinfuenmcer influencer for her work in helping shape the electric vertical takeoff and landing industry as an inclusive and diverse industry.
Dr Keith TurnerIndependent ChairKeith has more than 40 years’ experience in the electricity industry, having held senior executive positions in Meridian Energy (CEO), the former Electricity Corporation of New Zealand (COO), and its predecessor NZED. His experience includes extensive participation in major reform initiatives that reshaped New Zealand's electricity system including being a member of the Transpower Establishment Board, a founding Director of The Market Company (MCo) and a founding member of the Market Surveillance Committee. |
Since 2008, he has held Directorships on a range of major boards in New Zealand and Australia including Fisher and Paykel Appliances (former Chair), Auckland International Airport (former Deputy Chair), Chorus, Trustpower, Team NZ (former Chair) and Australian-based Spark Infrastructure, Transgrid, Victoria Power Networks and South Australia Power Networks. Keith has a PhD in engineering, is a Distinguished Fellow of Engineering NZ and holds the Sir William Pickering Medal for Engineering Leadership.
Sarah GilliesChief Executive, Electricity AuthoritySarah Gillies was appointed Chief Executive of the Electricity Authority in December 2022. Previously, Sarah was General Manager Legal, Monitoring and Compliance at the Electricity Authority. Prior to this, Sarah was the Executive General Counsel International at CoreLogic, where she led the legal and risk team for their international activities (Australia, New Zealand and the UK). She has also held other roles where she was accountable for strategy, stakeholder management, and driving business performance and culture for CoreLogic’s New Zealand operations. |
From 2005-12, Sarah held various senior counsel roles in Spark’s legal team, including in the Regulatory and Competition legal team. She has also spent time in private practice at two large national law firms.
Dr Cristiano MarantesChief Executive, Ara AkeDr Cristiano Marantes is the Chief Executive of Ara Ake (New Zealand’s Future Energy Centre), a role he started in September 2020. Having worked in different international markets, Cristiano is a highly experienced energy sector leader with an extensive engineering background and an informed worldview on the potential of technologies and business opportunities that will likely emerge in a low-emissions energy future. |
He has a life-long passion for enabling this future, through strong leadership, innovation and knowledge of new low-emissions energy solutions.
Richard HobbsPrincipal, Boston Consulting GroupRichard Hobbs is a Principal in the Boston Consulting Group’s New Zealand office. He is the lead for energy, and climate and sustainability, in New Zealand. Richard works with clients across Australia and New Zealand on all parts of the end-to-end electricity value chain. He specialises in strategy, decarbonisation and transformation. Prior to re-joining BCG, Richard was the General Manager of Strategy and Customer at Transpower. |
John HancockMaster of CeremoniesJohn Hancock is a well-known energy utilities consultant and commentator. He chairs the Electricity Authority’s Innovation & Participation Advisory Group, is a member of EECA’s Low Emission Transport Fund advisory panel and was a member of Expert Advisory Group for the Government’s Electricity Price Review. Much of his work draws on his unusual combination of deep experience in both technology and deregulation - key dimensions of the strategic environment in the sector. |
John has worked in the utilities industry around the world for over 30 years
John CarnegieChief Executive, Energy Resources AotearoaJohn is the Chief Executive of Energy Resources Aotearoa, a role he took up in December 2019. |
He was previously the inaugural Executive Director of the BusinessNZ Energy Council and has nearly three decades experience in public policy and energy markets, specialising in energy, climate change and resource management policy
Charles Rattray
CEO, Star of the South, Australia
Charles Rattray leads the overall operations and strategic direction of Star of the South and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ offshore wind portfolio in Australia and New Zealand. Charles joined Star of the South in August 2022 after a career as a respected leader in the energy and finance sectors with experience across generation development, new technology and transmission. In his most recent role as Managing Director for Nexif Energy, Charles oversaw energy projects through all stages of the project lifecycle including the Lincoln Gap Wind Farm and Snapper Point Gas Peaking Plant
Laura HarrisPartner - Mafic Infrastructure PartnersLaura joined Mafic Partners as a Partner this year - Mafic Partners are an advisory firm providing financial and commercial advice to clients in the infrastructure and renewable energy sectors, and Government. Prior to joining Mafic Partners, Laura worked in banking for over 15 years providing finance to the infrastructure and renewable energy sectors in New Zealand and Australia. |
Laura has been involved in all PPPs in NZ, and other transaction highlights include financing Crown Infrastructure Partners Tauranga Transport System Programme, Ngāti Toa Rangatira's schools purchase and leaseback, various power plant developments, and acquisitions of gas, fibre and electricity distribution networks.
Giacomo CaleffiSenior Business Development Manager, Copenhagen Offshore PartnersGiacomo Caleffi is the NZ Senior Business Development Manager leading the development of offshore wind projects in Aotearoa New Zealand by Taranaki Offshore Partnership, a Joint Venture of NZ Super Fund and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. Prior to joining COP, Giacomo was the Chair of the NZ Offshore Wind working group and worked as structural engineer on several offshore wind projects globally (UK, Germany, US, Taiwan) for engineering consultancies Ramboll, Arup and ISC. |
Giacomo is based in Wellington
Scott WillisDirector - Climate NavigatorScott is a Director at Climate Navigator as well as providing Project Management at Aukaha, a Rūnaka based consultancy service. Scott was at the frontline of community action, leading the development of a wide range of climate solutions as Manager of the Blueskin Resilient Communities Trust for 12 years, and was General Manager of Blueskin Energy Ltd. In his role as GM of Blueskin Energy Scott led the attempt to build NZ’s first community wind farm in Blueskin Bay. |
Scott is also a member of the Innovation and Participation Advisory Group at the Electricity Authority and previously was Chair of Business South's Energy Committee and a Director at the Otago Chamber of Commerce.
Nick FlackGM Future Planning & Sustainability, Christchurch AirportNick is Christchurch Airport’s Future Planning and Sustainability team, which includes asset management of all the Airport’s infrastructure. He is passionate about infrastructure and supply chain organisations that positively contribute to their community, city and country. His role is expansive and includes the Airport’s long-term planning, compliance, world leading sustainability programme as well as asset management across airfield, terminal, campus operations and water and roading networks. |
Nick has also led Christchurch Airport’s Kowhai Park development – a 400-hectare renewable energy development to deliver the on-site energy needs of future decarbonised aviation and prove the concept for others around the world. This development has established strategic relationships with world leading technology innovators across aviation and energy
James KiltyChief Executive, PowercoJames joined Powerco in October 2021 and has overall responsibility for all Powerco’s customer, financial and operational activities. James has a First Class Law Degree and practiced in M&A and Commercial Law before joining the energy industry. He is currently Chair of the NZ Electricity CEO Forum, is on the Board of the Electricity Networks Association, the NZ Hydrogen Council, and is Co-Chair of the Champions of Change work programme targeted at attracting a more diverse workforce into the energy sector in NZ. |
James has held senior executive roles across electricity generation, energy wholesale markets, and energy retailing in his 20 years in the industry. Prior to joining Powerco, James was Deputy Chief Executive at Contact Energy, was on the Board of Simply Energy, and was Chair of Western Energy Services.
Chris RendallSenior National Advisor RMA, DOCFor the last 12 years I have worked for the Department of Conservation (DOC). For three years in Taranaki as a Community Ranger focussed on resource and land management. This included engagement in oil and gas and mining. I then moved to a Senior National Advisor Resource Management Act (RMA) role, initially focussing on resources to support our rangers engage in RMA processes, supporting the Minister of Conservation fulfil functions under the RMA and some engagement in specific processes, for example the Chatham Rock Phosphate marine consent application. I have also contributed to national direction development and review under the RMA, legislation development including the Natural and Built Environment Act and the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020, and specific topics including mining on conservation land. |
For the 22FY I worked on a range of projects, including DOC’s approach to engagement in renewable energy proposals, continued refinement of the DOC RMA engagement system & resource management reforms. Recent renewables engagement includes onshore and offshore windfarm, hydro reconsenting and solar farm discussions. This has included NZ scale site selection commentary and responding to specific NZWEA enquiries.
Robert Batters
Senior Project Manager - Meridian Energy
Robert’s corporate career spans over 30-years holding management roles with Telecom New Zealand, Natural Gas Corporation, Transpower New Zealand, Meridian Energy and Tainui Group Holdings. He has spent most of his career in the electricity industry although in more recent years has been working for and alongside iwi previously holding several directorship’s on Tainui Auckland Airport Hotel, The Base Te Awa and is a member of Te Whata Ora Counties Manukau Major Capital Works Advisory Group representing iwi interests. Rob is Managing Director of Tika Group, an independent project management and project advisory consultancy specialising in delivering infrastructure and building projects for government, corporate and iwi clients.
Robert was engaged by Meridian Energy in 2019 to manage the construction of the Harapaki Wind Farm in the Hawke’s Bay after last leading the construction of Meridian’s Te Uku Wind Farm in 2010.
Andy EvansFounder/CEO, OceanexAndy Evans commenced his offshore wind journey in 2012 as a co-founder and CEO for the first 7 years of the Star of the South Wind Farm, Australia’s most developed offshore wind farm, and was responsible, with his co-founders, for introducing offshore wind into Australia. The Star of the South is the pre-eminent offshore wind farm in development in Australia and is now managed by co-investors, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, and in which Andy remains as a large shareholder. After stepping down from the Star of the South CEO role at the end of 2019, Andy established Oceanex Energy, with Peter Sgardelis and international investors, in 2020 as the leader in the development of floating offshore wind farm projects off the coast of NSW, of which Norway’s largest company, Equinor, acquired a stake in the project entities in late 2022. Aside from progressing the NSW projects with Equinor, Andy is spending a great deal of time progressing the Bunbury Offshore Wind Farm in WA and helping progress the nascent New Zealand offshore wind market, where Oceanex has 3 projects in early development phase. |
Based in Melbourne he spends most of his time developing offshore wind markets in NSW, WA and NZ and is involved in other new ventures including NewVolt Infrastructure (which is the leader in introducing integrated generation and charging assets to progress the introduction of electric trucks) and Meta Renewables (which is looking at onshore/off-grid assets to support brown and greenfield manufacturing assets). He is making a feature-length documentary film ‘Planet Wind’, which investigates the planetary force that is wind and the potential benefits it has in driving the energy transition and bring social and regional development change. Planet Wind will be released at the Offshore Wind Australia Conference (which Andy runs) in Sydney on 22 November 2022.
Peter SpencerCountry Manager, Park WindPassionate about offshore wind, Peter is a New Zealander who started in the industry in 2007 at the specialist Danish engineering firm, ISC Consulting Engineers. Over the following 15 years Peter worked on delivery of key infrastructure including offshore substations and WTG foundations. To date, Peter has undertaken detailed design on 28 offshore wind farms installed around the world, including 4 of the 5 offshore substations built by Parkwind since 2010.
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Peter was appointed by Parkwind as country manager for Aotearoa New Zealand in April last year and is working hard with the ambition to bring 500MW to 1GW of offshore wind to the country by 2032.
Chantelle Bramley
General Manager - Strategy & Customer, Transpower
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Chantelle joined Transpower in 2022 as the General Manager, Strategy and Customer. She came from Essential Energy, the distribution network owner and operator for regional and rural New South Wales, Australia, where she held the role of Executive General Manager, Corporate Affairs.
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An economist by training, Chantelle has almost 20 years' experience in the international energy and electricity sectors. She was the Executive General Manger, Strategy and Economic Analysis at the Australian Energy Market Commission and also worked in senior strategy roles at Direct Energy, one of North America’s largest vertically integrated energy retailers
Michala LanderTechnical Director of Engagement and Social Planning, GHDMichala is Technical Director of Engagement and Social Planning at GHD. Michala has extensive experience in the field of community engagement and communication, she is passionate about working with the community and stakeholders to design and develop places that work for them. Her expertise is in developing and implementing genuine engagement and communication strategies that involve the community and stakeholders in the planning process. |
Prior to returning to New Zealand, where Michala grew up, she was the Manager of our Sydney Engagement Team and oversaw 30 consultants. Michala has developed engagement strategies on a number of high profile projects across various infrastructure sectors including energy, water and transportation. Her ability to identify concerns or risks in the community, has enabled her to be proactive in messaging to the community so that they are kept informed throughout the development of a project. With a background in Urban Planning, Michala understands how to ensure local knowledge from the community and stakeholders, can be incorporated into projects to drive successful and sustainable outcomes.
Monique SurgesGerman New Zealand Chamber of CommerceMonique Surges is a seasoned CEO who has been leading the German New Zealand Chamber of Commerce since 2000. In 2015, she also joined the Supervisory Board of BayWa AG. Ms. Surges has also been instrumental in the establishment and growth of the New Zealand Europe Business Council, where she held several leadership roles including Vice President, President, and Treasurer. Ms. Surges brings extensive expertise in facilitating and nurturing business relationships between New Zealand and Germany. Her hands-on approach has been invaluable in assisting companies with their exhibition needs at various international trade fairs in Germany. Over her impressive 30-year career, she has been a key driver in cultivating a thriving trade relationship between these two countries. |
With its mandate to help New Zealand and German business entities thrive in an increasingly competitive global market environment, the German New Zealand Chamber of Commerce is a uniquely positioned bilateral trade office. It is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action and is the largest European Chamber in New Zealand.
Brigid McArthur
Partner, GreenwoodRoche
Brigid is a senior corporate and energy lawyer with over 30 years’ experience in the wider energy and resources industry. Her now entirely renewables-based practice spans both regulatory and transactional workstreams, including landowner negotiations, foreign investment approvals, structuring, joint ventures and offtake (including PPA/CfD) negotiations. She is a member of the Offshore Wind Working Group and has been working alongside Parkwind on the government’s offshore wind regulatory policy development
Andrew Millar
GM Market Policy, Electricity Authority
Andrew has over 15 years’ experience working in both the public and private sector with a focus on energy, climate change, and natural resources policy. This has included roles as both a policy adviser and a policy manager with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Ministry for the Environment, and most recently as a consultant.
Andrew has been involved in a wide range of projects, which include reviews and changes to the NZ ETS, the development of the Zero Carbon Bill, responding to the Electricity Price Review, and the New Zealand Battery Project.
Currently Andrew leads the Market Policy group at the Electricity Authority, which is responsible for developing policy across the electricity markets to enhance competition for the long-term benefit of consumers. This team is also responsible for data management, modelling and the Electricity Market Information website.
Rachel HoldenSenior Consultant, Concept Consulting GroupRachel is a Senior Consultant at Concept Consulting Limited. Concept are an advisory firm with expertise in energy, carbon, telecommunications, and water and provide expert advice on policy, regulation, strategy, and economics. |
Rachel has been at Concept for 11 years, advising on regulatory policy and market design for both public and private sector clients, with particular focus on electricity and gas issues. She was recently part of a team that undertook an offshore wind industry capability mapping study for the Taranaki Offshore Partnership and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
Jonathan Young
Head of Industry and Government Engagement, Ara Ake
Jonathan Young joined Ara Ake in June 2021 and is currently the Head of Industry and Government Engagement for Ara Ake, a role he enjoys and is very strongly aligned to.
His time as the Member of Parliament for the New Plymouth electorate for 12 years, and National’s energy spokesperson gave him a huge opportunity to connect with the business end of energy, and added to that, the nitty gritty work of Chairing the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee gave him experience in the governmental space as well.
Bringing the two together in the biggest transition the energy sector has ever faced is full of challenges, but will also create exciting opportunities for a renewable energy system for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Anne Probert
Te Puna Umaga, Venture Taranaki |
As Director Strategic and Sector Partnerships at Te Puna Umanga /Venture Taranaki, Anne leads big picture projects and strategic priorities with a particular focus on the energy and food and fibre sectors. Integral, are strategies such as the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap, Taranaki Offshore Wind report, and P2X, which Anne has played a key role developing and leading, and underpin their regional transition to a low emission, growth economy.
Blair Walter
Blair Walter is an experienced mechanical engineer with specialist skills in project management and advisory services on renewable energy projects in the international energy sector. Blair is Aurecon'renewable energy leader. Blair started his career in Wellington in 1996 with DesignPower. He then moved to Mott MacDonald in the UK and established their wind team. In 2005 he moved back to Wellington to establish Aurecon’s wind analysis team. He has advised clients in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and further afield on all aspects of wind farm development, financing and construction. Blair has been a member of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency advisory panel. In addition to wind energy, Blair provides technical-advisory services to clients on solar PV, solar thermal, bioenergy, pumped hydro and battery energy systems. Blair has been a director of NZWEA since 2007 and is passionate about the success of the New Zealand wind sector. |
Blair has acted as Chairman of NZWEA since 2013 and has guided the association through a period of significant change including replacing the CEO and refocusing the association’s strategy.
Kevin Hart
Chief Executive, New Zealand Wind Energy Association
Kevin was appointed as Chief Executive of the New Zealand Wind Energy Association in April 2023, following an international career at General Electric (GE), as GE Digital’s Regional Executive Leader for the Asia Pacific region. Kevin has over 35 years’ experience in the energy sector, starting his career at the NZ Electricity Department, followed by 5 years working overseas in the US and a 15-year career at Transpower NZ. He then spent 7 years working for French energy manufacturer Alstom Grid, as Country Manager for NZ before joining Power Systems Consultants (PSC) as their General Manager Business Development, Asia Pacific. In 2016, he was appointed initially as GE NZ’s Country Leader & then as CEO for NZ and Papua New Guinea.
In 2018 he was appointed GE’s Asia Pacific Regional Executive Leader for its Digital business covering 12 countries. His background spans transmission, distribution, generation, and digital technology in the energy sector, primarily in commercial, business development and people leadership. Kevin has a passion for renewable energy, having served as a board member of the NZ Wind Energy Association on two prior occasions.
He is married with two children, and lives in North Canterbury.
