Advisors

Members of the Advisory Panel for Downstream 2021, were:

Geoff Douch

Chief Executive
Network Waitaki

Geoff is currently Chief Executive at Network Waitaki, a consumer trust owned electricity distributor supplying North Otago and parts of South Canterbury.  Prior to joining Network Waitaki, Geoff held senior management roles at Counties Power and Wellington Electricity, with responsibility for network management and operations. Previous experience includes commercial, engineering and project management roles within the electricity distribution sector.  Geoff is currently the vice president of the Electricity Engineers Association. 

Jason Woolley

General Counsel and Company Secretary
Meridian

Jason Woolley is General Counsel and Company Secretary for Meridian. Jason and his team are responsible for legal, government relations and regulatory functions.  He joined Meridian in 2011 as a Senior Legal Counsel before taking up the Regulatory Affairs Manager’s role. 

Prior to joining Meridian, Jason worked in both private law firm and in-house legal roles in Wellington, the UK and Australia. He hold a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration and Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Victoria University of Wellington.

Neil Wembridge

Director of Operations
Evoegy

With over 25-years of international experience in strategic energy consulting, I have extensive experience in regulatory design and investigations, market studies, due diligence support, financial modelling, asset valuations, asset management, project management, feasibility studies and asset expenditure reviews. During my various roles I have worked with a range of asset owners, equity investors, lenders, regulators and government agencies in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.

Sheridan Broadbent

Independent director. CEO. Advisor. Coach.

Sheridan is an independent director.  She is deputy chair of mission-critical communications provider Kordia Group, Chair of smart meter analytics start up Ampli, a director of forestry company Kaingaroa Timberlands and of national electricity transmission provider Transpower; and is on the management committee of the NZ Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum.   

Matt Ritchie

Senior Advisor, Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations
Genesis

Matt Ritchie has been involved in the New Zealand energy sector for more than 10 years, principally as a journalist and then editor specialising in the industry at Energy News. Matt represents Genesis in engagements with Government and regulatory agencies, and is part of a team that advises on the implications of policy and regulatory developments for the business. He has also spent time in London, covering financial services and the voluntary sector.

Andy Burgess

Head of Energy, Airports and Dairy
Commerce Commission

John Mercer

Portfolio Manager
Conferenz

John heads up our HR, Legal, public policy and public sector conference portfolio and manages the team of conference producers who create world class conferences for these audiences.

John's been with Conferenz since 2018, after he relocated to New Zealand from the UK. He has been in the conference business for 18 years, working for a wide range of different kinds of organisation, from big publishing companies to membership associations to small boutique conference businesses and has delivered events of all scales around the world.