Cristiano is an accomplished infrastructure and energy leader with a career spanning Portugal, the UK, and New Zealand.
After completing a PhD in Electrical Engineering at the University of Manchester, he spent a decade in the UK energy utilities sector. He moved to New Zealand 10 years ago, taking on senior roles including Head of Engineering & Asset Management at Vector Networks, where he led large-scale investment in critical infrastructure and the integration of new energy technologies.
Most recently, Cristiano was the Chief Executive of Ara Ake, New Zealand’s Energy Innovation Centre, where he built the organisation into a national hub for clean energy innovation and established partnerships with leading global investors and technology companies. He also serves on the Board of the Electricity Authority.