Speakers

Alison Andrew

Chief Executive
Transpower

Alison joined Transpower in 2014. She has held a number of senior executive roles across various industry sectors, most recently as Global Head of Chemicals for Orica PLC.  She is a Director for Port of Tauranga, and has been a Director for Genesis Energy.  

Prior to these roles, she held a number of senior roles at Fonterra Cooperative Group and across the Fletcher Challenge Group in Energy, Forests and Paper.  Alison has a MBA from Warwick University, and studied Engineering (Chemicals and Materials) at Auckland University.

Jason Paris

Chief Executive
Vodafone

Vodafone New Zealand Limited operates as a telecom service provider. The Company provides mobile networks, online television, broadband, and other related services, as well as retails mobile phones and accessories. Vodafone New Zealand serves customers worldwide.  

Jason has been Chief Executive since November 2018.

Simon Skillings

Senior Associate
E3G

Provides thought leadership on EU power sector issues to help shape political decisions and drive industry transformation.

Director and Founder of independent energy industry consultancy providing advice on European and UK energy market issues to government, business, regulators and NGOs.

James T. Gallagher

Executive Director
New York State Smart Grid Consortium

James Gallagher brings more than 40 years of energy policy and power industry experience to his role as Executive Director of the New York State Smart Grid Consortium, which he joined in April 2013.  As Executive Director, he oversees the statewide implementation of a safe, secure, and reliable “smart grid,” and most recently led the consortium’s efforts to assist Puerto Rico in developing a long-term grid roadmap following the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

Marcos Pelanur

Group Manager Strategy and Engagement
EECA

Marcos Pelenur has held a number of senior leadership roles across the public and private sector. Most recently, Marcos worked in the energy, natural resources and science policy areas at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and was previously the Head of Energy and Sustainability with the Behavioural Insights Team in the UK. Before joining the public sector, Marcos trained and worked as an energy engineer and is Chartered with Engineering NZ and the UK Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Gareth Hughes

Spokesperson for Energy and Resources
Green Party

Gareth is the Greens spokesperson for energy and resources, ICT, primary industries, commerce and consumer affairs, bio-security, food safety, tourism, animal welfare, technology & R&D and Wellington issues.
His professional background was at Greenpeace where he sailed on the Rainbow Warrior and coordinated New Zealand’s largest climate change campaign Sign On in 2009.
Gareth entered Parliament as the youngest MP in 2010 and is currently the longest-serving Green MP.

Tony Oosten

Energy Manager
Fonterra

Tony a Canterbury University Chemical and Process Engineering has 13 years in the international Pulp and Paper industry working in New Zealand, Malaysia and Canada, and currently 10 years in the New Zealand Dairy industry working for Fonterra. Tony  brings to Fonterra a depth of experience on boiler operation, energy efficiency and renewable fuels as well as government advocacy.

Miriam Dean

Chair
Electricity Pricing Review

MIRIAM R DEAN CNZM QC:  Queens Counsel, director, as well as an experienced mediator and reviewer.  She is currently chair of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme and director of Crown Infrastructure Partners Ltd, Otakaro Ltd, and Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Ltd.

Colin Cunliff

Senior Policy Analyst
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

Colin Cunliff is a senior policy analyst in clean energy innovation policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a non-partisan think tank and research organization. He previously worked at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on climate mitigation and energy sector resilience. At DOE, he contributed to the Quadrennial Energy Review: Transforming the Nation’s Electricity System, a national roadmap to modernize the U.S. electricity system.

Ryno Verster

General Manager: Asset Strategy and Investment
Powerco

Mr Verster heads the asset management of Powerco’s electricity network business, with responsibility for the company’s asset management strategy and network investment plans.  He is also responsible for overseeing the transformation of the electricity network in response to emerging energy options and opportunities.

Sheridan Broadbent

Director
Transpower

Sheridan was the Chief Executive of lines company Counties Power, and is currently deputy chair of Kordia, a board member of Transpower, NZTA, Timberlands and is chair of smart meter analytics company Ampli.

Sheridan’s executive career has largely been in telecommunications, contracting and the IT sectors in NZ, Australia and the Pacific region, joining the energy sector in 2010 in an executive role with Genesis Energy.