Programme

REGISTRATION AND COFFEE IN THE EXHIBITION

INVITE ONLY BREAKFAST | A CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR EXISTING AND FUTURE TRANSFORMER OIL STOCKS

Sponsored by   

MIHI WHAKATAU

WELCOME FROM THE DAY ONE CHAIR

Mark Toner – chief public policy and regulatory officer, Vector

A 'WHOLE OF SYSTEM' APPROACH 

The challenge of decarbonising New Zealand’s energy system is complex. Keeping the lights on, and the trilemma in balance while shifting to as highly renewable energy system will require unprecedented collaboration. Enabling policy and regulations are key to unlocking the investment and options required for a just and secure transition. So, how are we doing and what’s next for a “whole of system” approach?

James Kilty – chief executive, Transpower

INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE | UNLOCKING THE VALUE OF ENERGY DATA (REMOTE PRESENTATION)

Hear about how to unlock the value of data to help modernise our energy systems and support delivering net zero, and what Icebreaker One has learned so far. You’ll leave with an understanding of how data can help accelerate new technologies to market, enable monitoring against science-based targets, and get more finance flowing towards net zero - and why secure, assured and open approaches are essential to delivery. 

Gavin Starks – founder and CEO, Icebreaker One

MINISTERIAL ADDRESS | IMPROVING NEW ZEALAND’S ENERGY SECURITY AND AFFORDABILITY

Hon Simon Watts – Minister for Energy

Facilitated by: John Carnegie – chief executive, Energy Resources Aotearoa

DELIVERING THE ENERGY TRANSITION

How can Aotearoa leverage its world-class renewable energy resources and expertise to create economic growth as we transition, and how do we achieve this in collaboration with customers who will increasingly be part of the solution? What are the other key enablers that will drive successful outcomes? Hear about the tangible steps Powerco is taking to help deliver the energy transition with and for Kiwis.

Chris Taylor – Acting Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, Powerco

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MORNING BREAK AND NETWORKING IN THE EXHIBITION

LEADERS' PANEL

Getting through the energy transition requires leadership, collaboration, and action. What do our leaders think needs to happen to address the urgent and longer-term challenges of the transition? What role can individual senior chief executives play in driving collaboration, and positive outcomes? And how can they contribute to building a diverse, inclusive, available, and motivated workforce continuum? 

• Capacity challenges
• Collaboration
• Generation and firming
• Security and resilience 
• Talent attraction and retention 

Panelists: 
Mike Fuge – chief executive, Contact
Margaret Cooney – chief operating officer, Octopus Energy
James Kilty – chief executive, Transpower
Nigel Barbour – group chief executive, Orion

Facilitated by:
Jen Nolan – director, At Large 

STREAM 1 - RAKAIA

STREAM 2 - CONWAYS

Stream chair:
James France – legal counsel, Meridian

POSTCARD FROM THE FUTURE | SIGNALS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET 

The Australian wholesale electricity market is based on the same design as New Zealand’s but is on a different trajectory towards a fully decarbonised grid. At times, Australia has an excess supply of renewables, which creates new challenges around grid stability. On the other hand, New Zealand has recently faced challenges arising from a shortfall in renewable supply.

• Might the tables be turned in the future, with New Zealand experiencing the excess and Australia the shortfall? 
• And can Australia and New Zealand learn from each other's experiences, to better plan and operate our respective markets? 

Dave Smith – director and principal consultant, Creative Energy Consulting 

Dave is a veteran energy consultant with decades of experience across the UK, New Zealand, and Australia and not afraid to tell it like it is.

INTERNATIONAL INSIGHTS | THE RISE OF THE ENERGY CONSUMER 

Energy Consumers Australia is the independent, national voice for residential and small business energy consumers in Australia. The organisation directly influences the Australian energy market through evidence-based submissions in conjunction with other consumer groups. 

Issues of trust, security, social licence, affordability, and technical disruption are influencing consumer decision making and degree of market participation. What is the benefit of encouraging consumer involvement, and what does an equitable relationship look like between those that supply and those that consume? 

And following the closure of the New Zealand Consumer Advocacy Council, as per Budget 2024, what should we be thinking about?

Brendan French – chief executive officer, Energy Consumers Australia 

LUNCH BREAK AND NETWORKING WITHIN THE EXHIBITION

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OPEN STAGE |  NIWA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SERVICES  FOR THE ENERGY SECTOR

A showcase of 3 technologies that provide a step change in operational decision-making, network resilience and multi-year forecasting:  Nowcasting, Digital Twin and Weather Generator.

Dr Rob Murdoch – deputy chief executive, NIWA

OPEN STAGE | NEW ZEALAND’S ELECTRIFICATION CHALLENGE: ARE WE READY FOR HEAVY TRANSPORT?

As the shift to electric heavy transport accelerates, one question looms—is our grid infrastructure ready? Unlike passenger EVs, fleet operators need certainty—chargers that work, power that’s available, and infrastructure that keeps up. Right now, we’re not there. So, what’s missing? A clear infrastructure strategy, market incentives, and smarter grid optimisation to ensure fleets can charge without breaking the network.

This session will cover:

• Heavy transport electrification is inevitable, and delays in infrastructure planning could stall industry-wide progress
• How can the electricity sector extract more value from existing assets to support electrification without overwhelming the network?
• Fleet charging is fundamentally different from passenger EV charging
• What needs to change in policy, infrastructure, and market structures to enable its success?
• How can fleet operators be incentivised to participate in energy markets and provide value back to the grid through smart charging, storage, and system support?

Join this session for an insightful discussion on how the sector can prepare for large-scale fleet electrification while creating commercial opportunities for both energy providers and fleet operators.

Pam Walklin – head of grids and delivery, Kwetta

STREAM 1 - RAKAIA

STREAM 2 - CONWAYS

MINISTERIAL ADDRESS (REMOTE PRESENTATION)

Hon Shane Jones – Minister for Resources, and Associate Minister for Energy

Facilitated by: John Carnegie – chief executive, Energy Resources Aotearoa

NAVIGATING THE ENERGY LANDSCAPE: MĀORI LEADERS ON COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION 

Join us for an empowering session with Māori energy leaders, Chief Innovation Officer Manu Barrett, and Chief Executive Officer Matiu Taurau, as they share their journeys navigating the energy sector. Together, they will discuss what it means to actively engage with Māori in this evolving industry and outline the essential “dos and don’ts” for fostering genuine partnerships. 

Explore the motivations driving Māori investments in energy, and learn how Māori-led approaches create collaborative, sustainable, and impactful outcomes for iwi, hapū, and the wider community. This session will emphasise the vision of Māori as not only stakeholders but as central, active participants in shaping the energy landscape for future generations. 

Manu Barrett – chief innovation officer and managing director, Solar Sense (Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Kāi Tahu)
Matiu Taurau – chief executive, Tū Mai Rā Energy (Rangitāne, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungungu)

PANEL | BACK TO CENTRAL PLANNING FOR THE TRANSITION? 

Australian state governments have essentially reverted to central planning for new, renewable generation investment - do we need to do the same in New Zealand? The panel will explore: 

• How Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) and state contracts for supply have underwritten extraordinary amounts of new generation investment 
• Perils and benefits of governments standing in the market as a single buyer 
• Whether we need to step away from the New Zealand electricity market (NZEM) 

Panelists: 
Dave Smith – director and principal consultant, Creative Energy Consulting 
Jeff Schlichting – managing director, co-founder, Helios Energy
John Clarke – executive general manager future grid, Transpower
Peter Spencer – country manager New Zealand, Parkwind

Facilitator:
John Hancock – independent consultant, Signature Consulting

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER: BIG BATTERIES | THE LOWEST COST, NEAR TERM, CLIMATE & RELIABILITY OPTION 

New Zealand’s grids are experiencing dramatic change in the face of demand growth and integration of intermittent clean resources, just as gas and hydropower resources are becoming more unpredictable sources of power. Battery energy storage is suddenly the nearest-term and flexible solution to manage this transition while maintaining rigorous climate protection goals and controlling costs to ratepayers. Keefe will outline the successful market designs and uses that have incentivised his firm to build extensive fleets of privately invested batteries in the U.S and Canada that are successfully replacing gas and coal plant retirements with grid operator and utility admiration. 

Brandon Keefe – executive chairman & CEO, Plus Power 

INSIGHTS | THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUST 

Acumen Edelman Trust Barometer looks at trust and credibility in the institutions of businesses, non-government organisations (NGOs), media and government. It provides valuable insights on how to build trust and how Aotearoa New Zealand compares with other markets. While businesses are forging ahead with strategies centred around innovation and the benefits it will bring, many Kiwis aren’t sharing the same level of enthusiasm. There’s growing apprehension that things are moving too fast. For business, how innovation is positioned, managed, and explained will have a big impact on acceptance and trust. 

Bronwyn Millar – director Wellington, Acumen 

AFTERNOON BREAK AND NETWORKING WITHIN THE EXHIBITION

STREAM 1 - RAKAIA

STREAM 2 - CONWAYS

PANEL | EMPOWERING A NEW ENERGY DEMOCRACY 

The supply and consumption of electricity in Aotearoa is evolving. Access to information, technology, and falling costs are supporting non-traditional electricity supply for customers and communities alike. What is driving these changes, and how can we support best-fit solutions across the motu? How can key stakeholders help to realise this new energy democracy? 

Panelists:
Brendan French – chief executive officer, Energy Consumers Australia 
Sam Elder – general manager energy futures, Orion
Anna Berka –  research and project coordinator, Community Power Agency
Aamer Daji – group manager kouru whakahaere, Raukawa

Facilitator:
Vic Crockford – executive director, Heft Communications

MASTERCLASS | SOCIAL LICENCE TO OPERATE 

A social licence is not a piece of paper, it is about ongoing sustained relationships.

New Zealand needs ongoing and sustained investment in our energy networks over the coming decades. But many communities are either uncomfortable, or downright hostile to the idea of new infrastructure being developed near them.

This session will discuss how companies, organisations, and individuals can maintain awareness of changing societal expectations and dynamics, and how they can use that to develop a clear social licence to operate.

Social licence to operate is much more than good PR and promises of good or responsible behaviour. Social licence to operate involves building credibility and trust over time.

Jen Nolan – director, At Large
Andy Cameron – senior consultant, At Large

PANEL | A QUESTION OF SECURITY 

With one pylon-led exception, we managed to get through winter 2024 while keeping the lights on, but the price paid was high. What could we have done better in 2024 and where do we stand for 2025 and beyond to deliver affordable, secure energy to the market? 

Panelists:
Tracey Hickman – chief wholesale officer, Genesis 
Ramu Naidoo – market operations manager, Transpower
Tim Thompson – executive gm wholesale, Mercury
Chris Ewers – general manager wholesale, Meridian
Chris Otton – manager policy - operations, Electricity Authority

Facilitated by:
John Kidd – director, head of research, Enerlytica

REFLECTIONS FROM DAY ONE

EXTENDED NETWORKING BREAK WITH REFRESHMENTS AND CATERING

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