Margaret Cooney – Chief Customer Officer,  Octopus Energy

Margaret is Chief Customer Officer for Octopus Energy and has previously led electricity retailer Powershop. She has worked across a range of functions including operations, regulatory affairs, strategy, restructuring and capital raising in the energy and technology sectors. She holds an LLB and BCom (Economics).

John Hancock (Chair)

John Hancock is a well-known energy utilities consultant and commentator. He chairs the Electricity Authority’s Innovation & Participation Advisory Group and is a member of Expert Advisory Group for the Government’s Electricity Price Review. Much of his experience 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 nearly 30 years, including 14 years with Ernst & Young Consulting, Capgemini and Hewlett Packard in the Asia Pacific.

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. I am excited to help steer Evoegy during a time of significant growth and industry evolution, embracing emerging technologies and a diverse range of generation.

Karen Frew – General Manager Electricity, Powerco

Karen Frew leads Powerco’s Electricity Service Delivery and Operational Teams. She joined Powerco in 2002.Karen holds an electrical engineering degree and diploma in management. She is a chartered engineer with 25 years’ experience in distribution, generation and large industrial sectors in New Zealand and UK. She has held leadership roles across Powerco in engineering, asset management, strategy, system project delivery, regulation and most recently service delivery and operations. She was the winner of the NZ energy awards young executive of the year in 2013.

Andy Sibley – Chief Executive Officer, Simply Energy

Andy came to Simply when it joined forces with Contact in 2020. During his nine years at Contact, his focus on people before process delivered significant business improvements and shifts in culture within the teams he led as Engineering Manager, Head of Operations Support and more recently General Manager Innovations and Ventures.

 Josie Boyd – Chief Operating Officer (Network), Northpower

Josie joined Northpower in 2011, was its General Counsel for a number of years and prior to that worked in New Zealand and the UK in a range of private practice and in house corporate roles in the utilities, construction and professional services industries. Josie has responsibility for managing Northpower’s electricity network, including engineering, asset investment, customer, operational, commercial, and regulatory functions.

Fiona Wiseman – Regulatory Manager, Manawa Energy

With over 12 years’ experience in the energy sector, Fiona has worked in regulatory roles both within the market regulator and privately owned participants. Prior to moving back to New Zealand in 2017, Fiona held the role of Senior Advisor in the Market Development team of the Independent Market Operator in West Australia and later was the Wholesale Regulation Manager for Alinta Energy. Fiona holds a Master of Applied Economics and has a broad experience in economic and market regulation. In her current role as Senior Advisor, Strategy and Regulation at Manawa Energy, Fiona leads market-related regulatory affairs.

Sam Elder – GM Energy Futures, Orion

Sam leads Orion Group’s Energy Futures team, collaborating to develop new, innovative energy solutions for a cleaner, brighter future for our community. Sam started out as a spacecraft thermal systems engineer in the UK, before moving to NZ in 2006. Since then she has held a range of leadership roles including Retail Insight Manager at Meridian Energy, South Island Director at the Ākina Foundation, and Senior Strategy Manager at Environment Canterbury. Sam has an MSc in Advanced Energy & Environmental Studies, including a thesis exploring smart heating solutions to energy hardship in Aotearoa NZ.

Sharon Corbett – Policy Director, MBIE

Sharon joined MBIE’s Energy and Resource Markets Branch in November 2021 as a Policy Director, working across all aspects of energy and resources policy. Sharon has been in MBIE since 2013 working in competition policy and, more recently, as Manager of MBIE’s Financial Markets Policy team. Prior to that Sharon worked for Ireland’s electricity transmission system operator.

Steve Rotherham – Editor, Energy News

Steve grew up in Christchurch but spent most of his career in Australia. He is a former editor of Perth-based online publication PetroleumNews.net (now known as Energy News Bulletin). He has also held corporate communications roles with the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association and the Australian Automobile Association. He joined Freeman as editor of Energy News in late 2019.