The Premier Event for New Zealand’s Energy Ecosystem - Collaborating for a Net-Zero Future
Day One | 18th November 2025
From boardroom to battery, Day One charged ahead with bold leadership, regulatory reform, and digital innovation—setting the pace for NZ’s smarter, cleaner, and customer-powered energy future.
This double-header dives into the regulatory reform and strategic system shifts shaping New Zealand’s energy future. From market design, access reform, and infrastructure resilience to aligning policy with net-zero goals, the first session explores how governance can enable innovation. Then, hear directly from leading CEOs as they tackle the energy trilemma, investment priorities, and how partnerships, tech, and customer transformation are central to building a smarter, cleaner, and more resilient grid.
8:15 am - 8:55 am
Morning Registration and Networking
8:55 am - 9:00 am
NZ Power Chair’s Opening Remarks
Michelle Polglase -
General Manager Projects Delivery,
Ara Ake
9:00 am - 9:30 am
Regulation, Governance & System Strategy – Navigating Reform & Enabling Innovation
David Knight -
Executive General Manager Strategy, Regulation & Governance,
Transpower
· Future of electricity market design.
· Grid access, connection reform, and investment signals.
· Cybersecurity, resilience, and critical infrastructure protection.
· Aligning regulatory settings with net-zero and technology adoption.
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Leadership Panel: The CEO Energy Outlook – Building Resilience, Decarbonisation & Growth
Caroline Ovenstone -
Chief Executive Officer,
Alpine Energy
Jason Franklin - Chief Executive Officer, Powerco
Nigel Barbour - Group Chief Executive Officer, Orion NZ Ltd
Michelle Polglase - General Manager Projects Delivery, Ara Ake
· Managing the ‘trilemma’: affordability, sustainability, and reliability.
· Capital investment and transition pathways.
· Role of innovation, partnerships, and customer transformation.
· What energy leaders need from tech and vendor ecosystems.
10:00 am - 10:20 am
Speed Networking
Jumpstart your connections with fast-paced, facilitated networking designed to introduce you to over 15 industry peers in just 15 minutes.
10:20 am - 10:50 am
Morning Break and Networking
Join one of eight small-group discussions designed for deeper engagement on the sector’s most pressing topics. Each session runs for 30 minutes before attendees rotate to their next chosen table — with three rounds in total. This is your chance to exchange insights, ask tough questions, and collaborate directly with peers and industry leaders. Be sure to register your preferred IDGs at least one week before the conference to secure your seat.
Interactive Discussion Groups (IDGs): Choose Your Conversations, Shape the Dialogue
IDG A: Grid of the Future: Smart Networks & Asset Management
10:50 am - 12:30 pm IDG A: Grid of the Future: Smart Networks & Asset Management Brett Horwell - Head of Electricity Supply, Meridian- Leveraging digital twins, sensors, and analytics for predictive maintenance and asset optimisation.
- Transitioning to real-time, data-driven network operations for improved reliability and efficiency.
- Integrating legacy infrastructure with modern smart grid technologies.
IDG B: AI & Automation in the Network: Turning Data into Real-Time Decisions
10:50 am - 12:30 pm AI & Automation in the Network: Turning Data into Real-Time Decisions Raj Singh - General Manager Operations and DSO, Northpower- Discuss how advanced analytics, automation, and digital twins are transforming grid visibility, efficiency, and operational decision-making.
IDG C: Customer 2030: Building Trust, Choice & Participation in the Energy Transition
10:50 am - 12:30 pm IDG C: Customer 2030: Building Trust, Choice & Participation in the Energy Transition- Examine how retailers and networks can create transparent, flexible, and customer-centric models that empower active participation in the energy system.
IDG D: Decarbonising Generation: Hydro, Geothermal & the Role of Emerging Fuels
10:50 am - 12:30 pm IDG D: Decarbonising Generation: Hydro, Geothermal & the Role of Emerging Fuels- Debate the evolving mix of renewable and transitional generation technologies required to deliver secure, affordable, and low-emission power.
IDG E: Future Grid Workforce: Skills, Safety & Capability for a Smarter Energy System
10:50 am - 12:30 pm IDG E: Future Grid Workforce: Skills, Safety & Capability for a Smarter Energy System Esther Evening - Sustainability and Strategy Analyst, Mercury Energy- Identify the critical skills, training, and leadership needed to equip New Zealand’s energy workforce for an increasingly digital, decentralised grid.
This dynamic session pairs a fireside chat on the future role of baseload and transition fuels in a 100% renewable system with an industry panel exploring how innovation, smart infrastructure, and true collaboration are accelerating decarbonisation and delivering equitable energy outcomes.
Balancing the Grid: Baseload, Innovation & the Path to 100% Renewables
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch And Networking
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Zion Technologies Industry Case Study - Vanadium Flow Battery – Long Duration Energy Storage Infrastructure for Future Power System
Min Tang -
Director,
RKP International
- What is VFB and how can VFB improve energy independency and grid stability under high renewable penetration
- Cost competitiveness and how VFB's LCOS advantage drives economic benefits from decarbonization
- Commercial ready today with established supply chain and proven records
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
The Role of Hydro In NZ's Future Power System
Brett Horwell -
Head of Electricity Supply,
Meridian
- Hydro capacity and operation
- Impact of flexibility demands on NZ's existing Hydro assets
- Opportunities to leverage our national economic advantage
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Advancing energy generation with flexible and rapid power solutions
Jad El Sebaaly -
Sales and Business Development Director, Asia and Pacific Region,
KARPOWERSHIP
• Implementing Powerships to deliver reliable, utility-grade power in under 30 days to address urgent energy needs
Jad El Sebaaly
Sales and Business Development Director, Asia and Pacific RegionKARPOWERSHIP
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Afternoon Tea and Networking
Explore how digital tools like predictive maintenance, smart analytics, and DER orchestration are transforming energy operations, alongside expert insights on scaling network innovation, interoperability, and automation from leading industry voices.
Digital Transformation & AI: Unlocking Innovation in Energy Networks
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
Fire Side Chat | Baseload, Flexibility & the Future
John Carnegie -
Chief Executive,
Energy Resources Aotearoa
Marcos Pelenur - Chief Executive, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
Alice Pettigrew - Chief Executive Officer, Eastland Generation
Dr. Mike Allen - Vice President, New Zealand Geothermal Association
- What is the realistic role of baseload generation like geothermal and gas in New Zealand’s journey to a 100% renewable electricity system — is it achievable without them?
- How do we manage the trade-offs between energy security, affordability, and emissions reduction when considering the future role of transition fuels and geothermal?
- What policy or regulatory changes are needed to ensure investment confidence in geothermal expansion and transitional fuels like gas and hydrogen?
- How can the energy sector better engage with communities—especially iwi and Māori enterprises—when it comes to geothermal development and transition fuel projects?
- Looking ahead, what innovations or technologies do you believe will be the game-changers for ensuring reliability and flexibility in a renewables-heavy grid?
4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
Industry Panel: Distributed Energy & Network Innovation
Raj Singh -
General Manager Operations and DSO,
Northpower
Astad Kapadia - Head of DSO Strategy, Counties Energy
Kannan Munisamy - Head of Future Networks, Alpine energy
Marko Simunac - General Manager Operations & Maintenance, Vector Limited
Michelle Polglase - General Manager Projects Delivery, Ara Ake
- Interoperability, visibility & control of DERs.
- Grid digitalisation, orchestration & automation.
- Lessons from pilot programs and scaling network innovation.
