Speakers & Workshop Facilitators | Electrify Queenstown

Who’s Speaking at Electrify Queenstown?

Your speakers include government policy makers, network providers, innovators in electrification and renewable energy, sustainable business leaders, and energy transition experts.
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They’re here to give you the lowdown on the latest advances and encourage conversations about how we solve local electrification challenges here.

Your Speakers and Workshop Facilitators

Marc Daalder

Senior Political Reporter at Newsroom.

Marc Daalder is a senior political reporter at Newsroom and editor of the weekly Sustainable Future newsletter. Within his work he covers climate change, health, energy and violent extremism.

Glyn Lewers

Mayor of the Queenstown Lakes District.

Glyn Lewers is in the 3rd year of his term since being elected in October 2022. As Mayor, Glyn’s main areas of focus are addressing the social infrastructure needs of the community. He continues to do this through building on key relationships with local iwi and working on an overarching plan to address the needs of both locals and visitors.

Dr Saul Griffith

Renewable Electricity Expert and Advocate.

Dr Saul Griffith is an Australian engineer and entrepreneur specialising in clean and renewable energy technologies. With a PhD at MIT, he founded numerous companies in Silicon Valley, including Makani Power and Instructables.com. He authored 'Electrify' and 'The Big Switch', and founded Rewiring America and Rewiring Australia to promote electrification and decarbonisation. He has received numerous honours, including the MacArthur Fellowship and the Tällberg/Eliasson Global Leadership Prize.

Rod Drury

Founder of Xero.

Rod Drury is driving renewable energy and electrification projects to support Queenstown’s 2030 carbon-zero visitor economy goal. His initiatives include a new power cable to boost energy resilience, an electric R&D marine centre, and sustainable public transport solutions. He also supports local projects like Mana Tāhuna’s Lake Hayes restoration and predator-free trapping with Southern Lakes Sanctuary, while helping put Queenstown on the map as a top mountain biking destination.

Jo Hendy

Chief Executive of the Climate Change Commission.

Jo Hendy has led the Climate Change Commission since its inception. She has a background in environmental and climate research. As Director of Research and Analysis for the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, she led independent investigations into sea-level rise and agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. She also led the Commission’s precursor, the Secretariat for the Interim Climate Change Committee, where she oversaw the Committee’s inquiry into renewable electricity.

Geoff Simmons

Chief Economist: Parliamentary Commissioner for Environment.

Geoff Simmons is the Chief Economist at the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. He has a strong background in economics, having worked for the Productivity Commission, the UK Home Office, New Zealand Treasury, and served as General Manager at Toi Mai Workforce Development Council and the Morgan Foundation. Geoff is also a co-author of four books, two of which included a focus on environmental economics issues.

Mike Casey

CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa and Owner of Forest Lodge Orchard.

Mike Casey is an entrepreneur and cherry orchardist from Central Otago who has successfully electrified all the machines on his farm. As CEO of the charity Rewiring Aotearoa, he is dedicated to leading the charge in electrifying millions of fossil fuel machines across the motu, aiming for a rapid transition to cleaner energy solutions. His work is pivotal in driving the electrification of the agricultural sector, reducing carbon emissions, and advancing sustainability in farming practices.

Jon Stone

Commercial Manager – Network & Customer at Aurora Energy.

Jon Stone is at the forefront of Aurora Energy’s efforts to shape the energy future of our communities. As Commercial Manager – Network & Customer, he oversees the company's pricing strategy and manages key relationships with retailers and commercial partners. With a diverse background in aviation network pricing and IT outsourcing, Jon is dedicated to simplifying distribution pricing for Otago customers and creating incentives for the adoption of new technologies.

Hon Simon Watts

Minister of Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister of Local Government and Minister of Revenue.

Simon Watts was elected as the Member of Parliament for North Shore in the 2020 election. He is the Minister of Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister of Local Government and Minister of Revenue. Simon grew up in the Waikato, where his family were farmers and orchardists. He is married, has two sons, and lives on the North Shore with his family. He studied Accounting and Finance at Waikato University and worked in investment banking in Asia, Europe and the United Kingdom.

Scott Willis

Green Party spokesperson for Energy, Regional Development, and Rural Communities.

Before entering Parliament, Scott Willis worked on community energy, developing Aotearoa’s first peer-to-peer electricity retailer, attempting to build our first community wind farm, helping solarise communities and contributing as a former member of an Electricity Authority advisory group. He believes Aotearoa can be energy-sovereign with cleaner, cheaper, warmer homes, as well as transport and industry, all powered by electricity. Working to enable this is what drives Scott as the Green Party’s spokesperson for Energy.

Hon Megan Woods

Member of Parliament for Wigram. Opposition Spokesperson for Climate Change, Energy and Resources, and Associate Spokesperson for Finance.

Hon Megan Woods is the Member of Parliament for Wigram. She is the Opposition Spokesperson for Climate Change, Energy and Resources, and Associate Spokesperson for Finance. Previously she held ministerial roles in Housing, Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, Building and Construction, Regeneration, Research, Science and Innovation, and Associate Finance. Megan previously worked as a Business Manager at Plant & Food Research. She holds a PhD in NZ history from the University of Canterbury.

Victoria Crockford

Director at Heft Communications and Advisory.

Vic is the Executive Director of nationwide communications and government relations consultancy, Heft, and has an extensive background in the energy and housing sectors, including leading communications and government relations for Flick Electric and Z Energy. More recently, she was CEO of community housing peak body, Community Housing Aotearoa. Locally, she is a member of Queenstown Lakes District Council's Climate and Biodiversity Reference Group, where she brings her energy and housing experience to support stewardship of the district's Climate Action Plan.

Richard Fletcher

Chief Executive of Aurora Energy.

At Aurora Energy Richard combines his leadership experience with deep knowledge of energy and infrastructure sectors. He is driving a future focused vision to enable renewable energy technologies and shape the regions energy future. Prior to Aurora Energy, he held senior roles at Powerco, Transpower, and Welsh Water PLC, and has infrastructure consulting experience across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Richard has a PHD in environmental engineering from the University of Cardiff.

Josh Ellison

Research and Development Lead at Rewiring Aotearoa.

Josh leads Research & Development at Rewiring Aotearoa, a non-profit think (and do) tank that is working to build an electrified future where every kiwi saves money on energy bills, reduces their carbon emissions and has the resilience to keep their lights on and homes warm. He has led their research efforts since day one and is a Queenstown local.

Dr Steve Batstone

Director at Whitestone Energy and Advisor to Rewiring Aotearoa.

Dr Steve Batstone is an expert in energy systems and operations research, with experience spanning academia, industry, and consultancy. His work shapes Aotearoa's energy landscape. Holding a PhD from the University of Canterbury, he has worked extensively in electricity markets, regulatory affairs, and technological innovation. He is the Founding Director of Whiteboard Energy (a platform for energy education), the creator of the documentary Powering NZ and is an advisor to Rewiring Aotearoa.

Karen Orr

Sector Decarbonisation Programme Advisor at the Energy Efficency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

Karen Orr is the Sector Decarbonisation Programme Advisor at EECA, a government agency that supports mobilising New Zealanders to be world leaders in clean and clever energy use. Karen’s career has seen her both in the public and private sectors with extensive experience in business and relationship management. More recently she has been advancing change management within the energy, carbon and sustainability space.

Andrew Eagles

CEO of the NZ Green Building Council.

Andrew Eagles is a qualified economist with 14+ years of experience in the built environment, having worked in consultancies, associations, government, and charities. He has expertise in housing, market mechanisms, advocacy, and the construction supply chain. Andrew is Chief Executive of the New Zealand Green Building Council, which focuses on sustainable building practices. As well as exemplary research, the organisation oversees award-winning certifications; Homestar, Green Star, and NABERSNZ.

Fiona Bycroft

CEO and Co-Founder of Naut.

Fiona Bycroft is CEO & Co-Founder of Naut, leading the future of high-powered electric marine propulsion. With an engineering and business background, she has driven groundbreaking innovations, including the world’s first fully electric ocean-going ferry. Naut provides scalable, zero-emission propulsion solutions that can be installed into the boat of their customers choice. Electric boating means reduced operating costs while delivering a cleaner, quieter, and more reliable boating experience.

Chris Allington

CEO of Whoosh, leads the charge in transforming urban mobility.

Whoosh combines ride-hailing with autonomous electric gondolas, offering a fast, safe, and energy-efficient alternative to traditional transport. Designed for easy installation on existing roads, this low-cost system reduces congestion and emissions while enhancing connectivity. With global potential, Whoosh is redefining sustainable transport.

Alex Guichard

Wānaka Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Le Velo Studio.

Alex founded his first company in France, developing Peugeot Cycles' first composite-injected bicycle frame. In 2000, he launched RocTool, specialising in carbon fibre processing, which went public in 2013 on the Paris Stock Exchange. After moving to New Zealand in 2014, he founded Revology, since earning numerous international awards and over 100 patents. In 2018, he began designing an ultra-light e-bike, leading to the creation of Le Velo Studio in Wānaka in 2024, ahead of its 2025 launch.

Garreth Hayman

CEO of Doppelmayr NZ.

Garreth Hayman, has over 15 years of experience delivering ropeway infrastructure throughout Aotearoa. A strong advocate for sustainable transport, he understands the challenges and is here to help unlock cable cars as one part of the solution. By integrating aerial transport into urban mobility, cable cars can ease congestion, cut emissions, and help New Zealand move toward a cleaner, more efficient future.

Ben Fahy

Head of Comms at Rewiring Aotearoa, Partnerships Manager at NZ Geographic, Freelance Journalist for Kia Ora Magazine.

Ben is a seasoned journalist, editor, and publisher with over 20 years of experience, specialising in business, technology, and their intersection with environmental issues. He heads up communications at Rewiring Aotearoa and writes for a variety of publications like Kia Ora, New Zealand Geographic, and The Spinoff. Previously, he served as editorial director for Bauer Media’s current affairs portfolio, overseeing New Zealand Listener, North & South, and Metro, He also led the Tangible Media Business Network, covering startups, marketing, media, advertising, and retail.

Dr Rebecca Peer

Senior Lecturer in Civil Systems Engineering at the University of Canterbury.

Dr Rebecca Peer specialises in energy systems and environmental impact and is deeply passionate about the energy transition challenge. She co-leads the Sustainable Energy Research Group (New Zealand’s largest energy research group), focusing on energy transition pathways, green hydrogen, carbon removal, energy storage, and system resilience. She teaches courses on sustainable energy and policy and is the Associate Head (Academic) of the Civil and Natural Resources Engineering Department.

Jay Salzke

Ecosystem Lead at Rewiring Aotearoa.

Jay is an educator and community builder, passionate about climate action and electrification. As Ecosystem Lead for Rewiring Aotearoa, he is building a network of community groups accelerating localised electrification. Previously, as Project Manager for Auckland Climate Festival, Jay fostered partnerships with 285+ stakeholders, delivering workshops and resources to raise climate ambition. He is completing a Master of Climate Science and Policy, focusing on mitigation, adaptation and climate justice.

Speakers and Facilitators

Meet the people driving innovation in electrification.