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.

Finn Ross

Climate Scientist, Chief Exec of Climate Action Company, Owner of Lake Hawea Station.

Finn Ross is a Kiwi scientist and climate activist committed to ocean-based climate solutions. A Blue Carbon Lab PhD candidate, he researches seaweed as a climate solution. Finn co-founded Let Them Fish, founded The Seaweed Solution, and was CEO of Bomb Bucha. He now leads Climate Action Company, hosts the Both Sides Now podcast, co-chairs Future Farmers New Zealand, and is a board member for the Otago Department of Conservation. He lives on Lake Hawea Station, a B Corp-certified sheep farm.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Speakers and Facilitators

Meet the people driving innovation in electrification.