Meet the people driving innovation in electrification.

Who’s Speaking at Electrify Queenstown?

The full speaker lineup is being finalised – expect thought leaders, change-makers, and names you won’t want to miss.
Your speakers will include government policy makers, network providers, innovators in electrification and renewable energy, sustainable business leaders, and energy transition experts.  

They’ll give you the lowdown on the latest advances and encourage conversations about how we can solve local electrification challenges locally and nationally.

Your Speakers and Workshop Facilitators

Apply to speak at EQ 2026
Paddy Gower
Journalist
Paddy Gower is a celebrated news journalist, former political editor and television presenter, and now, a radio broadcaster. Paddy describes himself as a journalist that is focused on positive news and solutions. He has recently released his biography This Is The F#$%ing News: My Story and completed a book tour around Aotearoa, he produces and hosts a news series on Stuff, and his award-winning television current affairs series Paddy Gower Has Issues. 
Dr Saul Griffith
Inventor, Author, Founder, and Scientist
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 Tallberg/Eliasson Global Leadership Prize.
Sir 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.
Qiulae Wong
Opportunity Party Leader
Qiulae Wong is Leader of the Opportunity Party and a long-time advocate for business as a force for good. Her career spans sustainable fashion in London, leading the B Corp movement in New Zealand, and consulting with KPMG for New Zealand corporates on strategic approaches that ensure long-term sustainability and resilience. Qiulae is passionate about realising the opportunities of a low-emissions, inclusive economic future for Aotearoa.
Mike Casey
 Chief Executive, Rewiring Aotearoa and Owner, Electric Cherries
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. 
John Glover
Queenstown Lakes District Council Mayor 
Resident for 25+ years, John and wife Toni have run a small hospitality business in the Whakatipu. Pre-covid, rising visitor impacts led John, as Shaping Our Future’s Executive Officer, to explore destination management. Toni drove early electrification, leading to five solar and battery installs. John says the growing interest in Electrify Queenstown shows strong community appetite for electrification.
Joanna Silver
Head of Sustainable Economic Development, Westpac
Joanna Silver is Head of Sustainable Economic Development at Westpac New Zealand where she leads strategic growth initiatives for Aotearoa designed to achieve enduring economic, environmental, and social outcomes. Focus areas for Westpac in this regard include the blue economy, climate transition, nature and affordable housing. Joanna previously served as Westpac’s Head of Sustainable Finance and played a key role in developing sustainable lending at the bank and shaping the country’s sustainable debt market. 
Dr Marcos Pelenur
Chief Executive, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA)
Dr Marcos Pelenur became Chief Executive of EECA in September 2023. Previously he worked for the Behaviour Insights Team in Ottawa, Canada and several policy leadership positions at MBIE. Marcos has a PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge, is a Chartered Professional Member of Engineering New Zealand and is registered as a Chartered Engineer with the UK Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). 
Richard Fletcher
CEO - 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. 
Dr Steve Batstone
Co-lead, Queenstown Electrification Accelerator 
Steve co-leads the Queenstown Electrification Accelerator. He has extensive and highly respected experience working throughout New Zealand's energy system for over 25 years. He co-founded Whiteboard Energy which runs training for New Zealand's energy industry from new staff to board level. He is a director of Sapere Research Group, and a board member of Mana Tahuna Charitable Trust.
Hannah Patersons
Associate Director, Sustainable Finance (Corporate Advisory)
Hannah Paterson is an Associate Director in Westpac New Zealand’s sustainable finance team. Hannah has spent the last four years specialising in sustainable finance, supporting customers to establish sustainable finance programmes and align their financing to their environmental and social ambitions and strategies. 
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 carbon fibre 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. 
Josh Ellison
Co-lead, Queenstown Electrification Accelerator 
Josh co-leads the Queenstown Electrification Accelerator. He helped establish the non-profit Rewiring Aotearoa and has authored and led its research work since its establishment. He previously led the research work of Rewiring Australia, and across the two countries has worked on energy modelling, pilot project development, regulatory reform, and community focused energy innovation. 

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