Experience

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  Lodestone Energy Limited

  • Auckland, New Zealand

  • General Counsel

    • Nov 2021 - Apr 2024
    • Auckland, New Zealand

    Lodestone Energy is a fast-growing solar farm developer and operator that successfully commissioned New Zealand's first grid-scale solar farm in early 2024. This will be quickly followed by two more in 2024, which are both under construction. Lodestone owns five properties totalling around 500ha in northern New Zealand, with construction of the remaining two Phase 1 solar farms due to commence in 2024 and a further seven large-scale solar farms planned for Phase 2 in 2025 and beyond.I was a key member of Lodestone's executive team, involved in all aspects of the company's strategy and operations. This included two equity capital raises totalling over $100m. The first of these won two INFINZ Awards in 2023.

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  Mercury NZ

  • Auckland, New Zealand

  • General Manager Corporate Affairs

    • 2014 - 2021
    • Auckland, New Zealand

    As a member of the executive team, I was responsible for leadership and management of the Corporate Communications, Legal and Board Services, Regulatory and Government Relations, Property and Planning and Policy teams (22 FTE).Mercury is one of New Zealand’s largest listed companies with 80,000 shareholders and annual EBITDAF of around $500 million. It operates 14 hydro and geothermal power stations and is constructing New Zealand’s largest wind farm. Mercury supplies electricity and gas to around 350,000 commercial, industrial and retail customers across New Zealand.

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  Mighty River Power

  • Auckland, New Zealand

  • General Counsel and Company Secretary

    • 2004 - 2014
    • Auckland, New Zealand

    Mighty River Power was a 100% government-owned electricity generator/retailer, separated from ECNZ and incorporated as a state-owned enterprise in 1999.I was recruited to build and lead an effective and highly skilled internal legal team to manage legal risk and oversee a period of significant growth, which included a billion-dollar programme constructing three large geothermal power stations.6 FTEs, $6 million operating budget. From 2013 I also managed the Corporate Communications team of 7 FTEs, responsible for external and internal communications and Mighty River Power brand sponsorship.Key member of the project team responsible for Mighty River Power’s successful IPO in 2013. Heavily involved in most aspects of IPO preparation and primary responsibility for several critical areas.

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  SamoaTel

  • Apia, Samoa

  • General Manager Commercial

    • 2002 - 2004
    • Apia, Samoa

    SamoaTel was a state-owned enterprise owned by the Government of Samoa. The company operated the fixed line telecommunications and postal systems in Samoa with 270 employees and annual revenues of approximately NZ$30 million.As a member of the Executive team, I headed the international voice and interconnection group with responsibility for annual revenues of around NZ$10 million, or one third of SamoaTel’s total revenue. I was also responsible for legal, government and regulatory affairs, company secretarial and governance matters.

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  Clear Communications

  • Auckland, New Zealand

  • General Counsel

    • 1998 - 2002
    • Auckland, New Zealand

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  Rudd Watts & Stone (now Minter Ellison Rudd Watts)

  • Auckland, New Zealand

  • Senior Associate

    • 1991 - 1997
    • Auckland, New Zealand