Taranaki Energy Futures Forum

The event is sold out. **If you'd like to be added to the waitlist, email: events@energyEQ.nz**

The Taranaki Energy Futures Forum brings together leaders from industry, iwi, government, research, education, investment, and the wider community to build a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges shaping our region's energy future.

Taranaki is entering one of the most significant periods of economic and industrial change in its history. Getting this transition right will take a unified conversation across every sector.

By sharing knowledge and aligning on common goals, we can build the partnerships and confidence needed to attract investment, accelerate innovation, and support good decision-making shaping this change, not just responding to it.

Together, we can position Taranaki as an early leader in New Zealand's energy economy - building innovation, resilience, and prosperity for generations to come.

Programme

Doors open from 7.30am

8.15am Mihi / Welcome Dr Will Edwards, Craig Williamson (Chair, Taranaki Regional Council)

8.30am: Session One: Taranaki - current state and future opportunities

• Phil Nixon, Mayor, South Taranaki District Council - Taranaki's energy identity: where we are and what's at stake

• Wharehoka Wano, Te Topuni Ngarahu - Iwi aspirations in energy and Taranaki

• Anne Probert, Venture Taranaki - Taranaki: Open for business

• Jason Franklin, CE, Powerco - Powerco's energy transition

• Dean Eggers, Chair, Taranaki Alliance - Taranaki in five years - what will we be?

• Speakers panel: How can we build a strong energy future for Taranaki? Facilitator: Arun Chaudhari, CE, Taranaki Chamber

10.15am Morning tea break

10.45am: Session Two: Investment and infrastructure - 1 (Investment)

• Hayden MacKenzie, Invest NZ - Investment trends: Enabling the future energy opportunities for Taranaki

• Kate Daugherty, Westpac Bank - Supporting renewable rollout: What makes projects bankable?

• Ralph Chang, Motion Capital - Different parts and partners in the investment pipeline

• Julie Jang, Contact Energy - Contact Energy and their renewable energy ambition

• Bridget Sullivan, NZ Government - Government and Taranaki: How do we work together for success?

• Speakers Panel: Facilitator, Jonathan Young

12.15pm Lunch break

1.00pm: Session Three: Investment and Infrastructure - 2 (Infrastructure)

• Giacomo Caleffi - Taranaki Offshore Partners

• Nick Jackson & Justine Gilliland - New Zealand Offshore Wind

• Simon Craddock - CE, Port Taranaki - Critical Infrastructure for a strong future

• Oliver Mills - A global perspective

• Speakers Panel - Is it "addition" or "transition" - whats happening with NZ energy? Facilitator: Nick Cozens - BECA

Session Four: Environment, Planning, Government

• Finbar Kiddle, Strategy Lead, Taranaki Regional Council - Taranaki energy precincts: Findings from the WSP precincts report

• Dr Joshu Mountjoy, Earth Sciences New Zealand - Building generational opportunity: The regulatory, environmental and social framework

• Sera Gibson, Ngā Iwi o Taranaki

• Speakers Panel - Working together for optimum results. Facilitator: Dr Will Edwards

3.30pm: Afternoon tea

4.15pm: Session Five: Future Technologies

• Amelia Renzios - Innovator spotlight: Kapuni Energy Precinct, with Todd, Ballance, Hiringa

• Tom Wiseman & Ellie Hills - Innovator spotlight: Taranaki Instrument Services

• Iain Hosie, Taranaki Applied Innovation Centre - Innovator spotlight: Bioenergy and innovation ecosystems

• Daniel Gnoth - Innovator spotlight: Biogas feedstock analysis in Taranaki

• Evelien Wallace - Innovator spotlight: Geoheat in Taranaki

• Will Thorp, Elemental Group: Kākāriki Renewables: 600% Renewables

5.15pm - Conference close