Our people and teams
EECA's senior leadership team
Mike Underhill, Chief Executive
Mike has extensive management experience in the gas and electricity sector in New Zealand and overseas. He has been Chief Executive of WEL Networks, TransAlta, and Energy Direct.
He has also had significant governance experience in this sector, and has been chairman of Pacific Energy Ltd, EECA, and Katolyst, the Waikato Regional Development agency.
He has a Bachelor's degree in engineering, a Master's degree in economics, has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard, and is a Fellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers. Mike Underhill joined the EECA team as Chief Executive in May 2007.
Ian Horne, General Manager, Corporate Services Group
Ian has had substantial experience in both the private and public sectors. He initially joined the public sector to lead the state sector and public finance reforms in the New Zealand Customs Service. He moved to Public Trust in 2001 to implement a reform programme to return Public Trust to profitability. His diverse private sector experience spans from banking to the motor industry.
He has a Master of Business Administration (with Honours) from Massey University, has completed the Strategic Management Programme at Henley, and is a graduate of the Jonahsm programme. Ian Horne joined the EECA team in October 2006.
Pat Murray, General Manager Marketing and Communications Group
Pat has extensive experience in business management, ranging from general management roles, executive teams, running his own businesses, and directorships. His previous senior executive and management positions include business strategy, strategic marketing, business development, operations, and corporate human resource management both in New Zealand and internationally. His marketing roles have seen him operating in many countries and in numerous industries with great success in creating and sustaining market leading brands.
Terry Collins, General Manager Products
Terry has a background in policy, quality management systems, regulatory compliance, and standards development. He is responsible for relationship management with the trans-Tasman Equipment Energy Efficiency Programme and he chairs the APEC working group on energy efficiency and conservation.
Elizabeth Yeaman, Manager Government Relations and Strategy
Elizabeth first joined EECA in 1996 and has worked in a wide variety of roles covering local government, transport and renewables. She holds a Masters degree in Natural Resource Engineering and prior to joining EECA worked in engineering and fuels consultancy, mainly on energy projects in developing countries. Elizabeth is a member of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (NZ).
Fiona Weightman, Manager Capability and Performance
Fiona worked in the UK on energy issues for several years. She was Energy Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, working on renewable energy and energy efficiency. In New Zealand she worked for the Sustainable Energy Forum before joining EECA to lead Renewable Energy. In 2000 Fiona led the first National Energy Efficiency Strategy as Strategy and Government Relations Manager, in 2003 she took up the role of Energy Supply Manager and in 2011 she moved to the Manager Capability and Performance role. Fiona has an Honours degree in History and Political Science from Victoria University.
Ian Niven, General Manager Business
Ian brings a wealth of corporate governance, business development and energy industry experience to the role of GM Business.
Much of his career has been spent with listed energy companies in senior corporate and business development roles. He worked for BP in Wellington, London and Singapore and led the financing of BP's petrochemicals joint ventures in South East Asia. Ian was also CFO and GM for both the SOE Transpower and listed company Transalta in New Zealand during a period of significant electricity industry reform and rationalisation.
Over the past few years, Ian has worked mainly in corporate governance, developing and delivering services in director training, recruitment and board performance for the Institute of Directors. A member of the UK Institute of Chartered Accountants and NZ Institute of Directors he is also an alumnus of the London Business School Senior Management Programme.
Robert Linterman, General Manager Residential
Robert Linterman joined EECA in 2008 to work on the Residential programme.
Robert has extensive experience in business management and re-engineering. He previously held roles as the CEO for Norsewear (clothing manufacturer and retailer) and as CEO for The Wellington Company (a Wellington commercial property company).
EECA's external delivery teams
EECA has three delivery teams who work in partnership with stakeholders to improve energy use across all sectors of the economy.
Residential Delivery Team
A warm, dry home contributes to better health outcomes as well as lower energy bills. EECA's Residential team works to improve the way people choose to use energy in their homes. The team administers a range of financial incentives including for insulation, and provides information to empower households to use energy wiser.
Products Team
Appliances take up an increasing proportion of our energy use, so it's important to make the right choices about how we choose and use them. The Products team works to improve the energy efficiency of domestic appliances, commercial and industrial equipment, motor vehicles and homes. This is achieved through a combination of measures, including mandating energy rating labels on appliances and vehicles, developing and implementing minimum energy performance standards, and promoting the voluntary ENERGY STAR endorsement label.
Business Team
In New Zealand 470,000 businesses with 1.9 million employees consume 70% of NZ's energy. The objective of the Business Team is to target the largest areas of economic efficiency potential (motorised systems, lighting, refrigeration, HVAC and process heat) and deliver training, knowledge and financial programmes to address the key reasons why businesses do not commit to energy efficiency alternatives. Our objective is to deliver significant, cost-effective and sustainable energy savings to assist New Zealand business become more productive, profitable and competitive internationally.
EECA's corporate teams
EECA has six corporate teams whose focus is to provide support, advice, expertise and resources to assist and facilitate the delivery of EECA's programmes and projects.
Strategy and Evaluation Group
This encompasses three teams: Government Relations and Strategy, Evaluation and Technical; and Strategic Partnerships.
A sound knowledge base is key to planning effective interventions. This group helps set EECA's future direction in promoting the uptake of cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy. The group also provides monitoring, analysis and research to support EECA's programmes and projects and plays a key role in monitoring energy efficiency developments both within New Zealand and internationally.
Marketing and Communications Team
An important part of EECA's work is providing useful and accessible information so consumers and businesses can make informed energy choices. The Marketing and Communications team promotes EECA's activities and programmes and works to raise awareness and uptake of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Finance and IT Team
The Finance and IT team is responsible for providing financial and IT processes, systems and outputs for EECA. This group provides support to managers and staff within EECA to assist them to deliver their project milestones and outcomes.
Human Resources and Corporate Services Team
EECA's Human Resources and Corporate Services team focuses on attracting and retaining talented staff, and overseeing their training and development. In addition the team ensures the delivery of quality property and facilities management and office support services.
Contracts and Grants Management Team
The Contracts and Grants Management team coordinates GEM - the EECA-wide grant enterprise management software system. GEM actively supports grant-based contract management - variation, extension and closure processes, as well as non-grant contracts. The team works with Finance to approve payments and provide a suite of reports to support the requirements of EECA delivery teams.
Quality and Assurance Team
It's important that work carried out under EECA's programmes is to a high standard. This includes the installation of insulation and clean heating. EECA's Quality and Assurance team is responsible for implementing and maintaining Quality Assurance and Auditing programmes, and by providing training to external auditors.
