2009 speakers

Minister of Energy and Resources, Hon. Gerry Brownlee

Opening Address

Nick Goodall, CEO, Renewable Fuels Agency, UK

Biofuels in the UK: sustainability criteria and the importance of sustainable biofuels

Nick Goodall is Chief Executive Officer of the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA), the UK's independent sustainable fuels regulator. Nick joined the Agency in July 2008, taking on responsibility for the administration of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, and for leading the RFA following the publication of the Agency's 'Gallagher Review' into the indirect effects of biofuels production.

Prior to working at the RFA, Nick established and was Chief Executive of the Energy Networks Association (ENA), the industry body for the UK's regulated electricity and gas transmission and distribution companies. It sets standards for connection to and use of the electricity network.

Richard Marshall, Director Energy & Environment, GM Holden, Australia

Energy Diversity and Emerging Technologies for the Automotive Industry

Richard Marshall is GM Holden's Director - Energy and Environment. In this role Richard is responsible for leading development and driving the implementation of GM Holden's energy diversity strategy.

Previously Director - Innovation Engineering, Richard has been active in the energy and environment and advanced technology areas. Having worked at GM Holden for 20 years, Richard has a wealth of knowledge.

Richard has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a Post Graduate Diploma in Technology Management from Deakin University.

Henry Joseph Jr, Manager of Emissions & Engine Test Department, Volkswagen Brazil

Moving to high biofuel blends - the Brazilian experience

Henry has worked for Volkswagen Brazil since 1981, initially as researcher is alternative fuels, development of ethanol fuel engines and, today, he is Manager of Emission and Engine Test Department of Powertrain Development Engineering.

As an expert on biofuels applications, ethanol utilisation, necessary vehicle modifications and exhaust emission consequences Henry represents Volkswagen as President of the Energy and Environment Commission of Brazilian Automobile Manufacturers Association (ANFAVEA). He is in charge of discussing with the Brazilian authorities about fuels applications and emission regulations.

Dick Stimpson, Arup Advanced Technology and Research, Future Transportation, UK

The state of play of electric vehicles in the UK

Sponsored by the Ministry of Transport 

Dick Joined Arup in January 2005 working on the acquisition of MG Rover by Nanjing Auto, and extensive research into sustainable mobility and the incorporation of environmental considerations into vehicles. More recently this work has concentrated on electric vehicles and their integration into the transport network.

Dick has carried out projects with major OEMs and regional authorities investigating environmental impacts of transportation options. Recently he was project manager and co author of "The investigation into the scope for the transport sector to switch to electric vehicles and plug in hybrid Vehicles" a report written for the UK Government and covering environmental impacts, infrastructure requirements, business opportunities and adoption strategies. He is currently developing a major electric vehicle demonstration project in the UK.

Professor John Ralph, University of Wisconsin-Madison & the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, USA

The future for liquid fuels from woody biomass & other cellulosic matter

John Ralph is a New Zealand born professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin.

John is a member of a number of boards including the Scientific Advisory Board, Joint BioEnergy Institute in California; Scientific Advisory Board, FuncFiber in Sweden; Editorial Board, J. Science of Food and Agriculture and the Editorial Board, BioEnergy Research.

In 2005 John was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and in 2007 John was selected by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) for HighlyCited.com because of "exceptional citation count in the field of Agricultural Science.

Edward Kjaer, Director of the Electric Transportation Division of Southern California Edison

Electric Vehicles: A market and policy update

Sponsored by Meridian Energy 

Ed Kjaer is responsible for all facets of the Electric Transportation Division, (Electro-drive system impact and assessment, technology evaluation, customer education, EV rates and incentives, EPACT EV fleet vehicle compliance, etc.) at Southern California Edison.

Ed has held a number of key marketing positions in the automotive industry spanning over 15 years. From 1988-1996, he was the Corporate Marketing Manager at Mazda Motor of America. From 1985-1988, he worked on the Acura Automobile advertising account rising to Vice President at Ketchum Advertising. Prior to this, he ran the Nissan Advertising account in New Zealand and was a key member of the Datsun/Nissan ‘Name Change' Team.

As a New Zealander, Ed Kjaer received his formal education attending Massey University focusing his studies on marketing and economics.

Wayne Ferrell, CEO, Gull Group

A biofuel future - why we are continuing with biofuels

Wayne Ferrell has over 25 years experience in the downstream oil and gas industries. Prior to joining Gull in 2001 he worked briefly as an environmental engineer at CSBP before joining BP. In a 17-year career with BP, Wayne worked in a variety of locations and roles including managing BP's Australian LPG business. On joining Gull, Wayne managed the Australian and New Zealand terminals' assets and fuel supply requirements before being appointed General Manager of the Gull Group of Companies in 2003 and CEO in 2005.

Wayne has a BSc and an MBA from the University of Western Australia.

Dr. Bruce Smith, Director Modelling & Forecasting, Electricity Commission

The impact of electric vehicles on the NZ electricity system

Bruce is currently employed at the Electricity Commission as manager of the modelling and forecasting team. The modelling team at the Commission is responsible for production of the Commission's demand forecasts, future generation scenarios, the publication of modelling data, and provision of analytical support for economic analysis of transmission investment proposals. Following post-doc work at Canterbury University, Bruce went on to work in the areas of power quality, and maintenance engineering at Transpower. After a stint as Strategy Development Manager at Transpower, he went on to join the Commission about the time it was formed. Much of his time since then has been spent on assessing investment proposals from Transpower, and building up modelling capability to support decision making at the Commission.

John Clarke, Managing Director, ANZ Infrastructure Services Ltd

Financing renewable transport projects - an investor's perspective

John Clarke is a founding shareholder and Managing Director of ANZ Infrastructure Services Ltd, formed in January 2001. ANZIS originates and now manages over $1 billion of equity in large energy and infrastructure projects in Australia via two investment trusts, Energy Infrastructure Trust and Diversified Infrastructure Trust.

John is a director of a number of investee companies as well as Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, the leading industry group for infrastructure development in Australia and the Tourism & Transport Forum, the peak industry group for the Australian tourism, transport, aviation and investment sectors. John has had over 33 years in his business career and over 16 years in infrastructure and utilities.

Andrew Rushworth, Managing Director , Zero Emission Vehicles

Developing electric capability for large vehicles

Andrew Rushworth is the Managing Director of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV), a company developing heavy electric vehicles for the international market.

Andrew has more than two decades' experience bringing new technologies to market, working with a wide range of emerging technologies on a global basis. He has expertise in the full product development process from concept through to commercialisation. This includes capital raising, innovation, leadership, award-winning project management, marketing strategies and sales channel establishment.

Colin South, Entrepreneur In Residence, General Catalyst Partners, USA

Renewable Energy Direction and Future Biofuel Development

Sponsored by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

Colin South was the founding President of Mascoma Corporation, an industry-leading company developing and commercialising advanced biotechnology solutions for second generation cellulosic ethanol. Colin established the business as a widely recognised leader in the cellulosic ethanol space.

Prior to Mascoma Colin was the CEO of ViaLactia, a company that completes research in genetic discovery in forage grasses and bovine genetics associated with milk production.

Colin currently works for General Catalyst Partners in Massachusetts where he is a member of the General Catalyst clean technology team developing and evaluating investments in the fuels, chemicals and clean tech business space.

Colin is a New Zealander and graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical and Process).