Speakers
Jan Brentebraten
Jan Brentebraten is director, Flexifuel (FFV) / Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV) Strategy, Marketing and Sales, Ford of Europe. He took over his duties in January 2007. In this role, he is responsible for creating and implementing a coordinated Ford of Europe FFV/AFV strategy and plan working across the company's governmental affairs and marketing and sales functions.
From January 2005 to October 2006 Mr. Brentebraten was director, Ford of Europe Import/Export Operations. Prior to this, he was managing director Ford Scandinavia and chairman Mazda Scandinavia (Jan 2002 to Dec 2004). During the period Oct 1996 to Dec 2001, Mr Brentebraten was president of Mazda Motor Germany and later of Mazda Motor Europe, a time during which he was also a member of the board of Mazda Motor Corporation in Hiroshima, Japan.
John Plaza
John Plaza is the President and CEO of Imperium Renewables and is responsible for the day-to-day operations and strategic direction of the company. Mr. Plaza is a member of the National Biodiesel Board and a recognized national expert in the field of biodiesel and alternative fuels. Mr. Plaza is also a leader on understanding and shaping public energy policy at all levels of government. He has testified before Congressional committees and presents regularly at forums and events related to energy policy and renewable fuels. Senate, House, and Administration officials seek input from Imperium Renewables on a regular basis through Mr. Plaza.
Bill Orts
William Orts is a Research Leader at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Western Regional Research Center, California for a group developing biofuels and biobased products from non-corn feedstocks – most notably cellulosics. New technologies required for biofuels production in the western states, include (1) new enzymes for cellulose-to-ethanol conversion, (2) novel separation engineering, (3) application of bioproducts, and (4) biofuels conversion of energy crops, under-utilized ag-biomass and even municipal solids waste.
Dr. Orts received his Masters and PhD from the University of Toronto in fermentation scale-up and bioproduct development, whereby he created biodegradable plastics, films, thickening gels, and paper coatings using bacterially-produced biopolymers.
K-J Kells
K-J Kells leads Meridian Energy's Electric Vehicles Programme and has been responsible for developing the company's strategy for the early adoption of zero emission electric vehicles in NZ. K-J & her team have been active in positioning NZ globally as an early receipt market for electric vehicles working with a wide range of manufacturers across Europe, America and Asia for the last four years. K-J and her team are responsible for Meridian's electric vehicle demonstration project providing New Zealanders with their first glimpse of electric vehicle technologies in 2008.
Dave Bodger
Dave is the General Manager of Gull Petroleum’s New Zealand Operation. Dave has been with Gull for the last 22 months and has close to 20 years experience in the New Zealand oil industry covering sales, marketing, retail operation, terminal operation and distribution. He has an Economics Degree from Lincoln College and is married with four children on Auckland’s North Shore.
Chris Purchas
Chris is a Senior Policy Advisor within SKM’s Water and Environment group with 13 years experience working on environmental issues, increasingly at a strategic level. Since joining SKM in 2006 Chris has worked with the business sector, local authorities, the Ministry for the Environment, EECA and the NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development on a range of strategic environmental projects.
Peter Hall
Peter has worked in forest management, logging and logging research (LIRO), forest establishment research and bioenergy research in various roles since 1978. Was an operations forester for CHH forests for 5 years until return to Scion to work on bioenergy in 2007. Currently a Senior Scientist, bioenergy in Scions Energy Group working on Bioenergy Options for New Zealand (Situation analysis), FIDA Engineering solutions project (efficiency of systems for delivering forest residues as fuel) and a biomass resource Atlas for NZ.
Trevor Stuthridge
Dr Trevor Stuthridge is Unit Leader, Eco-Smart Technologies, at Scion, Rotorua. Eco-Smart Technologies are developing innovative environmental and industrial (bio)technologies, with a particular emphasis on value creation from industrial wastes and residues. Dr Stuthridge has a PhD in environmental chemistry from University of Waikato and is an adjunct Professor at Victoria University of Wellington and University of Toronto.
Edward Kjaer
Mr. 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.
Mr. Kjaer 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, Mr. Kjaer received his formal education attending Massey University focusing his studies on marketing and economics.
Chelsea Sexton
As an independent consumer advocate for electric vehicles, Chelsea is heavily involved with advising manufacturers on their electric vehicle deployment programme globally. Chelsea has become well-known as an advocate for clean, efficient, fun transportation.
She also serves as the Executive Director of Plug In America, a coalition of individuals and organizations that advocates for the use of plug-in vehicles by assisting legislators in creating effective policy, working with automakers to encourage production, and through consumer education. Chelsea is one of the key individuals featured in the 2006 film, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” by Sony Pictures Classics.
Darrin Morgan
Darrin Morgan oversees strategy development and execution for Boeing Commercial Airplanes' Sustainable Biofuels Program. The program aim is to drive market viability of sustainable aviation fuels. Prior to this role in The Boeing Company, he helped lead market requirement development for emerging airplane models as well as forecasting and competitive analysis for airplane services. Darrin started his career working for Arthur Andersen, then KPMG, where he specialised in energy project acquisition as well as aviation industry economic assessment. He later led the economic and financial side of a major energy project acquisition/development initiative by Puget Sound Energy. He wishes to thank Air New Zealand for being a catalyst and a world leader in spurring aviation to innovate on sustainable biofuels and thus join his twin passions of aviation and alternative energy.
For further information or general enquiries, please email EECA or call 0800 358 676.
