Where:
Central Wellington at the Wharewaka Function Centre. There is also the option to attend this event online via Teams.
Register now
Register here. In-person spaces will be limited.
Agenda: 29 July 2025
| Time | Title | Speaker / Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30 – 10:00 | Registration and morning tea (30 min) | |
| 10:00 – 10:25 | Opening karakia and welcome from the FNF Co-Chairs, and an update on FNF progress (25 min) | FNF Co-Chairs James Tipping – GM Market Strategy & Regulation, Vector Andrew Kerr – Chief Customer & Strategy Officer, Alpine Energy |
| 10:25 – 10:45 | ENA update (20 min) | Richard Le Gros – Policy & Innovation Manager, ENA |
| 10:45 – 11:25 | TBC | |
| 11:25 – 11:50 | Flexibility plan 2.0 (25 min) This presentation will provide an update on the flexibility plan 2.0, highlighting key changes since the original version, emerging insights, and early challenges. We’ll also look ahead to what’s next as the platform continues to evolve. |
Toby Stevenson – Independent Chair, FlexForum Craig Evans – Secretariat, FlexForum |
| 11:50 – 12:50 | Lunch (60 min) | |
| 12:50 – 13:35 | Venus Bay, Australia case study – Changing Weather (45 min) This presentation will explore the energy challenges faced by the Venus Bay community in Victoria, Australia, outlining the case for action and how community and industry engagement unfolded, including key tensions and learning points. We’ll also cover decision-making processes, the project timeline, and reflect on lessons and advice for future community-led energy transitions. |
Heather Smith – Energy & Climate Change Specialist, Changing Weather |
| 13:35 – 14:35 | Flexibility markets and future models panel (60 min) Panellists will share what they set out to test or demonstrate, how their projects were structured, and the insights gained through real-world trials. The conversation will focus on both what worked and what could be improved. |
Mitchell Davis - Flexibility and Markets Development Lead, Orion John Campbell - CEO, OurEnergy Craig Evans - Secretariat, FlexForum Luke Cartmell-Gollan - Commercial Development Manager, Simply Energy James Carberry - Head of Sustainable Solutions, Simply Energy Jason Larkin - General Manager Commercial & Centralines, Unison Networks (Panel Facilitator) |
| 14:35 – 15:05 | Stretch break and afternoon tea (30 min) | |
| 15:05 – 15:45 | Unlocking flexibility: Survey insights and round-table (40 min) This session will begin with a short presentation from EECA sharing early insights from their recent flexibility survey and broader observations on barriers to implementation. It will then open into a roundtable discussion where participants can share their own business experiences and challenges in scaling flexibility. |
Brian Moore – Technical Director – Energy & Power Market Advisory, Jacobs |
| 15:45 – 16:45 | TBC | |
| 16:45 – 17:00 | Wrap-up and closing karakia (15 min) | FNF Co-Chairs James Tipping – Vector Andrew Kerr – Alpine Energy |
| 17:00 | Event close and social catch-up at Shed 22 bar |
Organisations in attendance
- Electricity Distribution Businesses
- Electricity Networks Aotearoa
- Electricity Engineers’ Association
- Transpower
- Electricity Authority
- Commerce Commission
- Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority
- Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment
- Ara Ake
- New Zealand Infrastructure Commission
- FlexForum
Agenda: 30 July 2025
| Time | Title | Speaker / Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 08:50 | Registration (20 min) | |
| 08:50 – 09:05 | Opening karakia and welcome from the FNF Co-Chairs (15 min) | FNF Co-Chairs James Tipping – Vector Andrew Kerr – Alpine Energy |
| 09:05 – 09:25 | Reflections on yesterday (20 min) | FNF Co-Chairs |
| 09:25 – 09:45 | Network transformation roadmap (20 min) | FNF Co-Chairs |
| 09:45 – 10:05 | EDB common load management protocol (20 min) Brief update and audience Q&A. |
Richard Le Gros – Policy & Innovation Manager, ENA |
| 10:05 – 10:35 | Morning tea (30 min) | |
| 10:35 – 11:25 | Navigating funding pathways: Reflections on funding applications (50 min) This session brings together organisations who have recently applied for funding through mechanisms such as the INTSA, the Project Innovation Pathway, and other funding streams. Panellists will share what they were trying to achieve, the process they went through, and key lessons learned along the way. The discussion will cover both what worked and what they would do differently next time. |
Matt Smith – Policy Advisor, Vector (Facilitator) Andrew Kerr – Alpine Energy Ryno Verster – DSO Programme Director, Powerco Simon Rycroft – Flexibility Development Lead, Orion |
| 11:25 – 11:50 | Streamlining connections project (25 min) Phase 2 overview, delivery plan & call to action. |
Connor Reich – Regulatory Lead – Electricity Authority, Orion |
| 11:50 – 12:15 | Customer segmentation project (25 min) | Anca Cernic – Customer Insights Manager, Vector |
| 12:15 – 12.50 | Transforming Network Waitaki – from visibility to action (35 min) This presentation will explore how Network Waitaki is building a smarter, more responsive electricity network through three key focus areas:
|
Craig Conlan – Head of Future Networks and Assets, Network Waitaki Sumant Bhouraskar – Future Networks Engineer, Network Waitaki |
| 12:50 – 13:10 | Wrap-up and closing karakia (20 min) | FNF Co-Chairs |
| 13:10 – 14:10 | Lunch (60 min) |
Organisations in attendance
- Electricity Distribution Businesses
- Electricity Engineers’ Association
- Transpower