ENA Future Networks Forum: Innovation Forum

Events 29-30 July 2025

Where:

Central Wellington at the Wharewaka Function Centre. There is also the option to attend this event online via Teams.


Register now 

Register here. Note that tickets for day one in-person are now sold out. You can still register to attend online and/or on day two in-person)


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 Te Waihanga insights (40 min)
This presentation will explore long-term infrastructure trends and what they mean for future demand in Aotearoa. It will cover investment and coordination challenges across sectors, highlight emerging good practice in long-term planning, and share insights relevant to electricity distribution businesses.
Peter Nunns – GM Strategy, Te Waihanga
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)
Spurred by Mallacoota’s bushfire experience, Venus Bay explored how microgrids, batteries, and resilience hubs could boost energy self-sufficiency and disaster readiness. Heather shares outcomes from guiding the community through network literacy, surfacing local values, and collaboratively shaping a resilient energy future.
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
Jason Larkin - General Manager Commercial & Centralines, Unison Networks (Panel Facilitator)
14:35 – 15:15 Stretch break and afternoon tea (40 min)  
15:15 – 16:05 Unlock full network potential with smart meter data that delivers visibility, flexibility, and control (50 min)
Hear from Bluecurrent about the evolution of its Network Operations Data Service, including outage management and high-frequency data. Product experts will also showcase how EDBs and energy retailers can collaborate effectively through Dynamic Load Control—unlocking mutual benefits while operating in harmony across the EDB’s network. They’ll share real-world examples of how this approach improves grid efficiency, customer outcomes, and commercial alignment. 
David Prince - Head of Value Added Services
Wes Bernard - Product Manager Network Services
John Keller - GM of Sales
16:05 – 16:45 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
Brian Fitzgerald - Senior Advisor Strategy, EECA 
Vincent Smart - Senior Advisor Strategy and Programme, EECA 
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)
This interactive session invites attendees to reflect on key takeaways from yesterday’s discussions. What’s the one insight, idea, or action you’ll take back to your EDB? Join us as we share reflections, highlight common themes, and surface what’s resonating across the sector.
FNF Co-Chairs
09:25 – 09:45 Network transformation roadmap (20 min)
The FNF is evolving the work programme for the coming year. To get there, we've been engaging with FNF members across the Communities of Practice to understand the issues and outcomes. This presentation will discuss that work and how the priority areas of effort are shaping up.
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
Irene Clarke – Policy Manager, Powerco
Simon Rycroft – Flexibility Development Lead, Orion
11:25 – 11:50 Streamlining connections project (25 min)
This session will provide an overview of the Streamlining Connections programme, including reflections on the benefits of the collaborative, sector-wide approach. It will also include a brief update on Phase 2 projects currently underway, covering a short overview of the 3 projects, early thinking on INTSA, and the importance of ongoing stakeholder engagement. Counties Energy and WEL Networks will also present their implementation plans for the Phase 1 quick wins.
Connor Reich – Regulatory Lead – Electricity Authority, Orion
Liah Sibley – Head of Customer Works, Counties Energy
Holly Benadie – Network Project Coordinator for Future Networks and Development, Counties Energy
Grant Morris – Customer Works Portfolio Manager, WEL Networks
11:50 – 12:15 Customer segmentation project (25 min)
This session will present key findings from the national residential customer segmentation model, including updates based on the 2023 Census. It will also outline a practical use case plan for applying these insights to better understand the uptake and potential of distributed energy resources (DERs) and flexibility services across customer segments.
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:
  • gaining better visibility of our low voltage networks
  • enhancing the accuracy and functionality of our network model
  • delivering clear and accessible hosting capacity maps.
These projects are laying the foundation for greater electrification, improved customer outcomes, and more efficient network planning. The presentation will run for 20 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for Q&A.
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