Leadership team

  • Dr Marcos Pelenur, Chief Executive

    Dr Marcos Pelenur became Chief Executive of EECA in September 2023. Previously he worked for the Behaviour Insights Team in Ottawa, Canada and several policy leadership positions at MBIE. Marcos has a PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge, is a Chartered Professional Member of Engineering New Zealand and is registered as a Chartered Engineer with the UK Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

  • Megan Hurnard, Group Manager – Insights, Data and Communications

    Megan joined EECA in July 2024, bringing a strong background leading cross-functional teams, leveraging data and evidence to drive strategic decision-making, and championing customer-centric solutions. Previously, Megan was General Manager, Data, Evidence and Insights at Ministry for the Environment, and held various leadership roles at New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.

  • Brett Banner, Group Manager - Corporate Services

    Brett joined EECA in 2022. Brett has worked in a variety of senior roles across the public sector over the past 20 years, specialising in corporate services. Most recently he was the Chief Financial Officer at the Commerce Commission. Brett has a commerce degree from Victoria University of Wellington majoring in accounting, commercial law and marketing, and is a Chartered Accountant.

  • Murray Bell, Group Manager - Policy and Regulation

    Murray joined EECA in 2004, working in and managing a number of teams until 2012. He returned to EECA in March 2019 as Manager, Standards & Regulations, and became Group Manager in 2021. He has had multiple roles including RMA Hearing Commissioner, Chair of the Porirua District Licensing Committee, and Ward Councillor for his local electorate, Kapiti Coast District Council. Murray holds an Honorary Bachelor of Civil Engineering.

  • Richard Briggs, Group Manager - Delivery and Partnerships

    Richard joined EECA in 2014 and has held a number of management positions – including in Business and Transport. He was appointed Group Manager in September 2022. Prior to EECA Richard had an extensive career in IT & telecommunications and has over 30 years’ experience building partnerships and managing third party relationships in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Board members

EECA is governed by a board of 6 to 8 members who are appointed by and report to the Minister for Energy.

  • Elena Trout, Chair

    Elena has been a board member since 2013 and was appointed Chair in 2019. She has a Masters of Civil Engineering and is a fellow of Engineering NZ. She has held executive roles in the transport, infrastructure and energy sectors and has managed the planning and delivery of large infrastructure services. Elena is an independent director of several boards and often undertakes independent assessments of organisations’ infrastructure programmes.

  • Karen Sherry, QSM

    Karen was appointed to the board in 2017. She is a principal of law firm Donnell Sherry where she specialises in commercial and trust law. She has extensive experience in the energy industry and is a trustee and former chair of Entrust. Karen is also a chartered fellow of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand.

  • Dr Daniel Tulloch

    Daniel was appointed to the board in 2023. He is a consultant that specialises in sustainable finance, energy, and climate change. He holds a PhD in finance examining energy sector reforms, and a postdoc from the University of Oxford in sustainable finance and stranded assets in high-CAPEX industries. Daniel has held governance roles since 2018 and was profiled as a Top Board-Ready director and an emerging leader in New Zealand.

  • Christopher Boyle

    Christopher Boyle is an engineer with 30 years’ experience in the electricity industry and 20 years’ experience in governance, ranging from not-for-profits, sports trusts, national sports bodies, local government, technology startups, industry bodies and publicly listed companies. He is the cofounder and Chair of Christchurch-based company Fabrum which advances green hydrogen technologies. He is also Director of Horizons Energy Group Ltd.

  • Judi Jones

    Wellington-based lawyer Judi Jones was Australia’s Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and before that, the Electricity and Gas Complaints Commissioner in New Zealand. She is a director on the Sustainability Trust and has held various governance and administrative tribunal roles including as Chair of Consumers’ Institute.

  • Andrew Knight

    Andrew Knight is Chief Executive of Gas Industry Co. He is also Chair of Taranaki Iwi Holdings Management and a Director of related iwi entities and private investments. He has previously been a Director of Powerco, CEO of New Zealand Oil & Gas and has held executive roles with Vector Limited, the NGC Holdings Limited Group of Companies, The Australian Gas Light Company and Fletcher Challenge Energy.