Meet the Team
Luke Mainwaring
An ex steel apprentice, has navigated his career journey from apprentice to his current role as the Manager of Substations and Protection at Powerco. Actively contributes to industry development through his involvement with organizations like the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Engineering New Zealand, and his position on the board of VEENZ. His passion lies in training and mentoring individuals within the industry, and he is enthusiastic about establishing a practical training center to further enhance skills and knowledge.
Adrian Ferguson
Adrian’s diverse background includes mechanical & manufacturing, product design and project engineering. He has also taught at degree and diploma level as an engineering academic and has some three waters related infrastructure asset management experience. He has polytech & university qualifications in mechanical engineering & business.
Coming from a mechanical background, Adrian’s interest in electrical engineering and the EPPTA springs partly from insatiable curiosity about all things engineering and also from a belief that mechanical and electrical engineering seldom exist in isolation from one another. In addition, Adrian maintains a strong interest in engineering education and workforce planning.
Adrian is also involved with Engineering New Zealand’s Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Groups, and the Wellington Branch.
Andy Peacock
A Chartered Electrical Engineer (UK Engineering Council) by background with over thirty year international experience in engineering and project management across client side and contracting organisations. He took a practical route into the engineering field through a Higher National Diploma prior to a degree in Electronic Systems and Control Engineering and knows the benefit of hands-on training. He is interested in ensuring that STEM learning is encouraged and engineering skills developed through initiatives and activities with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in New Zealand. He is keen to support the aims of the EPPTA to benefit to engineers, technicians and organisations in the New Zealand energy industry
Chris Lambell
Chris is a Building Services Electrical Engineer with over twenty years’ experience in designing and leading projects since graduating from university with a degree in electrical and electronic engineering. Prior to attending university Chris worked as an electrician, this hands-on experience has given him a pragmatic approach to problem solving and an understanding of the real need for practical training.
Chris’s commitment to the industry is demonstrated through his role as Chair of the Institution of Engineering & Technology’s Wellington & South Island Committee as well as the Deputy Chair of the Engineering New Zealand Electrical Engineering Group (EEG), in which he leads the organisation of their electrical engineering focused training presentations and events.
David McA
An ex-UK National Grid trainee engineer. Moved from Foundation Engineer through the ranks to Senior Authorised Person within transmission network, Asset Engineer at distribution and into my current role as an Asset Lifecycle Lead Engineer managing a team of 7. My approach to learning is to give hands on experience where possible. Whether that’s testing a Circuit Breaker, locating a cable or injection tests on protection relays. I’m keen to assist with emulating the practical training I received during my early years in the UK industry and believe a hands-on training centre which emulates a typical Zone Substation is the best way to put theory into application. I believe a practical training centre will raise the knowledge of both new entries and old hands within the power industry.
Irene Anderson
A 2018 University of Canterbury graduate, having worked across two distribution companies, she has first hand experience of being a minority in the aging male workplace. She recognises the wealth of knowledge set to leave the industry in the near future and is keen to help make the transition from university to work easier for others, ensuring the appropriate skillsets are being developed to ensure continuous smooth running of the electricity industry.
Mike Hata
A Substation Design Engineer my journey began at 16 in the electrical industry. Starting as an electrician, I evolved through roles like electrical fitter, protection faultman, and power/protection technician. Born from the Mighty River Power apprenticeship scheme, I’ve contributed to major industry players, transitioning from the field to project management and estimation. Today, I merge hands-on experience with strategic engineering solutions in my role. My career reflects a dedication to excellence and innovation within the electrical field, shaped by years of diverse experiences and a passion for advancing the industry.
Andrew Eaton
Having graduated from the University of Auckland in 2017, Andrew started his career working for Powerco where he was a graduate engineer and then substation design engineer and now is working for Vector as an Asset Engineer. Andrew values every opportunity he gets to work hands-on with electrical equipment, a practice he believes greatly enhances engineering skills. As a member of the EPPTA, Andrew is committed to promoting this practical approach within the industry, envisioning a future where practical experience is integral to engineering education
Kevin Hodges
Kevin has over 30 years experience in the New Zealand generation, transmission and distribution industry, and was one of the last engineering bursars in the Ministry of Energy (Electricity Division) scheme, when the industry had a plentiful supply of graduates, and a structured post-graduate training programme.
Involved in detailed design of high voltage assets, Kevin has observed a gradual decline in practical post-graduate training, both in NZ and internationally.
In a personal attempt to address this, involvement in the growing hydrogen energy industry has lead him to speak in schools, councils, tertiary institutions and to various industries, about hydrogen.
This has opened up opportunities to inspire students, and wider industry, to embrace electrical and other disciplines in engineering as a vibrant and challenging career.
EPPTA seeks to coordinate electrical power industry training in a cohesive and inspiring way, growing what Kevin has done for many years, into a nation-wide effort.
Brendon Clarke
Brendon is an Associate Director (Electrical engineer) at AECOM within the transmission and distribution team. He frequently supports multi-disciplinary design management for complex projects at high criticality sites such as hospitals and substations.
His prior roles have included engineering design, installation, and maintenance of civil, industrial and Hospital power, automation and control, instrumentation, security and communications systems. Aside from a number of tertiary qualifications, Brendon initially started within the electrical industry as an apprentice and maintains an electricians practicing license. He is keen to support EEPTA as an advocate of the practical skills obtained being extremely relevant to design as a consultant.
Peter Carr
Started in 1974 as an Electrical Fitter Apprentice for
the Tauranga Electric Power Board and since them have worked in pretty much
most of the roles in the industry from Foreman, Supervisor, Faultman, Manager,
Trade Specialist, to my Current role as Technical Officer for Northpower.During this time, I had a two-year gap when I worked in
the USA and UK as an Electrician in the private sector.As part of my personal development and passion for
training became a Connexis Workplace Assessor covering all the Electrical
Qualifications up to L5 Technician.Current member of the SSPG (Safety, Standards, Procedures
Group part of the EEA) actively helping support safety and standards throughout
the industry.
Johanna Clarke
B.A. Dip. Teach. Postgrad Dip BusAdmin, MMS
Hello, I have been working in education for thirty years. I originally stared off as a schoolteacher but moved into tertiary education in the early 2000’s. Since then, I have taught at the Waikato Institute of technology. I have taught written and interpersonal education at diploma and degree level to mechanical and electrical engineering students. I taught communication unit standards to electrical supply and domestic electrical apprentices. For my masters dissertation examined teamwork and on-the-job training in the electrical supply industry . This led me to my latest research project examining knowledge management, workplace communication, the skill gap ( the aging population) in the electrical supply industry. The examines two sectors of the industry: generation and distribution. While I was carrying out this research, I have become affiliated with the EPPTA.
Liam Doar
Liam has over 17 years’ experience in the power system industry, specialising in all areas of substation design.
Liam has developed substation design expertise in both transmission and distribution, with voltages ranging from 400V to 500kV. This includes:
- Secondary design expertise including SCADA systems, DC systems, protection, TMS.
- Primary design expertise including transformer upgrades, circuit breaker installations, current and voltage transformer installations, and ripple plant designs.
Liam is passionate about developing and training young engineers. He uses his experience and creativity to solve complex problems and inspires the younger engineers to do the same. A significant aspect of Liam’s current role at Ergo Consulting Ltd is mentoring and developing young engineers.