Our people
Bioenergy Association is committed to reducing its own carbon footprint and to avoid travel related emissions undertakes most meetings by video conferencing
Our Board
The Board represents the interests of all members and focuses on the Bioenergy Association governance.
- More information about the board and member’s voting rights can be found in the members area and the Constitution.
- The association's operational activities are developed and managed by its Interest Groups each of which has a Convener and Committee.
Anthony Oosten (Chair)
Sustainable Energy Manager Global Operations Sustainability, Fonterra
Tony a Canterbury University Chemical and Process Engineering has 13 years experience in the international pulp and paper industry working across New Zealand, Malaysia and Canada, now currently 11 years working for Fonterra as Energy Manager.
His areas of expertise are decarbonisation of process industries, energy efficiency, as well as a government regulation of energy supply and emissions trading.
Tony currently sits on the Major Electricity Users Group and the Major Gas Users Group as well as a board member of the Bioenergy Association of New Zealand.
Paul Bennett
Clean Technologies Science Leader, Scion & Chair IEA Bioenergy
Paul has been working on bioenergy and biofuels for over 15 years. Starting with the setting up of a liquid biofuels team at BP in the UK Since then he has worked in a variety of Bioenergy roles from business development through to Government Strategy. In 2014 he took the role of Science Leader of the Clean Technology Group at Scion in Rotorua. Amongst the key activities of this Group has been bioenergy, for the example the development of New Zealand’s Biofuels Roadmap. During this time, Paul has been an active member of the International Energy Agency Bioenergy Group and has recently been elected Chair from 1 January 2021 for a 2-year period. This raises our awareness of latest international developments on new technologies, bioenergy deployment, policy development and key sustainability issue. NZ positions held:
- 2017 - onwards - Vice-Chair, International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Executive Committee
- 2014 - onwards - IEA Bioenergy Executive Committee member
- 2017 -onwards - Alternate Board Member of Bioresource Processing Alliance
- 2017 - onwards - Board Member of Bioenergy Association NZ
- 2018 - onwards - Board Member of National Energy Research Institute. NZ
Doug Davidson
Independent Consultant, MarketLinks
Doug is an established professional in the forest and woodproducts sector for more than 20 years. His roles have been in Sales and Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Regional Manager and Operations Management. He is experienced in the entire supply chain of the forest industry, having worked from the seedling/growing side right through to the processing and marketing of wood fibre products internationally. He has previously worked for companies such as OneFortyOne, Nelson Forests Ltd, Hancock Forest Management NZ, PF Olsen, Fletcher Challenge Forests and NZ Forest Research Institute Doug is passionate about the primary industries of NZ, having interests in both farming and forestry. I am particularly keen on utilising and enhancing the value proposition of sustainable wood fibre in NZ of which the bio-energy sector is crucial.
Ben Gerritsen
General Manager Customer & Regulatory, FirstGas
Ben leads the Firstgas Group strategy, marketing and regulatory teams, and is responsible for the commercial operations of Firstgas’ pipeline businesses. Ben is focused on ensuring that we engage proactively and constructively with our customers and regulators, positioning Firstgas Group as a respected player in New Zealand’s energy landscape. Most recently his focus and energy has been on exploring how gas infrastructure can help Aotearoa’s transition to a lower carbon economy, leading projects and research into the infrastructure biogas and hydrogen.
Ben has a deep understanding of infrastructure economics and regulation, having previously worked as a consultant on network access, pricing and service quality. He also understands the commercial and regulatory environment in the New Zealand gas industry and works with industry participants to align the rules for pipeline access and use. Ben is currently the Chair of the LPGA and Gas Association of New Zealand.
Eleanor Grant
GM - Industrial NZ, Beca
Eleanor is a chartered chemical engineer with over twenty years’ experience in the design, development and project management of industrial, solid waste management and renewable energy projects. Eleanor is also a director of Beca Limited and so brings relevant NZ governance experience. Eleanor is currently the General Manager of the Industrial team for Beca in New Zealand and New Caledonia and is passionate about helping industry to thrive and support them through the transition to a lower carbon economy. Recent experience includes a range of project management and advisory work in the heavy industry and energy sectors and she was the Beca project director and reviewer of technical work for a collaborative study between Beca, Firstgas Group, Fonterra and EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) into the potential of renewable biomethane fuel in New Zealand.
David Hendry
Head of Renewable Gas, Powerco
David leads Powerco’s work in investigating, enabling, and realising opportunities to incorporate renewable gases into Powerco’s gas distribution network to provide lower emission gas solutions for New Zealand.
David has a commerce degree and is a chartered accountant with experience in regulation, business development, commercial and operational roles in both the energy and primary industry sectors. He is deeply passionate about renewable energy and both the challenges and opportunities that decarbonisation presents for New Zealand.
Elena Izaguirre
Independent
With over 25 years’ experience in the public and private organic waste recycling sector, Elena brings extensive experience and knowledge across a number of areas including operations, resource consenting and undertaking and delivering on various organics research projects. She has gained invaluable understanding of the realities of operating organic waste processing plants and marketing finished products made from materials that include greenwaste, biosolids and foodscraps.
Elena was with Auckland Council and was involved in the procurement and initial management of Auckland Council’s food scraps programme Elena and the Bioenergy Association of New Zealand project team recently launched the Digestate Guidelines and she is involved in current research projects of digestate produced in New Zealand.
Insa Errey
Senior Manager Future Fuels, Genesis
Insa leads Genesis’s Future Fuels programme, combining technical expertise with strategic insight. She has held energy leadership roles across the public and private sectors in Australia and New Zealand, including developing and leading EECA’s largest business engagement programme and has recently led the BANZ biomethane carbon intensity standarisation methodology, establishing her as a recognised bioenergy thought leader.
With a BE in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Sydney University, Insa brings expertise in policy, carbon accounting, strategy and sector engagement, making her a strong voice in New Zealand’s transition to biofuels.
Interest Groups
The Interest Groups are the operational arm of the association and are responsible for: our work programmes; advocacy; developing and managing research projects; overseeing professional development and best practice guides; hosting workshops and conferences; and ensuring that each topic area is achieving available sector opportunities. The current conveners are as follows:
Gaseous Biofuels (biogas / waste-to-energy)
Alzbeta Bouskova Houghton, Ecogas
Visit biogas website
Alzbeta is the convener of the Gaseous Biofuels Interest Group and has been instrumental in making biogas product as an important method for recycling organics into energy and biofertiliser.
Solid Biofuels (wood energy)
Rob Mallinson, Living Energy
Visit wood energy website
Rob was early into the sale and installation of bioenergy heat plant and uses his knowledge and skill as Convener of the Solid Biofuels Interest Group.
Transport Biofuels (liquid biofuels & co-products)
Simon Arnold, Blended Fuels NZ
Visit liquid biofuels website
Simon is the convener of the Association’s activities in liquid biofuels based on his experience in innovation and commercial development of emerging technologies including liquid biofuels.
Working groups
- Agricultural Feedstocks
- Residential wood pellet heating - vacant
- Pacific bioenergy - Leigh Ramsey (Blended Fuels NZ)
Professional Standards and Complaints Committee: To avoid any conflicts of interest membership of the committee is established by the Board when the Committee is required to undertake an activity.