Welcome

Our 2026 Conference was the biggest and best yet. We enjoyed record attendance and the programme showed even stronger breadth and depth than previous years.

We included a few controversial topics, including nuclear power and the proposed LNG terminal, which added great discussion points throughout the two days. We also enjoyed depth sessions on bioenergy, efficiency, electrification and local government.

All in all, it was the best two days of learning and networking of the year – and that’s not just us, that’s the feedback from those who came.

We’re looking forward to doing it all again with the latest topics, news and best practices in 2027.

Mike Hopkins
CEO, CEP

Downloads

• CEP Conference Programme 2026
• Speaker presentations
• Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities Brochure 2026

Thank you to all the delegates, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors who joined us for the 2026 CEP Conference.

Presentations from the conference

CEP extends a hearty thank-you to all speakers and workshop presenters at our 2026 Conference. You played a huge part in making the event an outstanding success. Your time and expertise are truly appreciated.

PDFs of the presentations follow below. We thank those who kindly agreed to share them.

Please note: Copyright of presentations sits with the authors. They have kindly authorised publication as a reminder of sessions. They are for personal use only and should not be replicated in whole or part without permission.

Day 1: Tuesday 26 May 2026

• 09:25
  Presentation: The Role of Gas in New Zealand’s Energy Future – David Prentice, Chief Executive, Gas Industry Co
• 09:50
  Presentation: Why the World is Looking at Nuclear Energy as an Engine for Sustainable Prosperity – Sama Bilbao Y Léon, Director General, World Nuclear Association
• 11:25 Concurrent sessions
  Presentation: From Influence to Impact: Elevating Sustainability on the Board Agenda – Aisha Punga, Chief Executive Officer, Toitū Envirocare
  Presentation: Taranaki Geoheat Discovery Challenge; Assessing Geoheat Potential in Legacy Petroleum Assets – Evelien Wallace, Ara Ake
• 11:55 Concurrent sessions
  Presentation: Quantifying Nature Capital – Best Practices – Luis Filardi, Head of Sustainability ANZ, BSI
  Presentation: Circular Economy in Action: Opportunities and Barriers  – Zoe Burkitt, Sector Manager Built Environment, Energy and Waste, Toitū and Phillip Alexander, Sales and Marketing Manager, Glide
• 13:45 Concurrent sessions
  Presentation: Biogas Projects in Practice: Navigating Feedstock, Certainty and Variability – Abbey Roberts-Li, Associate – Process Engineering, BECA
  Workshop: Building Electrification – Lance Jimmieson, Managing Director, Jacksons Engineering
• 14:15 Concurrent sessions
  Presentation: Woody Biomass for Bioenergy can Support Decarbonisation, Security and Affordability – Zara Balador, Senior Sustainability Consultant, WSP
  Presentation: Hydrogen – Ryan McDonald, Head of New Business, Hiringa Energy
• 16:30
  Presentation: Te Kanapu Future Grid Blueprint – Transpower’s initiative to enable Aotearoa to grow and electrify – John Clarke, EGM Future Grid, Transpower
• 17:00
  Presentation: Integrating Sustainability from Design to Delivery: Lessons from City Rail Link – Doug Boddy, Environmental and Sustainability Manager, Link Alliance

Day 2: Wednesday 27 May 2026

• 08:40
  Presentation: Energy Efficiency Unlocked: Blueprint for a Resilient and Electrified Industry – Mike Umiker, Managing Director, Energy Efficiency Movement Association
• 09:30 
  Presentation: Collaboration for a Changing Energy System – Marcos Pelenur, Chief Executive, EECA
• 09:55 
  Presentation: Small is Beautiful – the New Nuclear – Tony Irwin, Technical Director, SMR Nuclear Technology Pty
• 11:00 Concurrent sessions
  Presentation: Electrifying Road Freight in Australia – Pathways to Transition – Roger Jeffries, Transport Decarbonisation & Mobility Leader, ANZ, AECOM
  Presentation: The Electrification of Local Steelmaking – Israel MacDonald, Sustainability and Market Development Manager, Bluescope
• 11:30 Concurrent sessions
  Presentation: Exploring Battery Options as a Pathway to Electrification and Decarbonisation – Bill Heaps, Founding Director, Energy for Good and James Joyce, Triskelion Battery Project Principal, Energy for Good
• 12:00 Concurrent sessions
  Presentation: From Energy Poverty to Energy Resilience: The Tairāwhiti Distributed Energy Programme – David Wyllie, Group Innovation Programme Director, Tonkin + Taylor
• 13:45 Concurrent sessions
  Presentation: Lighting Our Way to the End of the Tunnel – Jason Bretherton, Technical Director Buildings, WSP
  Workshop: Transitioning Commercial Buildings Away from Gas Marcus Baker, Managing Director, Apricus ECO
• 14:15 Concurrent sessions
  Presentation: Enabling NZ Inc.’s Energy expansion through the C&I Sector – Tahir Tariq, Senior Manager – Enterprise Sales, Genesis Energy
  Presentation: Is AI Helping or Hurting the Climate? Assessment, Compliance, and Opportunity – Jean-Philippe Ehret – Digital Sustainability Consultant, Resilio