OtagoNet Governing Committee

A Governing Committee oversees the OtagoNet Joint Venture and is made up of representatives from the network owners, The Power Company Ltd and Electricity Invercargill Ltd.

Their role includes determining policy; approving the Strategic Plan, Business Plan and Asset Management Plan; monitoring performance, reporting to shareholders and ensuring that the network complies with relevant legislation.

The following members make up the governing committee.

Chair

Duncan Fea BCom FCA CFInstD

Duncan is a managing partner in Findex Queenstown, chartered accountants and business advisors. He is chair of the OtagoNet Joint Venture governing committee. He has a number of directorships, which include PowerNet Ltd, Electricity Southland Ltd and Southern Generation GP Ltd, and is a past director of Peak Power Services Ltd, Pioneer Generation Ltd and Queenstown Airport Corporation Ltd. Duncan is a fellow chartered accountant of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and is a chartered fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Douglas Fraser BSc (Chemistry) CFInstD

Doug farms sheep and dairy cows on 595 hectares in Western Southland.

He is a member of the OtagoNet Joint Venture governing committee, chair of The Power Company Ltd, a director of PowerNet Ltd and Electricity Southland Ltd. He was also chair of Otago Power Services Ltd until its amalgamation with PowerNet Ltd in 2016.

Previous governance roles include NZ Wool Board, Wools of NZ, Woolpro and AgITO.

Doug is a chartered fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Donald Nicolson

Don has been a member of the OtagoNet Joint Venture governing committee since 2017. He is currently chair of PowerNet Ltd, a director of The Power Company Ltd and a trustee on the Environomics (NZ) Trust.

From 1999 until 2011, Don was a Trustee on the Southland Electric Power Supply Consumer Trust.

While farming, active involvement in agri-business advocacy saw him hold many roles in the primary sector culminating as the National President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand from 2008 until 2011.

Don is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Sarah Brown LLB BA CFInstD

Sarah joined the OtagoNet Joint Venture governing committee in November 2018. She is also a Director for Electricity Southland Ltd.

Sarah is on the Provincial Growth Fund Advisory Panel and is a past project manager for the Southland Regional Development Agency.

Sarah practiced as a commercial lawyer and now works as an independent company director. She is currently a director of PGG Wrightson Ltd.

Sarah is a chartered fellow of the Institute of Directors.