Our people
The Bioenergy Association is committed to reducing its own carbon footprint and, to minimise travel-related emissions, conducts the majority of its meetings online.
Our Board
The Board represents the interests of all members and focuses on the Bioenergy Association governance. Information about the board and member’s voting rights are in the members area and in the Constitution. The Association’s operational activities are managed by Interest Groups, each with a Convener and Committee.
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.
Paul Bennett
Integrated Bioenergy, Portfolia Leader Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI)
ExCo Member IEA Bioenergy & Cofounder and CTO of a Marine Biofuels start-up company
Paul has been working on bioenergy and biofuels for over 25 years starting with setting up of a liquid biofuels team at BP in the United Kingdom. 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. During a couple of restructures, he has maintained the Lead of Bioenergy developments now at the BSI. During this time, Paul has been an active member of the International Energy Agency Bioenergy Group and has been elected Chair from 1 January 2021 for a 2-year period and been on the core Exec group for a total of 7 years. This raises our awareness of latest international developments on new technologies, bioenergy deployment, policy development and key sustainability issues.
In 2014 he co-founded a Marine biofuels company the derisk technology that converts low grade wood into Marine fuels. NZ positions held:
- 2021-2023 - Chair, International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Executive Committee
- 2014 onwards - IEA Bioenergy Executive Committee member
- 2017 onwards - Board Member of Bioenergy Association NZ
- 2018 - onwards - Board Member of National Energy Research Institute. NZ
Andrea Gibson
Energy Business Development Manager
Fonterra
Andrea is the Energy Business Development Manager within Fonterra's Energy and Climate Team. She has 20 years of experience in manufacturing and energy at Fonterra. Andrea works across Fonterra's decarbonisation programme at 20+ manufacturing sites throughout Aotearoa, encompassing the development of Fonterra's transmission and distribution strategy, biomass fuel feasibility and supply, and the advancement of biogas opportunities. Recently she has worked on projects to convert some of Fonterra’s largest coal using sites to biomass.
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
Te Rau Hiri
General Manager Renewable Energy
Parininihi ki Waitōtara
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. Previously, David worked as Head of Renewable Gas at Powerco and as a Commercial Manager at Fonterra.
Nick Stonier
Technical Director - New Energy and Green molecules
Worley NZ
Nick has over 25 years of experience in technical management, design office, commissioning, capital programme development and delivery and site-based roles across highly regulated manufacturing plant environments in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Prior to his current role Nick was the Engineering Manager for Methanex NZ as part of the Site Management Team. He has held Chartered Engineer status for over 18 years.
In his current role, Nick has lead, developed and now is helping to deliver the strategy for Worley NZ in the new energy and green molecules sectors. He was a member of the Standards Committee which updated the NZ gas standards to permit biogas blending in to the gas network.
The roles and experiences have developed Nick’s strategic thinking, development and delivery of pragmatic solutions and allowed him to work across all levels of organisations to achieve the desired outcomes, skills he intends to bring to his role as a director.
Nick is keen to ensure Biofuels and sustainable chemicals are a seen as a key and credible long term solutions to help businesses and families operate in a more sustainable and future focused.
Nick lives in a strawbale house he and his wife built 15years ago with their 2 (now) teenage children. .
Tony Vranjes
Director
Eqlbm Innovation & Consulting
Tony has an MBA and is a chartered chemical engineer with global leadership experience in the energy sector. He has worked across Asia and North America having direct experience in the SAF and renewable diesel market development and project buildout in those regions. Since returning to New Zealand, he has been a staunch advocate in development of the country’s bioenergy resources, leading Clarus Group’s Future Fuels strategy and project development. In his current role he is a principal consultant and director of Eqlbm, partnering with some of New Zealand’s largest energy companies to develop biogas, biomass and liquid fuels projects.
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)
Paul Bennett, Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI),
IEA Bioenergy & Marine Biofuels Start-up Company
Acting convener
Visit liquid biofuels website
See Paul's profile in the Board members section above.
Working groups
- Agricultural Feedstocks
- Residential wood pellet heating - vacant
- Pacific bioenergy - Leigh Ramsey (Blended Fuels NZ)
Professional Standards and Complaints Committee: To avoid conflicts of interest, the Board appoints members as needed.