MEDIA RELEASE: 18 AUGUST 2011
Z Energy takes premier title at Deloitte energy awards
* Special award for Roger Sutton
The Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards were held last night in Auckland to recognise achievement and excellence in the
New Zealand energy sector.
Over 650 guests attended the black-tie event at the Langham Hotel.
The Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hon Hekia Parata, was the guest of honour and keynote speaker at the event.
The minister congratulated all the winners and finalists. "Recognising those who achieve excellence in any field of
industry is an important part of a successful country," she says.
Z Energy won the Overall Energy Company of the Year award. The company, born out of the sale of Shell's service station
business and associated infrastructure to Infratil and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, had a stellar year according
to the judging panel. The company successfully re-branded and localised an otherwise decentralised operation - a
challenging task in its own right, returning a healthy earnings lift in the process.
Roger Sutton received the Energy News editor's award for outstanding contribution to the sector. Sutton was chief
executive at Canterbury lines company Orion from 2003 until this year when he left to become chief executive of the
newly established Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.
Energy News editor Gavin Evans said that while Sutton's performance at Orion during the earthquakes was outstanding, his
biggest contribution to the industry was in the culture and professional rigour he harnessed and developed at Orion
since becoming chief executive in 2003.
Contact Energy's James Kilty won Young Energy Executive of the Year and Patrick Strange from Transpower won Energy
Executive of the Year.
Contact also received the inaugural Innovation in Petroleum award for the development with Origin Energy of the Ahuroa
gas storage facility in Taranaki.
Over 60 entries were received across the 10 categories. Chairman of the Judging Panel, Peter Griffiths, says that the
calibre of entries was very high. "The judging panel has been in the privileged position of seeing the work of New
Zealand's best energy businesses and learning of their successes," he says. "It was a real challenge to select finalists
and ultimately winners from the diversity and high quality of entries."
The principal sponsor for the event is Deloitte.
Deloitte partner and energy sector leader Paul Callow congratulated all the winners in this year's Deloitte Energy
Excellence Awards.
"Deloitte is thrilled to again be associated with recognising the best and brightest in the energy sector, and the
valuable contribution they make to New Zealand's economy. The entries in this year's awards were outstanding, and
clearly showed that innovation and striving for excellence is well and truly alive in the sector."
The MC for the evening was TV newsreader Michael Wilson. Half-time entertainment was provided for with a surprise visit
from Peter Feeney playing Beau Tyler.
The event was attended at an executive level within the energy sector across the electricity, gas and petroleum
disciplines.
The event is run annually by Freeman Media, publisher of online news and information service Energy News.
THE WINNERS:
Innovation in Electricity Award - sponsored by Gentrack
Powerco - Leading Innovation
Innovation in Petroleum Award - sponsored by ITL
Contact Energy & Origin Energy - Ahuroa gas storage facility
Excellence in Health & Safety Award - sponsored by Siemens
MB Century - The Path to HSE Excellence
Environmental Excellence Award - sponsored by PEPANZ
Meridian Energy - Project Te Uku - Premier Wind Farm Development
Young Energy Executive of the Year - sponsored by Minter Ellison Rudd Watts
James Kilty - Contact Energy
Energy Executive of the Year - sponsored by Transfield Worley
Patrick Strange - Transpower
Lines Company of the Year - sponsored by TE Connectivity
Powerco
Energy Retailer of the Year - sponsored by Deloitte
Mercury Energy
Overall Energy Company of the Year - sponsored by Port Taranaki
Z Energy
Editor's award for outstanding contribution to the sector - sponsored by EECA
Roger Sutton
ENDS