Tracey Kai
Tracey Kai is the Chief Executive of Electricity Networks Aotearoa (ENA), which represents all 28 local lines companies. She joined ENA in 2023 after time at the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, where she was the GM, operations. She has previously had roles at New Zealand Rugby as its GM, communications, and had senior brand, marketing and communications roles with The Co-operative Bank, Wellington City Council and Meridian Energy.
Antoine Coffin
Kaihautū | Chief Executive, Waikato River Authority
Antoine Coffin (Raukawa, Ngāti Apakura, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui) is the Kaihautū (Chief Executive) of the Waikato River Authority, a co-governance entity committed to restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River for future generations.
Antoine brings over 30 years of experience in resource management, freshwater governance, Treaty settlements, and cultural heritage protection. His work bridges the technical, cultural, and political dimensions of Aotearoa’s environmental landscape, underpinned by a strong grounding in Te Ao Māori.
Antoine has served as an Independent Commissioner on over 50 hearings across the country, including high-profile freshwater and urban development plans. He holds accreditation as a certified RMA Commissioner with Chair endorsement.
Prior to leading the Waikato River Authority, Antoine co-directed Te Onewa Consultants, advising central and local government on Māori engagement, infrastructure, spatial planning, and policy design. His career also includes senior roles in regional councils, heritage agencies, and iwi organisations, alongside a decade of community governance, including board positions in economic development, sport, and heritage.
Helmut Karewa Modlik
Tumu Whakarae – CEO
Helmut is an experienced director, executive, and consultant with specialist skills in implementation and change management, business, and economic development (including new venture identification, planning, and establishment), strategic analysis and planning, public policy, and finance. Helmut has extensive consulting experience in a wide range of private and public sectors (particularly health) including appointment to the boards of PHARMAC, Capital & Coast District Health Board, Health Information Standards Organisation, and Health Information Strategy Action Committee.
Simon Drew
Simon Drew is Fulton Hogan’s National Water Manager and a recognised leader in New Zealand’s water sector, with more than 25 years’ experience spanning local government, consulting and infrastructure delivery. Prior to joining Fulton Hogan, Simon was General Manager Infrastructure & Development at Dunedin City Council, leading major asset, planning and investment programmes. He is passionate about creating sustainable, resilient water services that deliver long-term value for communities. Simon brings practical perspectives on sector reform, future workforce capability, attracting and developing talent, and client-supply chain collaboration to achieve enduring outcomes across New Zealand’s water infrastructure.
Jason Cotton
Jason Cotton is the Program Director at Intelligent Water Networks (IWN), where he leads collaborative innovation programs that help Victoria’s water sector identify, trial and adopt emerging technologies to build a more resilient and future-focused sector. Jason is passionate about connecting utilities, researchers and technology providers to solve complex challenges and accelerate the delivery of practical, sustainable solutions.
Jason joined Intelligent Water Networks (IWN) in 2023 from Greater Western Water (GWW) where he was the Manager of Innovation and Continuous Improvement and played a key role in the integration of GWW by leading the Operations Stream Integration.
Jason holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree from Flinders University and studied under Gary Hamel at the Innovation Academy in the US.
Lorraine Kendrick
Lorraine is a strategic and innovative leader with a proven record of shaping and delivering water services at both national and local levels. Recognised for leading regulatory reform across the New Zealand water sector, providing high-level legislative and policy advice, and steering the successful implementation of new service delivery models.
Chartered Engineer with over 27 years of experience spanning central and local government, engineering consultancies, and civil contractors. Demonstrated expertise in financial stewardship, business performance oversight, and operational excellence.
Brings deep governance and strategic leadership capability, complemented by extensive stakeholder engagement and a commitment to sustainable water management. Experienced in board-level leadership and reporting, with a history of influencing policy and driving sector-wide change.
Former President and Board Chair of Water New Zealand, and committee roles underscore a career dedicated to advancing infrastructure and water services for communities nationwide.
Philip Aldridge
With an extensive background in commercial enterprises, NGOs, and government organisations, Philip joined after leading Waihanga Ara Rau Workforce Development Council. His prior experience includes tenure as Executive Director of the Health Association of NZ, and leadership roles with Infratrain, Telecom NZ and Superu (Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit).
Having led initiatives to improve the Canterbury Rebuild’s labour supply, in conjunction with the infrastructure and construction industry, education providers and Government agencies, Philip understands the challenges and opportunities involved with transformational programmes of work involving many stakeholders. Philip has a strong passion and vision for the Energy and Infrastructure Industry Skills Board (ISB) and has rapidly recruited a motivated team to help move the organisation from the establishment start-up phase to full operation in a short space of time
Brighid Kelly
Brighid joined Transpower in March 2018 and was previously General Manager People at Tourism New Zealand. Prior to this, she held senior executive and line management positions at Te Papa, Telecom, BNZ and Fletcher Challenge Forests. Brighid brings diverse industry and functional experience across a number of sectors, and has helped transform several organisations to successfully meet their future challenges.
Brighid has accountability for the areas of HR, Organisation Development, Health and Safety, Facilities, Grid Skills our Private Training Establishment and Operational training at Transpower. She has sector leadership roles supporting skills and education, health and safety leadership and diversity, equity and belonging.
Outside of work Brighid enjoys time with friends and her family. Her adult daughters continue to keep her and her husband busy, but mostly with holidays these days.
Roanna Purcaru
Roanna Purcaru is a Service Line Leader and Lead Engineer at GHD with 15 years of experience delivering multidisciplinary water infrastructure projects across New Zealand, the United States, and the Pacific. Her experience in the water sector includes water and wastewater master planning, stormwater management, asset management and consenting, with a focus on applying an integrated One Water approach to support the delivery of functional, community-focused assets.
She is particularly interested in how infrastructure planning and delivery can better reflect the needs and perspectives of diverse and underserved communities. Alongside leading operational teams and exploring labour market challenges within the water sector, she is interested in how service providers and supply chains can build the capability and capacity needed to deliver for New Zealand. Named the 2025 Water New Zealand Young Water Professional of the Year, she brings experience in building and supporting high-performing teams, developing talent pathways, and insight into long-term workforce capability in the water sector.
Jamie Sinclair
Jamie Sinclair was appointed chief executive of Watercare in June 2025, following an extensive career in both the public and private sectors across New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Prior to stepping into his current role, Jamie served as deputy chief executive and chief corporate services officer at Watercare, where he led finance, people and culture, legal, and health and safety functions.
A qualified accountant with a degree in management studies from the University of Waikato and a postgraduate diploma in environmental management, Jamie brings a unique blend of financial expertise and environmental insight to the role. His career has spanned audit, change management, and executive leadership, including seven transformative years with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, where his positions included chief executive of the Trust.
Jamie is passionate about people, partnerships, and performance. He is leading Watercare through a period of significant change as it becomes a financially independent and fully regulated utility. With a multi-billion dollar investment plan over the next decade, Jamie is focused on delivering for Aucklanders while strengthening relationships across the sector, with mana whenua partners and key stakeholders.
Deborah Hart
A solicitor by training, Deborah chairs Utilities Disputes Limited and chaired the Consumer Advocacy Council which advocated for residential and small business electricity consumers. She chairs the Holocaust Centre of NZ and is a member of the Human Rights Review Tribunal which determines privacy, human rights and health and disability cases.
Deborah chaired Aoteoroa New Zealand’s independent electoral review and undertook the last two reviews of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme
A former executive director of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand, Deborah regularly advises on complaints schemes and also advises clients on government relations.
A regular on RNZ’s The Panel, in her spare time, Deborah hangs out with family and friends.
Deborah Lind
Deborah is a Chartered Chemist and Scientist with a 30-year career spanning governance, strategic, and technical advisory roles across professional services, local government, and utility services in the UK, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and Aotearoa New Zealand.
A recognised thought leader in the Water industry, Deborah has built her reputation through active involvement in Water New Zealand conferences as a speaker, thought leader and session chair, while consistently advancing the sector through published papers and her commitment to technical excellence and driving value and efficiency.
As New Zealand Industry Lead for Water at Aurecon, Deborah works with a team of water professionals who are at the front of New Zealand’s water industry transition. Her work with the National Transition Unit under Local Water Done Well reflects her commitment to supporting the establishment and success of New Zealand’s new water entities.
Deborah’s governance and leadership credentials include former Board Member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at Water New Zealand, member of the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australasia (ISCA) Water Advisory Group, and IPWEA roles promoting best practice asset management.
A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Deborah is a Global Women member and chairs Water New Zealand’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group.