The Board
Tony Balfour
Chairman
Tony has extensive global experience in a diverse range of roles, industries and geographies. His executive experience includes senior roles at Nike (Managing Director Australia; General Manager – Asia), Lion Nathan (Marketing Director), Icebreaker (General Manager) and Seek.com in NZ, Australia and USA. He has deep expertise in Consumer and Market Development, New Product Development, Digital Innovation and Talent/Organisation development.
Tony has been a director on many of NZ leading Boards including: Silver Fern Farms, The Warehouse Group, Methven Industries, Mt Difficulty Wines, Blis Technologies, Bluelab Ltd, and Boosted.com. Currently, as well as Pioneer and Ecogas he is an independent director on the Boards of Realnz Tourism and Agnition Ventures (A Ravensdown company). He Chairs Ecogas Limited and the Pioneer Remuneration Committee.
Tony also coaches a number of NZ CEOs and advises multiple companies on strategy. He has written two popular books on governance: “A Word in Your Ear – a Field Guide for Virgin Directors” and “The Maverick Manifesto – 37 Tips to Improve your Boardroom Impact”.
Karen Titulaer
Karen has worked internationally in strategy, partnership, sustainability and risk roles. Working for the Royal Bank of Scotland during the global financial crisis highlighted for Karen the link between long-term business viability and sustainable decision making.
While leading the Legal, Risk and Sustainability teams at Villa Maria Estate Ltd, Karen chaired the Glass Packaging Forum Committee. From there she developed a passion for the role of product stewardship in a circular economy. Karen now chairs the Paint Product Stewardship Working Group and is strategic adviser to EcoStock Supplies Limited among other circular economy focused organisations.
Grant Smith
Grant is an energy market advisor, specialising in commercial and electricity market developments with an emphasis on clean energy and carbon emissions management.
His experience in the electricity industry covers most parts of the value chain. His specific skillsets are combining innovative change concepts with the more practical and pragmatic business planning disciplines.
Grant has provided commercial guidance to Ecogas Limited Partnership through the initial Limited Partnership set-up and technology due diligence processes as well as supporting the preparation of the investment business cases, market and funding proposals resulting in securing government regional development loans for Reporoa Project.
He continues to provide commercial and market contracting oversight to Ecogas Limited Partnership in his role as board member.
Paul Ware
Paul is a chemical engineer and has been involved with the energy industry for 22 years. He is currently the chair of Rotokawa Joint Venture and a director for Tauhara North No2 Trust financial arm. Paul is also the managing director of an industrial electrical and automation business in the Waikato.
In past roles he has led engineering and project teams in diverse range of large industrial organisations, led a large geothermal operations and maintenance team with multiple sites, and led the development of two large geothermal power stations. He lives in Cambridge.