Our Directors
The Northpower Board of Directors includes a Chair and Directors appointed by the Northpower Trust.
Mark Trigg, Chair
B Eng Chemical and Materials
Ex officio Audit and Risk Committee
People and Capability Committee
Mark brings extensive industry experience with a career in the energy sector encompassing asset management, operations, strategy, market trading and portfolio management, and large-scale project management. He has also held roles in the financial markets industry.
Mark’s current directorships include Liquigas, Ngāti Tūwharetoa Holdings Limited and subsidiaries.
Richard Booth, Director
MBA, Dip Ag
Audit and Risk Committee
Richard brings a robust governance background to the Northpower board, with previous directorships in the food and dairy industries including Delta Produce, Northland Dairy Co-op, the New Zealand Dairy Board, Kiwi Co-op and Fonterra. He also recently served as a ministerial appointee to the commission governing Kaipara District Council.
Richard additionally has private interests in two dairy farms and an avocado orchard.
Phil Hutchings, Director
B.Eng. (Hons), Dip Bus Admin
Audit and Risk Committee
Phil qualified as a mechanical engineer and later added business qualifications. He has worked widely across Australia's mining sector and led the commercial side of a large export-oriented mine and refinery. He had ten years' experience at partner level in corporate finance, mainly in energy and resources.
Phil's later career included consulting to the energy and renewable sectors. He has served as General Manager and CEO, including two years in the renewable sector in Europe.
Michael James, Director
BCom, CA
Audit and Risk Committee Chair
Michael’s senior executive financial experience in the hi-tech and innovation sector aligns well with Northpower, where he’s been a director since 2014.
Michael’s previous roles include CFO for Plant and Food Research, CFO for Navman and General Manager Europe for Dynamic Controls.
Michelle Kong, Director
BA (Hons I), LLB, L.Mus.A
People and Capability Committee
Michelle brings extensive experience in infrastructure industries to the Northpower board, with experience in strategy, customer and market insights, pricing, corporate finance and growth ventures across the telecommunications, media, building products, waste management and airport sectors. Michelle is passionate about ensuring companies have the right focus, culture and capability to build future focused strategies for a changing world.
Michelle has previously been a Future Director at Auckland Airport and an Independent Director at Snakk Media, and is now part of the leadership team at Smart Environmental as Head of Strategic Projects.
Laurie Kubiak, Director
MAICD, GAICD, MInstD
People and Capability Committee Chair
Laurie’s international career has spanned commercial and strategic roles across the energy, ICT, telco, aviation and infrastructure sectors. Previous responsibilities include leading multi-disciplinary teams across Europe, the US, Africa and Asia for some of the world’s FTSE 100 companies.
Laurie is the Chair of NZSO and Chair of Trustees Executors Limited. Since 2014 Laurie is the Chief Executive for NZIER.
Laurie brings a wealth of commercial strategy, economic, policy and regulation expertise to the Northpower board.
Kevin Drinkwater, Director
BCom, CA
P&C Committee, Investment Committee
Kevin brings extensive technology, finance, and supply chain experience to the Northpower board. He is passionate about Northland, having been born and raised here, and educated at the three Kamo schools, before moving to Auckland for University.
Kevin brings a wealth of new business development, strategy, and change management expertise, having worked in the United Kingdom and the United States, and is a seasoned global business traveller.
Currently the chair of Duffy Books in Homes NZ, a founding board member of Books in Homes USA, and a director of Far North Holdings, Kevin is a past director of the SPCA Auckland and TUANZ.
Kerry Friend, Director
CAANZ, CMInstD, AICD, BMS
Audit & Risk Committee, Investment Committee
Kerry brings three decades of financial management experience to the Northpower board, along with strong governance and risk management expertise. Kerry is passionate about lifting performance to maximize shareholder value.
Kerry, who was born and bred in Whangarei, started with EY Wellington before embarking on a career across Asia, primarily in the media and entertainment sector.
He is a founding shareholder and Executive Director of Trade Window Holdings Limited and has previously held senior finance positions with Take-Two Interactive Software (Singapore), Jupiter TV (Japan), Bloomberg (Japan) and News Corporation (Japan). Kerry holds a Bachelor of Management Studies from the University of Waikato, is a Chartered Accountant, a Chartered Member of the NZ Institute of Directors, and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
