Meet the Board

Rob was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the New Year Honours 2020 list for his services to business. He is currently Chancellor of AUT. Rob holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economic History and Political Science and a Masters of Philosophy in Economics.

Elena is currently Chair of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and director of Harrison Grierson Holdings Limited, Marsden Maritime Holdings Limited, Ngāpuhi Asset Holdings Company Limited, Contact Energy, Callaghan Innovation and Chair Construction and Instructure Workforce Development Council Interim Establishment Board. She is also an external advisory member of the joint New Zealand Defence and Ministry of Defence Capability Governance Board. Elena is a chartered fellow of the Institute of Directors, fellow of Engineering NZ and Past President and holds a Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology and a Master of Civil Engineering.

A Taranaki local, Brian was born and raised in New Plymouth where he attended Francis Douglas Memorial College and he affiliates to Ngaruahine and Ngati Mutunga Iwi of Taranaki.

Brian is a chartered member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and is currently the Chair of the Taranaki Health Foundation Trust, Chair of the Te Hanataua Ahu Whenua Trust, advisory board member of the Wells Group and previous chair of BeSafe Taranaki.

Ken is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, having completed a BBS majoring in Accounting and Finance at Massey University, and he’s a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Significant milestones for the company during his time as CEO include the acquisition of the Taupō and Rotorua electricity network in 2002, the Facilities Management Agreement signed with Centralines in 2003, the establishment of Unison Contracting Services Limited (UCSL) in 2007 and Unison Fibre Limited in 2009.

Also in 2009, the Unison Group purchased ETEL, New Zealand’s largest transformer manufacturing company.  In the years following, the Group continued to grow, acquiring RPS Switchgear in 2019 and high voltage specialist organisation PBA in 2022.  During Ken’s tenure ETEL has established ETEL Services, ETEL Transformers Pty Limited in Australia, and Lucky Light Globalindo, a distribution and small power transformer manufacturer domiciled in Indonesia.

As Group Chief Executive of the Unison Group, Ken also was Chairman of Unison subsidiaries UnisonFibre Limited, Unison Contracting Services Limited, Unison Insurance Limited, PBA and its subsidiaries, RPS Switchgear and its Subsidiaries, and distribution transformer manufacturer, ETEL Limited and its subsidiaries.

Paul joined Firstgas after working for nearly fifteen years within New Zealand’s electricity and gas distribution sector in a variety of legal, commercial, regulatory and operational roles.  In his time at Firstgas Group, Paul has been deeply involved in the acquisitions of Rockgas and the Ahuroa gas storage facility, both in 2018 and the 2023 acquisition of the Eastland Electricity Distribution Network (subsequently renamed Firstlight Network). 

Paul is a Chartered Accountant, Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and a member of the Institute of Directors. Paul is currently Chair of Liquigas and Director of industry co-regulatory body, the Gas Industry Company.

Paul lives in Taranaki with his family.