Qualifications

• Higher National Certificate (ME) 1965
• Post Graduate Diploma in Air Conditioning 1966
  

Profile

George has over thirty years business experience and founded his own consulting company in 1987. He is a past member of the New Zealand Grid Security Committee and the Electricity Governance Establishment Committee and Chairman of the Kapiti Arts Trust. He is a past director of Dunedin Electricity, Waipori Power, Otago Citygas, Delta Energy, Phoenix Energy Limited and RMB Energy Group.

Originally qualified as a building services engineer in the United Kingdom George has worked for a number of major architectural and engineering practices in New Zealand in the capacity as project engineer on hospital and university buildings. As Director of the Energy Management Unit at Otago University he undertook the development and commercialisation of a program that saved the University NZ$8 million in five years. He was responsible for the campus energy development plan and the planning and development of an integrated property management system.

George founded Energy Group as a University of Otago technology transfer company in 1989. The company was later privatised and expanded to employ 45 consultants. The company introduced computer simulation technology for buildings to New Zealand using the DOE2 and ESP packages. The company was also responsible for developing the computer simulation models WPSIM and IMAS that facilitated training of industry staff and the development of the New Zealand Wholesale Electricity Market. Energy Group was one of only a few private companies to hold New Zealand Foundation for Science and Technology research grants since their introduction and is recognised as a leader in the field of drying technology.

align="justify"Expansion across the Tasman has seen Exergy Australia established as a leading energy consulting company for both State and Federal Government. A major player throughout the electricity reform process in New Zealand, George was a technical adviser to WEMDG and subsequent market development groups including GSC and EGEB. He has been a consultant to most major manufacturing companies and held a senior board position in the Major Electricity Users’ Group with responsibility for contestable advice to government ministers and officials.

Email: grhome@xtra.co.nz