Our Team
Board Members
Jonathan Kay
CHAIR
A senior executive and leader in infrastructure, technology, and process, Jonathan Kay is currently Chair at Waipā Networks. He is also the director of multiple organisations, including Whitestone Contracting Limited, Network Waitaki Limited and Lone Wolf Enterprises. His extensive experience within these sectors enables him to draw on his strategic insight, commercial acumen and astute marketing skills in a dynamic work environment.
Jennifer Kerr
DIRECTOR
Jennifer Kerr is an experienced executive, governor and member of many business organisations. She is Chair of WorkSafe, Chair of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Deputy Chair of Callaghan Innovation, a member of the New Zealand Police Assurance & Risk Committee, and Director of Eke Panuku Development Auckland.
Shane Ellison
DIRECTOR
Shane Ellison is a proud member of Ngāi Tahu, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāti Ruanui. He has extensive experience in senior leadership and as a CEO, leading diverse teams, managing financials, and overseeing assets. With over 11 years of board experience, Shane has served on the Dunedin International Airport Limited and Auckland Light Rail Limited boards. Earlier in his career, Shane managed small rail networks and high-voltage electricity systems.
Jen Crawford
DIRECTOR
Jen Crawford has extensive governance experience across infrastructure, environmental management, and regional development. She currently serves on the boards of Orion New Zealand Ltd, Christchurch NZ, Nelmac, and MHV Water, and is Chair of Rangitata Diversion Race Management Ltd. Jen has a professional background as a resource management lawyer, having practised for over 20 years in New Zealand and the UK, including as a Partner at Anderson Lloyd.
Alex Ball
DIRECTOR
Alex Ball is an experienced non-executive director of both governance and advisory boards for a range of NZ-based, medium-sized and growth companies. He has helped companies through changes in strategy and business model, open up new markets, build additional capability and mentored a number of founders and CEOs. He has significant finance and commercial leadership experience, including roles as CFO of Vector, Transpower, TelstraClear, and EROAD. Prior to that, he had two decades of experience working in professional services in the UK, Australia, Singapore and New Zealand. He started his professional career as an engineer working in the power generation sector in the UK.
Michelle Walker
SECRETARY
Michelle Walker is a highly experienced enterprise administrator. Michelle joined the Waipā Networks Board as Secretary in November 2018. She is currently the lead Enterprise Administrator for the CEO. Michelle has a passion for communicating with key stakeholders.
Executive Leadership Team
Damien Whiffen
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Damien Whiffen joined Waipā Networks as Chief Executive in April 2026, bringing extensive executive experience across the electricity distribution sector in New Zealand and Australia. He has held senior leadership roles with organisations including MainPower, Essential Energy, Orion and Alpine Energy, with a strong focus on asset management, operations and strategic investment.
A Chartered Professional Engineer, Damien is focused on operational excellence, safety and delivering reliable, resilient electricity networks for the communities we serve. He has significant experience leading large teams and delivering programmes that support network performance and sustainability. Damien is passionate about building strong relationships with customers, stakeholders and communities, and is committed to positioning us for the future through innovation, resilience and a strong community focus.
Meg Hocking
ACTING GENERAL MANAGER FINANCE
Meg Hocking joined Waipā Networks in March 2025, bringing extensive experience across finance, commercial leadership and business partnering. A Chartered Accountant, she began her career in audit before progressing through management accounting, financial control, commercial analysis, systems, governance and senior finance leadership roles.
Meg brings a collaborative and commercially focused approach, with a strong focus on process improvement, automation, simplification and compliance. She is passionate about developing people and building high-performing teams, while using strong financial insight to support effective decision-making. Meg is committed to driving innovation, embracing change and strengthening our financial capability to support the long-term performance of the business.
David Fuller
GENERAL MANAGER SAFETY, CUSTOMER & PROCUREMENT
David Fuller joined Waipā Networks in September 2023 and brings extensive experience across occupational health and safety, project and change management, business transformation and human resources. He has held senior roles with organisations including Transpower, WEL Networks, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, HSE Global and ECL Group.
A collaborative and versatile leader, David combines strong operational expertise with a deep understanding of wellbeing, shaped by his background as a mental health nurse and group psychotherapist. He is committed to supporting our people and advancing our vision for the benefit of the wider Waipā community.
Mat O'Neill
GENERAL MANAGER NETWORK
Mat O’Neill joined Waipā Networks in November 2024, bringing more than 25 years’ experience across electricity generation and distribution. He comes from a trade background as a registered electrician and holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Canterbury.
Mat brings deep experience across electricity distribution, generation and utility services, with a strong focus on asset planning, operational resilience, large data analytics and engineering governance. He has led large-scale capital and operational programmes and has a proven track record delivering data driven solutions.
Amanda Wood
ACTING GENERAL MANAGER PEOPLE, TECHNOLOGY & ENGAGEMENT
Amanda Wood joined Waipā Networks in June 2024, bringing extensive leadership experience across people, strategy and business performance in energy and utilities, professional services, highly unionised environments and tertiary education. Her career includes senior leadership and HR roles, advising executives and people leaders on complex employment matters and supporting organisations through significant change.
Amanda brings broad expertise across employment relations, workforce strategy, organisational design, performance, capability and employee engagement. She takes a practical and commercially focused approach, connecting people strategy with business priorities. In her current acting role, her remit also includes technology, communications and engagement, ensuring these functions support our wider strategic priorities.
Weihao Zhou
GENERAL MANAGER NETWORK INTELLIGENCE
Weihao Zhou joined Waipā Networks in September 2022 and is a Chartered Professional Engineer with nearly 20 years’ experience in the power industry. A University of Canterbury graduate, he began his career as a consultant engineer at ElectroNet before joining WEL Networks in 2010, where he progressed from planning engineer to leading the engineering team. He also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies during this time.
At Waipā Networks, Weihao brings strong practical engineering expertise and proven leadership. He is experienced in delivering complex projects and is passionate about developing people, strengthening capability and driving positive organisational change.