YEPN

Young Energy Professionals Network

What is YEPN?

Get involved in the Energy Sector

The BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC) has established a Young Energy Professionals Network (YEPN).
This is a new and exciting opportunity for BEC members, their young professionals and others in the energy industry to build networks and broaden and deepen their understanding of the energy sector.
The YEPN performs many functions including leadership development opportunities. The YEPN up-skills members through knowledge sharing and collaboration within the energy community.

Some of the things we do:

  • Mentoring and coaching
  • Networking events
  • Seminars (external and internal presentations)
  • Workshops
  • Roundtables
  • Industrial submissions
  • Site visits
  • Presentation opportunities
  • News updates

Our People

Meet the YEPN team

Esther Tomkinson

YEPN

Esther is a Sustainability and Strategy Analyst at Mercury, with over five years of experience in the energy sector in various roles. She became actively involved in YEPN shortly after joining the industry and has served on the YEPN committee for about four years.

Driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact, Esther currently serves as Co-Chair alongside Elliott. She is passionate about educating others about the energy sector and promoting diversity within the future workforce. Her ambition is to increase the number of school and university leavers entering the energy sector, aiming to prevent an aging workforce and ensure the long-term vitality of energy in Aotearoa.

Esther is excited about the growth within YEPN and the opportunities it provides for young professionals. She looks forward to continuing her efforts to foster a dynamic and inclusive energy sector.

Elliott Powell

YEPN

Elliott is Derivatives Manager at Genesis. He is passionate about the energy sector and has been working in it since graduating from his engineering degree. He spent a few years designing aspects of power stations, including geothermal and hydro. After adding a degree in finance he starting working in the New Zealand wholesale energy markets, trading both gas and electricity. He is driven by the desire to meaningfully contribute to the decarbonisation of New Zealand’s energy sector over his career.

Elliott is passionate about helping young people to realise how broad and interesting the opportunities in the energy sector are. He applied for the role of Co-chair of YEPN to tell the story about our sector more; to help develop the next generation of leaders and to build connections between them.

Contact YEPN

Take on the World Together