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19th OERC Symposium 2025

Resilience and Security

Held 27–28 November 2025 at the University of Otago campus.

The theme of the 2025 OERC symposium was Security and Resilience.

  • Recent examples have demonstrated the fragility of our energy systems that are critical to our modern economy and social well-being.
  • In the future, these systems are likely to face increasing risks from weather extremes.
  • The energy transition provides an opportunity to create both a more resilient and more sustainable energy system.

View the 2025 symposium programme

Keynote Speakers

Craig Evans imageCraig Evans (Flexforum)

Craig Evans is FlexForum’s Chief Doer. This job involves cat-herding, making it easy for experts to share their expertise, asking probing questions, sometimes mediating disputing perspectives, and packaging everything up into clear, actionable insights.

Before this 'best of jobs', he had many interesting experiences working in electricity regulators in New Zealand, and in Australia's Northern Territory and New South Wales.

Demand flexibility aims to use smart control of distributed energy resources to reduce electricity lines congestion, align demand with variable renewable supply and achieve a more resilient electricity system. Flexforum is a consortium of organizations from across the electricity ecosystem looking to catalyze the market for demand flexibility in New Zealand.

View recording: Enabling flexibility to deliver resilient and secure power outcomes

Ben Anderson imageBen Young (BusinessNZ Energy Council)

Ben is the Policy Advisor for the BusinessNZ Energy Council ( BEC ), where he supports the development of policy submissions, engages with key stakeholders, assists in event coordination, and monitors emerging trends and developments in the energy sector. He works closely with the Executive Director to ensure that BEC remains a leading voice in shaping New Zealand’s energy future.

Ben holds a Master’s degree in international studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Otago. His academic work has focused on international policy, maritime security, and the intersection of economic interests and governance.

Ben brings a combination of policy insight, analytical rigour, and practical experience to his role, along with a strong interest in the evolving challenges of energy security, market reform, and sustainability.

The BusinessNZ Energy Council ( BEC ) is a membership organization focused on achieving a sustainable, equitable, and secure energy future for New Zealand. BEC is the New Zealand representative of the World Energy Council.

View recording: New Zealand in a changing energy world

Hugh Marshall-Tate imageHugh Marshall-Tate (He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission)

Hugh is a principal analyst at the He Pou a Rangi, Climate Change Commission. He joined the Commission in 2022, focusing on the modelling and policy advice for the transport and energy sectors. He has contributed to the commission's advice on emissions reduction plans, emissions monitoring, the ETS , as well as the advice on 2024 emissions budgets and targets. Before joining the commission, Hugh worked for an international energy economics research Institute.

He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission provides the Government with advice, monitoring and reporting that supports Aotearoa New Zealand's transition to a climate-resilient, low emissions future.

View recording: Working towards a thriving, climate-resilient and low-emissions Aotearoa New Zealand

To receive symposium updates, please request to join our mailing list.
Email oercadmin@otago.ac.nz

Panel discussion – Defining Resilience

Panel members

  • Janet Stephenson, University of Otago
  • Craig Evans, Flexforum
  • Gareth Cartwright, Community Energy Network
  • Ben Young, BusinessNZ Energy Council

VIew recording: Panel Discussion: Defining Resilience

Contributing presenters

Logo for Ara Ake: Future energy developmentStudent Prize Sponsor: Ara Ake

Best student presentation: Zhiting Chen
Summertime Thermal Risks and Energy Poverty in Aotearoa’s Low-Income Housing: Current Conditions and Future

Best student poster: Ahmad Ahmad
Advancing Energy System Resilience through Machine Learning Based Wind and Load Forecasting

Past symposia

18th OERC Symposium 2024 -  Our Changing Relationship with Energy

21–22 November 2024, Barnett Lecture Theatre, University of Otago campus, Dunedin

17th OERC Symposium 2023 – An Energy Research Agenda for 20250

23-24 November 2023, Main Common Room, University of Otago Campus, Dunedin

16th OERC Symposium 2022 – An Equitable and Low-Cost Energy Transition

28–29 November 2022, Room 1.17 Otago Business School, University of Otago campus, Dunedin

15th OERC Symposium 2021 – The Challenge of Net Zero by 2050

18–19 November 2021, Room 1.17 Otago Business School, University of Otago campus

14th OERC Symposium – New Energy Futures post COVID-19

19–20 November 2020, Room 1.17 Otago Business School, University of Otago Campus

13th OERC and OCCNET Energy & Climate Change Symposium 2019

21–22 November 2019, Hutton Theatre, Otago Museum

12th OERC Energy and Climate Change Symposium 2018

22–23 November 2018, Hutton Theatre, Otago Museum

11th annual OERC Symposium 2017 & Ag@otago Colloquium

23–24 November 2017 at the Hutton Theatre, Otago Museum

10th annual OERC Symposium 2016 & Transport Colloquium

10–11 November 2016 at the Hutton Theatre, Otago Museum

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