About Us
Institute Staff
Dr Keith Turner has 39 years experience in the New Zealand electricity industry and has spent the last 25 years in senior executive positions. He has played a key role in the reform of the industry, in both review teams and acting for government on a range of industry boards to establish Transpower, Contact Energy, Meridian Energy and M-Co (the market operations company). Keith has held positions as Managing Director DesignPower (a professional engineering consultancy to the electricity industry), Chief Operating Officer for ECNZ, prior to its breakup, and as a specialist industry advisor on a range of reform initiatives and development projects. Having sat on the Market Surveillance Committee of the New Zealand electricity market from 1996 to 1999, Keith later accepted the position of Chief Executive of Meridian Energy. After nine years leading Meridian, Keith made the decision to resign in March 2008 to pursue new challenges.
Rick leads the New Zealand Institute. He was a strategic management consultant for more than 25 years and was the founding partner of the Boston Consulting Group in New Zealand. An Accredited Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Rick’s recent directorships include ASB Bank, Sovereign Insurance, Wellington Drive Technologies (chair), and Simtics. Rick has worked with leading companies in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.A in a wide range of industries including financial services, industrial distribution, energy, telecommunications, information technology and on-line, transport, manufacturing, and agriculture. He has a Ph.D. in Environment Management from the University of Auckland, a Master of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management, and a Master of Arts (Psychology) from Victoria University of Wellington. Rick has university teaching experience in psychology, social work, research methodology, business strategy, and managing change. He has publications in social welfare, mathematical psychology, the educational sociology, strategic management, business ethics, and economic development.
Catherine Harland, Project Leader
Catherine Harland is the Project Leader at the New Zealand Institute with a background in research, consultancy and public policy in local and central government. She has 15 years experience as an elected local government member within the Auckland region, serving on and chairing major regional and city committees. Catherine has worked in the Ministry of Transport and in the private sector in marketing and administration roles, developing her first career as a professional market researcher. Prior to joining the Institute she worked with AUT University’s Institute of Public Policy and was engaged in consultancy work with the Auckland water industry. Catherine is a Justice of the Peace and chairs the Auckland Observatory and Planetarium Trust Board (Stardome Observatory). She has a MBA from the University of Otago, a Diploma in Business (Marketing) from the University of Auckland and a BA in political science and sociology from Victoria University of Wellington.
Dan Bidois is a Research Analyst at the New Zealand Institute and is working on the NZAhead project, on economic strategy, and on ensuring supply of capital and talent to New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem. Dan has a B.A. in Economics, a B.Com in Marketing, and a B.Com (Hons) in Economics from the University of Auckland. Dan was previously a consultant with Deloitte, advising public sector clients on strategy and operational issues. Dan has recently been accepted into the John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Master in Public Policy programme at Harvard University.
Lisa Bailey, Executive Assistant
Lisa Bailey manages the operational systems which facilitate the work of the Institute including executive support, office administration, organisation and events management, communications activities and assistance in maintaining business intelligence.