Kevin Mackey

The 2006 Life Membership Award was presented to Kevin Mackey, an engineer who has spent the last 37 years being a part of, and influencing the shape of, the New Zealand electricity supply industry. In 2005, Kevin retired both from the industry and as EEA President.

Kevin joined the industry in 1968 and until his retirement has been 'ever present' within organisations linked to New Zealand's national grid. When he joined NZED, it was at a time of significant national grid investment, the focus of which was to take New Zealand forward for the next 40 years. When Kevin retired last year, the 40 years was up and he was leading the fight for the next traunch of significant investment in the national gird. His four decades of work reflects his commitment to meeting the needs of customers and communities everywhere.

For much of his national grid career, Kevin was involved in the operation and maintenance of grid assets, and was a key driver in the development of the outsourcing of this work not just within Transpower, but across the whole industry. This approach is now the standard practice used by industry. Kevin's other management passion and legacy to the industry is in the area of safety. Over many years, he has been an industry advocate for a greater focus on safety standards, procedures and performance and, while working with the late Ian Crabtree, he finally got industry to agree on a set of national industry safety documents. This work came to fruition in 1995 with the publishing of the first Electricity Industry Safety Rules. These documents are living, breathing documents and, under Kevin's Chairmanship of the EEA's Safety Strategy & Policy Group, are regarded by regulators and industry as the minimum safety standards for the industry. The Safety Rules are also cited by regulators and other industries as the leading example of industry self regulation.

Kevin joined the EEA in 1990 following a major review of the organisation that expanded membership beyond the traditional power company boundaries. He joined the Executive Committee in 1993 as the first transmission industry representative on the Board, and was President of the Association from 2000 to 2005. He was also a member of a number of key EEA committees, including the Safety Strategy & Policy Group and the Electricity Regulations Review Group. He continues to chair the Safety Strategy & Policy Group, who are responsible for the continual update and review of the safety rules. Kevin, by all reports is enjoying his retirement from the industry.

Kevin Mackey