Orion and Northpower team up

Orion Group and Northpower have announced a partnership to share knowledge and collaborate on developing the skills needed to meet the future demands of the electricity industry.

The partnership stems from an initiative by the Energy Academy which is fostering cross-industry collaboration on learning and development.

Orion Group Transformation Lead, Jono Brent, said the two organisations shared many of the same challenges and combining forces to work together on projects made good sense.

“The initial purpose of the collaboration will be to combine our efforts to accelerate building up our skill-base to support New Zealand’s decarbonisation efforts. We’ve a lot to learn from each other.

“The demand for more people with the right skills in our industry is escalating. With both organisations contributing ideas and testing our thinking, we hope to accelerate our progress towards ensuring our industry has the capability needed for the future.”

Northpower Chief Executive, Andrew McLeod, says he’s looking forward to the two organisations combining their efforts.

“By collaborating with Orion and potentially others, we will be able to play a bigger game and deliver greater value to our communities and the industry.”

The Energy Academy is facilitating the initiative, and Academy Lead, Deanna Anderson says she hopes this will be the first of many cross-industry collaborations.

“One of the Academy’s goals is to galvanise the sector and encourage energy innovation.

“We’re all facing the same challenges – an aging workforce, a gap in the skills we need for the future and a race to decarbonise.

“If the industry comes together to leverage, capture and grow existing knowledge and skills, rather than try and do this independently, we will be able to accelerate the industry’s goals.”

The Energy Academy is inviting other energy sector organisations on board and information on the initiative can be found on energyacademy.co.nz.

Source: Orion NZ Ltd

Northpower Chief Executive Andrew McLeod (l) and Orion Group Transformation Lead Jono Brent (r) shake on the partnership.