Pioneer Energy Limited is an active investor in new sustainable energy developments and partnerships through our subsidiary Pioneer Energy Group. As a whole, we are committed to providing energy solutions that benefit our communities for generations to come.

Pioneer Energy Limited pays dividends to our owner the Central Lakes Trust. These dividends are then redistributed back to the Central Lakes region through charitable grants and projects.

Board of Directors

  • Rob Hewett - Chair

    Rob is the Co-Chair of Silver Fern Farms Limited, Chair Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited, New Zealand Woolscours Limited (Woolworks), Fern Energy Limited, Hilton Haulage Limited and Pioneer Energy Limited, as well as a Director of T&G Global Limited, Pulse Energy Limited, Silver Fern Farms Co-operative Limited and Woolcorp Limited.

    Rob is immediate past chair of Silver Fern Farms Co-operative limited, a past Councilor of Lincoln University and previous Chair of the Strong Wool Action Group (now Wool Impact). He is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a graduate of Lincoln University, holding an M.Com (hons)- (Marketing)and a B.Com (Ag) (Economics).

    Rob farms 10,000 sheep and beef stock units on a carbon negative breeding/finishing and forestry farm of 1020ha in Manuka Gorge, South Otago. Rob won the Deloitte Top 200 Chair of the Year award in 2023, and the Co-operative Business New Zealand Outstanding Contribution Award in 2019.

  • Bill Moran

    Bill has extensive management and governance experience, including as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Secretary of the NZ Treasury, with particular focus on economic, financial, and organisational strategy.

    Currently, Bill holds governance roles with government, private sector, and charitable organisations. He is Deputy Chair of WorkSafe NZ and a council member of Te Pūkenga. He is an independent member of the Audit and Finance Committee of the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

    He is Chair of Chamber Music At The World’s Edge Foundation NZ and a trustee of Youthtown, the Parliamentary Education Trust, Hoops and Life Awhi Trust, and Iti Kōpara.

    In the 2019 New Year Royal Honours, Bill was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to State, Sport, and Youth.

  • Jackie Cheyne

    Jacqueline is a professional director and is currently a Director of New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited, Queenstown Airport Corporation and Stride Property Group.

    Jacqueline is also a Member of the External Reporting Board where she chaired the committee responsible for the development of the climate risk reporting standards, the recently established Sustainability Reporting Board, Chair of Snow Sports NZ, and a member of the Audit Oversight Committee of the Financial Markets Authority.

    Jacqueline has over 25 years of experience in financial audit and advisory services, including 11 years as a partner at Deloitte in audit and assurance. Jacqueline led Deloitte’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability services function for Deloitte New Zealand for nine years.

  • Tony Balfour

    Tony has extensive global experience in a diverse range of industries and geographies. His executive experience includes senior roles at Nike, Lion Nathan, Icebreaker and Seek.com in NZ, Australia and USA.

    Tony has been a director on the Boards of Silver Fern Farms, Methven Industries, Mt Difficulty Wines and Blis Technologies. He is currently an independent director on the Boards of The Warehouse Group, Les Mills International, and RealNZ.

  • Dr Don Elder

    Don's a civil engineer and has worked in NZ, Canada, Australia, the UK and US. He's been CEO/MD of companies in resources, energy, construction and manufacturing and led startups and growth companies in the energy and tech sectors. Previous directorships include ASB Bank, Sovereign Life, Halifax Port Commission (Canada), Napier & Lyttelton Ports, Orion and Alpine Energy, CO2CRC (Australia), and as chair Infratec, Spanbild, Concision, CCN Health Alliance and Mutu, and industry/business organisations in NZ and internationally. Don’s currently also a director of Wenita (forestry) and CSI (earthquake resilience), chair of Family Help Trust and trustee of The Loft (social services).

    He now lives primarily in Wanaka.

  • Michelle Morss - Board Intern

    Currently managing a portfolio that includes Economic Development, Strategic Growth, Policy, Resilience and Climate Action, iwi relationships and the local government reform programme, Michelle has worked for QLDC for the past eight years. She is the primary QLDC liaison for the delivery of the district’s first Destination Management Plan and its keystone project to decarbonise the tourism system.

    Prior to accepting the role to head up this new division within QLDC, Michelle’s focus was on pandemic recovery across the economic, environmental, social and cultural aspects of community wellbeing. With a background in the private sector, she started and grew a group of companies across Asia Pacific, working and living in Australia, Singapore and China. Originally from the UK, she holds Masters qualifications in Modern History and also Public Management. Today she is pleased to call Glenorchy home.