AWARDS FINALIST: Matthew Cleland – Contact Energy
Matthew Cleland is a highly regarded energy industry professional with an impressive career to date, and a lot more ahead of him.
He started with Contact Energy in 2007 on a three-month contract researching the viability of a new LPG sales opportunity. His talent was quickly spotted, and he moved to a full-time position in the trading team, holding a number of impressive leadership roles including head of trading and general manager of the wholesale arm in his 10-plus years there.
Highlights from that period include the first electricity swaption between Contact and Genesis Energy, being part of the user group that helped establish New Zealand electricity futures on the ASX, and preparing the business case on the 2015 closure of the Otahuhu B power station.
Market-leading projects
Contact says his mature and confident approach has seen him involved in many market-leading projects – including the firm’s partnership with Lightsourcebp to co-develop grid scale solar, the creation of carbon forestry partnership Drylandcarbon, and numerous high-volume hedge agreements with other electricity generators.
He has been a key driver of Contact’s mission to build a better Aotearoa by leading the decarbonisation of the electricity sector. In the past 10 years, Contact increased the renewable share of its energy portfolio from 60 per cent to close to 90 per cent. Cleland was able to successfully steer Contact’s portfolio through increasingly volatile market conditions whilst juggling the demands of decarbonisation.
His practical approach, intricate knowledge of the electricity trading market and detailed commercial knowledge mean he’s often the first choice to represent Contact’s interests.
Wind and solar
Contact’s executive leaders have a huge amount of trust and confidence in Cleland’s abilities.
That saw him given the opportunity in June 2022 to step into the role of head of wind and solar. A new area of electricity generation for Contact, it required someone with his skill set – a knowledge of the electricity market, strong commercial acumen, and effective stakeholder relationship management skills.
Cleland was instrumental in the Contact/LSbp joint venture being selected to develop a solar farm as part of Christchurch Airport’s Kōwhai Park energy precinct. A significant project for New Zealand, the process was highly competitive with much interest from national and international organisations. He considers this partnership the highlight of his career.
Valuable team member
Cleland’s team and colleagues speak highly of his mature approach to decision making. They describe him as the “go-to guy”, and as someone who is intelligent, approachable, a good listener, and with strong negotiation skills.
The Contact whānau is very proud of his accomplishments and considers him an incredibly valuable member of the team.
“He’s a good communicator, patient, happy to talk through things, he listens and understands. He’s good at sharing success and lets others shine,” says Jen Stephen, senior forward markets trader at Contact.
Cleland appreciates his role at Contact and being given “the space to think outside the box and stretch myself.”
“The bit I love the most is seeing the outcomes to actions – seeing the work I contribute to making a difference to the sector and knowing I was part of making that change to our renewable goals.”
The Young Energy Professional of the Year Award category is sponsored by Phoenix Metalman Recycling