Dennis Barnes to join Mercury Board

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NEWS RELEASE

Dennis Barnes to join Mercury Board

20 July 2021 – Senior Australasian energy sector leader, Dennis Barnes, has been appointed to the Mercury
Board effective 1 September 2021.
Mr Barnes joins the Board as a replacement for Keith Smith, who retires at the 2021 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting
in September after more than 12 years’ service.
Mr Barnes was most recently Chief Executive of Contact Energy, a nine year role during which he led that
company’s investment in renewable energy and flexible generation (including construction of the Te Mihi
geothermal power station, the development of the Tauhara field and the introduction in 2011 of the Ahuroa gas
storage facility and Stratford peaking plant). Before this role, Mr Barnes managed Origin Energy’s significant
portfolio of wholesale markets activities. Mr Barnes holds an MBA from Sheffield University Management School
and a BSc (Hons) in Metallurgy and Microstructural Engineering from Sheffield Hallam University.
Mercury Chair, Prue Flacks, said she was delighted to be welcoming Mr Barnes to the Mercury Board.
“We have been working carefully towards an appointment that would ensure the Board added operational
experience at the highest level in the New Zealand energy industry” Ms Flacks said.
“Mercury is entering a development phase, with the construction of our first wind farm and the potential for further
development of assets currently held by Mercury and assets to be acquired from Tilt Renewables. Mercury is well
placed to make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of New Zealand, but it is critical that we have a
Board with the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise to ensure we deliver this strategic objective for the
benefit of New Zealand and all our stakeholders,” said Ms Flacks.
Mercury’s Chief Executive, Vince Hawksworth, welcomed the appointment.
“Dennis has a deep understanding of New Zealand’s energy markets, large scale asset investment and delivery
experience, as well as much to contribute to Mercury in a broader sense including Health and Safety and people
leadership”.

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ENDS
Howard Thomas
General Counsel and Company Secretary
Mercury NZ Limited


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ABOUT MERCURY NZ LIMITED
Mercury’s mission is energy freedom. Our purpose is to inspire New Zealanders to enjoy energy in more wonderful
ways and our goal is to be New Zealand’s leading energy brand. We focus on our customers, our people, our
partners and our country; maintain a long-term view of sustainability; and promote wonderful choices. Mercury is
energy made wonderful. Visit us at: www.mercury.co.nz
“I know Dennis is looking forward to making an ongoing contribution to the decarbonisation of New Zealand and
continuing his personal connection to Aotearoa,” Mr Hawksworth said.
Under Mercury’s constitution, Mr Barnes is required to retire before the next Annual Shareholders’ Meeting in
September 2021 and stand for election by shareholders at that meeting.
The Board has determined that Mr Barnes is an independent director for the purposes of the NZX Listing Rules.