Nick Stonier
Energy Transition Manager, Worley New Zealand
“I want my children to grow up in a world where resources are used wisely.”
Since the early 2000s, Nick has had an interest in renewables and energy efficient buildings. So, when he emigrated to New Zealand from the UK, it was to follow his dream to live a more sustainable existence with his family.
“I wanted to build my own straw bale house. They’re energy efficient and warm in winter and cool in summer,” he explains.
“Before we left the UK, I did a Master of Science degree in Architecture: Advanced Environment and Energy Studies, which covered sustainable architecture, design and building.
And it means that today, I’ve achieved my goal. We live in New Zealand in a straw bale house, which my wife and I designed.
“It has passive heating, a wood fire fueled by our own trees, and solar water. Outside in the paddocks, we have a couple of organic beef cattle and free range chickens.”
New Zealand’s energy transition journey
A trained chemical engineer, Nick’s first job in New Zealand was with Worley working mainly in oil and gas. Then after a six-year gap, he returned to Worley as the Process, Safety and Risk Manager with a specialist interest in the energy transition. In July 2021, he became Worley New Zealand's Energy Transition Manager.
“I get to help our customers with their energy transition journeys. This includes looking at how they use their energy and what opportunities there are to improve that. We can then provide them with sustainability roadmaps.”
Supporting careers in New Zealand
Nick sees finding energy transition specialists as being one of the biggest challenges facing New Zealand right now.
“We’re working hard to change that,” he says. “We start young, offering STEM programs in local schools and scholarships and work placements for university students. We also provide mentoring and coaching to all our graduates to help shape their careers.”
He also knows that experts are never far away thanks to the wonders of technology.
“We have access to the expertise of our people around the world. I can be in a meeting with a customer who wants to know about carbon capture, and I can connect them to the relevant expert at Worley.
Nick hopes that the future will be a better one for his two children.
“I want them to grow up in a world where resources are used wisely,” he says. “That’s a journey for our industry. But I can already see changes occurring with the repurposing of some refineries, the growth in waste to energy projects and the development of new processes to support decarbonization while maintaining our modern lifestyle.”
