28 Nov 2025
Auckland, 27 November 2025 — Transpower is delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 STAR (Safety, Thanks and Recognition) Awards, celebrated this evening in Auckland. Now in their eighth year, the STAR Awards shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of individuals and teams across New Zealand’s electricity transmission sector, recognising those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to health, safety, and wellbeing in the workplace.
18 finalists were selected from more than 50 nominations, a testament to the sector’s ongoing dedication to innovation, leadership, and the continuous improvement of safety practices.
Transpower Chief Executive James Kilty said, “We are thrilled to recognise these outstanding individuals and teams. Acknowledging progress and innovation in health and safety is vital. While we celebrate our successes, we remain committed to raising the bar for safety excellence across the industry. The STAR Awards remind us that safety is both an individual and shared responsibility, and that leadership can come from anyone, at any level.”
Among the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the Future of Safety Award, which honours trainees or apprentices who have shown outstanding commitment to workplace safety. This year, Ruby Raymond (Omexom) was announced as the winner with fellow finalists Callum Fowden (Ventia) and Zack Jensen (Ventia) recognised for their exceptional dedication to safety, and proactive leadership.
The Hauora | Wellbeing Initiative Award, which recognises initiatives that enhance physical, mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing, was awarded to Northpower for their “People Networks: Looking After Our People’s Wellbeing” programme. Their outstanding commitment to mental health and wellbeing, innovative support programmes, and measurable improvements in workplace safety and mental health literacy set them apart. Electronet’s Wellbeing Ecosystem and Programmed FM’s Fostering Culture and Connection were also acknowledged as finalists for their impactful initiatives.
In the Thought Leadership category, Lee Aldworth (Cake Commercial Services) was honoured for being a go-to leader in training, innovation, and mentoring, shaping a culture of safety and continuous improvement. The sector also recognised the valuable contributions of finalists Tim Drake and Andrew Middlemiss, both from Ventia, for their influential work in health, safety, and wellbeing.
Teamwork was celebrated through the Team Safety Award, which went to a collaborative group comprising Northpower, Transpower, Pipeline & Civil, and CB Civil for their exemplary work on the Brownhill–Pakuranga Cable Jointing Project. Their rigorous planning, innovative risk controls, and open communication achieved zero-harm outcomes and set a new benchmark for collaborative project delivery. Hitachi Energy’s ‘Team Up for Safety’ and Ventia’s Southern Lines Team were also recognised for their commitment to safety culture, continuous improvement, and technical excellence in high-voltage transmission work.
The Frontline Leadership Award, recognising exemplary leaders committed to health, safety, and wellbeing, was presented to Naki Tuipulotu of Ventia. Naki’s calm, respectful leadership and unwavering commitment to mentoring trainees and transforming complex projects into models of frontline excellence were particularly commended. Finalists Victor Howell (Programmed FM) and Wade Fallon (Ventia) were also celebrated for their leadership.
Innovation was at the forefront with the Safety Innovation / Safety by Design Award, which went to Charlton Carney (Omexom) for developing a simple yet highly effective LED indicator system that provides real-time visual confirmation of live high-voltage cables, significantly reducing risk to workers, enhancing supply security, and exemplifying innovation with real-world impact. Dialog Fitzroy Tower Services and Clayton Henry of SRG Global Asset Services Ltd were also recognised for their inventive approaches to improving safety across the industry.
A special Judges’ Commendation was awarded to Jack Leask (Downer), whose hands-on leadership, passion for innovation, and commitment to fostering a best-practice safety culture stood out among this year’s nominees.
The evening culminated in the announcement of the STAR Supreme Award, chosen from the six category winners. This prestigious honour recognises the person or team who has demonstrated the greatest positive outcomes for health, safety, or wellbeing across all categories. This year, the Supreme Award was presented to Lee Aldworth, whose leadership and dedication have made a significant impact across the sector.
Transpower extends its thanks to the STAR Awards judges: Francois Barton (Chief Executive, New Zealand Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum), Mark Worsfold (Program Director, Babcock International Group), and Dr Keith Turner (Former Chair, Transpower Board).
For more information, please contact:
Transpower Media Phone: 021 195 8613