Electricity industry stalwart, Barrie Leay, dies suddenly

Electricity industry stalwart, Barrie Leay, dies suddenly

By Pattrick Smellie

Feb. 7 (BusinessDesk) – Long-time electricity sector leader Barrie Leay has died suddenly, in Australia.

The NZAX-listed company of which he was chairman, Windflow Technology, announced his death in a statement to the exchange this afternoon.

Mr Leay had been attending an alternative fuels conference in Sydney last week, reflecting his involvement on the boards of several early stage renewable energy projects, including Windflow.

He was admitted to hospital after falling ill, and died shortly afterwards.

UK-born, with a shock of white hair, a hearty laugh and pugnacious when required, he rose to prominence in the electricity industry as executive director of the Electricity Supply Association, a far more powerful organisation before sector reforms in 1998 separated local network monopolies from the retail customers served.

In that role, he was an early advocate for adoption of energy efficient technology by electricity retailers.

He also served as chair of the APEC Energy Business Network in the Asia Pacific.

“Barrie was a larger-than-life character who seemed invincible”, said Windflow chief executive Geoff Henderson. “His optimism and enthusiasm for renewable energy, coupled with his technical knowledge and can-do attitude has made a lasting difference to the industry. He will be sorely missed by all those who worked with him”.

Barrie Leay was 73.

(BusinessDesk)