John Clarke, is General Manager System Operations and Innovation at Transpower New Zealand Ltd. The System Operations component of the business manages real-time co-ordination of supply and demand for the New Zealand power system and other security-related functions. In his capacity as General Manager Innovation, John is responsible for a coordinated approach to achieving Transpower’s strategic innovation goals. John joined Transpower in 1998, having held several senior consulting and electrical distribution company roles. John spent ten years in senior System Operations roles through to 2008, and contributed to the evolution of the regulatory framework for the delivery of the System Operator service in New Zealand.From 2008-2014 John was Transpower’s GM Grid Development, a role that led the planning, scoping and approval of projects to add capacity to the New Zealand power system as part of a $3.8 billion grid expansion programme as well as seeking regulatory approval for major projects and overall expenditure. Since 2014, John has overseen improvements to the relationship and delivery of the System Operator service with the electricity industry regulator and participants alike. More recently his innovation focus has been on improving insights and developing a future-focussed coordinated approach.