Powerco electricity leader recognised with Engineering Fellowship
General Manager Electricity at Powerco, Karen Frew, has been awarded a Fellowship by Engineering New Zealand, recognising her contribution to engineering and demonstrated leadership within the industry.
Brought up in Taranaki, where she continues to live and work, her interest in engineering was sparked at New Plymouth Girls High School by inspiring maths and physics teachers, and by seeing major industrial developments take shape during the region’s ‘Think Big’ era.
She began her engineering studies at University of Canterbury as one of only five females in a class of 100 and has since built a career spanning over two decades in the energy sector, with 23 years at Powerco.
Karen Frew is passionate about understanding customer needs and how Powerco can add value, and believes having great people is what enables the business to deliver for its customers and communities, with engineering offering the opportunity to contribute to something bigger than yourself.
She said building a diverse workforce will be critical to meeting the evolving needs of the energy sector.
“There’s so much work to do as demand for electricity grows, and we need a diverse range of people and perspectives to help solve those challenges,” says Karen Frew.
“I’d encourage young people, especially females, to get involved in STEM and consider a career in engineering. It's a rewarding career with so many opportunities to use your skills to solve problems for our communities and contribute to the economic growth of New Zealand.”
Alongside her career, Frew has raised four children and credits strong family support for enabling her to balance both.
At Powerco, she leads its electricity business, supporting the delivery of reliable electricity to homes and businesses across the regions it serves.
Karen Frew will formally receive her Fellowship on 20 March.
Brought up in Taranaki, where she continues to live and work, her interest in engineering was sparked at New Plymouth Girls High School by inspiring maths and physics teachers, and by seeing major industrial developments take shape during the region’s ‘Think Big’ era.
She began her engineering studies at University of Canterbury as one of only five females in a class of 100 and has since built a career spanning over two decades in the energy sector, with 23 years at Powerco.
Karen Frew is passionate about understanding customer needs and how Powerco can add value, and believes having great people is what enables the business to deliver for its customers and communities, with engineering offering the opportunity to contribute to something bigger than yourself.
She said building a diverse workforce will be critical to meeting the evolving needs of the energy sector.
“There’s so much work to do as demand for electricity grows, and we need a diverse range of people and perspectives to help solve those challenges,” says Karen Frew.
“I’d encourage young people, especially females, to get involved in STEM and consider a career in engineering. It's a rewarding career with so many opportunities to use your skills to solve problems for our communities and contribute to the economic growth of New Zealand.”
Alongside her career, Frew has raised four children and credits strong family support for enabling her to balance both.
At Powerco, she leads its electricity business, supporting the delivery of reliable electricity to homes and businesses across the regions it serves.
Karen Frew will formally receive her Fellowship on 20 March.
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