Member Connect and Distinguished Fellow Award presentation

Networking

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Speaker(s): Patrick Strange, Warren Dalzell
Date: 5:30pm — 7:15pm, 17 February 2026
Venue: The Northern Club
Location: 19 Princes Street, Auckland
Price: $0.00 incl GST

Overview

We look forward to celebrating Auckland branch’s newly appointed Distinguished Fellows, Patrick Strange DistFInstD and Warren Dalzell DistFInstD, at a Member Connect presentation, and the opportunity to network over drinks and canapés.

The Distinguished Fellow Award is the IoD’s highest accolade. Distinguished Fellow awards are awarded to IoD members who have had a prominent and distinguished career as a director, and have contributed positively to business and society.

An invitation-only dinner for IoD Fellows will follow this event, starting at 7.15pm. RSVPs to the emailed invitation. For further details please email carla.britz@iod.org.nz

Patrick Strange

DistFInstD

Patrick earned his doctorate at Auckland University’s Engineering School before spending 13 years working in Europe and the United States. Returning to New Zealand in the 1990s, he joined Fletcher Challenge’s international energy business and later Mercury Energy, where he led the response to the 1998 Auckland Power Crisis and became Chief Executive. Following the acquisition of Power New Zealand, he formed Vector, New Zealand’s leading electricity distribution company.

After leaving Vector, Patrick directed the national response to the 2003 power crisis, served on Contact Energy’s board, and later became Chief Executive of Transpower in 2007. There, he oversaw a multi-billion-dollar grid reinvestment and managed the System Operator.

Since retiring in 2013, Patrick has held directorships with Mercury Energy, NZX, Chorus, Auckland Airport, and others, chairing Chorus and Auckland Airport until 2024. He remains a director of Transgrid and has received multiple leadership awards, including NZ Chair of the Year in 2022.

Warren Dalzell

DistFInstD

Warren has enjoyed a long and varied career in industry and business. He has undertaken GM and CEO roles in New Zealand, Canadian and Australian manufacturing and distribution firms. Heritage brands - Canterbury, Jockey, Donaghys and NDA – were sector leaders in apparel, textiles, fabrication, engineering, dairy capital equipment and animal health. Latterly, he has served numerous medium sized companies and industry groups as a non-executive director, eight of which as their chairman. Before and between these leadership responsibilities, for many years Warren has advised, consulted or mentored owners and managers in fields such as strategic direction and implementation, business excellence, performance management, organisational development and Mergers & Acquisitions transactions.

A Chartered Accountant for 54 years and a member of the Institute of Directors for 32 years, he has served as a National Councillor of the IOD NZ and remains a Branch volunteer as facilitator. Other areas of community service have included education (as lecturer and trustee), regional economic development, social finance, sports and The Royal New Zealand Navy.

Additional information

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Branch event cancellation policy

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