Abraham Simpson

25 years experience in performance management, including 7 years as Chief Executive of a Pacific Nation power and water utility; 13 years in institutional reform of utilities and corporate transition management, extensive experience in project management of electrical utilities, managing power production and distribution networks, in Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Extensive experience working with donors and managing donor funds. Extensive experience in HR development and training. BE (Electrical) from Canterbury University (NZ), qualified in vocational training, economic decision-making, financial management, strategic cost management, supply-chain cost-reduction. Technical training development and delivery.

Qualifications

  • BE (Electrical), Canterbury University, New Zealand
  • Vocational Teacher Training Certificate (Electrical Engineering), Institute of Vocational Training, Sagamihara, Japan.
  • Diploma in Economic Decision-making, Association of Professional Engineers and Managers and Deakin University, Australia.
  • Diploma in Management Development Program, Monash Mt Eliza Business School
  • Diploma in Accounting & Financial Management, Monash Mt Eliza Business School
  • Diploma in Marketing Management, Monash Mt Eliza Business School
  • Diploma in Strategic Human Resources, Monash Mt Eliza Business School
  • Diploma in Leadership in Action, Monash Mt Eliza Business School
  • Diploma in Strategic Planning & Implementation, Monash Mt Eliza Business School
  • Diploma in Advance Strategic Cost Management, Monash Mt Eliza Business School
  • Diploma in Strategic Financial Skills, Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Diploma in Strategy-led Reporting, Australian Graduate School of Management
  • Diploma in Urban Transport Planning & Design, Nanyang Technological University & Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

Experience Highlights

  • Seven years as CEO of the Nauru Utilities Corporation (NUC), managing the day to day operations of the Nauru Utilities Corporation which produces all electricity and water for the island nation.
  • Responsible for the rehabilitation of NUC’s electricity network including Generation and Distribution plans, feasibility studies for power development and renewable energy development, project implementation, and network operations.
  • Overseeing installation of two new energy-efficient, medium-speed 2.9-megawatt diesel generators.
    • The work was completed under the Nauru Electricity Supply Security and Sustainability Project, which was approved in 2014 with initial grant funding from the Asian Development Bank and the European Union, and later supported with additional funding from the governments of Australia and Nauru.
  • Develop and implement the five-year Strategic Plan for the Corporation which included:
    • transformation of corporate culture.
    • implementation of the renewable power development plan to achieve 50% contribution by 2020.
    • implementation of plan for water security, quality and delivery.
    • consider and introduce sewerage management function in the corporation.
    • improvement of financial situation to make NUC financially sustainable by 2020.
    • establishment of a full Board of Directors with governance procedures fo executing its functions.
    • establishment of a performance management system based on the balanced score card and the 360-appraisal framework.
    • rehabilitation of the power station, distribution network and all wiring standards and installations.
    • coordinating projects funded by donors such as the Asian Development Bank, Australian Government, European Union, MFAT – New Zealand, IUCN, JICA and others.
  • Fiji Electricity Authority: General Manager Planning & Business Development.
    • Operation of the Fiji Electricity Authority’s network
    • Develop business strategy and long term plans for generation, transmission and distribution.
    • Develop and negotiate Power Purchase Agreements to allow private sector participation in the generation of electricity.
    • Implement the business strategy regarding increased renewable energy generation.
  • Fiji Electricity Authority: Business Analyst/ General Manager Change Management
    • Manage the corporate change program required to respond to financial difficulties.
    • Formulate Generation strategy & plans
    • Business impact analysis
    • Negotiate Power Purchase Agreements to allow private sector participation in power generation.
    • Negotiate the Energy Conversion Agreement outsourcing the repair and maintenance of the major diesel power stations.
    • HR and IR negotiation on redundancy, restructure and employee work conditions.
    • Identify and oversee implementation of quality improvement projects.
    • Introduction of a performance management system based on the balanced scorecard framework.
    • Report directly to the Chairman of the Board.
  • Fiji Electricity Authority: Senior Training Officer (Electrical)
    • Training needs analysis
    • Identify and develop appropriate training programs for Engineers & technicians
    • Program delivery in electrical engineering
    • Incorporate HR development as part of project design and implementation.
  • Fiji Institute of Technology: Lecturer in Power Systems Operations and Instrumentation & Control.
    • Development of curriculum and units for the Diploma and Certificate in Electrical Engineering program.
    • Program delivery in power systems, electrical machinery, instrumentation & controls.