Our people
As a Kiwi company, it’s only right that Z Energy is managed in Aotearoa New Zealand. Say hello to our executive team.
Lindis Jones — Chief Executive Officer
Lindis was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Z Energy on 1 March 2023. He has been with Z since 2010, where he's held several different executive roles including, GM Corporate, responsible for Z's original strategy development, and Chief Financial Officer. He was responsible for the integration of the Chevron New Zealand Business in 2015-16 and oversaw the integration approach to Ampol's acquisition of Z in 2022. Lindis is a Board Member of Loyalty NZ. He served as a Director of Channel Infrastructure from 2019 to December 2023 and was on the Board of Flick Electric – the electricity retailer wholly owned by Z – from 2018 until May 2023.
Lindis has a strong personal commitment to helping Aotearoa New Zealand shift to a low-carbon economy, and doing that in a way that ensures energy security and affordability.
Nicola Law — Chief Financial Officer
Nicola was appointed Chief Financial Officer in February 2023. She has been a part of the Z whanau for over nine years, and a member of the Executive Team since April 2021. Prior to CFO, Nicola led Z’s Commercial Business Unit, responsible for the sales of petrol and diesel to Aotearoa New Zealand businesses, as well as all of Z’s sales across the aviation, marine and lubricants markets.
Nicola has held several roles during her nine-year career at Z including Supply Chain Manager, Commercial Aviation and Marine Manager, Corporate Communication & Investor Relations Manager, along with working on several special projects, including the acquisition of Chevron New Zealand, the Fuel Market Study and the development of Pumped, Z’s loyalty and rewards program that launched in August 2019.
Prior to joining Z, Nicola spent nine years at BP in varied roles including Regional Operations Manager based in Perth, Western Australia, responsible for the safe and reliable operation of the company’s seven terminals in the state.
Andy Baird — General Manager, Customer
As General Manager, Customer, Andy is responsible for Z’s end-to-end customer experience across retail and commercial networks and is driven by a focus on execution and service delivery.
Andy is also responsible for Z’s brand promise, that Z is for New Zealand, and our commitment to solve what matters for a moving world.
Andy has an extensive retail, sales and marketing background. He held several executive roles throughout his 23-year career with BP, including Retail General Manager for BP New Zealand where he launched BP Connect and led the development of Wild Bean Café, and Senior Vice President of Marketing with BP America.
Returning to New Zealand in 2010, Andy created his own consultancy business, Brandxp, where he delivered marketing consultancy and customer experience programs for leading retailers throughout Australasia. During this time one of Andy’s key projects was leading the design, development and rollout of the Z brand in 2010. In 2019 he re-joined Z as General Manager Retail before taking the expanded role of General Manager Customer in 2023.
Debra Blackett — General Counsel, Z Energy & Climate Change
As General Counsel Z Energy and Climate Change, Debra is responsible for all of Z’s internal and external legal affairs as well as climate change law and regulation across the Ampol Group. Debra also manages Z’s regulatory affairs squad and Community and Sustainability Team.
Debra has a strong background in corporate law and in particular, competition law, regulation, and mergers and acquisitions. She held similar roles at BP New Zealand, ANZ New Zealand, and Telecom (now Spark) following a private law role at Chapman Tripp. She has an LLB (Hons) from Auckland University School of Law and is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Debra’s notable work includes the recent acquisition of Z by Ampol in May 2022, as well as the clearance application and acquisition by Z of Chevron’s Caltex NZ network, and the Commerce Commission market study and implementation of the Fuel Industry Act regime.
Debra is passionate about the way corporates conduct themselves in the communities and regions they work in and advocates for ethical corporate citizenship. She is also an advocate for Diversity and Inclusion, and currently sponsors the development of Z’s neurodiversity group.
Helen Sedcole — Head of People & Culture and Group Ambition Lead
A member of the Z leadership team since 2018, Helen is committed to growing people and organisations to be successful being themselves.
Helen came to Z with a wealth of experience across blue-chip multinationals. She and her team are focused on growing our organisational capabilities which are critical for success now and in the future, and being guardians of the employee experience at Z. Their work on culture, capability and innovation around our employee experience has been externally recognised through both accreditation with both the Rainbow and Gender Tick communities, and also external recognition through the HRNZ Awards.
Julian Hughes — General Manager, Supply
Julian leads Z's Supply team, overseeing the operations that enable Z to keep our customers moving wherever they may be in Aotearoa New Zealand. Julian has held a variety of Executive roles at Z, most recently GM Transition focused on Z's transition out of the crude oil supply chain to support a move to a low carbon future.
For the two years prior, Julian was General Manager of Strategy and Risk and before that, he was General Manager of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, leading a transformation programme to improve operational risk management at Z.
Julian has over 20 years’ experience working in senior roles in the public and private sectors in Aotearoa New Zealand business. He has a master's degree from the University of Auckland and is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Mandy Simpson — Chief Digital Officer
Mandy joined Z in 2019 as the company’s first Chief Digital Officer, responsible for leading the charge towards a digital first and data-driven future, and providing leadership for Z’s digital function.
Originally from the UK, Mandy holds a law degree from Cambridge University. She has an executive background in financial, operations, and technology roles, including as Chief Operating Officer at NZX. Mandy is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, and a member of New Zealand Global Women.
Want to be part of this exceptional team?
We're always looking for exceptional people to join the Z family. Check out our current vacancies.