Our People | Western Energy

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Meet Our Team

At Western Energy, our team of geothermal well specialists is dedicated to driving innovation and delivering tailored solutions that optimise well performance and reduce energy costs. Based in New Zealand and operating globally, we pride ourselves on our collaborative approach and Kiwi ingenuity, working closely with clients to meet the unique demands of every project.

Marcus Prestney General Manager

Marcus is a seasoned energy professional and has previously been with Contact Energy for 9 years across a plethora of roles.  Marcus’s most recent position was the Ohaki/Tauhara Business Lead role in the Generation and Trading team, where he made a substantial impact across his portfolio. Gas turbines, steam turbines, binary plants and generation plants made for a combination of learning and leading experiences throughout that time. Now positioned as General Manager for Western Energy he leads a team of 40 towards their collective goal of being world leaders in geothermal well services. He’s previously worked for large industrial chemical businesses across NZ, including the largest fertilizer manufacturer Ballance Agri nutrients, Orica, ICI chemicals, and Chemical cleaning.    Marcus has a proven track record of leading high-performing teams, delivering complex projects, and driving innovation and growth through continuous improvement models. He has led large maintenance teams, held senior project coordination and supervisory roles, and comes from a planning & maintenance trade background which enables him to connect at all levels. A family man, based in Taupo New Zealand, means he’s well positioned amongst some of New Zealand’s geothermal wonders.

Angus Howden International BD Manager

Angus has 15 years of experience in resource and energy sectors and holds an MSc in geology and an EMBA. Starting his career as a professional geologist in Australia, he later became a technical advisor to the New Zealand Government for the energy sector, before transitioning into the geothermal industry. Operating extensively in Asia-Pacific, Angus uses his technical and commercial acumen to adeptly bridge the gap between industry intricacies and business imperatives, enabling him to cultivate deep and enduring relationships. Angus excels in stakeholder management, corporate governance, and business development, leveraging his extensive and diverse background to drive sustainable growth.

Darren Inglis Finance Manager

Darren has been the Finance Manager at Western Energy Services Ltd since January 2022. As a chartered accountant, my previous experience includes 8 years with chartered accountancy firms specialising in cloud-based accounting systems.

Toby Ryan Technical Services Manager

Toby brings 15 years of engineering experience in the energy industry and holds a BE in Chemical and Process Engineering, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Oil and Gas Engineering. He started his career as a well intervention engineer in Russia and Malaysia, before moving into subsea engineering where he worked as an operations engineer and team lead on major projects in West and North Africa, and Europe. Toby joined Western Energy in January 2021 as a project engineer, gaining in-depth technical and operational knowledge of all Westerns service lines before stepping into the Technical Services Manager position.

Matt Steele Intervention Manager

Matt’s energy industry career started in Alberta, Canada with CTS/SLB as a coiled tubing operator working primarily in shallow completion wells in central Alberta. From there, Matt took his coiled tubing career to STEP Energy Services where he found himself stationed predominantly in northern British Columbia, Canada working on high pressure gas wells. Matt joined Western Energy in 2019 as the Coiled Tubing Supervisor before moving to the Intervention Lead role in 2021.

Brian Porteous Wireline Manager

Brian originally hails from the mother land England. Born and bred in London town, Brian completed his education at Northwest London technical College & started his career in the energy sector with US company Tiger Energy Services in 2008. Brian has supported high profile geothermal projects across the globe with the USGS in Navada, an extensive drilling campaign of logging services in Kenya. The EGS project in the Cooper Basin Australia for Geodynamics, and a 6-year deployment to Indonesia to set up the New Tiger Energy operation bases to service notable clients such as Chevron and Star Energy. Thrown in with all of this was a longer deployment in orange county USA to support Tiger Cased hole services in perforating and logging services for the Oil & Gas Sector. With his diverse work experience portfolio, from health & safety to retail department stores, which proceeded his travels around the world, Brian prides himself on his commitment to the client's needs and his can-do attitude which has earnt him the reputation he has today within the geothermal sector.

Nicky Hamilton Health, Safety & Quality Lead

Nicky’s health and safety career started in the retail/trade industry. She completed a NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, is a registered member of HASANZ and a Professional Member of NZISM. Nicky is skilled in all parts of health and safety management and has a real passion for wellbeing which has seen her win Specialist of the Year in the Headfit Awards in 2022. She takes a consultative approach to safety and uses her skills to foster a positive culture, encouraging team members to become actively engaged in safety and wellbeing activities.