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Our management team

UDL has a great team of people, here to help you resolve your utility issues, whether electricity, gas, water, telecommunications, or broadband installation (shared property). You can meet some of us here.

Neil Mallon, Commissioner
Neil became UDL's Commissioner in December 2023, after 3 years as Deputy Commissioner. He is a lawyer with extensive experience working with complaints and regulation.

Neil began his career in the banking industry, investigating complaints and fraud. He spent time in the UK managing prosecutions and appeals about the conduct of barristers. Before joining UDL, Neil worked in Senior and General Manager roles and at executive team level for national regulatory organisations.

When not in the office, Neil and his wife are occupied with the escapades of their four children and fellow conspirator Foxy (the dog).
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Kalina Shipkov, Deputy Commissioner
Kalina started with UDL in February 2024 coming from the Ombudsman's office where she led a team of investigators, worked on strategy development and complex investigations. She has wide-ranging experience of resolving consumer complaints in both the UK where she worked for the General Social Care Council and in Aotearoa with the New Zealand Law Society.
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Markus Frey, Head of Organisational Development
Markus returned to UDL in July 2021 as Senior Manager Strategy and Innovation after being a Conciliator, Senior Conciliator and Team Manager during his previous time at UDL from 2012 to 2018. Originally from Germany (although people say he does not behave all that German), Markus came to New Zealand in 2003 to complete his Master of Laws (LLM) and has never left. He is an experienced mediator and senior manager. During his time away from UDL Markus gained regulatory experience with the Law Society as well as insights into complaint handling in the private and public sector as Customer Resolutions Manager of Rabobank and MPI.

In his spare time Markus plays indoor football and follows the recently promoted German football team, FC St Pauli.
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Diana Wolken, Manager Communications and Community Engagement
Diana has wide-ranging experience in Sales, Marketing and Public Relations working in the UK for GlaxoSmithKline and other organisations and setting up the first national primary care awards. In New Zealand Diana has enjoyed time working for Parliamentary Services, the Ministry of Health and other not-for-profit agencies. She is a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) and recently completed a Diploma in Theology. Diana enjoys reading, music, cycling and rowing with a love of travel, vistas and cultures.
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Selwyn Lackner-Priest, Māori Cultural Advisor
Selwyn joined UDL as the Māori Cultural Advisor in May 2023. He has previously served with governance entities, a tikanga based disputes resolution Kaupapa, worked in the community, and worked as kaitiaki on and offshore. He is regularly involved in many Hapū and Iwi Kaupapa and loves to help people understand things from a Māori worldview.

In Selwyn’s spare time, he enjoys being with his family and helping at different Kaupapa, and being at his marae, even if it means washing dishes.

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Nick Wright, Conciliation and Investigation Team Manager
Nick joined us in April 2024 us from the Ombudsman’s Office where he was Team Manager. Originally from the UK, Nick started his career with the Health and Safety Executive known as HSE and the equivalent of WorkSafe in Aotearoa. He was an Inspector which means he was responsible for investigating work-related accidents and deaths and had several successful prosecutions. In 2019 he immigrated to New Zealand, broadening his experience with roles at MPI, Tertiary Education Commission and Wellington City Council before joining the Ombudsman’s office as an Investigator.
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Steve Graham, Resolution Manager
In November 2023, Steve Graham began his role as the Resolution Manager. Prior to this Steve was the Early Resolution Manager having rejoined UDL as Senior Conciliator in December 2021. He previously worked for UDL from 2012 to 2017. In his time away Steve broadened his experience in electricity metering and is an accredited mediator with both law and science degrees.

Steve enjoys spending time with his two young children. He enjoys playing cricket and golf and is a passionate Formula 1 fan.
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Paul Moreno, Research and Reporting Manager
Paul has been with UDL since 2014 and previously worked in government in advisory roles. Outside of work, Paul enjoys cycling, rowing, kayaking and fishing.
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Willow Kingi-Laurence, Early Resolution Team Leader
Willow started with UDL in late 2021 in our Early Resolution team, shortly after finishing her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Psychology. She spent two years with the organisation developing her knowledge of the electricity, gas, and water industries, and deepening her dispute resolution skills, before stepping up into the role of Early Resolution Team Leader in late 2023.

In her spare time, Willow is a fan of music, fashion, travelling, and spending time with her friends and whānau.
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Adam Otmani, First Contact Team Leader
Adam joined UDL in 2023 as a member of the First Contact team, following years of experience in hospitality management in the UK and Aotearoa. These management skills transferred perfectly as he became First Contact Team Leader later that year, responsible for the team that takes in new complaints and progresses them to the next appropriate step.

Outside of work, Adam is a fan of watching a good movie or a footy game.
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