Mitch Graham

Tell us a little about your current role as an Asset Strategy & Constraints Engineering Team Leader for Unison Networks – what does this role entail?

Leading a team of three engineers to get Unison's asset portfolio ready for the changing energy future of decarbonisation and electrification, our key function is to complete the risk modelling to determine which assets need to be replaced, and by when. We are a future focused team, developing the plan for our inspection, maintenance, and renewal strategies for a changing climate and functional requirements.

Unison Networks were heavily involved in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle at the beginning of 2023. What was your role in this response?

When I started as a graduate at Unison, I spent my first two years in the control room providing engineering support to the Networks Operations Centre. This was a fantastic place to cut my teeth as an electrical engineer in an electricity distribution business. During Cyclone Gabrielle, I slotted straight back into an operational engineering role. In the control room on the night of the cyclone, I helped direct Unison’s response that we’d lost power to 25,000 customers across our network, before Transpower lost full supply to all of Hawke's Bay, resulting in 75,000 customers without power.

During this response, I was responsible for two key workstreams – including generation of key customers and zone substation, as well as leading the operational redesign of our sub-transmission network. The combination of these workstreams resulted in Unison being able to restore supply to all our urban zone substations in the region within eight days with one Transpower Grid Exit Point non-operational following extensive flooding.

Last year (2023) you were named the Electricity Engineers’ Association Young Engineer of the Year, representing NZ at the International Electrotechnical Commission’s General meeting in Cairo, Egypt in 2024. How did it feel to win this award and what were some of your highlights from your trip to Egypt?

I was equal parts humbled by the industry accolade and excited for the chance to represent New Zealand in Cairo with the aim of improving international standardisation. My Egypt trip started very well with a 10-day sightseeing tour including visiting the Pyramids of Giza, Valley of the Kings, and snorkelling in the Red Sea. One of the incredible ancient monuments I saw was Abu Simbel, which is an amazing 13th Century BC temple, which in the 1960s was entirely relocated and reassembled to higher ground during the construction of the Aswan Dam to avoid the raised water level.

Due to the start of the tragic conflict in Gaza and Cairo’s proximity to this, the IEC meeting was moved online at the last minute. I travelled back to New Zealand and dialled in for the meeting, getting to work with some inspirational young engineers and electrotechnical leaders from around the globe which was a fantastic opportunity.

You’ve had quite the sporting career also, coming back from a major mountain bike accident in 2010, to represent the NZ Paddle Blacks team from 2015-2022. Can you tell us a little about your recovery and what your driving factor was to represent NZ internationally in canoe polo?

As a very active person, it was a long and often frustrating recovery for me. I was in hospital for two weeks, including on my 18th birthday, then spent the remainder of my summer before starting University in a hospital-style bed at home. Within three months I had started at UC, but it took me six months until I was fully self-sufficient – as you can't do much for yourself when you break both your wrists! 12 months after the accident I was back representing New Zealand again for the Under 21 Men's Canoe Polo team. I had always been a very competitive person and really enjoyed team sports, particularly sharing the highs and lows of competing and travelling as a team.

Whilst at UC you were the recipient of four scholarships, including the UC Emerging Leaders Development Programme (ELDP) Scholarship. What did these scholarships mean to you?

I was very fortunate to receive a number of scholarships during my studies which certainly helped to ease the financial pressure on me and my family. A big thank you to the University of Canterbury, Unison Networks, Power System Consultants, and the Electricity Engineers' Association for the scholarships to help support my studies. The ELDP was a fantastic initiative developed by Dr Lane Perry to support young recipients to develop their leadership potential through service learning, strength-based leadership, and learning from inspirational speakers. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to join the student-led Executive Leadership Board which organised the ELDP in 2012 and 2015, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Were you involved in any extra-curriculars while at UC?

I was heavily involved in the kayaking scene in Christchurch, including the UC Canoe Club (UCCC). I took part in many whitewater kayaking trips, including two of the UCCC Holyford trips into Queenstown & Fiordland. The scenery and whitewater paddling were outstanding! On one of these trips when we were camping just out of Queenstown, it got so cold overnight that my water bottle froze solid next to me in the tent! I was also the Burnside Canoe Polo Club President from 2012-2015.

Do you have any fond memories that have stuck with you from your time at UC?

Picture this; second day of university lectures, walking down Science Road back towards University Hall when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes. You are in a neck brace with two wrist splints, desperately trying to stay on your feet. What a way to start my uni experience! A real highlight was a field trip over to Tonga with Dr Andrew Lapthorn to support the local electricity company with rebuilding their network following damage sustained during Cyclone Ian, as well as transitioning their power generation to renewable sources. I learnt a lot about the challenges of power supply in remote pacific islands and had a great time with four of my classmates in the process.