Page 203 - ISES SWC50

Bruce Page (1939-2019)
Country: New Zealand
Year joined industry: 1982
Company first worked for: Page Solar Energy Systems
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: No

Stanley Bruce Page was born 21st January 1939 in Nelson, New Zealand. The war years were spent in Hokitika, his
father was a P.O.W in Germany, on his Dad’s return the family moved back to Nelson where Bruce attended Nelson
College. Bruce’s interest was in Electronics, working in a local TV, radio repair shop before moving to Wellington and
training at the New Zealand Post office as a radio technician. He and then wife moved to Auckland and started Page
Electronics, a repair business for TV’s and radios while also offering TV rentals. After his divorce he married Janet in
1974, adopted her son Phillip and Jennifer was born in 1978. Realizing TV repairs were diminishing, in November
1982 Bruce imported some solar panels, making their way to remote areas around NZ including Great Barrier
Island, he then established the company Page Solar Energy Systems. Bruce designed a trailer displaying these
panels and water pumps, travelling around NZ to agricultural shows and festivals. During the 1980’s Bruce invented
Solagen, an energy efficient DC light using fluorescent tubes, proving to be popular in remote homes, caravans,
boats and eventually the Pacific Islands. In March 1989 Independent Power was formed with two partners. In 1991
the partnership dissolved and Bruce took over IPNZ with support of his wife Janet. Over the next 30 years IPNZ
grew, employed staff, imported efficient domestic refrigeration from Denmark and other products such as wind
turbines. Thousands of Solagen lights were made and sold within NZ and exported to many Pacific Islands. Many
remote solar systems have been designed and installed by the company’s staff and network of valued electricians
and partners. In 2006 his daughter Jennifer joined IPNZ and is currently Managing Director. Bruce died on 22nd
November 2019 and will be sadly missed by many.

Dr Stephen Pickard
Country: Australia
Year joined industry: 1984
Company first worked for: BP Research Centre (London)
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: No

Dr Pickard began researching into PV powered pumping systems at BP’s research centre in Sunbury, London. After
a couple of years, he transferred to BP Solar International in Aylesbury (UK). In 1988 he was the first technical
manager at the Tata-BP JV in Bangalore. In 1990 Dr Pickard moved to Australia. Now retired he still, occasionally,
is involved with some informal consulting within the industry. His interest now is more in how to reduce CO2
emissions in agriculture - energy, vehicles, stock and crops.

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