Photo: Supplied by Michael Eaglen
When Michael Eaglen was a child his parents feared riding his bike on the road was too dangerous ... so they steered him toward the sea instead.
Having caught the sailing bug from a young age, he has never been far from the water since.
Responsible for leading the electrification of Auckland's passenger ferries, the naval architect's career has spanned over 25 years in the marine industry, encompassing yacht design, working with Team New Zealand for America’s Cup optimisation, structural engineering, and shipyard management.
He is now at the helm of company EV Maritime which works with cities around the world to electrify vessels.
Current projects include a hybrid-electric ferry in San Francisco, shipyard collaborations in Canada and Australia, and also has developments in train in Southeast Asia, and Europe.
He was recently awarded a 2025 Blake leader award, which celebrates New Zealanders driving environmental change.
