Speakers at the Eastern Australia's Energy Markets Outlook 2014 conference in Sydney
Hugh Bannister
CEO and Chairman
IES
Hugh is the founder, CEO and Chairman of IES. He has over 30 years’ experience in providing advice to government, industry and regulatory bodies on electricity markets and macro energy policy in Australia and the countries of ASEAN.
He has particular expertise in development and implementation of energy policy, electricity market design and the process of industry reform, in both gas and electricity. He also has expertise in mathematical modelling for a range of complex technical problems, including the pricing and dispatch algorithms used in electricity markets and in models for broad energy planning involving electricity, gas and other fuels.
In the last decade, Hugh has led a number of major projects in South East Asia, to do with energy planning and electricity reform.
Hugh is a trained as a mechanical engineer and has worked in energy and power throughout his career.
Qualifications and professional affiliations:
- Master in Electrical Engineering
- Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (1st Class Honours)
- Bachelor of Science
- Life Member, Institute of Engineers, Australia
Dr Ron Ben-David
Chairperson
Essential Services Commission of Victoria
Ron Ben-David has served as Chairperson of the Essential Services Commission of Victoria since late-2008. The Commission is responsible for licensing and monitoring compliance by service providers in the Victorian energy market. Since January 2009, energy prices have been deregulated fully in Victoria.
Dr Ben-David joined the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance in 1998. This was followed by a number of years in the Department of Premier and Cabinet where he became Deputy Secretary in 2004. In 2007, he established Victoria’s Office of Climate Change and then headed the Secretariat for the Garnaut Climate Change Review.
Dr Ben-David has written and presented on a wide range of issues including: governance and regulation in the water industry, retail energy markets, climate change, sustainability, federalism, local government, taxi reform and economic philosophy.
He holds a B. Science (Optom), B. Comm (Hons) and Ph.D (Economics). In 2005, Dr Ben-David became a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration (Vic). He is a member of numerous advisory councils.
Joh Bradley
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Networks Association
John Bradley is an experienced chief executive with diverse experience in the electricity, gas, water and resources sectors.
Prior to his appointment as CEO of the Energy Networks Association, he consulted to the International Monetary Fund on State Owned Enterprise reform. As the Director General of Queensland’s Department of Premier and Cabinet until 2012, John was responsible for leading strategic management in the Queensland public sector. Previously, as the Director General of the Department of Environment and Resource Management, he was responsible for policy, regulation and service delivery in natural resource management; conservation; biodiversity; offsets; and climate change. He managed program expenditure in excess of $1 billion per annum.
John was the CEO of the Queensland Water Commission during the State’s worst drought, responsible for structural, economic and other regulatory reforms in the South East Queensland water sector; drought management initiatives; water supply planning; and oversight of infrastructure delivery.
John led reforms to the utilities sector in multiple jurisdictions including the restructure and economic regulation of the $5BN Western Australian electricity industry and the $20 BN South East Queensland Water industry. Earlier in his career, he undertook regulatory reforms in Queensland’s gas industry; significant power and gas infrastructure procurement projects; and the implementation of energy market instruments such as the (then) 13% Gas Scheme.
John holds an MBA from QUT and BA from the University of Queensland. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and currently serves as a non-executive Director of Greening Australia Limited. He has previously served as a Director on the Boards of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian and New Zealand School of Government, the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, Families Responsibility Commission and on the University of Queensland Senate.
Paul Broad
Chief Executive Officer
Snowy Hydro
Paul has been extensively involved with some of Australia’s largest electricity and water organisations throughout his career and has a deep understanding of the value of water and importance of a reliable energy system for communities and the economy.
Paul’s first CEO role was with Hunter Water in his hometown of Newcastle from 1989-1993. Under his leadership, Hunter Water was the first government business to be corporatised. Paul also introduced a ‘user-pays’ system of water usage, successfully changing the way people respect water. This same success was also achieved during his time as CEO of Sydney Water from 1993-1997, introducing a user-pays system, corporatising the business and successfully increasing productivity by 60%.
Paul ‘switched’ to electricity in 1997, taking over as CEO of Energy Australia until 2004. In his time as CEO he expanded the business into new energy retail and also established a small telco, PowerTel. In 2004, Paul left Energy Australia to head up PowerTel. Paul’s next role was as CEO of AAPT, from 2007-2011.
Paul was also the inaugural CEO of Infrastructure NSW. During his time as CEO of Infrastructure NSW, Paul was responsible for delivering the first Infrastructure Plan in NSW, a 20-year horizon strategy underpinning productivity growth in the State.
In June 2013, Paul joined Snowy Hydro as CEO.
David Byers
Chief Executive
APPEA
David Byers was appointed as Chief Executive of APPEA in October 2011, the peak national body representing Australia's oil and gas exploration and production industry.
David has spent most of his career in the oil and gas industry - initially with Woodside and subsequently in senior management roles in Mobil and ExxonMobil in Australia, Singapore and the United States.
In 2007, he was appointed Chief Executive of CEDA (Committee for Economic Development of Australia), a leading national economic research and policy forum. David has degrees in economics and law.
Frank Calabria
Chief Executive Officer - Energy Markets
Origin Energy
Frank Calabria joined Origin as Chief Financial Officer in November 2001 and was appointed to his current role in March 2009.
As Chief Executive Officer, Energy Markets, Frank is responsible for Origin’s integrated operations within Australia including power generation and natural gas, electricity and LPG trading and retailing.
Frank is a board member of the Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA), and is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
Prior to joining Origin, Frank held roles with Pioneer International Limited, Hanson plc and Hutchison Telecommunications. Frank has a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University and a Masters of Business Administration (Executive) from the Australian Graduate School of Management.
Wayne Calder
Deputy Executive Director
Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE)
Wayne is the Deputy Executive Director of the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics, an economic research unit within the Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. Previously Wayne was the General Manager of the Low Emissions Coal and CO2 Storage Branch with responsibility for fostering research, development, demonstration and deployment of low emissions coal technologies and the General Manager of the Coal Sector Programs Branch where he established two new programs for the coal sector as a part of the Clean Energy Future plan. Prior to that Wayne was the General Manager of Tourism Research Australia with the Department. Wayne started his career in the Australian Public Service in the Productivity Commission and has also worked on communications policy, regional development, industry policy, taxation, energy and tourism policy.
Simon Camroux
Manager Regulation & Market Development
AGL
Since commencing work as an energy market regulatory analyst at Macquarie Generation almost 15 years ago, Simon has worked across the energy supply chain, from generation to retail and across a range of issues, from economic regulation to environmental sustainability.
In 2002, Simon was a member of the Parer Energy Market Review Secretariat where he led the development of the Review’s recommendation to implement an emissions trading scheme domestically.
More recently, Simon wrote the Energy Sections of the Victorian Government Climate Change Green and White Paper’s and was the Victorian Government representative on the Commonwealth Government’s National Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Target Working Groups.
Simon also attended the COP15 Climate Change Conference (Copenhagen) on behalf of the Victorian Government.
Simon is currently responsible for managing relevant National Electricity Market regulatory issues on behalf of AGL and holds a Batchelor of Economics (Hons) and Master of Environmental Law.
Cheryl Cartwright
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Pipeline Industry Association
Cheryl’s career spans three decades in business, government, politics and media. Since 2005 Cheryl has led the Australian Pipeline Industry Association – representing the interests of approximately 500 members involved in all sectors of the industry – constructors, owners, operators, advisers, engineering companies and suppliers of pipeline products and services. Before her current role, Cheryl was Chief of Staff to then-Agriculture Minister the Hon Warren Truss MP, who is now Deputy Leader of the Opposition (obviously this could change before your conference!). She has also been Political and Media Adviser to a Federal Cabinet Minister and to an Opposition Leader. Before working in politics she reported on politics as political reporter for television news, on radio and as a print journalist. As well as working in Canberra’s Parliament House Press Gallery, Cheryl also spent two years as State Political Reporter for the Nine Network in Adelaide. In her position as a director of the Australian Gas Industry Trust, Cheryl is Australia’s representative on the International Gas Union’s Executive Council.
Lane Crockett
Executive General Manager - Australia
Pacific Hydro
Lane Crockett is the Executive General Manager, Australia at Pacific Hydro and has been responsible for managing its Australian business for more than five years. Lane is also a director on the Board of the Clean Energy Council.
Lane has over 30 years of international experience in the energy sector in Australia, Asia, the UK and New Zealand. He has worked in utilities regulation, managed the performance of electricity and gas alliance contracts and has led engineering, procurement and construction projects in the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and a Graduate Diploma in Commercial Law from Deakin University.
Gavin Dufty
Manager of Policy and Research
St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria
Gavin is currently employed as the manager of policy and research at St Vincent de Paul Society, Victoria. Gavin’s has worked in the community welfare sector for over 18 years. During this time he has produced a number or reports focusing on the cost of living with a particular focus on energy. Gavin is a representative of a number of industry and government committees associated with energy policy including: Member Victorian government ministerial advisory committee on smart meters, AGL’s national customer council, Citipower / Powercor customer consultative committee, Past member of the Australian Energy Market Commission, Reliability Panel, Independent assessment panel for the Australian Government's Smart Grid, Smart City program.
Kate Farrar
Managing Director
QEnergy
Kate Farrar has substantial energy market experience, with more than 15 years in the industry. From 1999 to 2007, Kate held the role of Chief Operating Officer of Ergon Energy’s Powerdirect Australia business. Under Kate’s leadership, Powerdirect Australia grew to become one of Australia’s top five energy retailers, covering a diverse customer base ranging from domestic and small business customers to large mines and airports. In 2007 Kate led the sale of Powerdirect to AGL for $1.2 billion – $0.5 billion above expectations. Kate was previously a Director with ABN AMRO Morgans (now RBS Morgans), a national financial advisory firm. In 2006 Kate won Queensland Business Review’s Public Sector ‘Women in Business Award’ and was a Queensland finalist in the Hudson Community and Government Award category of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. This year, Kate was a inalist in the Entrepreneur of the Year awards. Kate is also a Director with Mater Health Services.
In her role as Managing Director of QEnergy, Kate drives the company’s aspiration to become the retailer of choice for all Australian small businesses. Beginning in Queensland, QEnergy now serves 17,500 business customers across the Eastern Seaboard and the Northern Territory.
“The Eastern Australia’s Energy Markets Conference is one of the best events of the year in terms of dealing with the real issues that face energy in Australia. In such a turbulent time – with fast changing regulatory frameworks, and the structural impacts of falling demand and decarbonisation, it is more than ever imperative to remain across the key debates as they arise.”
Ivor Frischknecht
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Renewable Energy Agency
Mr Frischknecht's appointment as ARENA CEO commenced in August 2012.
Mr Frischknecht brings experience as Investment Director of Starfish Ventures Pty Ltd. Starfish is a venture capital firm that manages $400 million primarily on behalf of Australian superannuation funds. Mr Frischknecht's key activities included responsibility for the firm's cleantech investment activities, including for alternative energy, water and other environmental technologies.
Mr Frischknecht was previously Director of New Ventures, Idealab, a company involved in developing and investing in technology start-up companies, including renewable energy companies. Mr Frischknecht was also previously the CEO of H2onsite (a company involved in commercialisation of clean energy generation technology) and a senior executive and advisor to a range of venture capital and energy companies.
Mr Frischknecht holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Economics with Honours from the University of Sydney and a Masters of Business Administration and Public Management Certificate from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.
Hugh Gleeson
Chief Executive Officer
United Energy and Multinet Gas
Hugh Gleeson has been CEO of United Energy (UE) and Multinet Gas (MG) since 2003.
UE and Multinet are both unlisted Victorian energy distribution companies. UE distributes electricity to approximately 640,000 customers and is owned by Diversified Utility and Energy Trusts (DUET) and SGSP (Australia) Assets. MG distributes gas to approximately 660,000 customers and is wholly owned by DUET.
Hugh has over 25 years experience in the utility sector and prior to his current role held various general management positions including regulation, distribution and utility operations.
Since its formation in 2003 Hugh has been a member on the Board of the Energy Network Association, previously holding the positions of Deputy Chairman and Chairman.
Paul Graham
Chief Economist
CSIRO
Paul Graham is Chief Economist in the CSIRO Energy Flagship. In this role he is responsible for advice on the global and national economic context relevant for the energy sector, setting the strategic direction regarding economic and social science research, leading major national social and economic science initiatives and mentoring other projects and staff. Mr Graham has been with CSIRO for 14 years and prior to that was a senior research officer at the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics. He has led several “forum” projects in partnership with a huge range of Australia’s leading energy, resource and transport companies, major NGOs and key federal and state government departments. He has also been a key contributor to each of the modelling teams assembled for the various state and federal carbon policy processes.
John Grimes
Chief Executive
Australian Solar Council
Since 2008 John has been the Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Council, a not for profit organisation dedicated to ‘solar for a suitable future’. In this role he has grown the profile and influence of the organisation, as it has become the national voice of solar.
Headquartered in Canberra the Australian Solar Council has active chapters across Australia, as it advocates for solar issues.
Kylie Hargreaves
Deputy Secretary - Resources & Energy
NSW Trade & Investment
In July 2013, Kylie assumed the responsibility of the portfolio of Resources and Energy, a specialist division within the NSW Department of Trade and Investment. Her division has a variety of roles related to the effective, sustainable exploitation and management of the State’s Resources and Energy sectors.
Within NSW Trade & Investment, Kylie has previously held the roles of Acting Deputy Director General for Industry, Innovation Hospitality and the Arts, Executive Director for Investment and Export Services and Executive Director for International Markets and Trade.
Prior to joining NSW Trade & Investment in July 2009, Kylie spent 10 years overseas as Australia’s Senior Trade Commissioner for the UK, Ireland and Israel; Senior Trade Commissioner for West USA and Senior Trade Commissioner for Spain and Portugal.
Lance Hoch
Chairman
Oakley Greenwood
Lance is one of the founding directors of Oakley Greenwood, a specialist consulting firm serving the energy and water industries. He has over 30 years of experience as a consultant to the electricity industry and the government and regulatory agencies that are involved with it. He specialises in utility/customer interface issues and has particular expertise in demand management, energy efficiency, pricing, regulation and policy matters in the distribution and retail portions of the electricity supply chain, and has worked on projects in these areas in Australia, the US, the UK, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore, the People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
He has been involved in renewable energy, energy efficiency, demand management and demand response throughout his career, having designed more than 50 demand-side programs for electricity utilities in the US, Australia, New Zealand and southeast Asia. A significant area of focus in his demand management projects for electricity distributors, regulators and market bodies has been on accurately defining and developing approaches for quantifying the value of the demand reductions that can be provided by DSM activities, including distributed and embedded generation. These have included valuing the deferral or change in augmentation costs across the distribution and transmission network, the decrease in the expected amount of unserved energy, and the relative merits of dynamic vs static analyses for assessing these impacts and their values.
He has also assessed the potential impacts of the simultaneous (even if not co-ordinated) deployment of large volumes of demand response and distributed generation (including renewables) on the stability of the power system. More recently he assisted two different companies seeking to enter the NEM based on a business model that combines distributed generation and electricity retailing understand the relevant Rules and regulations that would affect them, and the impact of specific network connection policies and tariffs on their commercial value proposition to potential customers.
Stijn Koppers
Executive Director, Trading and Wholesale
Alinta Energy
Stijn Koppers joined Alinta Energy in February 2014 as Executive Director Wholesale Markets and has more than 19 years’ experience in the energy industry, with a diverse international background in upstream oil and gas and strategic consulting. In his previous position at RWE Supply and Trading Switzerland S.A. he was responsible for their global expansion of the coal and oil trading business, as well as optimisation and trading for all of RWE’s gas assets and contracts across Europe. Prior to this, he was head of Structured Trading at Switzerland’s Essent Trading International and has further international experience with Shell in Malaysia & the U.K. and McKinsey & Co. in The Netherlands.
Chris Laybutt
Utilities, Building Materials & Steel Analyst
J.P. Morgan
Chris joined J.P. Morgan's equity research team in 2010, and is part of the team covering Australian and New Zealand utilities. Prioir to joining J.P. Morgan, Chris was a Director at the Sydney-based boutique advisory firm, Minerva Advisory, where he advised on corporate strategy and debt restructuring. During the six years before Minerva, Chris held investment banking and advisory roles at Babcock and Brown and PriceWaterHouseCoopers. Chris holds a Master of Commerce Degree (Actuarial) and Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) from the University of New South Wales.
Rob Amphlett Lewis
Head of Strategiv Investments Strategy and Business Development
AusNet Services
Rob leads the strategic investment and business development function at AusNet Services. Rob has 13 years' experience in energy markets and utilities infrastructure, performing and trading, analytics, regulatory, economics, advocacy, management and both in-house and advisory corporate finance/M&A roles. His lead-advisory (Corporate Finance/M&A) experience with PwC focused on mid-market energy transactions with specific focus on renewable energy. At AusNet Services he has performed senior regulatory, strategy and investment roles.
The Hon. Mark McArdle
Minister for Energy and Water Supply
Queensland Government
Mark McArdle was first elected to Queensland Parliament on 7 February 2004 as the Member for Caloundra. During his time in Parliament, Minister McArdle has held many central positions including Leader of the Liberal Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition after the merger between the Liberal and National Parties.
Following the successful election of the Liberal National Party to form Government in Queensland in 2012, the Member for Caloundra was appointed Minister for Energy and Water Supply.
The Minister is extremely passionate about cost of living issues impacting Queenslanders and has initiated vital reform processes in the Energy and Water sectors since taking the portfolio. This includes creating a 30-Year Energy Strategy and a 30-Year Water Strategy in order to provide a sustainable blueprint for the future of Queensland. The creation of Inter-Departmental Committees for Energy and Water Supply, including an Independent Review Panel for electricity, displays the Minister’s commitment to ensuring a holistic and informed approach to long-term reform.
Minister McArdle is an active local Member and an avid supporter of community groups within his electorate of Caloundra. Prior to entering politics the Minister worked as a solicitor in both the public and private arenas. He is currently patron of the Sunshine Coast Youth Orchestra, Sunshine Coast Disability Group and Caloundra State High School, amongst others.
Minister McArdle and his wife, Judy, have lived on the Sunshine Coast for 24 years and have a grown family.
Peter McIntyre
Managing Director
TransGrid
Peter McIntyre is the Managing Director of NSW transmission network service provider TransGrid.
Peter has over 25 years experience in the electricity transmission industry, with particular expertise in policy development, asset management and regulatory strategy.
Prior to his appointment as Managing Director, Peter’s held three Executive positions with TransGrid: General Manager/System Operations, General Manager/Network Performance and Development, and General Manager/Network Development and Regulatory Affairs.
He holds a degree in science, an Honours degree in electrical engineering and an MBA.
Peter is Chairman of Grid Australia and a Board member of the Energy Networks Association. Peter is also a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Chloe Munro
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Clean Energy Regulator
Chloe Munro has had a distinguished career leading cutting edge change in both business and government organisations. She is currently the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Clean Energy Regulator, putting into effect the market mechanisms at the heart of Australia’s climate change policies.
Prior to this appointment, in April 2012, Ms Munro held a portfolio of non-executive positions including Chair of the National Water Commission, independent Chairman of AquaSure, the consortium building Victoria’s desalination plant; and director of Hydro Tasmania.
Until July 2009, Ms Munro was an executive director at Telstra. Her roles included leadership positions in human resources, business operations, information technology, public policy, and communications and customer service.
Serving in the Victorian public sector between September 1996 and February 2004, Ms Munro was Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries, Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Treasury and Finance. In the Department of Treasury and Finance, she headed the division implementing Victoria’s energy reform and privatisation program. Her early career spanned the public, private and not-for-profit sectors in Kenya, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Ms Munro holds master’s degrees in mathematics and philosophy from Cambridge University and in business administration from the University of Westminster. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and was awarded a Centenary Medal for outstanding contribution to public administration in 2001.
Rob Murray-Leach
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Efficiency Council
Rob Murray-Leach is the CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council, the Australian peak body for energy efficiency, demand-management and cogeneration. Since its formation in 2009, the Council has put energy efficiency at the centre of Australia's energy policy. Rob was formerly a member of the Prime Minister’s Task Group on Energy Efficiency and part of Australia's independent Climate Change Review (the Garnaut Review). He has a background in behaviour and sustainability from the Universities of Oxford and Adelaide and has contributed to several award-winning books on these topics. In 2011 he received the EcoGen Young Clean Energy Industry Leader award.
Donna Nelson
Chariman
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Donna L. Nelson was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Public Utility Commission on August 15, 2008 and named chairman on July 26, 2011. Prior to her appointment, Nelson served as a special assistant and advisor to Governor Perry on energy and telecommunication issues. She also assisted the Governor’s Competitiveness Council with the preparation of the Texas 2008 State Energy Plan. She previously served as director of the PUC’s telecommunications section and as legal advisor to the PUC chairman. Chairman Nelson sits on the Board of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and is a member of the Southwest Power Pool Regional State Committee. She is active with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, where she is a member of the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment and the Task Force on Environmental Regulation and Generation. Nelson is a member of the Texas Bioenergy Policy Council and the Texas Broadband Task Force. She is also on the Advisory Board of the Annual Baseline Assessment of Choice in Canada and the United States (ABACCUS).
Additionally, Nelson is a former assistant attorney general of Texas, where she specialized in antitrust law. She also worked as a Legislative Assistant to a United States Senator. Nelson is a licensed attorney and a past member of the Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Delays.
Nelson received a bachelor's degree from Black Hills State College and a law degree from Texas Tech University. She resides in Austin with her son, John.
“As we see constant evolution in energy markets, it is important to look at lessons learned and the path forward. Eastern Australia’s Energy Markets Outlook Conference gives us that platform.”
Keith Orchison
Director
Coolibah Pty Ltd
Keith Orchison has been engaged in the Australian energy industry for 33 years, of which he spent 24 as chief executive of national industry associations representing the upstream petroleum and electricity supply sectors.
He was a founder of the Australian Industry Greenhouse Network, which he chaired in 2000. From 2003 to 2007 he served on the Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council set up by the Howard government and was chairman of its energy committee. He was also chairman of CSIRO's energy technology advisory committee in the late 1990s and was deputy chairman and the overseeing manager of the Australian Electricity Supply Industry Research Board through most of the 1990s. In 2011-12 he was a member of the Federal Government's energy white paper reference group.
Keith was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004 and was awarded the 2012 Sir Willis Connolly Memorial Medal by AusIMM for communication services to the resources sector. He also is a holder of the APPEA Gold Medal (now the Reg Sprigg Medal), awarded in 1994 for services to the petroleum industry.
Keith has been principal of consultancy Coolibah Pty Ltd since retiring from ESAA at the end of 2003 and has numerous clients for his communications services across the spectrum of energy stakeholders.
He edited the "Powering Australia" yearbook from 2007 to 2012. He is a commentator on energy issues for "Business Spectator" electronic newspaper and has a new column in "Gas Today" magazine.
His "This is Power" blog and monthly newsletter on the Coolibah website are widely read in the energy industry. In late 2012, in partnership with media company ArmstrongQ, he launched the "OnPower" website and yearbook to provide a new media focus on eastern Australia's electricity supply business.
Cameron O’Reilly
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Retailer's Association of AustraliaERAA
Cameron O’Reilly is the CEO of the ERAA. With a longstanding background in energy and public policy, he has worked at the centre of government and business relations for most of his career – advising on policy, as an executive for outsourcing firms, as well as consulting on public affairs.
Cameron holds a Bachelor of Economics from Sydney University and a Master of Management and Public Policy from Monash University, where he undertook a major research essay on the genesis of the National Electricity Market (NEM).
He undertook a Fulbright scholarship in the USA in 2009 through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where he was based at the University of Texas in Austin researching the impact of climate change policy on the US energy sector.
Cameron also holds positions in the following Boards and Advisory Groups:
• Director of the Australian Gas Industry Trust (AGIT)
• Chairman of Energy Assured Limited
• Member of the Advisory Committee of the VaasaETT Global Energy Think Tank
• Member of the Federal Government’s Smart Grid, Smart City Strategic Policy and Regulatory Steering Committee
• Member of the Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency (TUSMA)
Clare Petre
Ombudsman
NSW Energy & Water Ombudsman
Clare Petre was appointed Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW in 1998.
Prior to this appointment, Clare was the Senior Assistant Commonwealth Ombudsman. Clare has extensive experience in the community sector, with government, and the media. She has worked with community legal centres, as a reporter with ABC TV’s 4 Corners and The Investigators, and in the health system.
Clare has served on a range of NSW and Commonwealth government advisory bodies, and on the boards of community groups, including ACOSS.
Clare has a Bachelor of Social Studies and Diploma of Criminology (Sydney University) and a Masters in Social Administration (London School of Economics).
John Pierce
Chairman
Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC)
Commissioner Pierce was appointed AEMC Chairman in June 2010. His commitment to industry and regulatory reform has underpinned his contribution to national energy reform through a number of senior roles including his tenure as Secretary of the Federal Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism which followed 12 years of service as Secretary of the New South Wales (NSW) Treasury. He was a key adviser to Government and Chairman of the NSW Treasury Corporation. Prior to his time at NSW Treasury he was Pacific Power Chief Economist. John holds a BEc, Hon. (UNSW). He was a Visiting Scholar at Boston University during 2004-2005 working with Professor L. Kotlikoff on the economic and fiscal implications of an ageing population and with R. D. Behr from the Kennedy School of Government on public sector performance management.
Charles Popple
Director
AusNet Services
Charles has extensive electricity industry experience, particularly in strategy and technical planning, related to networks and electricity market development and reform. He played a significant role in the Victorian ESI reform, in particular the creation and implementation of the transmission system arrangements and following disaggregation in 1994 held a number of General Management roles in the sector. He consulted internationally on energy market reform during a period as a Consultant with Ernst and Young from 1998 to 2001. He joined AusNet Services in 2001, and from 2008 to 2013 was General Manager, Networks Strategy and Development responsible for all the engineering, planning and regulation aspects of the business, managing the Division with 250 professional staff involved in these activities. He now fills an Executive Advisory role considering longer term regulatory reform to ensure compatibility with the rapidly evolving sector.
Robert Pritchard
Executive Director
Energy Policy Institute of Australia
Robert Pritchard is the Executive Director of the Energy Policy Institute of Australia, an independent energy policy body. Its members include many leading oil and gas companies as well as APPEA.
Robert is also Managing Director of Resources Law International, a law and policy consultancy.
He has 40 years experience as an adviser in the oil and gas sector, including 20 years advising on LNG project development in Australia and overseas.
Cameron Reid
Manager
CARBON & RENEWABLE POLICY
As Carbon & Renewable Policy Manager Cameron is responsible for influencing, understanding and communicating the impact (short and long term) of carbon policy and renewable energy policy on AGL operations. Key responsibilities include coordinating and consolidating stakeholder engagement across government, NGO and corporate peer organisations, monitoring international and national policy developments and assessing opportunities for organisational development. Previously Cameron was AGLs Manager of Customer Hardship & Social Policy. The role centered on understanding, shaping and responding to the impact of regulatory and operational change on the full customer base and minimising the incidences of vulnerability in the community.
Prior to August 2009 when Cameron joined AGL he worked with the National Australia Bank where he was responsible for the global coordination of NABs Corporate Responsibility Reporting, simultaneously managing report production, process change verification for the GRI Accredited reports and Dow Jones Sustainability Index submissions.
Michael Riches
General Counsel and Head of Corporate Services
Alinta Energy
Michael Riches has almost 20 years of legal practice experience and was appointed the General Counsel and Head of Corporate Services at Alinta Energy in May 2011 shortly after the restructure and recapitalisation of the business.
Michael worked in private practice prior to joining Alinta Energy, spending over 11 years at Minter Ellison, the last 4 as a partner and 6 years as a partner of Clayton Utz. Michael’s principal areas of practice were merger and acquisition finance, particularly leveraged finance private equity buyouts; project finance of major infrastructure; and corporate finance. Michael was recognised by industry and general publications as an expert in these practice areas. Michael worked on some of the largest and most complex private equity transactions in Australia, commencing with the original Pacific Brands buy-out in 2001 and including the Affinity Hospitals, Coates Hire, DCA and Stella Travel acquisitions.
As a partner at Clayton Utz Michael held the role of Head of the National Banking and Finance department, comprising more than 25 partners and was elected to the board of Clayton Utz in 2008. Michael was also a director of the listed Jetset Travelworld business when it merged with the Stella Travel business.
At Alinta Energy Michael is responsible for the Regulatory Affairs, Government and Investor Relations, Media, Company Secretarial and the Legal functions. Michael is currently acting in the role of Executive Director of Retail Markets where he is responsible for the national retail business of Alinta Energy, comprising over 750,000 customers in the mass market, SME and commercial and industrial sectors. Michael holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales.
"The challenges that face today’s energy markets are immense. Falling demand, pressure on prices, policy uncertainty and market structure longevity create an environment where all market participants need to come together to discuss and propose solutions to ensure a viable and effective energy market for the next 10 years and beyond. The Energy Markets conference creates a unique forum for participants in all segments of the market to have the opportunity to discuss and debate these issues."
Dr Malcolm Roberts joined the QCA on 29 January 2013. In recent years he has worked in the energy sector, including as the Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Networks Association and the Executive Director of the National Generators Forum.
His earlier roles include Policy Director for the Australian National Retailers Association and Chief Executive (Business Services) at the Housing Industry Association. His career in Canberra began in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and he served as Policy Adviser to three Commonwealth Ministers over 10 years.
Clare Savage
Executive Manager Strategy & Corporate Affairs
EnergyAustralia (Victoria)
Clare Savage joined EnergyAustralia in April 2012 to lead the Strategy and Corporate Affairs function.
Prior to joining EnergyAustralia, Clare held a number of roles at the Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) including two five month periods as Chief Executive Officer. Her other roles at the esaa, commencing in 2004, included Executive General Manager and General Manager Policy Development.
Clare has represented the energy industry in a range of forums including the Federal Government’s High Level Consultative Committee for the Energy White Paper; the Energy Security Sub-Group as part of the Clean Energy Future negotiations; and the International Energy Agency’s Expert Group on Electricity Generating Costs.
Kane Thornton
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Clean Energy Council
Kane Thornton is Acting Chief Executive of the Clean Energy Council, the peak body for the renewable energy and energy efficiency industry in Australia.
Kane has over a decade's experience in energy policy and leadership in the development of the clean energy industry. Kane has advocated for and helped design the policies that have been critical to the clean energy industry's growth, and continues to be an active political advocate, public presenter and spokesperson for the clean energy industry.
His previous roles include senior manager and advisor for Hydro Tasmania – Australia's largest generator of renewable energy – and executive officer of Renewable Energy Generators Australia.
Kane has broad international management experience including holding a range of advisory and board roles with government and non-government organisations in the climate change and energy sector.
Kane is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has a Masters in International Urban and Environmental Management and Bachelor of Information Technology.
Felipe Valdebenito
Senior Consultant – Asia Pacific
Energy Exemplar
Felipe performs the role of support analyst for Asia Pacific/Africa & South America Region and research and development in Energy Exemplar Adelaide’s office. He has experience in power market modelling and planning studies with a background of power system economics theory. His previous experiences include a planning engineering position in Transelec S.A. a transmission company in Chile where he worked for three and a half years, before Transelec he coursed his degree in Industrial and Electric Engineering in Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Upon completion he then achieved his Masters in Science in the field of Power System Modelling applied to renewable energy at the same university. His expertise is in Power Market Analysis and Design and developing of Transmission Planning studies.
Matthew Warren
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Supply Association of Australia (esaa)
Matthew Warren joined esaa in January 2012, having spent 15 years working as an environment and energy policy specialist. An economist by training, his objective at esaa is to ensure that esaa’s research and advocacy assists the downstream electricity and gas sector to continue to provide a safe, reliable and affordable energy supply for Australia.
Matthew was previously CEO of the Clean Energy Council, where he made a significant contribution to Australian policy debate on the role of renewable energy in meeting the challenges of reducing emissions.
Matthew has also worked for the mining industry in NSW, as an environmental consultant to both government and industry and was a trainee in the Environment Directorate of the European Commission. He has also worked as a journalist, most recently as the environment writer for The Australian newspaper.
Matthew holds a Bachelor of Economics with Honours from the University of Adelaide.
Innes Willox
Chief Executive
Australian Industry Group
Innes Willox is Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, a leading industry organisation representing businesses in a broad range of sectors including manufacturing, defence, ICT and labour hire.
His current appointments include:
• Alternate Director of Australian Super
• Board Member of Australian Workplace and Productivity Agency
• Board Member of Innovation Australia
• Board Member of National Industry Capability Network
• Board Member of R&D Tax Incentive Advisory Group of Innovation Australia
• Member of Emissions Reduction Fund Expert Reference Group
• Member of International Trade Remedies Forum
• Member of Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration
Innes served as the Australian Consul General to Los Angeles from 2006 to 2008, where he represented wide-ranging Australian interests on the west coast of the United States, including in the areas of trade, finance, culture, bio-technology, environment and energy sectors.
He was Chief of Staff to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, from 2004 to 2006.
Earlier, Innes held a number of private sector and government positions including Manager of Global Public Affairs for Singapore Airlines based in Singapore (2000-04).
Innes began his working career as a journalist. His positions included Chief of Staff at The Age newspaper in Melbourne and Chief Political Correspondent for The Age in the Canberra Parliamentary Press Gallery.
Innes was educated at Melbourne High School; Monash University (BA History and Politics); and Edinburgh Business School. He is on the Board of Windermere – Victoria’s oldest family and child services agency. He is based in Melbourne and is a lifetime supporter of the Collingwood Football Club.
Tony Wood
Program Director – Energy
Grattan Institute
Tony Wood has more than 30years’ experience in the fertiliser, chemical, transport and energy industries. He was an executive at Origin Energy, and it precursor Boral Energy, from 1994 until 2008. Tony is the Program Director, Energy at the Grattan Institute, an independent think-tank focused on Australian public policy. He is also with the Clinton Foundation in the role of Director of the Clean Energy Program, where he leads their activities on accelerating the deployment of low emission energy technologies in the Asia-Pacific Region and coordinates their international partnership with the Global CCS Institute. Tony is on the Executive Board of the Committee for Melbourne and he was seconded to the Garnaut Climate Change Review in 2008.
Oliver Yates
Chief Executive Officer
Clean Energy Finance Corporation
Mr Yates has over 20 years of global experience in corporate advisory, financial structuring, project finance, debt structuring, equity raising and listings, with extensive experience in clean energy. During his time at Macquarie Bank, he was involved in establishing new businesses and growing operations internationally and leading the Bank's initiatives in wind, solar, biofuels, carbon credits and other renewable businesses.
Mr Yates has played key roles in clean energy, terrestrial and bio-sequestration and other solutions to the climate change challenge over many years. He is an investor in and has held board positions on a number of innovative energy ventures. He participated in the South Australian Government's Green Grid study to look at unlocking renewable resources on the Eyre Peninsula and the Victorian Government study into carbon capture and storage (CCS) for the Latrobe Valley.
Mr Yates holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne, is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) with an Advanced Diploma in Mastering the Boardroom.