Speakers
(in alphabetic order by surname)
Paul Balfe
Executive Director
ACIL TASMAN
Paul Balfe is an Executive Director of ACIL Tasman. He has worked for 35 years in the Australian energy and resources sectors, and has overall responsibility for ACIL Tasman’s gas business. He has lead the development and commercialisation of ACIL Tasman’s detailed gas market models and their application to strategic and policy analysis throughout Australia and internationally.
Prior to joining ACIL Tasman, Mr Balfe held a number of senior executive positions in the Queensland Department of Minerals and Energy. He has advised government and corporate sector clients on matters relating to the coal, oil and gas industries, coal seam gas, oil shale, mining safety and health, environmental management and alternative and renewable energies. With qualifications in geology and business administration, his experience ranges across both technical and commercial aspects of project evaluation and development.
"The future role of gas in the Australian domestic market will be an important focal point for this conference. The future for gas will be determined fundamentally by how well we manage the market stresses caused by LNG expansion over the next five years."
James Baulderstone
Vice President Eastern Australia
SANTOS
James Baulderstone is responsible for Santos’ activities in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. This includes the exploration, production, development and commercialisation of the company’s oil and gas resources in central Australia, the Gunnedah Basin and offshore Victoria.
James joined Santos in January 2007 as General Counsel and Company Secretary after previously holding similar roles at Mayne Group and BlueScope Steel. Prior to his current role James was Santos’ Vice President Corporate and Commercial with responsibility for mergers and acquisitions and commercial. James has extensive legal, commercial and business development experience across many countries including the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Malaysia, China and India.
David Byers
Chief Executive
AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION (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. Frank has a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University and a Masters of Business Administration (Executive) from the Australian Graduate School of Management.
Simon Camroux
Manager Regulation and Market Development
AGL ENERGY
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.
Mark Collette
Group Executive Manager, Energy Markets
EnergyAustralia
As Group Executive Manager, Energy Markets at EnergyAustralia, Mark is responsible for EnergyAustralia’s wholesale market operations involving the annual sale or purchase of over $3B of coal, gas, electricity, renewable energy certificates and associated commodities.
Mark and his team have a unique vantage point within the industry as EnergyAustralia is the only player with wholesale operations covering brown coal, black coal, gas, renewables and large and small retailing. Mark focuses daily on the major issues affecting the industry including the introduction of a carbon price, falling demand and changing fuel prices.Mark has been with EnergyAustralia for 9 years in roles focused on corporate strategy, policy and wholesale market operations. Mark holds degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Business Administration and Economics.
Ian Cronshaw
International Energy Consultant
BUREAU OF RESORCES AND ENERGY ECONOMICS (BREE)
Ian Cronshaw is a consultant to the Office of the Chief Economist in the International Energy Agency (IEA). Previously he was head of the Gas, Coal and Power Markets Division of the IEA with responsibilities including analysis of energy policies and markets for gas, coal, and electricity, including nuclear and renewables. Prior to working at the IEA, Ian spent 36 years in the Australian Government and was one of the principal authors of the government's 2004 white paper, Securing Australia's Energy Future. Currently, Ian splits his time between Paris and Canberra, where he currently works for the Bureau of Resource and Energy Economics.
James Crowley
General Manager Exploration
SENEX ENERGY
James Crowley has more than 25 years of geoscience experience, both onshore and offshore. His career includes an 18 year tenure with Apache Corporation, working in Egypt, the North Sea and across the Carnarvon Basin in WA. Prior to joining Senex Energy, James spent two years as Exploration Manager - New Ventures at Origin Energy.
James joined Senex Energy in 2012 and recently took up the role of General Manager Exploration.
Steve Davies
Policy Advisor
AUSTRALIAN PIPELINE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (APIA)
Steve Davies is the policy adviser at the Australian Pipeline Industry Association, with responsibility for government relations and policy development and response. Policy issues on Steve’s mind this year include: economic regulation, gas market development and Short Term Trading Markets, clean energy regulations, fugitive emissions, energy efficiency, transparency, the treatment of pipelines in planning legislation, coal seam gas and today’s topic: workforce development and training.
Steve came to APIA from the Federal Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (DRET), Offshore Resources Branch of the Resources Division in 2008. He has a Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering, but long ago, through positions in industry associations and government, realised he preferred economics to engineering, and now he prefers to avoid technical matters
Robbert de Weijer
CEO of Australia
DART ENERGY
Prior to joining Dart Energy as Country Manager Australia, Robbert held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Arrow Energy (under secondment from Shell). At Arrow, Robbert was instrumental in the company achieving a number of major project milestones during a period of rapid organisational expansion, including substantial reserves upgrades, increasing gas production and sales and improving safety performance across the company.
Robbert's career with Shell spanned 22 years during which time he gained extensive experience within the oil and gas industry and held a variety of senior roles in multiple countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Immediately prior to Arrow Energy, Robbert was responsible for Shell's European gas assets in the Southern North Sea, managing over 50 offshore platforms and 2 major gas terminals in The Netherlands and England. Robbert currently resides in Brisbane.
Kieran Donoghue
General Manager Policy
ENERGY SUPPLY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (ESAA)
Kieran manages the Association's policy, statistics and analysis functions. Before joining esaa in February 2010 as Policy Development Manager, Kieran spent 3 1/2 years at Ofgem, the UK energy regulator, most recently as Head of Networks Financial Issues. Prior to that, he qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte in London and spent several years in a variety of finance roles at international companies.
Kieran holds Masters degrees from Oxford University and the University of London.
Michael Dureau AM
Deputy Chairman
THE WARREN CENTRE FOR ADVANCED ENGINEERING
Adjunct Professor Michael Dureau AM FTSE, HonFIEAust. FIChemE, FAIE, FAICD, CPEng, CSci, JP has a proven track record as a successful CEO in the Power and Water Industries and, more recently, a leader of new energy technology development, advanced engineering and studies of ways of addressing key challenges facing Australia by setting up temporary “think tanks” drawn from the Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering network of distinguished engineers.
He is the Deputy Chairman of the Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering Ltd. , the Chairman of Engineers Australia’s National Committee on Fuels and Energy as well as an Advisory Board Member of the Centre for Engineering Leadership and Management for Engineers Australia Sydney Division.
As MD of ALSTOM Power (formerly ABB Power Generation) he built Australia’s most successful Power Generation Technology and Services Company.
Recognising an urgent need of the Electric Power Industry in Australia for properly trained power engineers he led the initiative to set up Australia’s first Electric Power Institute (API) and was its founding Chairman.
He is passionate about renewable and clean energy and is a director of Granite Power Ltd., BioTek Fuels Ltd. And the Australian Centre for Innovation and International Competitiveness Ltd. He is a Member of Coal Innovation NSW, The Experts Advisory Board for the NSW Transport Long Term Strategic Plan and Deputy Chairman of the ACT Solar Auction Panel.
In 2010 he retired as Australian and International Chairman of Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief (RedR) after 8 years on the Board.
Recognition of his performance includes the EA Professional Engineer of the Year (Sydney Division 2000) and the Fluor Daniel 2001 prize for “Exceptional Achievement in Management and Leadership”, the Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal for Services to Electric and Power Engineering and the Order of Australia (AM).
He is an Honorary Fellow of EA and has been listed several times as one of Australia’s Top 100 Most Influential Engineers.
In 2009 he was awarded the CHEMECA Medal which is the highest award for a Chemical Engineer in Australia and New Zealand as well as the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal—EA’s highest award.
"The availability of gas for domestic and industrial use is one of the great challenges facing Eastern Australia for the next decade. I am committed to do what I can to help this conference facilitate an innovative solution to this critical problem."
Duncan Fraser
Vice President
NATIONAL FARMERS FEDRATION
National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) Vice President Duncan Fraser owns and manages ‘Narringa’, a 9,750 ha pastoral and irrigation property near Hay in the western Riverina. The family farm, run by Duncan, his wife Louise and their two children, produces wool, sheep meat, rice and wheat.
Duncan holds a bachelor of agricultural economics from the University of New England and has long been involved in agricultural advocacy and lobbying.
His role as an agricultural representative began some 27 years ago, when he was elected president and secretary of the Hay branch of the LGPA, the precursor to the NSW Farmers’ Association. Since that time he held many executive positions within the Association, including places on the general council and committees for wool, sheepmeat, meat and livestock, education, workplace relations and conservation and resource management. He was the chair of Farmsafe NSW from 1999 to 2000 and the Vice President of the NSW Farmers’ Association from 2001 to 2003.
In November 2010, Duncan was elected Vice-President of the NFF.
Michael Fraser
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
AGL ENERGY
Michael Fraser is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AGL Energy Limited, Australia’s largest integrated renewable energy company, a role he assumed in October 2007.
Michael has more than 25 years energy industry experience including having established AGL as one of the country’s largest energy retailers and led the rapid expansion of AGL’s upstream energy interests in renewables, thermal power generation and upstream gas exploration and development.
Michael’s experience includes having been a Director of Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC), Chairman of Elgas Limited, Chairman of ActewAGL, Director of the Australian Gas Association, Director of the Energy Retailers Association of Australia, Chairman of the NEMMCo Participant’s Advisory Committee and a Director of UnitingCare Ageing Board.
Michael is currently the Chairman of the Clean Energy Council.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales. He is a CPA and Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia.
Ross Gersbach
Chief Executive Strategy and Development
APA GROUP
Peter Gniel
Director, Policy and Government Relations
PLASTICS AND CHEMICALS INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION (PACIA)
Peter Gniel is the Director Policy and Government Relations for PACIA, the peak association representing Australia’s $33.6bn chemistry industry, whose sectors directly employ 83,000 people and contributes approximately 10% of total Australian manufacturing activity.
He is responsible for developing, oversighting and prosecuting PACIA’s national advocacy activities and has primary carriage for policy issues relating to manufacturing, climate change, energy, trade, and other economic and commercial matters. Peter also represents the industry internationally through the International Council of Chemical Association’s (ICCA) Energy and Climate Change Leaders Group and the ICCA Trade Network.
Peter is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Australian Industry Greenhouse Network (AIGN) and is currently serving as its Vice-Chair. Prior to PACIA, he worked for almost a decade with the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) as its Director Energy Policy having worked previously in government roles.
Prof. Chris Greig
Energy Initiative Director
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND
Professor Chris Greig leads the UQ Energy Initiative, which incorporates UQ’s energy research capabilities across all faculties and institutes. The scope of the initiative encompasses both traditional fossil energy and renewable energy systems and links engineering, material sciences and mining research, to social policy, economics, and environment.
Chris is a Chemical Engineer having obtained his Bachelors, Masters and PhD at the University of Queensland. As a graduate he was the cofounder and Managing Director of a successful company that commercialised innovative process technology internationally for over 10 years. He has since held senior executive and project director roles in construction, mining and clean energy industries both in Australia and abroad over a career spanning 25 years.
He is a member of the Advisory Boards for the Queensland Centre for Coal Seam Gas (Chair), Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence, Queensland Carbon Geostorage Initiative, National CCS Council Finance Working Group (Chair) and a member of the Strategic Reference Group for the Queensland Government’s 30 year energy plan.
Bret Harper
Associate Director of Research
REPUTEX
Bret is Associate Director of Research at RepuTex, leading the company's power and energy markets modelling team. In this role he oversees the company's analysis of the Australian electricity and gas markets.
Analysis focuses on the delivery of market data, fundamental supply, demand and price forecasts, along with in depth market analysis, reports and advisory project work within electricity markets. Bret has qualifications in Environmental Engineering, and Energy & Resources from the University of California, Berkeley.
"Gas is the keystone of the Australian power generation market, and therefore the Australian Domestic Gas Outlook 2013 is essential to understanding Australia's future energy mix."
The Hon. Chris Hartcher MP
Minister for Resources and Energy
NSW GOVERNMENT
Chris was born and raised in NSW – educated at Sydney University.
Practiced as a solicitor in Sydney and later on the NSW Central Coast.
First elected in 1988 as the Member for Gosford to the NSW Parliament, Chris has held many positions - serving as Government Whip from 1991 to 1992 and then serving as Minister for the Environment from June 1992 - 1995 in the Fahey Government.
Whilst Minister for the Environment, Chris was responsible for developing the national initiative on lead free petrol and for the creation of a number of new National Parks and Wilderness Areas including Mount Popran National Park on the Central Coast.
After the Fahey Government left office in 1995, Chris held a number of positions on the front bench of the Opposition - he was Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2002 – 2003 and served as Shadow Minister on SOCOG as the Shadow Minister for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
After the electoral redistribution in 2006, Chris stood for the new seat of Terrigal at the March 2007 NSW State Election. He was re-elected as the Member for Terrigal in March 2011.
After the 2011 election, Chris was appointed Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister for State and Minister for the Central Coast.
Andrew Haythorpe
Managing Director
LIBERTY RESOURCES
Andrew Haythorpe has more than 20 years industry experience within the Mining and Exploration sector with a strong emphasis in fund management and investment.
Starting his investment career in Suncorp, he gained experience in evaluating the technical and financial aspects of mining projects which lead to his engagement as a mining analyst for County Natwest and Hartley Poynton. Prior to Liberty Resources, Mr. Haythorpe was a fund manager at Bankers Trust Funds Management, a company focused on global energy and resource investments. During the 1990’s, Bankers Trust was extremely successful, growing to $40 billion of funds under management, with Mr. Haythorpe playing a key role in the company’s achievements.
Since leaving Bankers Trust, he has been investing in and building small resources companies. He has served as Managing Director of Michelago Resources and Crescent Gold, and as non-executive Chairman of Aurox Resources.
Mr. Haythorpe says “Based on my experiences with different energy and resource companies over the years, Liberty Resources is unique - a small company with a team of highly skilled and experienced individuals forming the backbone of the company, placing it within the industry as having the largest growth potential and, importantly, with minimal risk to investors and the community.”
Mr. Haythorpe is a Geologist by profession and is the largest shareholder of Liberty Resources..
Richard Holliday
Commercial Manager
ICON ENERGY
Richard Holliday joined Icon Energy as Commercial Manager in 2011.
Richard has held Executive positions with the Queensland Government, Gold Coast City Council, Queensland Rail and was the Chief Executive Officer, Surfers Paradise Alliance.
Prior to joining Icon Energy as Commercial Manager, Richard was the Manager Media and Communications for Santos QLD where he was heavily involved in the early days of Coal Seam Gas (CSG) working on the Santos GLNG project. Richard was instrumental in developing Santos’ strategic marketing and advertising campaign focusing on delivering a “social licence to operate” and the coexistence of
agribusiness and the CSG industry.
Working with Ministers across state and federal boundaries and Government legislators and regulators to deliver workable policy outcomes is an area that Richard excels in, having been involved in many of the CSG policy outcomes that underpin the industry today.
Richard understands the impact of Government legislation and regulations and the commercial outcomes on the CSG/LNG industry.
David Leitch
Head of Utilities Research
UBS INVESTMENT BANK
David started in equities research in 1983, having previously worked as an academic. David is responsible for utilities and building materials research at UBS Australia and UBS was rated no 1 for Australian Utilities Research in the 2012 Greenwich Associates Survey. David has been rated a top 3 analyst in three separate industry sectors at one time or another in the Greenwich Associates Survey.
Andrew Lewis
Executive Director Energy, Resources and Energy Division
NSW DEPARTMENT OF TRADE, INVESTMENT, REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
Andrew has been Executive Director, Energy since February 2012. This position leads the Department’s Energy Branch and covers policy, regulation and performance, consumer assistance and clean energy issues.
Current major issues facing the Energy Branch include renewable energy development, energy pricing, national reform strategies and network reforms.
Andrew has previously been responsible for energy technical regulation policy and compliance, which covers generation, electricity and gas networks and emergency management.
Previously he was Executive Director, Office of the Director General, in the Department of Water and Energy. Andrew started with the then Ministry of Energy and Utilities in 2002 working on national electricity market issues, having come from the Government Relations area in Duke Energy International. Andrew started his career with the NSW Cabinet Office in 1997.
The Hon. Mark McArdle MP
Minister for Energy and Water Services
QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT
Mark McArdle was first elected to Queensland Parliament on 7 February 2004 as the Member for Caloundra. During his time in Parliament, Mark has held many important positions including Leader of the Liberal Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition after the successful merger between the Liberal and National Parties.
After the successful election of the Liberal National Party to form Government in Queensland, Mark was appointed Minister for Energy and Water Supply and already reached many milestones during the first 100 days of Government. The Minister is overseeing the merging of the Bulk Water entities, the freezing of Tariff II and legislated to put the cost of the carbon tax on power bills.
Before entering Queensland Parliament, Mark worked as a lawyer on the Sunshine Coast in a busy mixed practice.
Mark is an active local Member and is an avid supporter of community groups within his electorate of Caloundra. He is currently patron of the Sunshine Coast Youth Orchestra, Sunshine Coast Disability Group and Caloundra State High School, to name a few. Mark and his wife have lived on the Sunshine Coast for 23 years and have a grown family.
The Hon. Ian Macfarlane MP
Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources
FEDERAL OPPOSITION
Ian Macfarlane was first elected to federal Parliament in 1998.
As a Minister in the Howard Government he held the portfolio of Small Business (2001) before being promoted to the Cabinet role of Industry, Tourism and Resources (2001-2007).
Ian is now the Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources and brings his extensive experience and pragmatic approach to policy work in two of Australia’s most important industries. He has also previously been the Coalition’s spokesperson for Trade and for Infrastructure and Water. Ian’s official visits have included Japan, New Zealand, USA and Mexico, UK, France, Austria, Chile, Thailand, Republic of Korea, China and Mongolia, Indonesia and India.
Before entering federal politics Ian farmed peanuts, sorghum and wheat and ran cattle in Queensland's Burnett region before becoming one of the country's most active agripoliticians. He was President of the Queensland Graingrowers Association for seven years, President of the Grains Council of Australia for two years and simultaneously held executive positions on the Queensland and National Farmers Federations. The practical farming tendencies still run deep. His nickname "Chainsaw" now reflects Ian's direct approach to cutting through the red tape to get things done for Australian business and industry on a political level.
Ian is married to Karen with two daughters. He lives in Toowoomba, Australia's largest provincial inland city.
Steve Masters
Chief Commercial Officer
BEACH ENERGY
Mr Masters graduated from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Applied Geology) in 1992 and completed a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Petroleum Geology and Geophysics at the University of Adelaide in 1993. In 2001, he completed a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment with the Securities Institute of Australia (now Finsia), and in 2012, completed the Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership Program at the University of Oxford.
Mr Masters joined Beach in early 2007, after approximately ten years with Woodside Energy Ltd, where he held a variety of commercial roles associated with various LNG, domestic gas, and offshore oil projects, corporate development and mergers and acquisitions. He has broad and deep experience in the negotiation of upstream oil and gas agreements, hydrocarbon marketing agreements, domestic and international acquisitions, divestments, and corporate strategy.
Mike Moraza
Group General Manager Upstream Gas
AGL ENERGY
Michael joined AGL in 1996 and was appointed to the role Group General Manager Upstream Gas in December 2008. Michael’s team of around 145 professionals is responsible for all upstream gas exploration, production and development projects across the AGL Group.
Prior to joining AGL, Michael had a background in the upstream oil and gas industry working for SGS and later Bridge Oil. Michael joined AGL in a business development role within AGL’s pipeline and gas transmission division and later became General Manager Corporate Development. Michael’s next role was General Manager Corporate Strategic Planning in 2005 during the time AGL formulated plans which eventually led to the company demerging and AGL pursuing an integrated energy company strategy.
Michael led teams at AGL that successfully acquired Pulse Energy, an interest in Loy Yang Power, an interest in the PNG oil and gas project, a 50% joint venture interest in the Moranbah Gas project in Queensland, a 27.5% stake in QGC Limited, Sydney Gas Limited and more recently the acquisition of the Gloucester Gas project and Mosaic Oil.
Michael holds a degree in Chemical Engineering (BE Chem) from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) through Macquarie University’s Graduate School of Management.
Sue Morphet
Chairman
MANUFACTURING AUSTRALIA
Sue Morphet is a highly regarded businesswoman and was appointed as Manufacturing Australia’s Chairman in March 2013.
Ms. Morphet is passionate about the future of manufacturing having spent the last 30 years working in this sector, more than half of which were with the iconic Australian apparel company Pacific Brands. As the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer from January 2008 until September 2012, Ms. Morphet was responsible for putting in place a strategy that has since helped the company return to profit and ongoing viability.
Prior to Pacific Brands Ms. Morphet held senior positions with a number of other well-known manufacturing companies including Sheridan and Herbert Adams.
Under Ms. Morphet’s leadership Manufacturing Australia intends to continue working with the Australian Federal and State Governments as well as other industries and influencers to ensure fair and appropriate industry policies, and to secure the future of this sector.
Keith Orchison
Director
COOLIBAH PTY LTD
Keith Orchison has been engaged in the energy industry for 32 years, of which he spent 24 as chief executive of national industry associations dealing with upstream petroleum and electricity. For a decade he was also prominent in the Australian Industry Greenhouse Network, an alliance of 14 associations of energy suppliers and users, which he helped to found. From 2003-07 he served on the Howard government's Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council, chairing its energy committee. He was chairman of the CSIRO energy technology advisory committee in the late 1990s and deputy chairman of the Australian Electricity Supply Industry Research Board through the 1990s. In 2011-12 he has been a member of the Federal Government's energy white paper reference group. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004.
Today he is a consultant and a writer about energy. He edits the "Powering Australia" yearbook, writes extensively on energy in "Business Spectator" and in other publications in Australia and overseas and is the publisher of the "This is Power" blog and a monthly newsletter on his Coolibah Pty Ltd website (www.coolibahconsulting.com.au). He consults to companies, associations and other consultants in the energy arena.
“Having worked with Jamie Turmanis from Quest Events for many years, I have confidence in his ability to stage worthwhile conferences on energy issues -- and I am committed to helping to build the communication of understanding of Australia's energy policy, potential and problems at a critical time in the national investment cycle. There is a huge amount of talk in the media about energy issues, but not enough understanding of the underlying pressures and needs.”
Cameron O'Reilly
Chief Executive Officer
ENERGY RETAILERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (ERAA)
With a longstanding background in energy and public policy, Cameron 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)
Hugh Outhred
Professorial Visiting Fellow in Energy Systems
UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Hugh Outhred is a Professorial Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales, an Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University, Guru Besar Luar Biasa (Visiting Professor) at STTNAS Jogjakarta, Indonesia and Managing Director of Ipen Pty Ltd, which provides advisory and educational services on energy, society and the environment. Hugh holds the degrees of BSc, BE (Hons 1) and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Sydney and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy. Hugh retired in 2007 after a 35-year career at UNSW, most recently as Presiding Director, Centre for Energy and Environmental Markets and Head, Electrical Energy Research Group, School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications.
During his career, Hugh has been a Fulbright Senior Fellow at the University of California Berkeley, a Board Member of the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy, an Associate Director of UNSW’s Centre for Photovoltaic Devices and Systems, a Member of CSIRO’s Energy Flagship Advisory Committee, a Member of the National Electricity Tribunal and a Member of the New South Wales Licence Compliance Advisory Board. He has held visiting positions at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the USA, the University of Liverpool in the UK, the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Spain, Roskilde University Centre in Denmark and Murdoch University, Perth. In 2001 and 2002 he was seconded to the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy as Product Executive, Grid-connected Renewable Energy Services, to lead a research program on grid-connected renewable energy resources. In 2002-2003, Hugh provided advice to the Australian Greenhouse Office and the Electricity Supply Industry Planning Council of South Australia on wind energy integration.
From 2005 to 2009, Hugh led a UNSW research project for the Australian Greenhouse Office on facilitating the uptake of wind energy in the Australian electricity industry and in 2010 he lead a project for the Australian Electricity Market Operator to develop a prototype tool to predict large, rapid changes in the aggregated power output of wind farms in the National Electricity Market. From 2008 to 2011, Hugh was Principal Investigator for an AusAID ADRA research project at UNSW on sustainable energy services for off-grid rural communities in Indonesia. In 2010 and 2011, he was a Lead Author for the IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy and Climate Change Mitigation, published in 2011.
Hugh has contributed to the theory of electricity industry competition since 1979 and to its practical implementation in Australia since the 1980’s. In 1985 and 1986, he was seconded to the Energy Authority of New South Wales as an advisor on electricity industry development and sustainability and to lead a newly established energy-forecasting branch. In 1995 and 1996 he led a project for the National Grid Management Council to undertake electricity-trading experiments to trial the proposed National Electricity Market trading rules prior to their formal implementation. In 1997, he was appointed as an inaugural member of the NSW Licence Compliance Advisory Board, a position he held until the Board was replaced as part of revised industry governance arrangements in 2001, and in 1998 he was appointed as an inaugural member of the Australian National Electricity Tribunal, a position he held until the Tribunal was replaced as part of revised industry governance arrangements in 2006. Hugh has taught nearly 100 short courses on electricity industry technology, competition, regulation and sustainability since 1988.
"This event will provide an important opportunity to discuss the increasing complexity of the east-coast energy industry and the multiple challenges that it faces. More than ever, we need a coherent set of policy, institutional and market responses."
Edwin O'Young
Principal
PORT JACKSON PARTNERS
Edwin O’Young has been a Principal of Port Jackson Partners since 2007, and has been with the firm for 14 years. As a Principal of the firm, he has advised many Boards, Chief Executives and senior managers on issues of commercial strategy and organisation.
Edwin has assisted clients to address fundamental issues such as resolving strategic direction, identifying company growth options including acquisitions, performance improvement and organisation design.
While not an industry specialist, Edwin has a long history of experience in the energy industry through his consulting relationships, and has assisted companies in areas spanning energy generation, retailing, fuel supply and project development, as well as assisting on carbon policy issues.
Edwin also has substantial experience in strategy development across a wide range of organisations outside of the energy sector, including construction, building materials, financial services and retailing.
Edwin holds a combined degree in Commerce and Law from the University of New South Wales. Edwin has also completed a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment with the Securities Institute of Australia and a Masters of Business Administration (Executive) at the Australian Graduate School of Management.
“Less than 5 years ago, Australia’s energy prices were in the lowest quartile globally, delivering massive national benefits. This position is being rapidly eroded, impacting our national competitiveness with far reaching consequences. The Australian Domestic Gas Outlook conference is an ideal forum to discuss how gas supply/demand and pricing will affect us all now and into the next decade."
Miles Prosser
Executive Director
AUSTRALIAN ALUMINIUM COUNCIL
Miles Prosser is the Executive Director of the Australian Aluminium Council, the peak association for the bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting industry sectors. Miles has twenty years experience in industry policy issues. He has previously worked for the pulp & paper and forest industries on a range of issues relating to resource allocation, sustainability and climate change. Miles has experience in the development and implementation of policy from the perspective of Government, resource suppliers, major processing companies and industry associations. The priorities of the Australian Aluminium Council include an effective response to climate change, the renewable energy target and the reputation of the aluminium industry and its products.
"This conference will bring together the quantitative analysis and the views of key stakeholders to lay out Australia’s options for how we benefit from our gas reserves."
Tennant Reed
Principal National Advisor Public Policy
AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP (Ai GROUP)
Tennant Reed is Principal National Adviser – Public Policy at the Australian Industry Group. For the last several years he has worked heavily on energy and climate issues, advising Ai Group’s Leaders’ Group on Climate Policy and developing reports on gas supply, energy prices and energy efficiency. He also works on a range of issues related to manufacturing competitiveness and infrastructure. Previously he was an adviser in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, working on fiscal policy and stimulus. Tennant lives in Melbourne with his wife and their young son.
“LNG exports present exciting opportunities, but secure and affordable gas supplies are also of critical importance to the domestic economy. The Australian Domestic Gas Outlook conference is perfectly timed, and Ai Group looks forward to a vigorous discussion of how to manage the risks we face and make the most of the gas opportunity.”
Tim Reardon
Executive Director
NATIONAL GENERATORS FORUM
Tim Reardon is the Executive Director of the National Generators Forum (NGF), the peak industry association representing private and government owned electricity generators across all Australian states and territories. NGF members operate generators using technologies including coal, gas (LNG, methane and bio-waste), wind, solar and hydro-electric plants. These generators range in size from the largest generation facilities in Australia to localized generators for small communities and regional businesses.
Tim has also represented a number of other industry sectors including the automotive, building and construction and agriculture sectors.
Tony Wood
Energy Program Director
GRATTAN INSTITUTE
Tony joined Grattan Institute after two and a half years as Program Director of Clean Energy Projects at the Clinton Foundation. Before that he spent 11 years working at Origin Energy, which included a secondment to the first Garnaut review.
He has built widespread relationships within the energy sector and is an adviser to government.
"I have chosen to participate because the domestic gas industry is at the centre of two of the biggest changes in fundamental drivers of energy supply and demand that we have seen for many decades. These are climate change and the extraordinary growth prospects for unconventional gas, both CCS and shale gas, in Australia and elsewhere. Life will never be the same!"
David Wrench
Managing Director
STRIKE ENERGY
David Wrench graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from the University of Sydney in 1987. He subsequently gained significant experience in precious metal, base metal and energy markets in Australia and North America. David was directly involved with a number of private companies and project developments in the oil and gas sector in his capacity as a director of the private equity arm of Macquarie Bank Limited.
David has been a non-executive director of Strike Energy since 1998 and was appointed as Managing Director of the company in October 2011.