Speakers:
(in alphabetic order by surname)
Mitch Anderson
Chief Executive
ERM Power Retail
ERM Business Energy is the fourth largest electricity retailer in Australia focusing on delivering the lowest possible price outcomes and best service for business and government customers. Mitch started the business within ERM Power in 2007 and continues to lead it as it grows to be the market leader within its target markets in every state of Australia.
Mitch has 20 years’ experience in energy retailing and trading across three countries. Mitch is a former General Manager both in operations and sales for other large energy companies in three countries.
Mitch holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science from California State University.
“Managing peak demand is one of the most crucial long term aspects of securing Australia’s energy costs in the future.”
Ron Ben-David
Chairman
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.
James Bennett
Manager Regulation
SA Power Networks
James Bennett has been involved in the working parties responsible for the development of the National Electricity Market since the early National Grid Management Council days in the mid-1990’s, and was involved in the development of the original National Electricity Code for network pricing that preceded the 1998 market start. His role in recent years has focussed on the sales and tariff arrangements for all of SA Power Networks’ customers (SA Power Networks was previously known as ETSA Utilities).
Jo Benvenuti
Executive Officer
Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre
As CUAC's Executive Officer, Jo is a strong advocate for Victorian consumers in the policy and regulatory debates on electricity, gas and water regulation. Jo has extensive experience in the energy and water sectors, including seven years as General Manager Strategic Operations for the Energy and Water Ombudsman (Victoria) managing complaints, policy and public affairs. In a previous role at the Essential Services Commission she developed retail and distribution customer performance reporting and worked on the development of Victoria’s first electricity retail code. She has worked in a diverse range of policy areas, including the aged, housing, and emergency relief provision, and was previously Executive Manager Corporate Affairs at the RSPCA (Victoria) handling animal cruelty complaints and enforcement as well as corporate governance. Jo has postgraduate qualifications in public policy.
“The introduction of time of use pricing presents a challenge for consumers, industry and government. I support the sharing of information across these sectors in order to maximise the benefits for end users – we need everyone working cooperatively together and this is a great opportunity to further those aims.”
Mark Brownfield
General Manager Marketing & Retail Sales
AGL Energy
Mark Brownfield is General Manager Marketing & Retail Sales at AGL Energy Limited, Australia’s largest integrated renewable energy company.
Mark has more than 20 years energy industry experience, working in various senior management roles, with the last 10 years being at AGL. Mark has responsibility for strategic direction, leadership and development for AGL’s (and subsidiary Powerdirect) marketing, brand, online and sales distribution performance, delivering growth across AGL’s national consumer customer segments, including management of AGL’s Smarter Living, home services business. Mark has worked across disciplines of electrical distribution system design, business development, marketing and sales, engaging business to business and business to consumer segments.
Mark’s experience includes Directorships at the Energy Retailers Association of Australia and Energy Assured Ltd, as well as inaugural Chairman of FebFast Ltd (2007 to 2011), an innovative not for profit organisation, dedicated to influencing Australian communities’ thinking and behaviour around alcohol and other drug use.
Mark enjoys an active lifestyle with his young family and is conscious of maintaining and promoting health and wellbeing with family, friends and co-workers. He holds Associate Diplomas in Engineering (Electrical), Business and Marketing from Swinburne University.
Lynne Chester
Energy Researcher and Senior Lecturer
University of Sydney
Dr Chester, an economist, currently researches and teaches at the University of Sydney. Previously she has held positions at the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy, Curtin University, and the University of New South Wales. She has written extensively on the Australian electricity sector and energy security. Her current research focus includes energy issues and the environment, electricity generation capacity, energy affordability, electricity and carbon derivatives, and markets for goods and services previously provided direct by government. She has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses in economics, public policy, risk management, infrastructure provision and research methods.
Dr Chester was an independent member of the Federal Government’s 2011-12 Energy White Paper Reference Group, and is currently a Board member for the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority and the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics, and Chair of AGL’s Customer Council. Prior to academia, Lynne has been a consultant to the Asian Development Bank, a senior executive with two of Australia’s largest utilities (Energy Australia and Sydney Water), Chief of Staff to Federal Government Ministers, and an economic adviser to the South Australian Premier. With over 20 years’ experience in the public sector, her expertise includes the process of decision-making and policy implementation, accountability, governance and regulatory regimes.
"It is critical that we improve energy affordability. This conference provides an opportunity to build consensus about practical and feasible ways to do that."
Alex Cruickshank
Manager Metering and Market Interactions
AGL Energy
Alex Cruickshank has been involved with the National Electricity Market since 1992, when he worked for ETSA on the initial rules. In that time he has seen the electricity and gas markets evolve to fully functioning competitive markets with commensurate efficiencies but not without issues.
Alex has been involved market design on behalf of both retailers and generators and spent some time at the National Electricity Code Administrator. All of these roles involved promoting efficient market design.
Currently Alex is the Manager Metering and Market Interactions for AGL, which encompasses smart metering and smart grid issues.
Simon Draper
Tribunal Member
IPART
Simon Draper joined IPART as a Tribunal Member in September 2012 after many years running infrastructure and utility companies. He has previously been Managing Director of Lumo Energy, an energy retailer with over 400,000 customers, CEO of Wellington Airport in New Zealand, General Manager Commercial at Integral Energy, CEO of Northern Territory Airports and worked on the privatisation of Australian airports.
Gavin Dufty
Policy Director
St Vincent De Paul
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.
"The Power Pricing 2013 conference provides a timely forum to discuss the critical issue of energy hardship and affordability."
Kate Farrar
Managing Director
QEnergy
Kate Farrar is the Managing Director of QEnergy, an energy retailer focussed on ‘quality’ who specialises in helping small businesses around Australia to manage their electricity costs. QEnergy‘s team now serves 11,000 business customers from Queensland, NSW, South Australia and the Northern Territory and every day moves closer to our aspiration to be ‘the business retailer of choice for all Australian small businesses’.
Kate has substantial energy market experience, having been Chief Operating Officer of Ergon Energy’s Powerdirect Australia business. Under her 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 $1.2bn, $0.5bn above expectations.
Kate was previously a Director with ABN AMRO Morgans (now RBS Morgans), the 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. Kate undertakes philanthropic work for the homeless and the Mater Foundation as well as being the Chair of the Queensland Music Festival.
David Green
Chief Executive Officer
Clean Energy Council
David Green is the Chief Executive of the Clean Energy Council. David is an Executive Director of the International Council for Sustainable Energy, having been the founding Chief Executive of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy, which built on his work as Director of the Combined Heat and Power Association.
He holds the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Energy made by the UK Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group.
In his native UK, David co-founded and launched the national charity Neighbourhood (now National) Energy Action that has worked, since 1981, with its local partners to secure warmer homes for many millions of lower income households. He is now a Vice President of National Energy Action.
He was a member of the UK Government's high-level group on energy policy for the 10 years of its existence. He has also contributed to a wide range of political reports and activities on energy policy.
He chaired the Mayor of London's Energy Partnership and was a member of the UK Local Government Association's Climate Change Commission for its duration.
David has also worked as advisor to the Victorian State Government as well as the US Department of Energy and various institutions of the European Union. David is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; Fellow of the Energy Institute; member of the Council of the UK Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies; member of the high-level UK Ministerial Advisory Group on Zero Carbon Homes; and member of the UK Government's Delegation to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and the follow-up International Renewable Energy Conference.
David was awarded the MBE in 1986 and the OBE in 2003.
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.
Ian Israelsohn
General Manager Policy & External Affairs
Jemena
Ian is an economist with a special focus on the energy sector and the politics that surround it. Over a 25 year career in the sector, he has advised energy suppliers, governments and investors in a number of countries on energy policy, government & media relations, and the management of complex social and political issues.
Ian has spent the last 8 years with Jemena, where his focus is to analyse the impacts of government and related policies on the organisation, and manage the interaction with key external stakeholders, including government and the media. Prior to joining Jemena (formerly Alinta), Ian was Deputy CEO and Head of Policy at the Energy Supply Association of Australia (esaa).
Ian has also spent time advising governments and investors on energy issues across southern and east Africa, and spent two years with the World Energy Council in the UK, where he was a contributor to a global commission on the future of the energy sector.
Trevor James
Chief Executive Officer
Synergy
Trevor James was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Synergy, WA’s largest energy retailer, in April 2011.
Trevor has over 37 years’ experience in the energy industry, having worked for the State Electricity Commission, the State Energy Commission of Western Australia (SECWA) and Western Power where he headed up the Retail division, before transferring to Synergy at disaggregation in 2006.
Trevor brings a wealth of experience across many areas of the energy industry having held leadership positions in the areas of generation, retailing, wholesale trading, finance, information technology, and human resources.
Since his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Trevor has undertaken a restructure of the organisation, appointed a new executive team and overseen significant improvements in Synergy’s performance, particularly in customer service areas. Under Trevor’s leadership, Synergy has entered significant new long term gas procurement contracts, introduced changes to enhance the customer experience, ensured Synergy is compliant with the Clean Energy Future legislation, and secured a new enterprise agreement with Synergy employees.
In coming months, Trevor is committed to addressing the increasingly competitive contestable energy market, supporting customers in the face of increasing costs and ensuring the business is equipped to manage the evolving changes in the energy market.
"The price of electricity has become a topical debate in the community over recent years. It is important that the energy industry is better able to inform the public on what the drivers of the price increases are and how customers can be more efficient in their use of energy. Power Pricing 2013 is a good opportunity to do this."
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.
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.
George Maltabarow
Chairman
Australian Energy Research Institute
Chris Laybutt
Vice President | Australian Equities
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. Prior 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.
“With the myriad challenges facing the East Coast’s energy market, this conference provides delegates with an opportunity to consider a range of expert and political opinions on how the critical issues might effectively be tackled.”
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.
James Myatt
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Power and Gas
James Myatt is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Australian Power and Gas Company Limited (ASX: APK), one of Australia’s fastest growing energy retailers. James has worked in the retail energy market for more than 25 years, one of very few CEOs to work his way up through the ranks of a single industry.
Australian Power & Gas is an energy and gas retailer that services the residential market, primarily in Australia’s eastern seaboard. Founded in 2006, it was BRW magazine’s Fastest Growing Company in 2010 and 2011, and currently has more than 300,000 customer accounts.
James has previously held senior positions at TXU Australia and Duke Energy International, was National Strategic Sales Director at Energy Australia and is a former Chairman of the Energy Retailers Association of Australia (ERAA). He is a regional nominee in the 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award.
James lives in Sydney with his wife and young family. He holds a Masters in Marketing as well as an Associate Diploma in Applied Science. He is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors as well as an Associate Fellow of the Australian Marketing Association.
“Power Pricing 2013 will bring together the key stakeholders essential for negotiating a pathway through the challenges surrounding power prices. If energy retailers cannot do anything further to lessen price impacts, then smart meter data and the knowledge it provides could be a key to assisting consumers to understand and manage usage.”
Tim Nelson
Head of Economics, Policy & Sustainability
AGL Energy
Tim is the Head of Economics, Policy and Sustainability at AGL Energy. In this role, Tim is responsible for: AGL’s sustainability strategy; greenhouse accounting and reporting; AGL’s energy and greenhouse research; AGL’s corporate citizenship program, Energy for Life; and formulating energy policy and regulation. AGL’s sustainability strategy has been recognised externally through inclusion on the DJSI World Index and being ranked third in the world for carbon disclosure (Carbon Disclosure Project Electric Utilities). Tim leads AGL’s economic research which involves both quantitative modelling and qualitative research on AGL, the energy industry and the broader economy. This work is used for financial modelling related to energy asset development and acquisitions as well as management of AGL’s direct carbon position.
Tim is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of New England and has had several papers published in Australian and international peer-reviewed journals. He has presented at conferences in Australia and throughout Asia and Europe.
Prior to working with AGL, Tim was employed as a Principal Policy Officer at the NSW Cabinet Office. In this role, Tim coordinated the development of the NSW Energy Directions Green Paper and was a key member of the team which designed and implemented the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme. Tim commenced his career as a cadet/graduate with the Reserve Bank of Australia and holds an honours degree in economics.
“Understanding the dynamics of the electricity industry is very important as prices have increased markedly in recent years. Power Pricing 2013 offers delegates the chance to get insights and information that will allow them to better understand trends and potential future scenarios.”
Cameron O’Reilly
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Retailers Association of Australia
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)
Jonathan O'Dea MP
Public Accounts Committee Chair
NSW Parliament
Jonathan O'Dea MP BA LLM MBA FAICD, was elected Member for Davidson in 2007. He is a former senior businessman, company director, lawyer and local councillor.
Jonathan is Chair of the NSW Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, which recently tabled a major report on "The Economics of Energy Generation".
"Power pricing is crucially important to business, consumers, government and the community as a whole. The NSW Public Accounts Committee has taken a strong interest in the topic and, as its Chair, I am pleased to be part of this valuable forum."
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.”
Hugh Outhred
Senior Visiting Fellow
University of New South Wales
Hugh Outhred is a Senior 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. He 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 over 100 short courses on electricity industry technology, competition, regulation and sustainability since 1988.
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.
Brian Parmenter
Consultant
ACIL Allen Consulting (and Former Chairman, Queensland Competition Authority)
Brian currently works as a consultant with ACIL Allen Consulting, based in Brisbane. Prior to joining ACIL, he worked with Frontier Economics and before that held a number of executive positions at Tactical Global Management Ltd, a Brisbane-based wholesale funds-management business.
Prior to relocating to Brisbane in 2000, Brian had a long academic research career, most recently as Professor of Applied Economics and Deputy Director of the Centre of Policy Studies at Monash University. He holds a B.A. from Nottingham University and an M.A. from Leicester University.
Brian was Chairman of the Queensland Competition Authority from 2006 to 2012.
Clare Petre
Ombudsman
Energy and Water Ombudsmen NSW
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. Ms Petre 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).
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.
Edward Santo
Chief Executive Officer
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Edward Santow is the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). PIAC is an independent, non-profit law and policy organisation. It promotes human rights and social justice through strategic litigation, policy development and law reform, and providing education and training.
Ed has overall responsibility for all aspects of PIAC’s work, including defining and pursuing the organisation’s strategic vision and working with partner organisations. Ed has particular expertise in human rights, administrative and constitutional law, discrimination and anti-terrorism law.
Ed is also a Senior Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), and serves on a number of boards and committees, including the National Pro Bono Resource Centre and the federal Government’s Information Advisory Committee. In 2009, Ed was presented with an Australian Leadership Award.
"Energy affordability has always been a difficult issue for many disadvantaged people. But steeply rising prices over the last few years mean that more people are more drastically affected. If we truly value equality and dignity, we must grapple with the need to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our community stay connected to this essential service. This conference is an opportunity to grapple with the power pricing issue."
Peter Sherman
Principal Consultant
Energetics
Peter is responsible for Energetics’ national team of energy and carbon market experts. The team assists a large portfolio of clients in understanding and managing their exposure to energy price and carbon cost. Peter’s experience since the deregulation of the national electricity market in the late 90’s gives him a thorough understanding of business drivers for industry participants and large companies. Prior to joining Energetics, Peter worked as a senior member of a number of energy trading teams to develop and implement energy strategy at Alinta Energy, CS Energy, Sun Retail, Ergon and AGL. He played a key role in positioning those companies and their customers to take advantage of the electricity, renewable and carbon markets as they have emerged.
Jim Snow
Director
Oakley Greenwood
After graduation as a Chemical Engineer (Fellow IChemE) - Jim spent 12 years in the Natural Gas Industry (AGL) holding several senior executive positions.
He has since then held senior executive positions with leading green generation business Energy Developments Ltd running their Business Development and Construction Group, was CEO of Hunter Electricity, CEO of Consulting for Energetics Pty Ltd and was a founding Vice President in Australia of the Boston based consulting firm Charles River Associates which evolved to become Oakley Greenwood in Australia.
Jim has worked across the energy (and water) sector. This has included price setting and forecasting, extensive economic regulatory submission work, demand side management, renewable energy generation (solar, tidal, wind, bio fuels), greenhouse gas mitigation and emission trading, extensive and complex modelling work as well as building generation plants, gas pipelines and electricity grid systems, CNG and LNG facilities, and managing energy retail operations.
Jim has also undertaken large assignments internationally including spending more than two years restructuring the entire electricity industry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and advising on the restructure of the Malaysian electricity supply industry and associated incentives based regulation of the key monopoly assets of the country.
Jim has also over the last decade been actively engaged in negotiating major gas supply agreements for power stations across Australia with notable success – contracts typically exceed A$1 billion.
Matthew Warren
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Supply Association of Australia
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.
Martijn Wilder
Head, Global Environmental Markets
Baker & Mackenzie
Martijn is regarded as a legal pioneer in the development of legal mechanisms and regulations underpinning the emergence of international carbon and broader environmental markets having worked in the field for more than 15 years. Martijn acts for and advises companies, multi-nationals and governments across all aspects of climate change law, policy and markets. Martijn serves as a board member of Low Carbon Australia, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency partnership (REEEP), Chair of the NSW Greenhouse Advisory Council and Professor of Climate Change Law at the Australian National University. He continues to play a key role in advising clients on the post-2012 markets together with a climate change team which spans 50 offices across the globe.
Innes Willox
Chief Executive Officer
Ai 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.
Innes joined Ai Group as Director International and Government Relations in 2008 with responsibility for policy development and advocacy across the federal and state government systems including in the areas of trade, defence, climate change, industrial relations and communications. He was appointed Chief Executive in May 2012.
Prior to joining Ai Group he held a number of senior roles in both the public and private sectors. He 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. He was Chief of Staff to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, from 2004 to 2006. Earlier, he was 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.
