Speakers
(in alphabetic order by surname)
Paul Balfe
Executive Director
ACIL Allen Consulting
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 question of what happens to gas supply and price in NSW when current contracts expire is one that all gas industry participants in the state should be focussing on. The organisers of the Eastern Australia's Energy Markets conference have recognised the central importance of this issue by devoting a full day forum to the topic."
Jennifer Barron
Special Counsel Competition and Regulation
Gilbert + Tobin
Jennifer is special counsel in the Competition and Regulation team at Gilbert + Tobin. She has been involved over many years in interacting with the ACCC and AER in relation to energy matters, including mergers and investigations. She has extensive experience in advising clients across a range of competition and regulatory issues facing the energy industry.
Peter Bury
Director, Strategy and Innovation
PACIA
Peter joined PACIA in 2001 and has national responsibilities including development and implementation of PACIA’s Strategic Industry Roadmap and Innovation programs. Peter has 35 years experience in the automotive, materials handling, industrial & agricultural film; emergency services and association management sectors. This includes leadership and management responsibility across manufacturing; HSE, marketing and sales, R&D; issues management; risk and governance as well as strategic planning Peter managed development of the recently released Strategic Industry Roadmap for the chemicals and plastics sector as well as a range of other key program and policy initiatives. He provides industry leadership and advocacy for PACIA members on: the Board of the Green Chemical Futures facility at Monash University; the Board of the Victorian Centre for Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing: the Board of the National Packaging Covenant Industry Association; the Australian Packaging Covenant Council and the Global Plastics and Environment network.
Wayne Calder
Deputy Executive Director
Bureau of Resources of 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.
John Connor
Chief Executive Officer
The Climate Institute
John, CEO of The Climate Institute, joined the Institute in March 2007 after working as Campaigns Manager at World Vision where he was also a co-convenor of the Make Poverty History campaign. Prior to that he has been a leader in environment organisations like the Australian Conservation Foundation and the NSW Nature Conservation Council.
John has worked on numerous government and business advisory panels currently including the NSW Government’s Climate Council. He is a Board member of the Environment Defenders Office and the Asset Owners Disclosure Project and is a “Governator” with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.
Jonathan Coppel
Presiding Commissioner – Major Project Developments Assessment Process
Productivity Commission
Jonathan Coppel was appointed as a full-time Commissioner in July 2011.
Jonathan is currently working on the inquiry into Mineral and Energy Resource Exploration and the study into Major Project Development Assessment Processes.
He has recently completed working on the Strengthening Economic Relations between Australia and New Zealand study and the inquiry into Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation.
Immediately prior to his appointment Jonathan was the Economic Counsellor to the OECD Secretary General where he was responsible for the OECD's contributions to the G20. While at the OECD he has held a range of positions including head of the Office of the Chief Economist, Executive Manager of the NEPAD-OECD Africa Investment Initiative, Senior Economist on foreign direct investment, Head of the EU and UK Desks, and climate change specialist. He has also been an Energy Analyst at the International Energy Agency.
Jonathan has previously held senior management positions in the Reserve Bank of Australia and started his career at the Australian Commonwealth Treasury. He has also been a lecturer for the World Trade Institute's Mile Masters Programme in International Law and Economics and at Sciences Po Institute in Paris.
Jonathan has a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the Australian National University and a Masters in International Affairs (Economics and Management) from Columbia University in New York.
Steve Davies
Policy Advisor
Australian Pipeline Industry Association
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.
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.
"The electricity retailing industry is changing dramatically at present, as loads decline and the technology imposte increases. In this environment, this conference debate will allow everyone present to share ideas on where the industry might turn, and challenge us all to rethink our business models."
Ivor Frischknecht
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
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.
Miles George
Chief Executive Officer
Infigen Energy
Miles is the Managing Director of Infigen Energy, having previously been the Chief Executive Officer since 2007. Miles was appointed an executive director in January 2009. Miles has over 20 years experience in the infrastructure and energy sectors, and in particular renewable energy development and investment. Since 2000, Miles has been involved in development and investment in wind energy projects in Australia, including playing a key role in the development of Infigen’s first wind farm at Lake Bonney in South Australia. Miles jointly led the team which established the business now known as Infigen Energy in 2003. Subsequently he jointly led the team which structured and implemented the Initial Public Offer and listing of Infigen’s business on the ASX in 2005.
“The coming decade will see deep integration of renewables into the Australian electricity market. This will create opportunities and challenges. The speakers at this symposium include key decision makers that will determine the effectiveness and efficiency of this transition.”
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.
Alex Gosman
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Industry Greenhouse Network
A long term Canberra resident, Alex brings extensive policy development and advocacy over 20 years including leadership of an industry association, and executive positions with Ericsson Australia and GlaxoSmithKline. In prior roles, he was responsible for industry policy development in Federal Government agencies. He has successfully led many key advocacy campaigns ranging from a review of Australia’s technical infrastructure, the allocation of mobile spectrum through to the timely reimbursement of several drug and vaccine products. Alex joined the AIGN as CEO in June 2012.
Paul Howes
National Secretary
Australian Workers Union
Paul has more than a decade of union activism behind him – as an ordinary union member, a union delegate, working for a peak trade union body and as an AWU official. He was born in Sydney, and grew up in the Blue Mountains. Paul left school at age 14 and became active in his workplace as a union delegate. At the age of 17, he became a Research Officer with the Labor Council of NSW (now Unions NSW). Paul worked closely with the AWU in organising workers at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and in 2002 as an official with the New South Wales Branch of the union. In 2003, he joined the AWU National Office as National Organiser and organised the Aluminium, Mining and Steel industries for the union across the country. In 2005, Paul was elected National Vice President, becoming the youngest person in the history of the union to hold a national leadership position. He worked on reforming the union's internal structure – implementing new strategies to organise non-union workplaces and grow membership in the union’s traditional industrial bases. Paul was elected National Secretary in 2007 and was re-elected in 2009. The AWU now has more than 135,000 members and 250 staff across Australia. Established in 1886, the AWU is the country's oldest and most diverse union, with more than 45 offices across non-metropolitan Australia. Paul was elected Vice President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions in 2008. He is a member of the National Executive of the Australian Labor Party and represents the Asia-Pacific Region as a member of the Executive Committee of the IndustriALL Global Union. Paul is Deputy Chair of the nation’s largest superannuation fund, AustralianSuper. He is also a director of the National Workforce and Productivity Development Agency, a director of The McKell Institute and a member of a number of Government Boards.
Tony Irwin
Chairman – Nuclear Engineering Panel
Engineers Australia
B.Eng (Hons) MIET MIEAust CPEng Tony Irwin graduated in electrical engineering and worked for British Energy (formerly the Central Electricity Generating Board) in the UK for more than thirty years commissioning and operating 8 nuclear power plants. Following the Chernobyl accident, he worked with Russian reactor operations engineers to improve their safety culture and was a member of a team that reviewed operating practices at Russian reactors. In 1999 he moved permanently to Australia and joined the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) where he managed fuel strategies and represented Australia at international meetings. When the project to replace ANSTO’s old HIFAR reactor was approved, he was appointed as Reactor Manager for the commissioning and operation of the new OPAL research reactor. Since retiring from ANSTO, Tony is a now a Director of SMR Nuclear Technology Pty Ltd, Chairman of Engineers Australia Nuclear Engineering Panel and visiting lecturer for the Master of Nuclear Science Course at the ANU.
Susan Jeanes
Chief Executive
Australian Geothermal Energy Association (AGEA)
Susan Jeanes is the Chief Executive of the Australian Geothermal Energy Association (AGEA) the industry body representing the Australian geothermal energy industry.
Susan has previously worked in the political arena serving in the Federal Parliament as the Member for Kingston and working as an Advisor to a number of Shadow Ministers prior to the election of the Howard Government in 1996. Susan also worked as an Advisor to the former Environment and Heritage Minister Robert Hill on climate change and energy policy. She has tertiary qualifications in the areas of Australian politics, political theory and environmentalism. Susan is also the Principal Consultant at Susan Jeanes and Associates, a Director of The Climate Institute and the Chair of the South Australian Centre for Geothermal Energy Research at the University of Adelaide.
Sajal Kishore
Director Energy and Utilities
Fitch Ratings
Sajal Kishore is currently a Director in Fitch’s Asia-Pacific energy and utilities team. Sajal Kishore joined Fitch Ratings in Sydney in 2007 and has coverage responsibilities for energy and utilities credits across Australia, New Zealand and the Asian region. Prior to joining Fitch Ratings, Sajal has worked in relationship management and credit roles with various commercial banks including the ANZ Banking Group in Sydney, HSBC in India and others. Sajal has over 15 years experience advising and managing corporate customers across a diverse range of industries and sectors. Sajal has a MBA from Melbourne Business School and a MA in Economics from Delhi School of Economics.
Kerrie-Anne Lanigan
Gas and Power Marketing Director
ExxonMobil Australia
As Gas and Power Marketing Director for ExxonMobil in Australia, Kerrie-Anne leads the team responsible for marketing the natural gas and associated products produced by Esso Australia. Kerrie-Anne joined ExxonMobil in 1995 as an engineer and spent the early party of her career in a variety of technical assignments supporting Esso’s production operations in Gippsland, Victoria. In 2002 she relocated to the U.K. where she held several roles supporting the European Sales business. From 2005 Kerrie-Anne had a range of commercial and managerial assignments in the US. Prior to her return to Australia in 2010, Kerrie-Anne was located in Houston as the Manager of ExxonMobil Power and Gas Services, with responsibility for the procurement of power and natural gas for ExxonMobil operations globally Kerrie-Anne is a graduate of the Mechanical Engineering program at Queensland University of Technology and holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School. She is married with two children and enjoys running and horse riding in her spare time.
David Leitch
Head of Utilities Research
UBS
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
Jim McDonald
Chairman
iGas Energy Holdings Limited
Jim is the foundation Chairman and Shareholder of iGas Energy Holdings Limited, a start-up business which has developed and is commercialising the world patented Pressurised Liquid Injection and Gas Transfer System (PLIGATS) which entails the compression, pressure management and delivery of high pressure compressed natural gas (CNG) by using an hydraulic fluid.
The technology expands the opportunity for CNG as fuel by enabling CNG:
• To be carried in composite cylinders as fuel on trucks and other large mobile equipment, and to displace up to 95% of the diesel normally used in such applications:
• To be transported at high pressure in “virtual pipelines “creating the opportunity for CNG to displace diesel fuel in remote fixed or mobile engine applications: and,
• To be compressed and held at low temperatures at CNG re-fueling stations to be rapidly discharged at low temperatures to deliver maximum fill to CNG fuelled vehicles.
Prior to iGas, Jim was the foundation CEO and Managing Director of the ASX Listed Australian Pipeline Trust (now APA Group) and, during a career spanning 35 years in the oil and gas industry, also held senior management positions with AGL and Esso Australia.
Since his retirement from APA in 2005 he has served on a number of ASX listed company boards. He presently remains a Director of ASX Listed WDS Limited and Hastings Funds Management Limited, and is Chairman of the Energy Pipelines CRC Limited.
Jim is a past member of the Boards of the Australian Gas Association and the Australian Council for infrastructure Development. He has also served the Australian Pipeline Industry Association at board level over many years in many roles, including two terms as President, and has been awarded Life Membership of the Association.
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.
Ian Mcleod
Chief Executive Officer
Ergon Energy
Jonathan Mirrlees-Black
Head of Research
RARE Infrastructure
Dr Jonathan Mirrlees-Black is Head of Research at RARE Infrastructure. He joined RARE full time in November 2011 after a year as a Senior Advisor and Member of RARE’s Investment Advisory Board. He has over 20 years experience in energy and infrastructure, both as a sell-side investment analyst (with Exane BNP Paribas, Lehman, and Dresdner Kleinwort Benson) and as an advisor to regulators, energy companies, governments, competition authorities, and investors in unlisted infrastructure.
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.
Bruce Mountain
Director
Carbon Market Economics
Bruce is an energy economist with 22 years’ experience in this field. He is active in consultancy and research. His specialisms are in the economic regulation of networks and in the design of electricity markets and renewable energy policies. His clients have included energy regulators, government departments, industry and their associations, energy users and their associations, multi-lateral lenders, investment banks, other consultancies and non-governmental organisations. He has worked mainly in Australia, Britain and South Africa but has also consulted to clients in France, Canada, Venezuela, Colombia, Hong Kong and Turkey. He has a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering, is a Chartered Management Accountant and is undertaking doctoral studies in the political economy of energy regulation in Australia.
"Successful conferences are useful in disseminating and gathering ideas and information and for building relationships with peers. My guess is this will be a successful conference."
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 as 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.
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.
Cameron O’Reilly
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Retailers Association of Australia (ERAA)
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)
Tony Owen
Professor of Energy Economics
UCL International Energy Policy Institute
Professor Anthony (Tony) D Owen
BA (Hons.), MA, PhD, FSS Tony Owen is Professor of Energy Economics in the International Energy Policy Institute, UCL Australia. Previously he was Academic Director of the School of Energy and Resources, UCL Australia. He has a PhD in Econometrics from the University of Kent (UK) and has held visiting appointments at the Universities of British Columbia, Colorado, Leeds and Exeter, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (Paris), the UK Department of Energy (Harwell), and the International Energy Agency (Paris). Tony is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (FSS), and Past President (2004) of the International Association for Energy Economics. In 2007, at the invitation of the Premier of New South Wales (NSW), he chaired the Inquiry into Electricity Supply in NSW. Tony has had a long-time research interest in the economics of uranium and nuclear power, having first published in this area almost three decades ago with his book The Economics of Uranium (Praeger Press). More recently (2012) his research in this area has appeared in Energy Policy and in a monograph published by the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia.
Brad Page
Chief Executive Officer
Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute
As CEO of the Global CCS Institute, Brad brings extensive knowledge and experience on Australian and international climate and energy issues. Prior to his role at the Institute, Brad served as CEO of the Energy Supply Association of Australia (esaa), the peak representative organisation of the electricity and downstream gas industry in Australia, for over seven years. Brad also served as an active member of the Australian Government Business Roundtable on Climate Change, the CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship Advisory Committee, and the Australian Government Energy White Paper High-Level Consultative Committee. During 2001 and 2002, Brad headed the secretariat for the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Market Review, recommending significant changes to the governance, regulation and policy development arrangements for electricity and gas markets.
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.
"At a time of heightened interest in east coast energy markets, having clear strategic priorities for electricity and gas market development is vital. Conferences like this can bring together people from across the sector to collectively discuss strategic issues that may shape the future of energy markets and have significant implications for energy consumers and the Australian economy."
Clare Savage
Group Executive Manager Strategy & Corporate Affairs
EnergyAustralia
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.
Jon Stanford
Director
Insight Economics
Jon Stanford has worked in the climate change and energy space for longer than he cares to remember. While in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, he was Chair of the Commonwealth Government’s inter-departmental committee on climate change in the mid-1990s. Since then, as a consultant, he has worked extensively for all Australian governments, as well as business, on projects concerned with energy and climate change issues. Major projects include acting as Chair of the CoAG Gas Reform Implementation Group that developed the National Gas Code, directing the Greenhouse Challenge for Energy study for the Victorian government and assisting the Northern Territory government to develop its policy on climate change. He has also worked as an expert witness in these areas.
Jason Steed
Executive Director
JP Morgan
Jason Steed is an Executive Director in the J.P. Morgan Equity Research team based in Sydney. He is the lead analyst on the Australian and New Zealand Utilities sector and the Building Material sector. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan Jason was a Managing Partner at the Sydney-based boutique advisory firm Minerva Advisory Partners. During his period at the firm Jason led the relationship with the firm’s key client Alinta Energy. Minerva was, alongside UBS, Alinta’s key strategic advisor through the company’s strategic review and subsequent debt restructuring. Jason has also worked principally in the utilities and infrastructure arena, at HSBC, Babcock & Brown, Citigroup and Lehman Brothers. Jason holds an Honours Degree in Economics and Commerce from the University of Edinburgh.
“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.”
Mike Swanston
Group Manager - Customer Advocate
Energex
Mike is the Group Manager - Customer Advocate at Energex. The Customer Advocate Team is responsible the partnership between Energex and the electricity customers and community of South-East Queensland. Before joining Energex, Mike was Senior Network Manager for Powercor Australia, responsible for the capital investment in the electricity network in the Western half of Victoria. Mike’s key areas of expertise are in the areas of:
Strategic positioning of the utility in the community
Stakeholder management
Utility technical-development in a deregulated environment
Management of Strategic Change
Corporate Communications
Geoff Swier
Director
Farrier Swier Consulting
Geoff Swier is a director of Farrier Swier Consulting based in Melbourne. Previously he was a member of the Australian Energy Regulator. He is currently a director of Trustpower, a New Zealand based renewable electricity generation and retail company; and a member of the National Electricity Market Dispute Resolution Panel. Geoff is an expert in energy policy development, regulation, and reform project management with over 25 years experience working in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. He played a leading role in developing and implementing Victoria’s electricity and gas industry reforms between 1993 and 1999. He has worked in energy sector regulation and reform in Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines and China. He has also been appointed to government expert panels to provide policy advice. He has been a member of dispute resolution panels and has acted as an expert witness. Previous roles include: director of VENCorp (1999-2001), Victorian representative on the National Grid Management Council (1995); policy director for a board established by the New Zealand government to oversee the reform of the New Zealand public hospital system (1992-93), and economic adviser to the New Zealand Minister of State Owned Enterprises (1990) and New Zealand Minster of Finance (1984-87).
Jonathan Teubner
Manager, Commercial
Epic Energy
Jonathan is an economist by training with over 20 years commercial and strategic experience in the Australian energy and infrastructure markets. His career in the energy markets closely tracks the restructuring of the gas and electricity markets. He started with Sagasco Resources as a Commercial Analyst when still majority owned by the SA Government and spent 14 years in what was to become Origin Energy working on the deregulation of Australia’s energy markets, the development of CSG and the integration of gas and power portfolios. In that period, Jonathan worked across all aspects of the industry chain covering Exploration and Production, Wholesale & trading and Retail whilst working out of all mainland capitals; though he does call Adelaide home. Following his time at Origin, Jonathan worked in the Geothermal industry with Petratherm for 3.5 years in which role he lead the Economics Committee for the Australian Geothermal Energy Association and represented the industry on the 2011 Energy White Paper working group focused on the costs of alternative generation.
After some time focused on Australian infrastructure markets, Jonathan recently joined Epic Energy as its Commercial Manager with responsibility for commercial management of Epic’s various assets, stakeholder relations and strategic development. In this role, he is focused on the interaction and dynamics of the Australian gas and power markets and how that impacts on Epic’s assets. Jonathan focuses his spare time on spending time with his wife and daughter whilst also following his passions of cricket and football (when allowed).
“The Australian energy markets are in a state of flux, with fundamental changes in the market balances of both the gas and power markets occurring simultaneously. Understanding the specific issues which are driving these changes and their interrelationships across the industry spectrum are key to defining the strategic directions for all companies, as these impact on all aspects of the economy. Epic is uniquely positioned to provide its perspective on the interplay of gas and power and looks forward to hearing the contributions from other key stakeholders at the Eastern Australia’s Energy Markets Outlook 2013 on what is a most fundamental issue to the Australian economy.”
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.
Stephen Weston
Director
ACIL Allen Consulting
Stephen Weston is a Sydney based director of ACIL Allen Consulting a firm formed in April 2013 by the merger of ACIL Tasman and the Allen Consulting Group. As a consultant he advises broadly on energy market related issues. Stephen has more than thirty years’ experience in the energy sector gained in a variety of electricity generation operations and development planning, energy trading, market analytical, management and advisory roles. He has formal qualifications in applied science, statistics, applied finance and mineral and energy economics.
Burchell Wilson
Senior Economist
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
Burchell Wilson has held the position of Senior Economist at the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry since 2009. During this time he has developed key elements of the Chamber’s energy policy platform. Burchell commenced his career in the Federal Treasury and has also gained experience working in financial markets and the energy sector. He has degrees in both Economics and Law from the Australian National University.
Alex Wonhas
Director – Energy Transformed Flagship
CSIRO
Dr Alex Wonhas has been the Director of the CSIRO’s Energy Flagship since 2009. The Energy Flagship brings together about 800 researchers across CSIRO in the areas of oil and gas exploration, coal mining, alternative fuels, low emissions technologies including CCS and renewable energy, electricity grid operations and energy efficiency. The Flagship’s $120m p.a. project portfolio aims to enhance the value Australia derives from its vast energy resources while enabling the transition to a lower emissions energy future.
In his capacity as the Energy Flagship Director, Dr Wonhas has been instrumental in shaping the future direction of its research program. He has also been the driving force behind the establishment of nationally relevant projects, such as the Future Grid Forum, which brings together key stakeholders from industry and government across the whole energy value chain with the aim of increasing the productivity of our energy system.
In addition to a strong academic R&D background, Dr Wonhas also possesses a deep understanding of the private sector, especially in resources and energy. In his former position as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, Dr Wonhas spent several years advising national and international energy and resources companies on questions of strategy and operations. He was also one of the co-authors of McKinsey’s carbon abatement cost curve for Australia.
> I'd like more information about speaking/presenting at the event