Paul Adams
Managing Director
Jemena
Paul is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Jemena, and Managing Director of State Grid (China) Singapore Power Australian Assets (SGSPAA).
Paul has more than 35 years’ experience in the Australian energy sector. Appointed Jemena Managing Director in 2008, Paul has led the expansion of the Jemena Gas and Electricity Network and is establishing Jemena as a world leader in electricity distribution and pipeline infrastructure, technology, ownership and management. He has qualifications in engineering and finance, and completed management studies at Harvard.
Paul is a Director of the Energy Networks Association of Australia (ENA), Chair of Zinfra Group, Chair of ActewAGL (a retail and network gas and electricity company that supplies Australia’s Capital Territory), a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. He has experience in the US and Asia; was director of Singapore Power & Gas, and a senior executive with TXU.
David Baker
Managing Director
Strike Energy
Mr Baker has extensive experience in commercial joint ventures, utility financing, development/project finance and mergers and acquisitions in the resources and infrastructure sectors. Originally trained as a banking and finance lawyer with a major Australian legal firm in Sydney and Singapore, he has held high profile investment banking and resource industry leadership positions.
Mr Baker was appointed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director on 11 August 2013, as an Executive Director on 1 July 2014 and as Managing Director on 9 September 2016.
Senator the Hon. Matthew Canavan MP
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia
Australian Government
Cheryl Cartwright
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Pipelines and Gas Association
Cheryl joined APGA in 2005 after working in politics and media for three decades. As Chief Executive, Cheryl represents the interests of APGA’s more than 450 members involved in all aspects of the pipeline industry which plays a major role in Australia’s national energy economy. The industry is at the forefront of many of the important debates impacting on Australia today, particularly natural gas and gas supply, as well as climate change, safety and environment.
Cheryl has a keen interest in representing the membership’s interests in these debates, and in fostering the development of the next generation of pipeliners through the Young Pipeliners Forum which she instigated, and through pursuing opportunities for knowledge transfer, education and mentoring within the industry.
Through her position as a director of the Australian Gas Industry Trust, which is Australia’s representative in the International Gas Union, she was appointed to the IGU’s high-level executive committee.
Mark Collette
Executive Energy
EnergyAustralia
Mark Collette is Executive – Energy at EnergyAustralia. He is responsible for all aspects of the company’s commodity trading and wholesale operations, including a 4500-megawatt portfolio of coal, gas and wind generation assets.
Over the past decade-and-a-half Mark has helped build EnergyAustralia into one of the country’s leading energy businesses. In 2010 alone he oversaw the $2 billion acquisition and integration of 1.5 million customer accounts and 2400 megawatts of generation, doubling the size of the business.
Prior to his appointment as Executive – Energy in 2015, Mark held a variety of roles in which he had responsibility for strategy, business development and retail, policy and government affairs.
As Head of Sustainability, Mark led development of EnergyAustralia’s Climate Change Strategy. Launched in 2007, the strategy was the first commitment to decarbonise by an energy company in Australia.
Mark has represented EnergyAustralia and the energy industry in government and industry forums on issues ranging from carbon policy to gas markets and energy policy. He is a member of the Reliability Panel and a former director of the Australian Financial Markets Association.
Prior to joining EnergyAustralia, Mark worked at LEK Consulting in Melbourne, Bangkok and London on a variety of engagements focused on helping private and government clients answer key strategic questions.
Mark holds degrees in engineering (aerospace), business and economics and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ellen Coopersmith
Founder and President
Decision Frameworks (USA)
Ellen Coopersmith is an expert in decision quality and decision analysis implementation and its practical application in multiple industries. She consults, facilitates and trains organizations across the globe, utilizing her extensive experience in strategy development, scenario planning, decision framing, facilitation, stage gate efficiency, economics, value of information and risk analysis.
An engineer by degree from The Colorado School of Mines, Ms. Coopersmith has specialized in decision analysis for 22 of the 33 years that she has worked in industry. As of 2016, she has trained over 6000 professionals in decision analysis while assisting companies with both corporate and project level strategies in all phases of the life cycle in the oil, pharmaceutical and other industries.
Ms. Coopersmith is the 2017 incoming president for the global Society of Decision Professionals, a published speaker on decision analysis, a Professional Engineer, member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and member of INFORMS for operations research
Richard Cottee
Managing Director
Central Petroleum
Mr Cottee began his career in the resources sector in 1980 when as a Business Development Manager for Itochu Australia; he was involved in the Tarong Power Station construction and the development of the Newlands-Collinsville-Abbot Point projects.
As a lawyer he was part of the legal team behind one of Australia's first non-recourse project financing concerning Oaky Creek. Whilst acting for Crusader Ltd, he was involved in the negotiations of the Cooper Basin Liquids Scheme. He joined Santos Ltd in 1982 as the Senior Marketing Officer for LPG & Condensates before being relocated to Queensland (QLD) after the Jackson Oilfield discovery responsible for all commercial aspects of its development and the construction of the Jackson-Moonie Pipeline.
He has been a Senior Associate of both Allens and Mallesons. In 1992 he joined Cyprus Amax Minerals Group in Sydney where he was a Director of Oakbridge Pty Ltd and Cyprus Australia Coal functionally responsible for coal marketing and sales and other matters. In 1998, he joined CS Energy Ltd, a recently corporatized Government owned corporation, during which time over 3 years of his leadership CS Energy doubled its profits and tripled its asset base. Importantly, whilst at CS Energy, the construction of the large combined cycle gas-fired power station at Swanbank E was approved. CS Energy entered into what is thought to be Australia’s first pure CSG purchase contract for Scotia gas from Santos. CS Energy also entered into letters of Intent with QGC and Arrow thus facilitating their public listings.
In 2001 he was named Managing Director of NRG Ltd for the UK & Scandinavian regions. He joined QGC as Managing Director in 2002 when it had a market capitalisation of $30 million. He took QGC from an early stage explorer to a major non-conventional gas supplier sold to the BG Group for $5.7 billion in 2008. Mr Cottee is also currently Non-Executive Chairman of Austin Exploration Ltd and is a principal in Freestone.
Ian Davies
Managing Director
Senex Energy
Ian Davies was appointed as the Managing Director of Senex Energy Limited in June 2010 and has stewarded the company through significant transformation to an oil and gas explorer and producer.
Prior to joining Senex, Ian held several senior positions in the resources and investment banking industries. He was a senior executive with QGC during the establishment of Queensland’s booming liquefied natural gas industry and previously an investment banker in Melbourne with Austock Corporate Finance and in London with Barclay’s Capital.
He commenced his career in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Energy and Mining corporate tax division.
Steve Davies
National Policy Manager
Australian Pipelines and Gas Association
Peter Dobney
General Manager Resources and Energy
Orora Group
Peter is responsible for:
- Energy Procurement (annual spend> $100M/yr across Orora’s 50+ manufacturing plants in Australia and New Zealand).
- Energy management/energy efficiency program.
- Connection agreements (gas and electricity, transmission and distribution).
- Project Management of 18 Clean Technology Investment Program CO2 abatement projects valued at $8M with annual savings of over $2M/yr.
Current Membership and involvement:
- Energy Users Association of Australia (EUAA) Board member.
- Jemena Networks’ Customer Consultative Committees (electricity and gas)
- Direct Action Steering Groups on Safeguarding Mechanism and Facility Baselines - Commonwealth Department of Environment. 2013/14.
Positions of Responsibility:
- Chairman EUAA (2001 – 2006 and 2008 – 2010)
- Board Member EUAA (2001 – 2015)
Carmen Dwyer
Director, Gas Regulation
NSW Environment Protection Authority
Carmen Dwyer has been working in the environmental regulatory field for the past 18 years. Carmen leads the Gas Regulation Branch which is responsible for ensuring the compliance with and enforcement of all statutory conditions related to the efficient and environmental safe operation of the NSW gas industry.
Carmen holds a Bachelors of Applied Science (Environmental Science) and a Masters of Applied Science (Environmental Restoration, Rehabilitation and Management).
Before the creation of the Director Gas regulation position Carmen held a number of senior and middle management roles with the EPA. Some of Carmen’s responsibilities included, implementing the EPA’s transition to being the lead environmental regulator of coal seam gas, delivery of regional compliance priorities across abroad range of industries and the development of operation pesticides policies.
Carmen has delivered the roles from central and western NSW and is currently based in the Dubbo Office.
Nicola Falcon
Group Manager, Supply Planning
Australian Energy Market Operator
As Group Manager, Supply Planning at the Australian Energy Market Operator, Nicola leads a team responsible for assessing future electricity and gas supply needs and providing insights to facilitate market responses.
Nicola heads up major AEMO publications including the Gas Statement of Opportunities, and Electricity Statement of Opportunities.
Nicola has over 15 years’ experience in the energy sector and has managed assignments in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa and North America. She specialises in providing strategic advice on issues relating to energy markets and systems, as well as market modelling, statistical, economic and commercial analysis.
Martin Ferguson
Group Head of Natural Resources
Seven Group Holdings
Martin Ferguson has a long history of public service and work in economic and social policy.
From 1984 until 1990 Martin served as the General Secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers Union and from 1990 until 1996 as President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). As a senior trade union official, from 1984 until 1996 he sat on the ACTU National Executive, participating directly in shaping and implementing many of the economic reforms of the Hawke and Keating Governments.
In March 1996, Martin was elected as a Member of the Federal Parliament in the seat of Batman, in Melbourne, which he held until retiring at this year’s election. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June 1996.
During the Howard Government, Martin served in a range of economic shadow portfolios, including Employment and Training; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Regional Development, Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Services and Population; Urban and Regional Development, Transport and Infrastructure; Primary Industries, Resources, Forestry and Tourism; and Transport, Roads and Tourism.
Upon the Rudd Government assuming office in December 2007, Martin was appointed the Minister for Resources and Energy and the Minister for Tourism, and acted as the Chair of the Standing Council on Resources and Energy and the Ministerial Council for Tourism. He held the Resources, Energy and Tourism portfolios until March 2013, when he resigned from the Ministry.
Martin chairs a Tasmanian Government advisory panel into the state’s timber industry; is chair of an advisory board to the Australian oil and gas industry association, APPEA; is a special adviser to the current Federal Minister for Industry on gas development in New South Wales; and is an executive with the Seven Group Holdings with responsibility for natural resources. In late 2013, Martin was appointed as a non-Executive Director of British Gas.
Martin is also a pro bono member of the University of Western Australia’s advisory board on resources and energy. Martin has an honours degree in economics from Sydney University.
Anthony Fowler
Chief Executive Officer
Lochard Energy
Anthony has 20 years of experience in the Australian and US energy markets and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Lochard Energy, a leading Australian midstream energy business. Lochard Energy is an independent provider of natural gas processing and the largest supplier of storage services to the East Coast gas market.
Prior to joining Lochard Energy, Anthony was the Group General of Merchant Energy at AGL where he was responsible for managing Australia’s largest and most diverse generation fleet; as well as wholesale trading and management of the commercial and industrial retail business.
Anthony holds a Bachelor of Science (hons) from Monash University and a Masters in Applied Finance. He has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard.
Andrew Garnett
Director, Centre for Coal Seam Gas and the UQ CCS Program
University of Queensland
Andrew Garnett is Professor and Director of the UQ Centre for Coal Seam Gas (as well as Director of the UQ CCS Program). The Centre for CSG includes all the main CSG-LNG project proponents and aims to be a leading provider of technical and social science research services in this unconventional sector. A former Shell and Schlumberger executive,
Andrew has over 25 years’ world-wide experience with oil majors in conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon exploration, appraisal and development projects. Prior to joining The University of Queensland, Andrew consulted widely on unconventional developments, most notably those with high GHG emissions footprints, and worked on the 500MW, 60 MT ZeroGen IGCC & CCS Project, as manager for Carbon Transport and Storage and ultimately as CEO and Project Director.
Peter Geers
Executive Group Manager, Markets
Australian Energy Market Operator
Peter is the Executive Group Manager, Markets, with the Australian Energy Market Operator. He has a broad role, including executive management for the Market Monitoring and Insights, Settlements and Prudentials, Market Enhancement (Retail, Procedures, Market Design, Regulatory) and Market Technology Services divisions. Previously, Peter led the development of the Wallumbilla Gas Supply Hub, the market design and legal teams for development and implementation of the Sydney and Adelaide wholesale gas Short Term Trading Market (STTM). Prior to his role at AEMO, Peter held positions as Manager, Gas Strategy at AGL, Electricity Trading Manager and Structured Deal Manager at TXU Australia. Before joining the energy industry Peter was a commodities trader in the grain and chemical industries with a variety of companies including Sumitomo Australia.
Kylie Hargreaves
Deputy Secretary
NSW Department of Industry
In October 2013, Kylie was appointed to the position of Deputy Secretary, Resources and Energy, a specialist division within the NSW Department of Industry. Her division has a variety of roles related to the effective, sustainable exploitation and management of the State’s Resources and Energy sectors.
Kylie holds a dual portfolio of Deputy Secretary for Resources & Energy, as well as Deputy Secretary for Department of Industry – Lands, a responsibility which she recently took on from 1 July 2016. Her Lands division develops strategy, programs and policy for the management of the Crown land estate.
Within NSW Department of Industry, Kylie has previously held the roles of Acting Deputy Director General for Industry, Innovation Hospitality and the Arts, Executive Director for Investment and Export Services and Executive Director for International Markets and Trade.
Prior to joining NSW Department of Industry in July 2009, Kylie spent 10 years overseas as Australia’s Senior Trade Commissioner for the UK, Ireland and Israel; Senior Trade Commissioner for West USA and Senior Trade Commissioner for Spain and Portugal.
The Hon. Don Harwin MLC
Minister For Energy and Utilities
NSW Government
- Political Party Activity - Life Member, Young Liberal Movement of Australia (NSW Division); Life Member, Sydney University Liberal Club; Chairman of Convention Committee, 1993 - 94; Young Liberal State President, 1988 - 90; Member, State Executive, NSW Division, 1988 - 1990, 1994 - 2000
- Community Activity - Member, Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government History Project Committee 2002-06; Board Member, NSW State Records Authority 2006-present; Committee member, Australasian Study of Parliament Group (NSW Branch)
- Qualifications, Occupations and Interests - Bachelor of Economics (Hons) Sydney University 1985. Tutor (p/time) St Pauls College, University of Sydney 1987. Electorate Assistant to the Member for Miranda 1987 - 1988. Ministerial Advisor, various Ministers, State Government of NSW 1988 - 1990, 1991 - 1995. Assistant Campaign Director Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division) 1990 - 1991. Public Affairs Consultant 1995 - 1999.
Mr Harwin contributed two chapters to the book Social Justice: Fraud or Fair Go? edited by Dr Marlene Goldsmith. He also contributed "1971 State General Election" to The People's Choice (Volume III), edited by Hogan and Clune, "Sir Joseph Carruthers" to The Premiers of NSW (Volume II), edited by Clune and Turner, and "Women in the NSW Coalition Parties" (with Jenny Gardiner MLC) to No Fit Place for Women, edited by Brennan and Chappel.
Special interests include Political History, Psephology, Film and Rugby League.
Emma Herd
Chief Executive Officer
Investor Group on Climate Change
Andrew Hopkins
Emeritus Professor
Australian National University
Andrew Hopkins has a BSc and an MA from the Australian National University, a PhD from the University of Connecticut and is a Fellow of the Safety Institute of Australia. He has been involved in various government OHS reviews and has done consultancy work for major companies in the resources sector, as well as for Defence.
Warwick King
Incoming Chief Executive Officer
Australia Pacific LNG
Hon. Ian Macfarlane
Chief Executive Officer
Queensland Resources Council
Ian Macfarlane is the Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council, a non-executive director of Woodside Petroleum, the Chairman of the Innovative Manufacturing Co-operative Research Centre, a member of the University of Queensland Rural Clinical School Toowoomba Community Advisory Committee, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ian was elected to Federal Parliament as the Member for Groom in October 1998 and is Australia’s longest serving Federal Resources and Energy Minister and the Coalition’s longest serving Federal Industry and Innovation Minister with over 14 years of experience in both Cabinet and shadow ministerial positions. Ian has extensive experience across the resources and energy, agribusiness, science and innovation, skills and training and manufacturing and industry sectors.
Ian retired from the Federal Parliament in May 2016.
Before entering federal politics, Mr Macfarlane was one of the country's most active agripoliticians. Mr Macfarlane previously farmed peanuts, sorghum and wheat, and ran cattle in Queensland's Burnett region. 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.
Mr Macfarlane is married to Karen and has two adult daughters. He lives in Toowoomba, Australia's largest provincial inland city.
Tony Mahar
Chief Executive Officer
National Farmers Federation
Tony Mahar joined the NFF as General Manager, Policy and Manager, Economics and Trade in July 2012, and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in March 2016.
Tony brings an excellent understanding of policy development and the food and agribusiness sectors to the NFF, having joined the organisation from the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC). As the Director for Sustainable Development at the AFGC, Tony was responsible for driving the response to key economic and sustainability challenges facing the industry.
Prior to this, Tony was the Assistant Director of Food and Horticulture Industry Policy at the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, where he managed industry policy, international trade and market access issues.
Tony holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce from the University of Sydney, a Masters of Business – Industry Strategy from the Australian National University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
David Maxwell
Chief Executive Officer
Cooper Energy
Mr Maxwell is a leading oil and gas industry executive with more than 25 years in senior executive roles with companies such as BG Group, Woodside Petroleum Limited and Santos Limited.
As Senior Vice President at QGC - a BG Group business – Mr Maxwell was responsible for all commercial, exploration, business development, strategy and marketing activities. He led BG Group’s entry into Australia, its involvement in the alliance with Queensland Gas Company Limited and its subsequent takeover by BG Group.
Mr Maxwell was previously director of gas and marketing with Woodside in Perth and a member of Woodside’s executive committee.
Mr Maxwell has served on a number of industry association boards, government advisory groups and public company boards and is a recipient of the Australian Gas Association Silver Flame Award for his contribution to the gas industry.
Euan Morton
Principal
Synergies
Mr Euan Morton is a Principal of Synergies Economic Consulting an organisation he founded in 2004. He has over 25 years experience in infrastructure economics and competition policy reform.
Euan has been a long time advisor to the Australian gas pipeline industry, having advised APIA on regulatory and policy matters since 2001 in conjunction with the Productivity Commission reviews and more recently, preparing a submission for much of the sector in conjunction with Infrastructure Partnerships Australia to the Vertigan Review.
Prior to forming Synergies Economic Consulting, Euan was a Director of the Queensland Competition Authority (an organisation he had responsibility in Queensland Treasury for establishing) and Principal Advisor, Regulation at Queensland Electricity Reform Unit where he advised on the creation of the Queensland electricity market.
In 2015 Euan served on an Expert Panel charged with reviewing the governance arrangements in Australian energy markets for the COAG Energy Council. In 2005, he was appointed to an Expert Panel by the Ministerial Council on Energy to review regulatory arrangements associated with the ongoing reforms to energy markets. He served on the taskforce for improving water quality on the Great Barrier Reef and the expert panel charged with assessing the costs of identified measures. He is an Independent Expert under the National Electricity Rules and a member of the Competition and Consumer Committee of the Law Council of Australia.
Euan holds a Bachelor of Economics (1st Class Honours); Bachelor of Law (with Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Queensland.
Tim Nelson
Chief Economist and General Manager Sustainability
AGL Energy
Tim is the Chief Economist and General Manager 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 energy and greenhouse policy.
Tim is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at Griffith University 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. Tim holds a first class honours degree in economics and is a chartered secretary.
Keith Orchison
Director
Coolibah Pty Ltd
Keith has been involved in Australian resources and industry policy issues management and communications for 37 years. He has been a communicator for 58 years, starting as a journalist in South Africa in 1959 and emigrating to Australia in 1970.
He served for four years in the 1970s as public affairs manager of Associated Pulp & Paper Mills Limited and for three years as head of public relations at La Trobe University, Melbourne.
He was chief executive of what is now APPEA for 11 years and of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia for 12 years. From 2003 to 2007 he chaired the energy committee of the Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council for the Howard government.
He has also been chairman of the Australian Industry Greenhouse Network and of the CSIRO Energy Technology Advisory Committee. Today he runs his own energy advisory business as Coolibah Pty Ltd and is publisher of the blog “This is Power” and of the Coolibah monthly newsletter.
Keith is also engaged in the organisation and chairing of a series of energy outlook conferences.
He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004 and in 2012 was recipient of AusIMM’s Sir Willis Connolly Memorial Medal for outstanding communication about the mining and resources sectors.
Brenton Philp
Assistant Secretary, Gas, Governance and International Branch, Energy Division
Department of the Environment and Energy
Brenton joined The Department of Environment and Energy in September 2016 when the Energy Division was transferred from The Department of Industry. He is currently responsible for gas market development, policy oversight of the three energy institutions (AER, AEMC & AEMO), international engagement on energy matters, and the secretariat for the COAG Energy Council.
Prior to this Brenton worked for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) as General Manager of the ACCC’s inquiry into the competitiveness of the east coast gas market.
Brenton’s previous experience at the ACCC included leading the ACCCs role with regard to the introduction and repeal of the carbon tax scheme, enforcement investigations and the introduction of the Australian Consumer Law.
John Pierce
Chair
Australian Energy Market Commission
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 BCom (Hons) (UNSW). He was a Visiting Scholar at Boston University during 2004-2005 working on public sector performance management.
Tennant Reed
Principal National Policy Adviser
Ai Group
Tennant Reed is Principal National Adviser – Public Policy at the Australian Industry Group. For the last six years he has worked heavily on climate and energy issues, advising Ai Group’s Leaders’ Group on Energy and Climate Policy, helping establish the Australian Climate Roundtable, and developing reports on natural gas supply, energy prices and energy efficiency. He also works on a range of issues related to manufacturing and innovation. Previously he was an adviser in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, working on fiscal policy, stimulus and infrastructure. Tennant lives in Melbourne with his wife and son.
Malcolm Roberts
Chief Executive Officer
APPEA
Before joining APPEA in June 2015, Malcolm Roberts was Chairman of the Queensland Competition Authority.
He has considerable experience in industry associations, having held leadership roles with the Energy Networks Association, The National Generators’ Forum, the Australian National Retailers Association and the Housing Industry Association.
Dr Roberts has also worked in government as a policy adviser to ministers and in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He was an adviser and then chief of staff to Ian Macfarlane in 2001-04 and 2006-07.
David Rynne
Chief Economist
QLD Department of Natural Resources and Mines
David is the Chief Resource Economist at the Department of Natural Resources and Mines. This department is an economic development agency that enables the productive and responsible use of the state’s natural resources – water, land, mineral and energy resources. David and his team provide pro-active economic advice and public policy insight and analysis to grow the resources sector in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable manner.
Prior to joining NRM in November 2014, David was the Chief Economist and Director of Infrastructure and Economics at the Queensland Resources Council – a position he held for six years - and previously the Director of Economics and Taxation at the Minerals Council of Australia – a position he held for 4 years. David has also worked for the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a policy adviser and the Federal Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business as an economist. David has under and post graduate degrees in economics and business.
Clare Savage
Executive Director Policy, Energy and Climate Change
Business Council of Australia
Clare Savage joined the Business Council of Australia in August 2015 with the ambition of developing a suite of integrated energy and climate change policies. Clare has spent over a decade in the energy sector and has worked extensively on a range of issues including governance; climate change and renewables policy; electricity and gas market design; network pricing; and retail market regulation.
Prior to joining the Business Council, Clare held executive positions within EnergyAustralia spanning corporate strategy; business development; policy & government affairs; and public affairs. Clare also held a number of roles at the Energy Supply Association of Australia (esaa) including Chief Executive Officer.
From 2001 to 2004 Clare was a Senior Policy Adviser on Energy and Commonwealth–State Relations with the Federal Department of the Treasury.
Clare has a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) and a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and History) from The University of Melbourne.
Adrian Sikorski
Senior Decision Analysis Consultant
Adrian Sikorski is an Engineer with wide experience in applying decision making, analytic and problem solving techniques. He consults, facilitates and trains organizations using his extensive experience in decision analysis, knowledge management, economics, strategy development, development planning and commercialization. With his degree in Engineering from Colorado School of Mines, Adrian worked as an engineer and commercial professional in the international upstream oil and gas business for 14 years before specializing in decision making in 2016.
His experience ranges across the entire upstream: exploration, appraisal and production thorough to downstream LNG, whole sale gas markets and distribution. Adrian holds a Master in Petroleum Business Management from the University of Adelaide. He is member of the Society of Decision Professionals, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Society of Petroleum Resource Economists and the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia.
Rod Sims
Chair
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Rod Sims was appointed Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in August 2011 for a five year term and reappointed for a further three years in August 2016.
Rod has extensive business and public sector experience. Immediately prior to his appointment to the ACCC, he was the Chairman of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales, Commissioner on the National Competition Council, Chairman of InfraCo Asia, Director of Ingeus Limited, and member of the Research and Policy Council of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia. Rod was also a Director of Port Jackson’s Partners Limited where he advised the CEOs and Boards of some of Australia’s top 50 companies on commercial corporate strategy over many years. Rod relinquished all of these roles on becoming Chairman of the ACCC.
Rod is also a past Chairman of the NSW Rail Infrastructure Corporation and the State Rail Authority and has been a Director of a number of private sector companies. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Rod worked as the Deputy Secretary in the Commonwealth Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet responsible for economic, infrastructure and social policy and the Cabinet Office. He also worked as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Transport and Communications.
Rod Sims holds a first class honours degree in Commerce from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Economics from the Australian National University.
Rosemary Sinclair
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Consumers Australia
Rosemary Sinclair is the CEO of Energy Consumers Australia, established by the Council of Australian Governments Energy Council to enhance consumer advocacy on national energy market matters of strategic importance and material consequence for energy consumers, in particular household and small business consumers. ECA focuses on the long-term interests of consumers of energy with respect to the price, quality, safety, reliability and security of supply of energy services.
Rosemary is a Member (part-time) of the Australian Communications and Media Authority and a Director of the Wests Tigers Rugby League Football Club and Chairs the Audit and Risk Committee.
Previously Rosemary was CEO of Immediate Solutions, a boutique consultancy practice focused on strategy development, digital technology transformation, stakeholder engagement, governance and government relations; Director, External Relations at the Australian School of Business (ASB), University of New South Wales (UNSW); Managing Director, Australian Telecommunications Users Group (ATUG).
Rosemary has many years of senior large-scale operations, communications and strategy experience in business and government across telecommunications, media and education.
Rosemary was Chair of the Federal Government’s Regional Telecommunications Inquiry Review Committee from July 2011-2013.
Rosemary has held a number of Directorships on unlisted company and not-for-profit Boards.
Rosemary has degrees in Arts, Law and Business and a Masters of Commerce from UNSW. Rosemary is a qualified CPA and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Jim Snow
Adjunct Professor Energy Initiative
University of Queensland
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.
Michael Thomson
Chief Executive
Power and Water Corporation
Michael Thomson is the Chief Executive of the Power and Water Corporation, a multi-utility in Australia’s Northern Territory. As well as managing the purchasing and sale of gas, Power and Water manage electricity transmission and distribution, and water and sewerage services across the Northern Territory.
Michael commenced this role in November 2015, bringing with him a wealth of domestic and international experience in various senior roles. Prior to taking up the position with the Power and Water Corporation, Michael was Acting Chief Executive of United Energy and Multinet Gas, in Victoria, previously holding the positions of General Manager Service Delivery, General Manager Commercial and Legal, General Counsel and Company Secretary. Michael is engaged with a number of industry associations, including the International Association for Contract and Commercial Managers and actively participates in Power and Water’s partnership and community development programs.
Bruce Wilson
Head of Division, Resources
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
Mr Wilson heads the Resources Division in the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and is responsible for policy advice and regulation relating to the Australian Government interests in off and onshore resource development. Prior to this Mr Wilson was the Executive Director, Bureau of Resource and Energy Economics (BREE). In 2012 Bruce led the Secretariat responsible for developing the Australian Government’s Energy White Paper as well as the Secretariat for the Policy Transition Group working on the new Minerals Resources Rent and Petroleum Resource Rent Taxation arrangements.
Prior to these roles Mr Wilson worked on climate change, renewable energy and sustainable development issues including Australia’s participation in the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP). Mr Wilson was a member of the UNFCCC Expert Group on Technology Transfer (EGTT) and in 2010 was the final Chair of this Group. Mr Wilson has also worked on science and industry policy in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and has experience in several major industry associations.
Rob Wheals
Group Executive Transmission
APA Group
Rob is responsible for the management of the commercial and operational performance of APA Group's transmission and gas storage assets. Rob joined APA Group in September 2008 and is responsible for managing APA's customers and revenue contracts, as well as growing APA's gas transmission revenues.
This has included the organic expansion of APA Groups transmission and gas storage portfolio, totalling in excess of $2 billion of capital projects. Rob is also responsible for managing all operational aspects of APA's 15,000 kilometres of owned and operated gas transmission pipelines and gas storage facilities.
Prior to joining APA, Rob had over 15 years of experience in telecommunications in Australia and internationally, including roles in finance, commercial, strategy, infrastructure investments and M&A, as well as regulatory.
Tony Wood
Energy program Director
Grattan Institute
Speaking opportunities are available
Present your company, showcase your leadership and demonstrate your expertise to the entire domestic gas value chain by speaking to this senior gathering of professionals from the Australia domestic gas industry.
Use this unique forum to demonstrate your value to the biggest players in the domestic gas sector. Speakers will assert themselves as leading suppliers and solution providers to the sector.
Call Bill Gatsis on +61 (0)2 8488 9948 or 0481 353 550 or email billg@questevents.com.au to discuss how we can put you in front of a highly engaged and receptive audience.