Steven Graham
Chief Executive
Steven Graham is the AEMC's first Chief Executive. Since beginning his tenure in December 2005, he has led the organisation's establishment and rapid expansion. He has also laid the vision for the organisation's progressive, imagination-driven culture. Building on his broad experience, his priority is to develop an organisation that is professional, capable, responsive and operates with high standards of governance. He has held several change management positions across the national electricity market and government, including roles in RailCorp, Eraring Energy, Pacific Power and NSW Treasury. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served on the boards of Pacific Western Pty Ltd, Mount Arthur South Pty Ltd, Energy Efficient Research Centre Ltd, Eraring Holdings Pty Ltd, Mount Arthur South Coal Marketing and Finance Pty Ltd. Mr Graham earned his Company Directors Diploma at the Australian Institute of Company Directors and University of New England and a Diploma of Technology (Commerce) at the NSW Institute of Technology.
Colin Sausman
Senior Director
Strategy and Economic Analysis
Colin Sausman joined the AEMC in March 2007 from the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) in the United Kingdom. In his role as an Associate Director with Ofgem he was involved in a wide range of regulatory reforms in the UK energy sector. These included the integration of the electricity wholesale market in England & Wales with the market in Scotland, and the design of new incentives schemes for gas and electricity transmission businesses. Colin has been a member of the UK Government Economic Service since 1994, and prior to joining Ofgem in 1999 worked in the Department for Education and Employment. He holds a BA (Econ) from St John's College, Cambridge and a MA (Econ) from the University of Essex. He also holds a post-graduate qualification in Competition Policy.
Anne Pearson
Senior Director
Retail, Distribution and Network Regulation Group
Anne Pearson's policy area is responsible for reviews and rule change proposals relating to electricity and gas retail markets and the regulation of revenues and pricing for electricity distribution or transmission companies. Her background in regulatory reform encompasses management roles in energy businesses and as a senior adviser to governments. She was Executive Manager - Retail Regulation at EnergyAustralia responsible for retail and wholesale regulatory strategy and day-to-day consideration of regulatory impacts on the business. Her prior appointments include a period in corporate mergers and acquisitions at Freehills and at Deacons, where she worked on the introduction of retail competition in the NSW retail gas market in addition to the corporatisation of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme. She holds a BA (Sydney); LLB, hon. (Sydney). She serves on the Board of St Lucy's School limited, Wahroonga.
Rory Campbell
Senior Director
Technical and Reliability Group
Rory Campbell's policy area has responsibility for reviews and rule change proposals relating to the technical operation of energy markets, and the interactions between the financial market and energy markets. This group supports the AEMC Panel which monitors, reviews and reports on the safety, security and reliability of the national electricity system in accordance with the National Electricity rules. His background in the trading of complex financial instruments for one of Australia's biggest energy producers, Eraring Energy, informs Rory's grasp of technical issues surrounding pricing, modelling and forecasts. Prior to this appointment he was a trader and analyst at the financial institution, RMB Australia. Rory holds a PhD in pure mathematics (UNSW); BSc, hon. (UNSW).
Chris Spangaro
Senior Director
Wholesale, Environment & Transmission
Chris Spangaro has a background in law and public policy. He came to the AEMC from the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal where he most recently held the position of General Manager of the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme, one of the world's first mandatory emissions trading schemes. Prior to this he was the Tribunal's Program Manager, Water Pricing. Before his engagement by IPART Chris worked in the Economic Development Branch of the NSW Cabinet Office. Earlier policy work was in law enforcement and corrections. Chris has a degree in Law and was admitted as a Legal Practioner.
Jane Benson
General Counsel
Jane Benson is responsible for providing and co-ordinating legal advice to the Commission, policy groups and the organisation. Prior to joining the AEMC her extensive legal experience included provision of policy advice at senior levels of the Australian Government, European Commission and global law firms including Clifford Chance (London), Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly (Brussels) and Freshfields (London). Jane's prior appointments include senior positions in the Australian Energy Regulator and the Competition and Consumer Policy Division of the Australian Treasury. As part of these roles, she has assisted in managing Australia's relations on competition policy to the OECD, APEC and WTO. She is admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Supreme Court of England & Wales. She holds a BA (Sydney); LLB (Sydney).
Louise Strachan
Human Resources and Business Manager
Louise Strachan is responsibile for coordinating the activities of a range of diverse administrative functions, including human resources, information technology and telecommunications, finance, planning, procurement and other corporate services to ensure that the overall operation of the AEMC runs effectively and efficiently.