Today, the COAG Energy Council announced that Michelle Shepherd will join the AEMC, commencing her three year term as commissioner on 11 June 2018.
AEMC Chairman, John Pierce, welcomed Michelle’s appointment to the Commission.
“Michelle’s broad experience across the energy sector coupled with her analytical, commercial and stakeholder management expertise is a valuable addition to the Commission’s expanding skillset and will contribute greatly to the work we do.”
“Michelle joins the Commission at a time of significant change – in the energy sector and in the way we manage and regulate the sector.”
“Michelle’s fresh insights will add to the Commission’s ability to redesign energy markets and deliver what customers want and need as the power system transforms. ”
Along with the appointment of Charles Popple and Allison Warburton earlier this year, Ms Shepherd’s appointment delivers on a commitment made by COAG Energy Ministers to increase the AEMC’s capability for managing change in the energy markets, by increasing the number of commissioners to five.
“On behalf of the current commissioners, our Chief Executive Anne Pearson and the AEMC’s staff, I’d like to congratulate Michelle on her appointment and welcome her to the Commission.”
About the commissioner
Michelle is currently the Director of Integrate Government Relations, an energy policy and government relations consulting firm based in Western Australia. Prior to this role, she worked for Alinta Energy as the General Manager Regulatory and Government Affairs where she was actively involved in energy policy reform and the commercial implementation of policy changes nationally. Prior to Alinta, Michelle spent nearly 10 years at AGL where she played a key role in the formation of the regulatory frameworks of Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Queensland and WA. Michelle has also worked for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Competition Commission (United Kingdom) and the Federal Department of Finance.
Michelle has strong Board experience and a focus on governance. She is currently the Vice President (Deputy Chair) of the YMCA WA and spent almost 5 years on the board of REMCo when it operated the WA gas market. She is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University and a Bachelor of Economics from Murdoch University.