Energy Minister Francis Logan today proclaimed a new era for Western Australia's electricity industry with the appointment of the boards of the four new electricity entities to succeed Western Power.
Energy Minister Francis Logan today proclaimed a new era for Western Australia's electricity industry with the appointment of the boards of the four new electricity entities to succeed Western Power.
Mr Logan said the boards of each company, which would begin operation on April 1, would have six members.
The Minister also said that the state had secured an exceptionally talented suite of directors to give the new electricity companies the strong oversight required in the early stages of WA's new electricity market.
"I am confident they will demonstrate the leadership and strong corporate governance that Western Australians expect, given the State's $4.7billion investment in these electricity companies," he said.
Mr Logan said five directors had been appointed to each board, in addition to the chairpersons who were appointed in December last year.
The new board appointments, including chairpersons:
SYNERGY (responsible for the sale of electricity within the South-West Interconnected System)
- Michael Smith (chairperson appointed for three years, annual fee $105,000): managing director of the Marketing Centre and holds a number of directorships.
- Eric Hooper (deputy chairperson, three years, $65,000): director Corporate Services and chief financial officer of St John of God Health Care Inc.
- Caryle Demarte (two years, $50,000): executive with China Light and Power Australia with significant directorships.
- Craig Coleman (two years, $50,000): managing director of Home Building Society.
- Terri Reilly (one year, $50,000): chief executive officer of Relationships Australia.
- James Mitchell (chief executive officer): background in energy retailing and distribution in Queensland.
VERVE ENERGY (responsible for power generation within the SWIS)
- Peter West (chairperson appointed for three years, annual fee $105,000): chairperson of the Dampier Port Authority and formerly a BP Amoco business unit leader.
- Harvey Collins (deputy chairperson, three years, $65,000): chairman of HBF Health Funds and Worldwide Online Printing, director of several companies, including the current Western Power.
- Leonard Gill (one year, $50,000): former chief executive officer of TXU (an Australian energy business) and executive in the Victorian electricity generation sector.
- Martine Pop (two years, $50,000): full-time non-executive director, including chair of the WA Meat Industry Authority and director of Gold Corporation and Australian Rail Track Corporation.
- John O'Connor (one year, $50,000): current director of Western Power, Fremantle Ports and former Australian Industrial Relations Commissioner.
- John Lillywhite (chief executive officer): former senior executive in Western Power.
WESTERN POWER (responsible for the transport of electricity within the SWIS)
- Peter Mansell (chairperson appointed for three years, annual fee $120,000): holds numerous directorships and, until 2004, was corporate and resources partner with Freehills in Perth.
- Jenny Seabrook (deputy chairperson, three years, $75,000): current deputy chair of Western Power, director of West Australian Newspapers and executive director of Gresham Partners.
- Karen Field (two years, $50,000): director of Sipa Resources, the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing, the Water Corporation, and a former mining executive.
- Sally Farrier (two years, $50,000): director of Hydro Tasmania, the Victorian Water Trust Advisory Council, and Farrier Swier Consulting specialising in utility industry strategy.
- Mervyn Davies (one year, $50,000): current director of Western Power, engineering consultant and former executive with Energy Australia.
- Doug Aberle (chief executive officer): former senior executive in Western Power.
HORIZON POWER (responsible for the generation, transport and sale of electricity in regional areas)
- Brendan Hammond (chairperson appointed for three years, annual fee $95,000): heads up the Office of Development Approvals Co-ordination and former managing director of Argyle Diamond Mines.
- Alan Dundas (deputy chairperson, three years, $60,000): former senior executive with WMC Resources with experience in generation in isolated sites.
- Peter Yu (two years, $45,000): chair of the Kimberly Aboriginal Reference Group and holds numerous other directorships.
- Susan Bradley (one year, $45,000): general manager of Dunkeld Pastoral Companies who has held significant positions relevant to the development of the Kimberley.
- Tony Chilvers (one year, $45,000): operates a legal practice in Karratha.
- Rod Hayes (chief executive officer): former senior executive in the Gladstone Area Water Board and Aurora Energy.
THE FULL MEDIA RELEASE APPEARS BELOW.
New direction for WA electricity industry
30/3/06
Energy Minister Francis Logan today announced a new era for Western Australia's electricity industry with the appointment of the boards of directors of the four successor entities to Western Power.
Mr Logan said the boards of each company, which would begin operation on April 1, would have six members.
"We have secured an exceptionally talented suite of directors who will give these new electricity companies the strong oversight that will be so important in the early stages of WA's new electricity market," the Minister said.
"The establishment of these boards represents a new beginning and an exciting time for the staff of these companies, and for the customers they will serve.
"I am confident they will demonstrate the leadership and strong corporate governance that Western Australians expect, given the State's $4.7billion investment in these electricity companies."
Mr Logan said five directors had been appointed to each board, in addition to the chairpersons who were appointed in December last year.
The new boards had been carefully selected to provide the commercial and industry expertise required for their areas of operation, as well as strong experience in customer-focussed organisations.
"For instance, Synergy's board of directors includes expertise in energy retailing, marketing, corporate governance and risk management," the Minister said.
"Verve Energy's board members have strong engineering, power generation and trading, investment, human resource management and corporate governance skills."
Mr Logan said a majority of Horizon Power's board was based in regional WA to ensure an appropriate focus on their regional customer base.
"I am also pleased by the depth of electricity distribution and engineering expertise secured for the new Western Power networks corporation, which has the important responsibility of delivering the State Government's historic $2.23billion investment program to improve network performance and reliability," he said.
The Minister said the State Government had sought to retain a number of directors from the existing Western Power board, while also attracting a mix of new local and interstate expertise.
"We have included three new people from interstate with experience in operating in a competitive electricity market, as well as retaining an existing interstate Western Power board member," he said.
"These new interstate board members have been chosen because of their specific areas of expertise. Their experience is absolutely invaluable to allow each company to operate effectively in the new environment and, for Synergy and Verve, compete with the private sector."
The new board appointments (including chairpersons appointed in December):
SYNERGY (responsible for the sale of electricity within the South-West Interconnected System) -
- Michael Smith (chairperson appointed for three years, annual fee $105,000): managing director of the Marketing Centre and holds a number of directorships.
- Eric Hooper (deputy chairperson, three years, $65,000): director Corporate Services and chief financial officer of St John of God Health Care Inc.
- Caryle Demarte (two years, $50,000): executive with China Light and Power Australia with significant directorships.
- Craig Coleman (two years, $50,000): managing director of Home Building Society.
- Terri Reilly (one year, $50,000): chief executive officer of Relationships Australia.
- James Mitchell (chief executive officer): background in energy retailing and distribution in Queensland.
VERVE ENERGY (responsible for power generation within the SWIS) -
- Peter West (chairperson appointed for three years, annual fee $105,000): chairperson of the Dampier Port Authority and formerly a BP Amoco business unit leader.
- Harvey Collins (deputy chairperson, three years, $65,000): chairman of HBF Health Funds and Worldwide Online Printing, director of several companies, including the current Western Power.
- Leonard Gill (one year, $50,000): former chief executive officer of TXU (an Australian energy business) and executive in the Victorian electricity generation sector.
- Martine Pop (two years, $50,000): full-time non-executive director, including chair of the WA Meat Industry Authority and director of Gold Corporation and Australian Rail Track Corporation.
- John O'Connor (one year, $50,000): current director of Western Power, Fremantle Ports and former Australian Industrial Relations Commissioner.
- John Lillywhite (chief executive officer): former senior executive in Western Power.
WESTERN POWER (responsible for the transport of electricity within the SWIS) -
- Peter Mansell (chairperson appointed for three years, annual fee $120,000): holds numerous directorships and, until 2004, was corporate and resources partner with Freehills in Perth.
- Jenny Seabrook (deputy chairperson, three years, $75,000): current deputy chair of Western Power, director of West Australian Newspapers and executive director of Gresham Partners.
- Karen Field (two years, $50,000): director of Sipa Resources, the Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing, the Water Corporation, and a former mining executive.
- Sally Farrier (two years, $50,000): director of Hydro Tasmania, the Victorian Water Trust Advisory Council, and Farrier Swier Consulting specialising in utility industry strategy.
- Mervyn Davies (one year, $50,000): current director of Western Power, engineering consultant and former executive with Energy Australia.
- Doug Aberle (chief executive officer): former senior executive in Western Power.
HORIZON POWER (responsible for the generation, transport and sale of electricity in regional areas) -
- Brendan Hammond (chairperson appointed for three years, annual fee $95,000): heads up the Office of Development Approvals Co-ordination and former managing director of Argyle Diamond Mines.
- Alan Dundas (deputy chairperson, three years, $60,000): former senior executive with WMC Resources with experience in generation in isolated sites.
- Peter Yu (two years, $45,000): chair of the Kimberly Aboriginal Reference Group and holds numerous other directorships.
- Susan Bradley (one year, $45,000): general manager of Dunkeld Pastoral Companies who has held significant positions relevant to the development of the Kimberley.
- Tony Chilvers (one year, $45,000): operates a legal practice in Karratha.
- Rod Hayes (chief executive officer): former senior executive in the Gladstone Area Water Board and Aurora Energy.
