Cusworth chairs ERA

Department of State Development deputy director general, strategic policy Nicky Cusworth has been appointed chair of the Economic Regulation Authority for a five year term. Ms Cusworth becomes the first woman to hold the position. She had held her role at the Department of State Development since 2010, following five years as director, macroeconomic policy with the Department of Treasury and Finance. Ms Cusworth was the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA chief economist from 1990 to 2005. At the ERA her appointment replaces that of Stephen King, who is set to take up the role of commissioner at the Productivity Commission. Mr King was appointed alternate chair, on a temporary basis, in December 2014 following the departure of former full-time chairman Lyndon Rowe, who left to take up the role of chairman at Synergy in August 2014.