New appointments for Independent Market Operator

Energy Minister Francis Logan today announced the membership and CEO of the Independent Market Operator (IMO), the statutory corporation that will supervise Western Australia's wholesale electricity market.

Mr John Kelly will chair the IMO board. Mr Kelly is well placed to assume this role, given his past general manager experience in Western Power and his role in electricity reform in Western Australia since 2000.

This included his role as a member of the Electricity Reform Taskforce, which recommended deregulation of the State's electricity industry.

Mr Kelly will be joined by directors Shaun Dennison and Danielle McGrath.

Mr Dennison has experience in the development of electricity and gas markets, pricing strategies and risk management in regulatory environments, while Ms McGrath has extensive legal experience and knowledge of financial markets. Ms McGrath's knowledge of compliance issues will also be particularly valuable to the IMO.

The State Government has also appointed a senior WA public servant and economist to lead the IMO.

After a national search, Anne Nolan will take up the position of chief executive officer.

Mr Logan said Ms Nolan, currently the co-ordinator of Energy and chief executive officer of the Office of Energy, was a highly regarded senior executive with the skills and experience to head the new statutory corporation. She previously held
high-ranking positions within the Department of Treasury and Finance.

"Ms Nolan has essential experience in the energy industry, and played a leading strategic role in the implementation of gas and electricity reform in WA," the Minister said.

He said the appointments represented a balance between technical, legal, regulatory and commercial experience that would enable the effective operations of the IMO.