Shepherd to chair Synergy

WA gas and electricity provider Synergy has appointed Michelle Shepherd as its new chairperson, marking the third WA owned energy corporation to be steered by a woman. 

The Former Commissioner of the Australian Energy Market Commission, who handed down the independent review into Western Power over the 2021 Christmas outages last year, has more than 20 years’ experience in the electricity, gas and energy markets.

Ms Shepherd was the general manager of regulatory and government affairs for Alinta Energy for six years and was previously at AGL for nearly a decade as the manager of energy regulation.

She has also worked for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Competition Commission in the UK and the Federal Department of Finance.

Today’s appointments marks all three of the state government owned energy corporations being chaired by women.  

Western Power is steered by Denise Goldsworthy, Horizon Power is chaired by Samantha Tough and now Synergy will be guided by Ms Shepherd.

The appointment follows former chairman Rob Cole’s resignation after he served in the role for more than five years before taking up the role of Perth Airport chair in November.

Mr Cole continues to chair ASX-listed mining companies Iluka Resources and Perenti but has stepped down from his role as non-executive chair of Landgate.

Energy Minister Bill Johnston also announced the appointment of current board member Yasmin Broughton to deputy chair.

Ms Broughton, who is an experienced solicitor and barrister, is also a non-executive director of Greatland Gold and Wright Prospecting and the chair of the PLC Foundation.

She has stepped into the role held by former deputy chair Kim Horne who served on the Synergy board for almost nine years.

The Minister also announced the appointment of Denise McComish, a former KPMG partner, as a non-executive director and the reappointment of Rob Bransby and Richard Watson as non-executive directors.

"I am confident that today's appointments will support Synergy as it delivers on the replacement of State-owned coal fired power stations, makes massive reductions to its carbon emissions and continues to provide innovative solutions and support to its customers,” Mr Johnston said.

"The appointments highlight that there are highly talented women in the workforce that are eminently-qualified for senior leadership positions within big, complex organisations that seek to engage them.

"I would like to thank Robert Cole for his time as Chair and Kim Horne as deputy chair, and for their stewardship of the organisation over many years."