The state government has appointed Stephen Edwell chair of Horizon Power, and added Kylie Chamberlain to the utility’s board.
The state government has appointed Stephen Edwell chair of Horizon Power, and added Kylie Chamberlain to the utility’s board.
The two new directors replace the departing Jeanette Hacket and outgoing chair Ian Mickel.
Mr Edwell was inaugural chair of the Australian Energy Authority from 2005 to 2010, and was a governing body member of Western Australia’s Economic Regulation Authority from 2006 until April last year.
His previous experience also includes senior roles implementing electricity reform in WA, and reforms of Queensland’s electricity and water utilities.
Ms Chamberlain is a director of West Coast Fever and a senior relationship manager at Bankwest.
Mr Mickel has served as chair since November 2014, and as a director since 2011.
A former Curtin University vice-chancellor, Ms Hacket was appointed to the Horizon Power board in 2016.
While thanking the two outgoing directors, Energy Minister Ben Wyatt flagged future changes to the board.
“I am aware of the lack of regional representation on the board and will look to address this in future appointments,” Mr Wyatt said.
Horizon Power managing director Frank Tudor highlighted the work Mr Mickel, a former president of the Esperance Shire Council, had done for the region.
“(Mr Mickel) was also on the ground actively supporting Horizon Power and his community when the Esperance bushfires devastated the region in 2015, claiming lives, property and livestock,” Mr Tudor said.
“He championed our focus on innovation which included the rapid deployment of the first utility-grade stand alone power systems in Esperance at the properties of customers at the end of long spur lines which were burned down in the fires,” he said.
Earlier this week, Mr Wyatt announced Western Power chair Colin Beckett and deputy chair Greg Martin would have their terms renewed for an additional three years, to April 28 2021.
Messrs Beckett and Martin both joined Western Power in 2015.
Mr Beckett also chairs Perth Airport, while Mr Martin is chair of Iluka Resources.
