Western Power expands board

Government-owned electricity network utility Western Power has expanded its board of directors by two, as it navigates the state’s energy transition.

Wayne Manners, Andrea Hall and Rob Grant will join the Western Power board as non-executive directors, following the retirement of Elisa Fear from her director role.

Monish Paul will also extend his tenure on the board.

Mr Manners is best known for his previous role as president and chief executive with multinational building and construction materials firm Boral, and is currently an advisory board member at IQRenew.

A former KPMG risk consulting partner, Ms Hall will add Western Power to her current roles as chair of the audit and risk committee at mining contractor Perenti and the risk and sustainability committee of Core Lithium. Ms Hall also heads the audit committees at Evolution Mining and Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation.

Once director of energy at Fortescue Metals Group, Mr Grant has more than 25 years’ experience in international energy and infrastructure and is managing director of climate change investment and advisory firm Pollination.

He will join the board at the start of February, with Ms Hall and Mr Manners starting their roles today.

Western Power chair Denise Goldsworthy said the new board members would add a wealth of knowledge and expertise across large industry, natural resources and climate change.

“Western Power plays a critical role in enabling the industry and the community to reach their decarbonisation goals while continuing to ensure the delivery of safe, reliable and affordable power to the community in the face of climate change impacts,” she said.

“I would like to congratulate Wayne, Andrea and Rob on their appointments to the Western Power board and look forward to working with them as Western Power supports Western Australia’s transition to a decarbonised future.”

Ms Fear has stepped away from her non-executive role after three years, having joined in 2020. She is also a board member at St John WA and a council member at Curtin University. 

“Elisa’s extensive financial executive experience together with her commercial knowledge has been invaluable to the board and the business,” Ms Goldsworthy said.

Deputy chair Greg Martin, and Kathryn Barrie and Eva Skira remain on the Western Power board.

The board changes come following a financial year in which Western Power reported a net profit after tax of $261 million, down from $400 million a year prior.

In its annual report, it flagged an increased emphasis on natural disaster preparedness in coming years through network maintenance and investment as it looks to mitigate the potential impacts of climate change.

The state's Government Trading Enterprises Act specifies that the utility's board must comprise between five and nine directors.