AEMC Chief Executive, Steven Graham, today publicly announced a new structure for the AEMC's senior management team with the creation of a Senior Director position, responsible for Strategy and Economic Analysis.
"As we approach our fifth anniversary we are giving greater emphasis to our market development and policy advising roles," Mr Graham said.
"Australia's electricity and natural gas markets are entering the most challenging phase in recent history.
"The investment task to renew energy infrastructure and reduce its carbon intensity is significant, and the environment for investment is challenging and uncertain. The AEMC has a key responsibility to lead debate on how energy markets, and the regulatory frameworks that support them, address these challenges.
"We are building our capacity to address the intersection of energy markets with broader issues such as those related to energy efficiency, the environment, and financial market developments," Mr Graham said.
"We will be working closely with industry, the community and government to promote the consideration of these issues and the implications they raise for energy market frameworks and settings.
"Our new strategic and economic analysis role has been taken up by Colin Sausman who is moving from his previous role of Senior Director, Wholesale, Environment & Transmission.
"Colin Sausman joined the AEMC in March 2007 from the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) in the United Kingdom. He has led a number of key AEMC projects including the recent review of current energy market frameworks in light of climate change policies. In his role with Ofgem he was involved in a wide range of regulatory reforms in the UK energy sector. These included the integration of the electricity wholesale market in England & Wales with the market in Scotland, and the design of new incentives schemes for gas and electricity transmission businesses.
"I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Senior Director, Wholesale, Environment & Transmission, Christopher Spangaro.
"Chris has a background in law and public policy. He came to the AEMC from the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal where he most recently held the position of General Manager of the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme, one of the world's first mandatory emissions trading schemes. Prior to that he was Program Manager, Water Pricing with the Tribunal.
"These changes strengthen the management team, and help ensure that analysis informing our decisions and recommendations is of a consistent high quality across our expanding areas of responsibility," Mr Graham said.
"Importantly, in a forthcoming period of likely transformation for energy markets, these organisational changes also improve the AEMC's ability to demonstrate effective and strategic leadership in respect of our statutory responsibility for market development - including through closer engagement with our stakeholders on strategic issues and challenges."
For information contactAEMC Chief Executive, Steven Graham (02) 8296 7800
AEMC Communication Manager, Prue Anderson (02) 8296 7800 or 0404 821 935