The Chairman of the Consumer Advocacy Panel, Mr Frank Peach, and the Australian Energy Market Commission Chief Executive, Steven Graham, today announced the appointment of Ms Kerry Connors as Executive Director of the Consumer Advocacy Panel.

The Consumer Advocacy Panel grants funds for advocacy projects on behalf of consumers in the national electricity and natural gas markets and initiates research into issues of benefit to energy consumers. The Executive Director is responsible for the management of the Panel’s functions and for the provision of strategic and operational advice to the Panel.

Ms Connors brings to the position her respected reputation as an advocate for consumers in Victoria where she served as the inaugural Executive Officer of the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre (CUAC). She successfully established CUAC as an independent consumer advocacy organisation to represent the interests of Victorian electricity, gas and water consumers, especially those low-income, disadvantaged and rural consumers and gave them effective representation in policy and regulatory debates.

Prior to her CUAC appointment Ms Connors established a consultancy offering counsel to Australian businesses on corporate social responsibility, building on her career experience with the Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which included a posting to the Australian embassy in Korea. She holds a BA (ANU) and a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade (ANU).

Ms Connors will take up her new position on 1 September 2008.

On 1 July 2008 the Australian Energy Market Commission Establishment (Consumer Advocacy Panel) Amendment Act 2008 commenced.
The Panel remains independent of government and regulators.
The role of Advocacy Panel Executive Director now transfers from Melbourne to Sydney.