The AER is pleased to announce the appointment of two new General Managers to its senior leadership team:
- Jacqueline Thorpe has commenced as the AER’s new GM Compliance & Enforcement; and
- Mark Feather will commence as the agency’s new GM Policy & Performance on 2 October 2018.
With consumer, industry and government expectations for the energy sector at an historic high, the AER is committed to delivering on its legislative remit as Australia’s independent energy regulator.
The agency’s new Policy & Performance branch will support the agency’s contribution to the energy policy debate through research, consultation, and the development of well-evidenced policy positions. It will also contribute expert technical advice and analytical skills to help inform the wider organisation’s work.
The new Compliance & Enforcement branch will run the AER’s compliance and enforcement regime, focusing on risk-based regulatory activities across wholesale, retail (authorised and exempt) and network businesses. It will work closely with other AER branches to ensure effective rules and regulations are in place, understand markets and to identify and remedy market problems.
Jacqueline Thorpe brings her extensive experience in compliance and enforcement to this role. For the past six years she has worked as the AER’s Director of Compliance in the agency’s Retail Branch. She worked for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission from 2006 to 2012 developing national compliance programs and also at Australian Communications and Media Authority working on consumer protection issues. Jacqui started her career as graduate in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and worked overseas in the Australian High Commission in Ottawa, Canada.
Mark Feather is highly experienced in energy policy and regulation. He comes to the AER from Victoria’s Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources where he advises on energy transition and policy issues as they impact industrial customers. Prior to this he was Executive Director of the Energy Policy and Programs Branch of the Victorian Government’s Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, and Director of the Australian Energy Market Commission’s wholesale, environment and transmission division. He also worked with Ofgem in the UK for a 10 year period, as well as Victoria’s Department of Treasury and Finance and the ACCC.