Consumer and Community Reference Group

Jill Cainey

Jill Cainey is a climate scientist with 30 years’ experience and an intimate understanding of electricity regulation, policy, assets and technology, which she leverages in collaborating with communities, business and policy makers.

Based in regional Tasmania, Jill is passionate about enabling people to create an energy future that is centred on their needs. She champions local, decentralised and equitable options, that recognise the vital role that energy plays in living and working safely and reliably in rural Australia.

Jill is the director of Erne Energy, working with a broad range of clients on electricity resilience in the face of severe weather. She represents electricity consumers on a range of committees including AEMO’s Information Exchange Committee and is the independent chair of TasNetworks Stakeholder Advisory Group.

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Gavin Dufty

Gavin Dufty is National Director, Energy Policy and Research at St Vincent de Paul Society Australia, where he leads research, policy analysis and advocacy across electricity, gas and water services. A highly regarded consumer advocate, he plays an active role in regulatory and policy development, representing the Society and providing expert advice to industry participants, government agencies and market advisory bodies, including the AEMC, AEMO, AER and Victoria's Essential Services Commission.

Gavin also serves on the Board of Energy Consumers Australia.

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Mark Grenning

Mark is a leading advocate for consumers in national electricity and gas markets with extensive experience across all NEM jurisdictions. He has written extensively on electricity and gas network regulation covering both AER network resets and the broader regulatory framework. He is an expert on best practice consumer engagement under the AER’s Better Resets Handbook. 

He has extensive experience in gas and electricity network reset panels across all NEM jurisdictions and is currently a member of panels for Ausgrid 2029-34, Ergon/Energex 2030-35, Powerlink 2027-32, Murraylink 2028-33, APA RBP 2027-32, APA VTS 2028-32 and AGIG Victoria/Multinet 2028-32. He is currently a member of BAU customer panels for Ausgrid, Powerlink and Energy Queensland. He was a member of the AER CCP from 2016-21 and the AEMO ISP Consumer Panels for the 2022 and 2024 ISPs.

In November 2025 he completed 10 years in the role of Director of Policy and Regulation for the Energy Users Association of Australia. This involved him in consumer advocacy on all the major electricity and gas issues considered by Federal and State Governments, AEMC, AEMO and the AER.

Mark Henley

Mark Henley has worked with people from disadvantaged communities for over 40 years and has been a strong advocate for vulnerable people, including as CEO of SACOSS, Vice President of Youth Affairs Council of Australia and for the last 2 decades for Uniting Communities in South Australia.

He served as Chair of the 2024 and 2026 ISP Consumer Panel. Other current involvements include Board membership of EWOSA (Energy and Water Ombudsman) and SA Financial Counselling Association as well as being a member to the Economics Society of Australia Central Council, as SA Branch President. Mark was a member of the AER’s Consumer Challenge Panel and Consumer Consultative Group.

Beverley Hughson

Beverley has over 30 years of experience in the Australian energy industry including significant participation in regulatory processes over the last 12 years on behalf of both large and small consumers. This participation is underpinned by an academic background in social psychology, business management and commercial law. She has the experience and ability to work constructively with regulators, consumer representatives and a wide range of end-consumers to achieve outcomes consistent with the long-term interests of consumers. After leaving the private energy sector, Bev was appointed to the AER's initial and second Consumer Challenge Panels, and in 2020 she joined the AER's Rate of Return Consumer Reference Group becoming chair of the Group in 2021. She has also contributed to the AEMC Transmission Planning and Investment Review Consumer Reference Group. She served on the 2024 and 2026 ISP Consumer Panel.

Douglas McCloskey

With over 15 years’ experience in policy, government, and community and social service advocacy, Douglas McCloskey currently serves as Program Director, Energy and Water Justice at the Justice and Equity Centre (JEC).

His detailed understanding of the energy system – including governance, planning, policy and markets, regulation, retail markets, and CER integration – is focused around accelerating an energy transition that is fair, affordable and reliable for all. This includes a strong focus on understanding issues faced by disadvantaged and marginalised groups, including renters and low-income groups, First Nations, culturally diverse, and regional and remote communities.

An active member of NSW Government, AEMC and AER-led consumer groups, Doug’s work and advocacy efforts also seek to consider and contribute to broader social, cultural, economic and environmental outcomes.

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Kaneya Poudal

Proud Wiradjuri, Yaegl and Kamilaroi man Kaneya Poudal is Engagement and Policy Lead with the First Nations Clean Energy Network.

Inspired by his participation in the First Nations Clean Energy Network's PowerMakers program, Kaneya is working to empower First Nations individuals and businesses to be partners and leaders in Australia’s energy transition. With deep experience in stakeholder engagement and policy analysis, including at Defence Australia, he has formal qualifications in business and government, and is currently studying Law.

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David Prins

David Prins’ energy experience spans both Australian and international markets, and focuses on the application of effective electricity and gas regulation and competition, transmission and distribution, storage and generation, consumer energy resources, retail and energy services.

Championing the interests of residential and small business consumers, his research and advocacy on behalf of consumer and community organisations influences governments, regulators, market bodies and industry. As an expert in cost-benefit analysis, smart metering, energy tariffs, consumer engagement, consumer protections and benefits realisation, David brings a unique mix of technical expertise and consumer centric thinking. He is the Director of Etrog Consulting.

David is also a member of the AusNet Gas Access Arrangement Review Development Panel for 2028-33 and the SA Power Networks Reset Advisory Group for 2030-2035. He was a member of the AER’s Consumer Challenge Panel from 2013 until 2026.

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Joy Thomas

Joy Thomas spent her early years growing up on a mixed farming property in New South Wales. She has lived and worked in Papua New Guinea. On returning to Australia and to the workforce, Joy served for many years as an adviser and chief of staff to ministers in the federal government. She continues to work as a private consultant in agriculture, rural communities and the energy transition.

As independent chair of the Ag Energy Taskforce at the Energy Charter, Joy works with peak agriculture bodies, energy industry companies and energy regulatory bodies, to enable the farming sector to build capacity and provide advocacy to alleviate the impact of high energy costs on agricultural industries. The remit of the Taskforce has expanded in recent years as farmers and rural communities seek to navigate the issues around Australia’s energy transition and build relationships with the energy sector and decision makers to ensure that policy and regulatory decisions will adequately consider the productive agriculture sector.