As part of AEMO’s commitment to engaging our stakeholders to help put people at the centre of the energy transition and deliver better energy outcomes, AEMO has established a new Consumer and Community Reference Group (CCRG) to further bring a range of views and voices into our thinking and decision-making.
As a diverse cohort of consumer and community advocates, the CCRG will provide strategic insights and advice to AEMO across a range of energy issues, to deepen its knowledge and application of consumer and community perspectives within its day-to-day work and future planning.
The CCRG represents a mutually-agreed evolution of AEMO's Advisory Council on Social Licence (ACSL), to enable more targeted engagement with consumer advocates that aligns member expertise with key AEMO consultation periods and relevant engagement topics.
11 members have been appointed to the inaugural CCRG, who represent a diverse range of interests from households and businesses to First Nations peoples, regional communities, and agricultural and environmental groups.
Member biographies
Bridget Ryan
With more than 20 years’ experience across Australia’s energy industry, Bridget Ryan has worked in stakeholder communications and advocacy on behalf of governments, industry, and NGOs. During this time Bridget has built partnerships across NGOs, energy companies and regional and rural communities to build trust, enhance community benefits sharing and to improve energy policy and market settings.
With strong regional networks and expertise in building coalitions of support, Bridget is committed to improving energy industry practice to enable lasting, strategic benefits for communities, the environment and regions.
She is Director of Policy and Industry Engagement at RE-Alliance and provides broader consultancy services through Bridge Consulting and Advisory.
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. David is a member of the AER’s Consumer Challenge Panel, and models energy costs for QCOSS’ annual report on Living Affordability in Queensland.
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.
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.
Gavin Dufty
Gavin Dufty has over 35 years’ leadership experience in community welfare and advocacy, along with a comprehensive understanding of consumer protection issues related to energy and water. As National Director, Energy Policy and Research at St
Vincent de Paul Society Australia, his focus is on issues facing disadvantaged and vulnerable households across the electricity transmission, gas and electricity distribution, retail and wholesale markets.
As a leading contributor to industry better practice and respected member of multiple industry and government committees, including with the AER, SEC Victoria and several energy retailers and distributors, Gavin is a driving force in enhancing prioritisation of consumer and community needs and preferences across the energy market and transition. He is also a former member of AEMO’s Advisory Council on Social Licence.
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, with local, decentralised and equitable options, and that recognises the vital role that energy plays in living and working safely and reliably, whether the sun is shining or not.
As a qualified and inspirational educator she is adept at communicating complex issues in a creative way that facilitates understanding and action. She is Director of Erne Energy and a consumer representative on AEMO’s Information Exchange Committee for Energy Consumers Australia.
Joy Thomas
Joy Thomas is Co-convenor of the Ag Energy Taskforce and Chair of the Ag + Energy Social Licence Roundtable at The Energy Charter. With over 30 years’ experience as an advisor to Government, industry and not-for-profits, her experience and expertise covers a wide range of key policy areas for rural and regional communities, including water and agriculture policy, energy policy and regulation and regional development.
As an advocate for agricultural and regional communities, Joy is focused on developing and realising collaborative opportunities between the energy and agricultural sectors with the objective of building mutual understanding and identifying and prioritising shared value through the energy transition. Joy is a former member of AEMO’s Advisory Council on Social Licence.
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.
Luke Reade
As founding President and Policy Advocate (Energy and Climate Change) at Energetic Communities Association, Luke Reade is passionate about promoting a fairer energy system and just transition for everyday Australians and communities.
With 20 years’ experience as an environmental and climate scientist, activist and adviser, he also researches and provides policy advice to the Australian Conservation Foundation, including on matters such as energy market regulation, consumer energy resources, land use, social licence, system performance and more.
Previous roles with the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC), Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) and local government have also honed his expertise in representing a diversity of consumer and community voices, including at-risk households and renters, small business and rural and regional communities.
Mark Grenning
Mark Grenning has been the Director of Policy and Regulation at the Energy Users Association of Australia (EUAA) since 2016, following a 30 year career with Rio Tinto that had a particular focus on energy strategy and management across its worldwide operations. Mark has extensive strategic, policy and technical knowledge in a broad range of issues including electricity and gas market reform, regulation, pricing and social licence.
While he primarily represents the long-term interests of large energy users, he has a deep understanding of broader consumer perspectives informed by his membership of the AER Consumer Challenge Panel from 2016-21 and AEMO’s ISP Consumer Panel for the 2022 and 2024 ISPs.
Peta Ashworth OAM
Peta Ashworth is the Director of Ash Research and Curtin Institute for Energy Transition with over thirty years’ experience in a range senior management, consulting and research roles.
Her expertise across Australia’s energy sector has seen her publish works addressing social licence, technology acceptance, distributed energy integration, energy efficiency and consumer behaviour, including co-authoring the CSIRO Home Energy Saving Handbook.
She works closely with a range of peak bodies, development commissions and councils across Australia experiencing impacts of the energy transition, serves on a range of advisory board and committees, and is Chair of the Energy Research Institutes Council of Australia.
Awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her contributions to sustainable energy, Peta is also a former Advisory Council on Social Licence member.
Samuel Laffer
Samuel Laffer is the Energy Policy and Projects Officer at the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), where he leverages his extensive knowledge of energy alongside his rich background in rural farming. Growing up in Central West and Central Queensland has provided him with unique insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by agricultural communities.
In his role at QFF, Samuel advocates for over 13,000 primary producers across a diverse range of agricultural industries, and represents the interests of farmers and rural and remote communities.
Samuel’s work encompasses key areas such as affordability, social licence, reliability, and the effects of renewable energy development on agricultural productivity and sustainability. He is committed to fostering collaboration across sectors to achieve positive outcomes for the agricultural community and support its long-term viability in an evolving energy landscape.
Advisory Council on Social Licence
Established in 2022, AEMO’s Advisory Council on Social Licence (ACSL) served as a strategic advisory body to AEMO on social licence related business planning, policy, reform and advocacy matters.
Comprised of 12 well regarded individuals, members met quarterly and helped to build AEMO’s understanding and application of consumer and community perspectives in its thinking, decision-making and advocacy.
Key achievements include shaping the development of a new Social Licence Appendix in the 2024 Integrated System Plan (ISP), and input to various regulatory submissions exploring community acceptance and experiences around new energy infrastructure and the energy transition.
Following a recent reflections process, ACSL members and AEMO mutually agreed to evolve the ACSL into a new format (the CCRG) that allows for more targeted consultation and aligns advocate expertise to specific topics for greater impact on business decision-making and outcomes.
AEMO is thankful to ACSL members for their guidance and support, and looks forward to continuing its relationships as part of the CCRG.
Meeting summaries
For more information, please contact StakeholderRelations@aemo.com.au