AEMO fosters collaboration with new consumer reference group

03/10/2024
3 min

AEMO is pleased to announce the 11 members of its inaugural Consumer and Community Reference Group (CCRG).

As a diverse cohort of consumer and community advocates, the members will provide strategic insights and advice to AEMO across a range of energy issues, bringing consumer and community perspectives to AEMO’s day-to-day work and future planning.

The Consumer and Community Reference Group members are:

  • Bridget Ryan, Policy and Industry Engagement Director at RE-Alliance
  • David Prins, Director, Etrog Consulting
  • Douglas McCloskey, Program Director, Energy and Water Justice, Justice and Equity Centre
  • Gavin Dufty, National Director, Energy Policy and Research, St Vincent de Paul Society Australia
  • Jill Cainey, Director of Erne Energy
  • Joy Thomas, Co-convenor of the Ag Energy Taskforce, Chair of the Ag + Energy Social Licence Roundtable at the Energy Charter
  • Kaneya Poudal, Engagement and Policy Lead, First Nations Clean Energy Network
  • Luke Reade, Founding President and Policy Advocate (Energy and Climate Change), Energetic Communities Association
  • Mark Grenning, Director of Policy and Regulation, Energy Users Association of Australia
  • Peta Ashworth OAM, Director of the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition
  • Samuel Laffer, Energy Policy and Projects Officer at the Queensland Farmers' Federation

AEMO Executive General Manager Government & Stakeholder, Rebecca Irwin, said that attracting a diverse membership was a key focus for the organisation as part of its maturing stakeholder engagement approach and collaboration.

“Energy is an issue at the forefront of many people’s minds – from costs, investment in new technologies, the need for new transmission infrastructure, and what the energy transition as a whole means for them,” Ms Irwin said.

“As Australia’s independent market and system operator and system planner, we want to better understand people’s energy experiences and concerns, both to do our job better and help people navigate the energy transition,” she said.

CCRG member, Bridget Ryan, echoed Ms Irwin’s comments, saying that for her, the CCRG provided a clear opportunity to amplify the voices of regional and rural communities.

"Australia is in the middle of a major shift in how we produce and consume energy," Ms Ryan said.

"We're asking a lot of regional and rural communities where new infrastructure is needed, but when communities are invited from the very beginning to shape how this looks and how they can benefit - the outcomes can be exciting.

“I'm looking forward to seeing how the CCRG can help amplify the voices of communities in this conversation,” she said.

Following a public expressions of interest process, members were selected based on their strong energy expertise and ability to represent the interests of a diverse and differing range of groups. This included residential and small business energy consumers (including renters, low income and at-risk individuals), large commercial and industrial businesses, agricultural and environmental groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and regional and rural-based communities.

Part of AEMO’s FY25 Strategic Corporate Plan, the CCRG represents an evolution of AEMO’s former Advisory Council on Social Licence, to enable more targeted engagement with consumer advocates that aligns member expertise with key AEMO consultation periods and relevant engagement topics.

More information on the CCRG, including member biographies, can be found on AEMO’s website.

ENDS


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