John Pierce, Chairman of the Australian Energy Market Commission, has announced that he will step down from the Commission when his term finishes on 3 July, following ten years in the role.
Mr Pierce was appointed as the Chairman on 2 June 2010 and re-appointed on 2 June 2015.
Mr Pierce said the AEMC had a reputation for “high integrity, high value work” that had only grown stronger.
“After ten years as Chairman I am proud to see the AEMC consolidating its role as rule-maker and government adviser on how best to take advantage of new technology and deliver the outcomes consumers expect consistent with the policy objectives of the NEM jurisdictions,” Mr Pierce said.
He added that consumers were “in good hands because of the expertise and deep thinking” that AEMC staff bring to bear.
“One of the great joys of working at the AEMC is the privilege of engaging with all our stakeholders and sharing in the passion they have for the energy sector. Their ideas, creativity and generosity in contributing to the work of the Commission is not only vital for our work, but a source of inspiration,” Mr Pierce said.
AEMC Chief Executive, Benn Barr, said that under Mr Pierce’s leadership, the AEMC had “a truly robust approach to policy-making in the long-term interests of consumers.
“I have known John for many years. And even before we met, his reputation in government circles was big. As someone from that side of the fence I am well aware of the deep regard John has for community and parliamentary institutions of government,” Mr Barr said.
“John’s relentless energy and his analytical curiosity is a force to be reckoned with.”
Mr Pierce is a former Secretary of the Federal Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, a former Chairman of NSW Treasury Corp and served for more than a decade as Secretary of the NSW Treasury.
Before that, he was at then Pacific Power and the then Electricity Commission of NSW.
He is a member of the UNSW Australian School of Business (ASB) Advisory Council and Macquarie University’s Industry Advisory Board, Department of Economics.
He has been appointed as Adjunct Professor in the Office of the Pro Vice Chancellor (Business), Griffith University.
