HOUSTONKEMP - Key Persons
Adam joined our team at the start of 2023 after completing an Honours year in economics at the University of Sydney. He has keen interests in economic modelling, competition policy and market regulation, with a focus on improving social outcomes.
For his thesis Adam developed a novel theoretical model to explore the applications of microeconomic concepts and techniques to empirical situations. In particular his model provided insight into the recent instability observed in Australia's political landscape.
Adam's problem-solving and technical abilities make him well equipped to tackle a wide range of complex economic problems. Additionally, he has a strong history of presentation and public speaking experiences which allow him to convey his findings in a concise and accessible manner.
Adrian's expertise derives from his depth of understanding and experience in the energy, water and transport industries, exceptional analytical skills, and his enthusiasm for developing innovative and practicable solutions to complex problems. At the forefront of his profession, Adrian regularly advises governments, regulatory agencies and businesses on high stakes matters that are often the focus of public attention.
Highlights from Adrian's twenty year career include the development of innovative metrics to monitor road safety, speed performance and reliability using GPS-probe data to inform road infrastructure planning and investment decision making. Adrian also led the development of an innovative regulatory framework governing the pricing of services provided at the Port of Melbourne.
Adrian has shaped significant reforms to pricing in the electricity sector and to the regulatory arrangements applying to the water, energy and road infrastructure sectors. Adrian is often at the forefront of structural and regulatory reform processes, and in charting market developments in the infrastructure sector. Often, he is leading the way in rethinking how emerging disruptive technologies can be harnessed to improve the performance of critical industry sectors.
Most recently, Adrian has spearheaded the proof of concept for a blockchain-based information sharing platform for the Australian criminal intelligence sector - set to revolutionise how organisations share, control and collaborate through the use of sensitive information.
Alyse's project experience includes using sophisticated analytics techniques to determine the economic implications of complex competition issues arising from mergers and acquisitions, and alleged cartels.
Alyse also has extensive experience in undertaking financial economic analysis in relation to damages assessment in securities market litigation cases and cost of capital estimation.
Alyse's work also includes the application of economics in relation to the regulatory frameworks for electricity and gas networks. Specifically, she has experience in applying building block models in both regulated and unregulated settings, as well as in estimating economic written down asset valuations.
More broadly, Alyse has expertise in undertaking data analysis and communicating the results of quantitative analysis to audiences with limited statistical experience. Her expertise includes applying visualisation techniques, including interactive charts and cartographic diagrams, to present relevant insights from raw data. The results of her analysis have been relied upon in several high stakes matters, including proceedings in the Supreme Courts of Victoria and New South Wales.
Ann is at the forefront of the economic challenges surrounding investment in network infrastructure, including in the context of renewable energy development and the increase in distributed energy resources.
Through more than thirty years working as a consulting economist and in government, Ann has developed deep expertise across utility regulation, cost benefit analysis and the broader development of energy markets. She has advised clients across the electricity, gas, water, rail and aviation sectors.
Ann's strength on regulatory issues stems from her deep knowledge of the National Electricity Rules covering the regulation of electricity transmission and distribution networks, gained through direct involvement in the initial development of the rules as well as in their subsequent application and all significant modifications.
Ann is an expert on the arrangements governing network investment, including the Australian Energy Regulator's regulatory investment tests. She has advised both network businesses and the AER on the practical application of these tests, including in the context of major new transmission interconnections, innovative network technologies, replacement expenditure and the increasing prevalence of distributed energy resources.
Ann is also at the forefront of resolving the challenges surrounding investment in network infrastructure to connect renewable generation, on which she has advised network businesses, governments, regulators and potential financiers. She has also advised on the impact of new technologies on the regulatory framework, the appropriate arrangements for stand-alone power systems and the introduction of competition in metering.
An adept project manager, Ann has directed a number of large-scale projects in the South East Asian region, including a pre-feasibility study of the introduction of nuclear power into Singapore and a competition policy investigation into petrol pricing in Hong Kong.
Ann was a founding member of the NSW Women in Economics committee and is currently a member of the Market Development Advisory Group to the Electricity Authority in New Zealand.
Ashmit joined the team in late 2023 after earning his master's degree from the London School of Economics. Prior to that, he received his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated as a Benjamin Franklin Scholar and earned membership to the Phi Beta Kappa honour society. His honours thesis employed a model of spatial competition to explore the effects of corporate sociopolitical activism in a duopoly.
Ashmit is passionate about applying economics to real-world challenges, having presented original research at Harvard University and published in the Stanford Economic Review. His previous work experience includes consulting on a major urban renewal project and leveraging statistical methods to build price prediction models. Ashmit's quantitative aptitude and communication skills allow him to tackle complex challenges in the world of economics.
Job Titles:
- Senior Economist
- Specialist
Brendan has a long track record as a consulting economist, specialising in network economics and finance matters arising across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region. Over the last 18 years Brendan has advised clients on the application of regulatory principles to airports, ports, telecommunications, electricity transmission and distribution networks, water networks and gas pipelines. He is a leading expert on application of the building block approach, incentive mechanisms, operating and capital allowances, financing and asset valuation for infrastructure businesses, regulators and governments.
Brendan is a specialist in the cost of capital for use in regulatory price reviews and contract arbitrations. He has authored reports on all aspects of the cost of capital including cost of equity estimation techniques, the valuation effect of tax imputation credits, and the estimation of benchmark debt costs.
Claire integrates her passion for economics with a solution-orientated approach to deliver high quality results. She frequently works on policy and regulatory matters and also applies her attention to detail and rigorous analytical style to various projects in finance, competition and legal proceedings.
Claire utilises her familiarity with both Commonwealth and state-based energy policy and regulatory frameworks to provide insightful analysis and advice. She frequently supports energy network businesses on projects relating to the National Electricity Market (NEM), in both investments that they are undertaking, or concerns around the Rules and guidelines. Claire has undertaken significant research on policies regulation relating to renewable energy zones (REZs) and is interested in the decarbonisation of Australia's energy industry. Her work experience includes assisting in the design of a framework to incentivise companies such as aluminium or hydrogen producers to locate in REZs. Claire has also worked in infrastructure regulation more broadly and is familiar with issues relating to transport and water businesses.
Claire has supported high-stakes decision making for both mergers and arbitration cases. Her analysis, particularly on the substitutability of products, has supported merger notifications to the ACCC and Commerce Commission. She has also supported the development of an expert report on economic factors affecting the remuneration of rail employees, which was used in an arbitration at the Fair Work Commission.
Dale specialises in the economics of infrastructure services, with particular expertise in matters of pricing. Notwithstanding this focus, his aptitude for applying economics to real-world problems affords him a uniquely broad perspective.
He draws on experience of economic regulation, major commercial arbitrations, legislative reviews, native title proceedings, commercial transactions and negotiations, shareholder class actions and anti-dumping proceedings, and across the electricity, gas, airport, telecommunications, construction, road, port, steel, retail and water sectors.
Dale has experience in all aspects of the regulatory process, from advising policy makers on how regulated businesses would likely response to particular requirements to providing hands-on assistance in the development of regulatory strategy and proposals.
Dale's expertise in the economics of pricing draws on experience of the challenges arising in the pricing of gas and electricity network services, port access, heavy vehicle road use and aeronautical services. Notably, Dale has provided wide-ranging assistance to the largest electricity network in Australia on the development of a pricing strategy to address the challenges it faced, which ranged from undertaking econometric analyses to representing it at public forums.
One example of Dale's broader perspective is the central role he played in the development of an economic framework under which to compensate indigenous peoples for the extinguishment of their native title up to 35 years ago, core elements of which were reflected in a landmark decision by the Federal Court and then the High Court.
Dale has excellent communication skills and has prepared material for expert reports relied upon by businesses, regulatory authorities and state and federal governments, and that formed the basis of testimony before the Federal Court and the Competition Tribunal.
Daniel has fourteen years' experience applying economic principles and quantitative tools to develop and implement solutions to complex problems arising in competition and regulatory matters. He brings a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, particularly approaches to asset valuation, building block models, and tariff design.
Daniel has a particular interest in addressing the fundamental questions that underpin regulatory interventions and has applied this expertise widely. His experience includes reviewing the merits of increasing regulatory obligations for clients across the energy sector and assessing whether coal terminal facilities should be declared to be essential services. In the telecommunications sector Daniel advises on regulatory and competition policy and the development of regulatory approaches to address issues raised by changes in technologies used to provide service. Daniel has designed and implemented a regulatory framework to comply with the terms of an authorisation for a client in the car terminal sector.
Underpinning Daniel's expertise in regulatory policy is a deep understanding of the estimation of cost of capital. He has played a significant role in advancing the regulatory debate on these issues. His analysis has buttressed a series of successful appeals of regulatory decisions on the return on debt. He has made contributions to understanding the application of the capital asset pricing model in Australia and advised on using financial market data to estimate the current cost of equity.
Daniel's experience encompasses a range of competition matters, including advice on the likely effects of proposed mergers and acquisitions and the assessment of potentially anti-competitive arrangements across many industry sectors. He has also advised businesses in a range of commercial litigation and arbitrations, including in relation to the renegotiation of major gas supply contracts and in the calculation of damages in international arbitrations.
Elaine joined our team following her completion of postgraduate study in econometrics, and internships at both HoustonKemp and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Elaine's quantitative expertise underpins her contribution to the fast-growing role of analytics and economic modelling across much of our work. Elaine's research interest - and the focus of her honours thesis - has involved the development of a complex simulation model to evaluate the implications of small probability events on the pricing of complex financial instruments.
Elaine has since played a key role in economic modelling of the hierarchical subcontracting relationship in the construction industry to support our policy advice in relation to this sector, and in the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the market for coal tenements in Queensland.
At CSIRO, Elaine was involved in quantitative work to support the optimisation of supply chains and the development of a pipeline that deploys 3D brain image to a mixed reality environment.
Gary leads our in-house software development team, working closely with our clients and staff to provide innovative software solutions to support client outcomes.
Drawing on his extensive systems development and software project management experience with a focus on distributed, user-centric systems, Gary is a versatile and dedicated IT professional that contributes business value through cost reduction, improved delivery, and streamlined integration for our clients. Gary specialises in end-to-end development, and systems deployment and management.
Gary has substantial IT industry experience across both the private and public sectors. He has a particular interest in processes, procedures and governance related to software development, cloud services and hardware deployments. Gary has also developed and delivered IT training courses at a tertiary level and is passionate about information and knowledge transfer - a skill that is highly sought after by our clients.
Gary continues to expand his IT knowledge through the application of blockchain and distributed systems technologies to solve modern business challenges.
Greg is a founding partner of HoustonKemp. He is an expert in the application of economics to assist high stakes decision-making in competition, finance, policy and regulatory matters.
In the antitrust sphere, Greg is regularly sought to advise on the competitive effects of proposed merger transactions, and to provide expert testimony in antitrust enforcement proceedings. His evidence has been cited favourably in numerous proceedings before the Federal Court, the Competition Tribunal and in the decisions of Australian and international arbitrators. For many years, Greg has been listed by Who's Who Legal as one of the world's leading competition economists. Most recently, Greg was recognised in WWL's Thought Leaders - Competition 2020 for his contributions to competition economics.
On regulatory matters, Greg has played a substantial role in shaping the development of economic regulatory regimes governing communications, energy, transport and water services infrastructure in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. His clients in this area include governments, regulators, infrastructure service providers and trade associations.
Greg is also the foremost expert in the region on the application of economics to critical questions arising in securities class actions, insider trading and market manipulation. He has filed expert reports in numerous proceedings concerning the adequacy and effect of disclosures in relation to listed and unlisted securities, in both Australia and New Zealand. Greg's evidence was accepted in the only two wrongful disclosure matters for which final judgment on substantive elements has been delivered by the Federal Court.
In April 2014, Greg - together with Adrian Kemp - founded HoustonKemp, a firm dedicated to applying economic analysis to bring clarity and focus to complex problems arising in competition, finance, policy and regulation.
Greg holds a first class honours degree in economics from the University of Canterbury, and is a member of the Competition and Consumer Committee of the Law Council of Australia.
Johnathan has over seven years' experience working across an extensive range of regulatory and economic projects, with particular focus on cost of capital issues. Johnathan has advised Australian energy networks on how the benchmark cost of debt should be estimated, as well as how benchmark estimates compare to actual debt costs. This advice has been drawn on in multiple submissions to the Australian Energy Regulator.
Johnathan has also advised a range of clients on competition issues relating to mergers and acquisitions. His experience in this sector includes advising the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in its review of the competitiveness of the petrol retail industry. As part of this project, Johnathan carried out a geospatial analysis of how prices across all petrol stations in New South Wales were influenced by geographic factors, such as the number of competing brands located within a threshold driving time.
Prior to joining HoustonKemp, Johnathan was a Senior Economist with the Competition Economists Group. Johnathan graduated from the University of Sydney with first class honours in econometrics and a Bachelor of Laws. He also holds a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Adelaide and a Graduate Certificate in Data Engineering from the Australian National University.
Kate joined HoustonKemp in 2024 with a background in applied microeconomics. Her strengths lie in quantitative analysis, including data and cost-benefit analyses and econometric modelling, as well as the application of economic principles to explore and assess policy problems and solutions.
In her previous role at KPMG Australia, Kate worked with public sector clients across a range of policy areas including Indigenous empowerment, health, justice, energy, natural resources and human services. Many of these projects utilised cost-benefit analysis that articulated the economic benefits and costs of projects that sought to improve outcomes for the NSW community. Kate also delivered evaluations of public sector projects, assessing whether the project was delivered as intended, achieved its objectives and targets, and provided value for money for taxpayers.
Earlier in her career, Kate worked as a research assistant, contributing to novel projects in game theory and development economics through econometric analysis and project support. During her honours year, her thesis, Does Voluntourism Improve Educational Outcomes? Evidence from Indonesia, examined the causal effects of voluntourism programs on educational outcomes, child labour and aspirations for primary school-ages students exposed to these programs.
Kelson joined our team at the beginning of 2024 after successfully completing a master's degree in economics at the University of Otago. In addition to economics, Kelson has a robust background in mathematics and computer science. His primary areas of interest lie in economic modelling, regulation, and competition policy.
For his thesis, Kelson delved into the field of Optimal Bayesian experimental design. Specifically, he conducted modelling and simulations, utilising large-scale numerical simulations to explore the model's efficacy in eliciting preferences from both individuals and entire populations. Kelson's thesis is characterised by its highly technical nature leveraging New Zealand's supercomputing facilities, NeSI, to support his research.
Kelson possesses significant experience in the cleaning, structuring, and modelling of innovative datasets. In a former Data Scientist role, he handled biometric and health data obtained from mobile devices and mental health surveys with the aim to construct a predictive model for individuals' mental health states by leveraging this diverse range of data sources.
Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills enable Liam to provide valuable insights into economic problems arising in competition and regulation, particularly in the energy sector.
Liam has a keen interest in microeconomic policy and a passion for applying rigorous, evidence-based analysis to competition, regulatory and public policy issues. He joined the team in 2021, having previously completed a summer internship.
Liam has developed a strong understanding of the frameworks governing network investment to support the transition to a renewable dominant energy market, including the new rules and guidelines for implementing the Integrated System Plan in the national electricity market (NEM).
In his honours year at the University of Queensland, Liam undertook an in-depth microeconomic analysis of the Land Restoration Fund, an innovative environmental policy program of Queensland's Department of Environment and Science. He used his research to provide practical insights and recommendations that could influence the future direction of this program.
Liam's broad knowledge of the current regulatory landscape in the NEM has contributed his strong understanding of the economic principles underpinning energy market regulation and policy.
Luke has over fifteen years' experience as a professional economist. He has provided advice to both private sector and government clients in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom on all the major competition issues including mergers, cartels, misuses of market power, anti-competitive agreements, exclusive dealing, access disputes and market studies.
Luke has been engaged as an economic expert in competition matters, with an expert report being accepted by the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Luke has provided economic advice on competition projects in relation to an extensive range of industries across the whole economy. Through this breadth of experience, Luke has honed a keen eye for understanding how a market works, and to identify the key issues and information that is relevant to the question at hand.
Luke is an expert in assessing commercial damages, and has provided advice in relation to such matters in the coal, gas, pharmaceutical products and motor vehicle sectors. Luke has designed and applied a number of cutting edge quantitative techniques to calculate the loss that was incurred by an individual or firm based on determining the likely prices and/or quantities sold in a counterfactual world in which some event that caused the loss did not take place.
On regulatory matters, Luke has undertaken a number of assignments concerning the appropriate form of economic regulation of infrastructure services in the electricity, gas, telecommunications, disability services and rail sectors.
Luke is HoustonKemp's go-to man for any running know-how. He is waiting for the day to combine economics with running and undertake a major economic analysis of the benefits of commuting via legs.
Martin has over 15 years' experience in the application of economics to infrastructure regulation and policy questions. His sector experience includes electricity networks, electricity wholesale and retail markets, bulk water, rail and heavy vehicles.
Martin has a particular interest and experience in developing fit-for-purpose cost benefit analyses to evaluate policy and reform initiatives. He has evaluated the benefits of heavy vehicle road reform, road reform more broadly, and developed a cost benefit analysis framework to measure the benefits and costs of road maintenance expenditure. Martin has also provided advice to Infrastructure Australia on how to quantify the economic benefits of infrastructure investment for remote communities.
Martin is also proficient in pricing and revenue matters in different infrastructure sectors. He has developed cost to serve, building block models for different utility businesses and associated pricing schedules. Martin has designed heavy vehicle distance charges that could replace the existing fuel-based charges and estimated the financial impact this would have on heavy vehicle operators, geographical regions and various industry sectors.
Martin has also been involved in assessing reform or policy initiatives using economic first principles. This process involves assessing whether proposed changes would promote economic efficiency, ie, the promotion of efficient investment in, operation and use of the infrastructure service.
Mathew regularly provides economic advice to assist businesses comply with their regulatory obligations, with specific experience in the energy sector. In particular, he has provided advice on a wide range of pricing matters for electricity and gas distribution businesses across Australia, including undertaking analysis to inform network prices, establish pricing strategies and develop cost-reflective tariffs.
In the regulatory proceedings space, Mathew has assisted with the preparation of material for expert reports spanning securities class actions, regulatory determinations and challenges, merger authorisations and consumer competition matters.
Mathew's strong qualitative and analytical skills have been utilised to evaluate the effect of information in legal proceedings, inform investment decisions, prepare business cases, develop government policies and assess traffic outcomes.
Michael joined our team in early 2023 following the completion of his postgraduate study in economics and finance at the University of Canterbury. In his first year at HoustonKemp, Michael has had extensive market modelling exposure, including several projects related to modelling the wholesale electricity market in the National Electricity Market. This experience enables Michael to elicit and effectively communicate the drivers of intricate market dynamics.
In addition, Michael has assisted in developing substantial quantitative analysis that has been used to inform high stakes decisions in various industries ranging from competition concerns, cost of capital determinations, and personal lending in mediation, arbitration, and class action proceedings.
Michael's dissertation used econometric techniques to examine whether bank competition leads to efficient capital allocation. He has also completed internships with the Bank of New Zealand's financial markets team and at Impact Ventures, a New Zealand firm specialising in impact investing advisory and corporate finance. His background in both finance and economics allows Michael to bring a more diverse perspective to our work.
Sam has extensive experience providing evidence-based economic analysis to a range of regulatory, finance and policy related issues in Australia and New Zealand. With a history in mathematics and economics, Sam offers expertise in both qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Sam's work has contributed across several pivotal sectors, including energy, health and the environment. These projects involved the application of econometric models, undertaking statistical analysis and producing innovative and clear data visualisation using a number of programming tools and languages.
Sam has applied his skills to many significant Australian policy issues, including government healthcare provision and waste management services. In the electricity sector, Sam has advised clients on key regulatory issues, such as valuing transmission assets in the National Electricity Market and developing pricing structures for distributed energy resources.
Sarah specialises in matters relating to securities class actions, where she has advised both applicants and defendants on wide-ranging questions of liability and damages. She has been involved in class actions across numerous sectors, including commercial services, financial services, forestry, insurance, labour hire and recruitment, mining, pharmaceuticals, real estate and retail.
Sarah has strong economics and mathematics expertise, enabling her to apply sophisticated quantitative and statistical techniques to economic problems. In relation to security class actions, she has frequently applied the empirical technique known as an event study in order to assess the materiality of information to the price of a security, the likely price effect of information and the extent of damages arising through trading in shares at inflated prices.
One of Sarah's highlights from her nine years of work in the security class action space includes presenting the results of a model estimating the number of damaged shares to the CFO of a large listed Australian company. This model was used to estimate the number of shares that may have been affected by the alleged coduct on each day of the relevant period. Sarah's analysis also highlighted the difficulties of aligning share registry data to ASX volume data.
In addition to her security class action experience, Sarah has applied her expertise to insider trading allegations, merger clearance processes, restraint of trade provisions and regulatory proceedings.
Job Titles:
- Adviser
- Expert
- Special Adviser
Simon has over ten years of experience in applying economic analysis to complex problems in utilities regulation and finance.
Simon's area of expertise centres on how assets are priced and on the cost of capital and its role in determining the prices that regulated utilities should set. Simon has provided advice to companies on how their costs of debt and equity should be determined and on the benefits and costs of alternative regulatory control mechanisms. Dr Wheatley also has experience in funds management.
Simon has worked as an expert adviser on finance matters for the past ten years. Simon is a former Professor of Finance at the University of Melbourne, and has also taught at the Universities of British Columbia, Chicago, New South Wales and Washington. His research has been widely published, including in the Journal of Finance, the Journal of Financial Economics and the Journal of Monetary Economics. Simon has also refereed papers for every major finance journal.
Simon has a PhD in Finance from the University of Rochester, a Master's degree in Economics from Simon Fraser University and an Honours degree in Economics from Aberdeen University.
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- Office Administrator
Sophie joined the team in 2023 after five years' experience as a personal assistant to a high-net-worth family, where she developed excellent organisational, time management and multitasking skills, whilst enhancing her already substantial interpersonal capabilities.
Sophie is a remarkably organised administrator who utilises forward-thinking tendencies to keep track of the wider firm requirements, allowing her to prioritise and deliver any assigned task without hesitation. Her seamless communication and the ability to succeed in a fast-paced environment contributes significantly to a well-structured, supportive workplace that enables the team to thrive.
Sophie radiates a positive attitude and a bubbly personality that creates a lively atmosphere throughout the office. Sophie has attained a Diploma in Leadership and Management
Tim is an economist in our team with broad sectoral experience and particular expertise in the application of microeconomic and quantitative analysis to regulatory, financial securities and policy issues.
Tim has experience across a broad range of sectors, including the electricity, water, rail, communications, airport, fuel and transport sectors. Tim's work has shaped decisions by businesses, regulatory authorities and policy makers in regulatory proceedings, commercial transactions, investigations and policy decisions, as well as in decisions to initiate proceedings in the Federal Court.
Tim's analytical approach is underpinned by strong economic, mathematical and statistical expertise, enabling him to apply sophisticated quantitative techniques when addressing economic problems. In particular, he has applied economic analysis to assist clients in evaluating financial damages and the materiality of information as part of securities class action claims filed in the Federal Court.
Tim also has a longstanding interest in the challenges presented by the integration of renewable sources of energy and distributed energy resources in the electricity system. His honours research involved an empirical assessment of the technical implications of renewable generation in the New Zealand electricity market, and a cost-benefit assessment of alternative market designs.
Tim was awarded a first class honours degree in Economics by the University of Auckland, along with a range of scholarships and academic prizes throughout his tertiary education. Tim has also completed internships at EY and the Department of Corrections.
Tim is a regulatory, competition and policy expert having spent over 25 years working as an economist in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Europe. Tim has experienced all sides of infrastructure regulation having worked for access seekers, access providers, a regulator, and advisory firms.
Tim is a commercially savvy problem solver with an ability to take not only a broad and strategic perspective but also to dive deeply into issues as required. He engages easily at all levels from corporate boards and senior policy makers down. Tim's wide ranging commercial experience allied with exceptional technical economic skills allow him to provide robust actionable advice that assists decision makers and influences stakeholders.
Between 2005 and 2016 Tim held senior executive roles at Asciano, including Group General Manager Regulation. Asciano was the parent company of rail freight operator, Pacific National and Patrick Stevedores, and in 2015 employed over 8000 people and had revenues of just under $4 billion.
During this time Tim played a key role is achieving Australian Competition and Consumer Commission approval for the creation of Asciano after demerging from Toll and, most recently, the 2016 $9bn transaction where Asciano was acquired by several parties including Brookfield and Qube.
Tim established Asciano as a key influencer, respected by the ACCC, Queensland Competition Authority and other regulators. He developed and advocated robust defensible positions in key policy areas resulting in positive change for Asciano, including in relation to port privatisations, the Harper Review and road rail pricing. Tim delivered improvements to the regulatory regimes in which Asciano operated most notably in Queensland.
Prior to Asciano, Tim held senior positions in the telecommunications sector as, BigPond Group Regulatory Manager at Telstra, as Vice President Public Policy Europe for Cable & Wireless, and Market Analyst at Oftel, the UK telecommunications regulator. He has also held roles in economic consulting firms NECG in Australia and NERA in the UK. Tim is an experienced company director and currently sits on several company boards.
Tim holds a PhD in Economics from University College London, a Masters in Economics from Carleton University, Canada and a BA Economics from the University of Sheffield, UK. Tim also holds a Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the UK and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Tom is an expert in the regulatory determination process, regulatory design and economic evaluations. He applies this expertise widely, including in electricity distribution and transmission, bulk water procurement, water and sewerage networks, telecommunications, natural gas markets and pipeline transportation, ports, and road and rail transport.
Tom has pioneered ‘best practice' developments in economic evaluations of energy and water efficiency policies and the regulatory investment tests for electricity transmission and distribution, known as the ‘RIT-T' and ‘RIT-D'. He has also applied these techniques to capital and operating expenditure proposals submitted to regulators, the strategic acquisition of land, property and easements by regulated businesses, and the roll-out of communications technology across networks. Tom also provides training on the principles to be applied in undertaking complex economic assessments.
Tom's experience extends to the design of wholesale gas markets, where he assisted the Australian Energy Market Commission to complete its reviews of the east coast wholesale gas market and pipeline frameworks, and the Victorian declared wholesale gas market. Tom has also advised on options in relation to domestic gas ‘reservation' or similar policy interventions to address the perceived shortage of natural gas on the east coast of Australia, including the likely effects of the Australian domestic gas security mechanism.
Tom has also been involved in evaluating the nature and extent of the economic damage associated with certain actions proposed in several, high profile industrial disputes.