Background on Electricity Inquiry Members
[ Last Updated 15 February 2006 ]
3 February 2000
Hon David Caygill
Mr Caygill is a partner in the law firm Buddle Findlay. He specialises in public law and has considerable expertise in governance and regulatory issues.
Mr Caygill is a former Government Minister and Christchurch City Councillor, and presently holds a number of Government and private sector positions including Chair of the Accident Compensation Corporation and Chair of the Grid Security Committee.
He has high public standing, recognising his ability in public and commercial law and his personal qualities of integrity and leadership.
Statement of Interests
- Mr Caygill is the independent chair of the Grid Security Committee, an industry-wide body set up to establish a contractual framework for managing electricity grid security issues. This position is not seen as presenting a conflict.
- Mr Caygill is a partner at Buddle Findlay, a legal firm that acts for a number of electricity industry clients. He will not act for any electricity industry clients while serving on the Inquiry (apart from continuing as Chair of the Grid Security Committee). In addition Buddle Findlay will not represent any parties before the Inquiry and Mr Caygill has undertaken not to make confidential information submitted to the Inquiry available to Buddle Findlay.
Dr Susan Wakefield
Dr Wakefield, an accountant by profession, was Chairman of the Commerce Commission from 1989-1994.
Dr Wakefield has extensive business experience, including past directorship of the Bank of New Zealand (Deputy Chair in 1988) and was a former partner in the international accountancy practice of KPMG.
Dr Wakefield has a thorough understanding of the law and economics of competition and extensive experience working within the public arena.
Statement of Interests
Dr Wakefield owns fifty percent of a company (her husband owns the other fifty percent) which in turn owns a portfolio of shares and bonds including:
| Contact Energy | 9672 ordinary shares |
| Natural Gas Holdings | 15,000 ordinary shares |
| $100,000 bonds due 15/07/2000 |
Dr Wakefield has undertaken that neither she nor her husband will trade in the shares or bonds of these companies or any other companies which may become involved in the electricity industry during the inquiry and for twelve months thereafter, unless there is a general takeover offer made.
Mr Stephen Kelly
Mr Stephen Kelly is Managing Director of the Australian National Electricity Code Administrator Ltd (NECA) based in Adelaide, Australia. NECA is responsible for encouraging and fostering the development of the Australian national electricity market, and for administering and enforcing the market rules.
Prior to that, in 1995/1996, Mr Kelly worked in the Premier’s Department in New South Wales on reform of the electricity and transport sectors. Earlier, Mr Kelly worked in the UK Treasury on a wide range of public utility competition and regulatory issues.
He has an impressive record of dealing with strategic issues at the highest levels of Government, combined with wide experience in working with the private sector. He will also bring an international perspective to the Inquiry panel.
Statement of Interests
Mr Kelly does not have any interests in companies operating in New Zealand, or any other involvements which could give rise to a conflict.
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