The Australian Energy Market Commission (AMEC) has appointed Dr Kris Funston as the new Senior Director, Retail and Wholesale Markets.
AEMC Chief Executive Anne Pearson said Dr Funston joined the Commission’s Senior Management Team in July 2016 and assumed full responsibility for the retail and wholesale policy team from 1 August 2016.
“His appointment followed a competitive executive search which attracted strong interest from applicants both in Australia and internationally,” Ms Pearson said.
“Kris brings wide-ranging commercial experience to his role at the Commission having worked in the economic regulation and competition space across a number of industry sectors including water, telecommunications and energy.”
Before joining AMEC Dr Funston was Manager, Competition and Regulation for Australia’s largest water utility, Sydney Water.
Dr Funston has also held positions as Senior Regulatory Manager, Telstra Regulatory Wholesale; Deputy Chief Economist at the New Zealand Commerce Commission; Senior Economist, Access Economics; and Regulatory Economist AAPT.
Dr Funston holds an honours degree in economics and is a Doctor of Philosophy in economics from the Australian National University.
The Commission’s three policy teams have not changed following the appointment. They are still the Retail and Wholesale Markets now led by Kris Funston; Transmission and Distribution Networks led by Richard Owens; and Market Development led by Suzanne Falvi.
Former Retail and Wholesale Markets leader, Senior Director Chris Spangaro, will remain with the Commission, initially to continue managing the recently announced review of market frameworks for power system security.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank Chris Spangaro for his dedicated leadership of the Retail and Wholesale Markets team, ahead of his planned retirement from full time engagement with the AEMC at the end of the year” Ms Pearson said.
“Under his stewardship the AEMC’s annual reports on market competition and price trends have been established as valuable contributions to informed debates on market development and competition in the long-term interests of consumers.”
