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Theme
'Regulating disruption'
Conference program

Day 1
Times | Session details | Speakers |
---|---|---|
8.30 am | Delegate arrival and registration | |
9.00 am | Welcome to Country | Songwoman Maroochy, Turrbal Elder |
9.10 am |
Opening address |
Gina Cass-Gottlieb, ACCC Chair |
9.30 am |
Regulating for resilience Exploring the extent to which risks posed by climate change, cyber-attacks and disruptions to global supply chains should impact the way in which critical infrastructure (the power system, water and telecommunications) is regulated. |
Chair: Lynne Gallagher, AER Board member Lynne Gallagher's session opening presentation ( PDF 1 MB ) Speakers: Dr Jennifer Potter, Faculty Research Specialist, University of Hawaii Dr Johanna Weaver, Professor, Australian National University Nicola Hepenstall, Executive Director, The Insight Centre Dr Liming Zhu, Research Director, CSIRO Data61 |
10.30 am | Morning tea | |
11.00 am |
‘Move fast and fix markets’ – developments in digital markets in Europe and lessons for Australia Keynote address by Professor Tommaso Valletti with Q&A |
Chair: Kate Reader, General Manager Digital Platforms Branch, ACCC Speaker: Professor Tommaso Valletti, Professor of Economics - Imperial College London, Adjunct Professor - Norwegian School of Economics |
11.30 am |
What is the role of competition in the energy transition? With heightened government involvement in markets to facilitate the energy transition, coupled with the urgent need to decarbonise our very carbon-intensive economy, what’s the role of competition in the energy transition? |
Chair: Catriona Lowe, ACCC Deputy Chair Speakers: Dr Kerry Schott AO Tim Jordan, Commissioner, Australian Energy Market Commission Barry Sterland PSM, Commissioner, Productivity Commission Martijn Snoep, Chair, Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (pre-recorded video) |
12.30 pm | Lunch | |
1.30 pm |
‘Computers talking to computers’: The use of AI on both sides of the regulatory ledger How businesses and regulators alike are using AI now and into the future, and how we ensure those uses are accountable, explainable, and lawful |
Chair: David Abkiewicz, Executive Director Digital Platforms Branch, ACCC Speakers: Dr Rob Nicholls, Senior Research Associate, University of Sydney; Professional Fellow, UTS Sydney Law Deniz Kayis, Senior Lawyer, Australian Government Solicitor Professor Kimberlee Weatherall, Professor of Law, University of Sydney; Chief Investigator, ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) |
2.30 pm |
Regulating for disruptive telecommunications technologies The delivery of telecommunications services is evolving, so how do regulators adapt their existing approaches to account for these new technologies? |
Chair: Nicole Ross, Executive General Manager, Infrastructure Division ACCC Speakers: Ben Oakley, Market Performance Manager Telecommunications, New Zealand Commerce Commission Ben Oakley's presentation ( PDF 831.43 KB ) Adam Suckling, Authority Member, Australian Communications and Media Authority |
3.10 pm | Afternoon tea | |
3.30 pm |
Are we expecting too much from consumers in the transition? Consumers and how they respond are key to achieving successful transitions. But given the pace and complexity of change through the push of policy makers and pull of technological advancement, the panel will discuss: are we expecting too much from consumers? |
Chair: Joanna Gall, Executive Director, Compliance and Enforcement branch, AER Speakers: Catherine Wolthuizen, Energy and Water Ombudsman (Victoria) Brendan French, CEO, Energy Consumers Australia Cynthia Gebert, Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman |
4.00 pm |
Positioning water infrastructure to manage an uncertain future Investment in water infrastructure will support water security, the net zero transition and climate resilience. The panel will consider the risks and opportunities presented by the National Water Reform agenda, as governments refresh their policy and regulatory frameworks. |
Chair: Anna Brakey, ACCC Commissioner Speakers: Joanne Chong, Commissioner, Productivity Commission Stuart Wilson, Deputy Executive Director, Water Services Association of Australia Stuart Wilson's presentation ( PDF 579.4 KB ) Alexus van der Weyden, Director, Frontier Economics |
5.00 pm | Day 1 close | |
6.30 pm |
Networking drinks and conference dinner Welcome from Stephanie Jolly, Executive General Manager, Consumers, Policy and Markets, AER |
Day 2
Times | Session details | Speakers |
---|---|---|
9.00 am |
Electrification and the disruption to domestic gas markets What is the implication of increased electrification on the sustainability of the gas market domestically and internationally, as well as for consumers? |
Chair: Jarrod Ball, AER Board member Speakers: Tony Wood AM, Energy Program Director, Grattan Institute Evette Smeathers, Executive General Manager Customer & Community, Horizon Power Evette Smeathers' presentation ( PDF 1.73 MB ) Rebecca Pickett, Head of Future of Gas Policy, UK Office of Gas and Electricity Markets |
10.00 am |
In conversation with Professor Sir Dieter Helm: an exclusive pre-recorded interview The ACCC’s Angela Woo speaks to Dieter Helm about whether regulators are fit for purpose, regulatory activism and his recently published book Legacy: How to build the sustainable economy. |
Interviewer: Angela Woo, General Manager Gas Markets Branch, ACCC Speaker: Sir Dieter Helm, Professor of Economic Policy, University of Oxford; Fellow in Economics, New College University of Oxford |
10.30 am | Morning tea | |
11.00 am |
The challenge of enforceable regulatory frameworks in a rapidly changing world The challenges and opportunities presented by the complexities of new and emerging legislative frameworks. |
Chair: The Hon John Middleton AM KC, Former Justice of the Federal Court of Australia; Senior Advisor, DLA Piper Speakers: Catherine Dermody, Counsel Catherine Dermondy's presentation ( PDF 910.05 KB ) Meredith Leigh, First Parliamentary Counsel, Office of Parliamentary Counsel Geoff Purvis-Smith, General Counsel, AER |
12.00 pm |
The Great Debate The famous Regulatory Conference debate returns, moderated by Justin Oliver, AER Deputy Chair. |
Moderator: Justin Oliver, Deputy Chair AER |
12.45 pm |
Closing address |
Jim Cox PSM, AER Board member |
1.00 pm | Conference close and networking lunch |
Past conferences
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2023
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2022
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2021
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2020
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2019
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2018
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2017
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2016
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2015
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2014
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2013
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2012
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2011
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2010
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2009
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2008
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2007
- ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference 2006
- ACCC Regulatory Conference 2005
- ACCC Regulatory Conference 2004
- ACCC Regulatory Conference 2003
- ACCC Regulatory Conference 2002
- ACCC Regulatory Conference 2001
- ACCC Regulatory Conference 1999
- ACCC Regulatory Conference 1998