Industry Panel Members - Biographies
Ms Mary Anne Hartley QC
Ms Mary Anne Hartley QC was a director of Melbourne Water from 2002 to 2012. Melbourne Water is the manager of the dams supplying the Melbourne Metropolitan area and other regional areas. It also manages two large sewage treatment plants and the Melbourne drainage system, among its extensive statutory responsibilities.
Ms Hartley was a part-time Commissioner with the Essential Services Commission of Victoria (Victoria's economic regulator) from 2012 to 2014, during which time the Commission made 19 determinations of water prices for all Victorian water corporations. Ms Hartley also practises as a barrister.
Ms Claire Thomas PSM, GAICD
Ms Claire Thomas is an economist with an extensive background in public policy, having held a number of senior executive positions with the Victorian Departments of Treasury and Finance and Premier and Cabinet. Ms Thomas led teams advising on Victoria's economy and finances and on policy issues ranging from tax and industry policy through to water reform, climate change, competition policy and regulation reform.
In 2009, Ms Thomas was awarded the Public Service Medal for services to public policy. After leaving the Victorian public sector, Ms Thomas moved to a role as director policy with the Business Council of Australia. In her current role as a public policy consultant, Ms Thomas has provided advice on urban water policy and a number of regulatory and competition policy issues.
Ms Sally Farrier
Ms Sally Farrier has extensive experience as a professional non-executive director and corporate adviser focusing on the utility sectors (water, electricity, gas, transportation). Ms Farrier is a director of SP AustNet and Meridian Energy and is a founding director of Farrier Swier Consulting.
Ms Farrier's past roles have included serving as a National Water Commissioner from 2008 to 2012, being a Member of the Victorian Water Trust Advisory Council and being a Member of the Independent Panels for the Central, Western and Gippsland Sustainable Water Strategies. Ms Farrier is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a Member of the International Water Association.