One of my specialties is working with the gas industry. I have a long and influential relationship with many of its major players, including key producers, large industrial users and several gas transporters. In more recent years, I have also been immersed in the electricity industry, acting on significant regulatory and contractual matters for networks, generators, retailers and industrial users.

I am known for being pragmatic yet personable. My experience allows me to identify the real issues at hand and formulate a strong solution, rather than focusing on the problems.

Career highlights

• Alinta Energy – project managed the closure of Alinta's power generation business in South Australia, which included shutting down and dismantling two power stations, closing the "feed stock" coal mine and dedicated railway, remediating the power stations and mine sites, and transitioning management of the Leigh Creek township back to the South Australian Government.
• Delhi Petroleum – negotiated and documented the sale of up to $1.5 billion of natural gas from the Cooper Basin to Origin Energy.
• Epic Energy – provided extensive advice in relation to the introduction of the pipeline capacity trading and day-ahead auction reforms recommended by the Gas Market Reform Group (GMRG).
• Epic Energy – drafted the operational transportation service agreements for the Moomba to Adelaide Pipeline System and the South East Pipeline System as required by amendments to the National Gas Law and the National Gas Rules made as part of the GMRG reforms, as well as a broad range of ancillary and related regulatory documents.
• SA Power Networks – project managed the external legal team involved in preparing the regulatory proposals to the Australian Energy Regulator under the National Electricity Rules, for the 2015-20 and 2020-25 regulatory control periods.
• Government of South Australia's 100 megawatt battery storage project – advised a bidder for this first major battery project in the country.
• Government of South Australia's combined retail supply and renewable energy generation project – assisted a supplier with its bid to meet a large percentage of the state government's electricity demand.
• A group of major industrial electricity users – advised on a unique, successful application to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for authorisation of a joint electricity purchase by industrial users in South Australia.

Education
LLB (Hons), BEc

• Neil is a member of the Law Council of Australia's Competition & Consumer Committee and member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.

• COVID-19: Responses from energy market bodies and networks
  

  Energy businesses are being called upon by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to go 'above and beyond' to support their customers through the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery. In this article we outline key announcements by national energy market bodies and energy networks in response to COVID-19.

• Closing a coal-fired power station: Insights into leaving a positive legacy
  

  More thermal power stations in Australia are approaching the end of their economic life. We share our experience and insights following our key engagement in a successful power stations closure project and explore how to leave a positive legacy.

   

• New tariffs to incentivise electricity consumers in South Australia
  

  Consumers stand to benefit from high levels of solar penetration in South Australia, should retailers agree to implement new tariff structures aimed at shifting load out of peak periods.

• Resource adequacy through transition
  

  Existing energy-only price signals are not fit-for-purpose. Immediate to longer term reforms to ensure adequate firm and flexible capacity and ongoing reliability.