Energy Consumers Australia has appointed Brendan French as the new chief executive, where he will lead a team of 35 staff.
The independent national voice for residential and small business energy consumers released a report last month to show how consumers could save by going electric. Read The Fifth Estate’s dissection of the report here.
French, who starts in the new role on 27 September, will bring over 20 years of experience in executive and leadership roles, including more than 15 years at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and as executive general manager of consumer and community advocacy for more than three of those years. He has also been Deputy Ombudsman for Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW, vice president of the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals, and member of the advisory council at the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal.
French said, “This is a critical period where a lot is being asked of people. We must guarantee that consumers have a loud voice advocating for their needs and that no one is left behind during the energy transition or left to struggle with their energy costs. I’m honoured to be given this opportunity to work to ensure the energy market meets the needs of everyone.”
Australian Government’s new employment white paper
The property and construction sector has welcomed a new government strategy to build more skills in the workforce.
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations’s Working Future: The Australian Government’s White Paper on Jobs and Opportunities aims for a more inclusive and productive Australian labour market and to guide the education and training sector to become more responsive and agile to deliver the skills industries need.
Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn supported the government’s priorities to put vocational education and training on equal footing with higher education.
“Improving productivity requires a multifaceted approach. Doing more with less will allow Australia to achieve better economic and societal outcomes,” she said.
“The investments in skills and training, better integration of tertiary education, and the development of higher and bachelor-equivalent apprenticeships will help address the bias that exists with going to university over VET.
“The building and construction industry needs to attract around 230,000 technicians and tradies, the vast majority of whom will need to enter the industry through a trade apprenticeship.”
The Property Council of Australia’s group executive of policy and advocacy, Matthew Kandelaars, said a boost in skilled labour is needed in the construction sector to meet the government’s 1.2 million new home ambition.
“These ambitious housing goals are welcomed, but to reach them, we need to have a skilled workforce, well-defined housing targets, effective and efficient planning systems and a broader range of housing choices,” he said.