Introducing our RAC members
Recruited through an independent process in late 2021, the RAC has six members with a blend of knowledge and experience in the following areas:
- Energy
- Utilities
- Social research
- Future technologies
- Economics
- Sustainability
- Governance and policy
- Corporate strategy.
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Councillor Bill Harvey RAC member and Co-Chair since October 2021 Bill has qualifications in Urban Studies, Education, Bushcare and Environmental Management and is a former educator. He spent a decade teaching English in China, Malaysia and at the University of Tasmania where he focused on education for sustainability. He is an experienced local government councillor and was first elected to the City of Hobart in 2007 and currently chairs the Council’s sustainability portfolio. He is also an experienced board member and currently chairs Landcare Tasmania and sits on the board of the National Landcare Network. Bill is committed to Hobart becoming a national leader in environmental sustainability through leadership, innovation, good governance and policy. He was instrumental in Hobart becoming the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce regulation banning a range of single-use plastics - an initiative that saw the removal up to 10 million items of single-use plastics from the waste stream yearly in the City of Hobart. He was also responsible for Hobart becoming the first capital city in Australia to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency on the 17th June 2019. Bill is also committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and in 2019 founded the UN SDGs Network Tasmania, which aims to create a collective impact approach across public, private and not-for-profits sectors towards achieving positive outcomes underpinned by the UN SDGs. |
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Dr Cynthia Townley RAC member since October 2021 Dr Cynthia Townley has been working in community sector policy and advocacy for ten years, in areas such as housing and homelessness policy, energy, and digital inclusion. Her expertise draws on a professional background in philosophy, with work including rights and inclusion for disadvantaged groups, professional and research ethics, and political philosophy. Cynthia has a sound understanding of social justice principles, as well as practical knowledge of how these apply to the everyday circumstances of energy consumers in Tasmania, especially households earning low incomes. |
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Dr Eleni Taylor-Wood RAC member since October 2021 Dr Eleni Taylor-Wood has over twenty years' experience in project management, sustainable infrastructure, and environmental and social assessment and management. Whilst Eleni’s initial career was focused on ecological assessment and management and the protection of cultural heritage, she focussed later on the sustainable development and operation of infrastructure (hydropower, renewable energy, transmission lines and roads) and water supply projects. Eleni has also been involved in training and capacity building, and has worked across Tasmania, mainland Australia and Internationally (Pacific, South East Asia, South Asia, Africa, South America, Europe). |
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John Pauley RAC member since October 2021 John has a Bachelor of agricultural economics and a Post Graduate Diploma in computing science. He has an extensive public policy background, having worked in the Tasmanian Government agencies of Premier and Cabinet, Treasury, Primary Industries, Transport and Infrastructure for three decades until his retirement in 2010. John is passionate about the financial and social well-being of older Tasmanians. He uses his knowledge and experience in economics, finance and business management to advocate for the interests of older Australians on key issues affecting their well-being. John also has a strong interest in good nutrition, being active and socially engaged as a means to maintaining personal health and well-being. In addition to his RAC membership, John also contributes to a wide range of organisations, including Chair of the COTA Tasmania Policy Council, board member of Health Consumers Tasmania, and President Australian Council of Public sector retiree Organisations (ACPRSRO) – among others. |
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Leigh Darcy RAC member since October 2021 Leigh holds an Associate Diploma in electrical engineering and is the Principal Advisor Energy and Strategy for Bell Bay Aluminium. With over 30 years in the Aluminium Industry, his roles have focused on asset management in the form of planning, supervising, team leadership, management of capital projects and high voltage electrical assets for the smelter. Leigh also manages the energy contracts for the smelter, both from a commercial and operational aspect. In addition to his RAC membership, Leigh is also a non-executive Director for the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council, and Chair of the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone Limited. |
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Richard Bevan RAC member since October 2021 Richard is a professional electrical engineer and company director experienced in the electricity, mining and building services consulting industries. In 1994 Richard was appointed Hydro Tasmania’s General Manager Network and in 1998 appointed inaugural CEO and Managing Director of Transend Networks, a position he held for twelve and a half years until December 2010. Richard is a retired Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow of both Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Richard is currently a director of Crisp Brothers & Haywards, chairman of the Clarence City Council Audit Panel, Commodore of The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and chairman of the Tasmanian Regional Advisory Committee for Australian Sailing. |
