Stakeholder Advisory Group

Welcome

This hub is your go-to place for everything related to TasNetworks’ Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG). It’s designed for members and anyone interested in keeping up with the group’s work. You can subscribe to this page for updates, or sign up for our stakeholder newsletter to see what our other engagement groups are

What is the Stakeholder Advisory Group?

The SAG is a group of passionate professionals, led by an Independent Chair, who help shape the future of energy in Tasmania. Their role is to bring together the perspectives of different communities, industries and customer groups, and make sure TasNetworks keeps customers’ evolving needs at the centre of its decisions.

Created in July 2024, the group includes representatives from across the energy supply chain - from small business and major industry to local government, sustainability, generators, retailers, and vulnerable customer advocates.

The SAG meets at least four times a year to discuss key topics like the renewable energy transition, corporate strategy, tariffs and pricing, major investments and more.

As one of TasNetworks’ five engagement groups, the SAG plays an important role in helping us understand what matters most to our customers now and into the future.

Welcome

What is the Stakeholder Advisory Group?

The SAG meets at least four times a year to discuss key topics like the renewable energy transition, corporate strategy, tariffs and pricing, major investments and more.

As one of TasNetworks’ five engagement groups, the SAG plays an important role in helping us understand what matters most to our customers now and into the future.

News feed

That’s a Wrap for 2025: Celebrating a Big Year of Engagement

Last month, our Customer Advisory Group (CAG) and Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) came together for our last meeting for 2025 for one of our most energising and insight-rich workshops yet 🙌

Hosted at the Paranaple Centre in Devonport, the session brought together customer, community and industry voices with members of our Executive Team, Board Director Kathy Schaefer PSM, and specialists from right across TasNetworks.

The room was alive with ideas, robust debate and collaboration. Across the day, we:
🔹 Heard from CEO Seán Mc Goldrick in an open Q&A that dug into major projects, the energy transition, pricing, resilience and what’s next for the sector,
🔹 Closed out our 2025 Energy Charter Disclosure process, reflecting on the lessons shared throughout the year and the shifts already on the horizon for 2026,
🔹 Deep dived into transmission pricing and interconnector cost allocation with our regulated pricing lead, Julie Morrison,
🔹 Rolled up our sleeves to workshop our Draft Strategic Engagement Plan with our Head of Stakeholder Louise Baring – the blueprint for how we’ll engage through Revenue Reset 2029,
🔹 Equipped CAG members with Power Outage Preparedness kits, with several stepping into Community Resilience Ambassador roles to support resilience-building and outage readiness across Tasmania 👏

A huge thank you to facilitator Keith Greaves FEI (Mosaiclab), independent Chairs Dr Cynthia Townley and Dr Jill Cainey, and every CAG and SAG member who contributed their lived experience, challenge and expertise. Your voices shape our work, and we’re incredibly grateful for your continued partnership.
Stakeholder Advisory Group explores Tasmania’s energy future
Earlier this month, our Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) met online to discuss key topics shaping Tasmania’s energy transition.
Highlights included:
- Updates on Project Marinus Link from guest speaker Clare Gleghorn.
- A Q&A with TasNetworks’ Executive team – Renee Anderson, Michael Westenberg, and Chantal Hopwood.
- Discussion on emissions reduction targets and offsets, guided by Todd Houstein.
We also welcomed new members Hugh Christie and Kate Cox, and celebrated Dr Jill Cainey chairing her first meeting.
A big thank you to all SAG members for your insight, time, and expertise.

Welcome Dr Jill Cainey MBE - new Independent Chair

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Jill Cainey MBE as new Independent Chair of our Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG).
		Dr Cainey will replace outgoing Chair, Amy Abraham, who is stepping down after 12 months in the role due to an interstate move. Highly regarded within the energy industry, Jill is an established technical expert, stakeholder engagement specialist and strategic advisor with over 30 years of experience as a climate scientist and over 15 years of experience in UK, European, US and Australian electricity sectors. Jill currently advocates for the interests of Australian electricity consumers and has previously advocated for the clean energy industry and electricity networks in Australia, as well as the interests of electricity storage in the UK and Europe. Earlier in her career Jill ran Australia’s climate and weather monitoring station at kennaook/Cape Grim on Tasmania's north-west coast, supporting communities, businesses and electricity networks to collaboratively develop resilient sources of electricity - regardless of what the weather is doing. Jill will assume full Chair duties from late July after a handover with outgoing Chair, Amy Abraham, with her first official meeting in mid-September. Welcome Jill!

Independent Chair appointed to Stakeholder Advisory Group

Amy is a seasoned engagement and communications professional with over a decade of energy sector knowledge and experience – her roles spanning retail, distribution, transmission, customer and community advocacy and innovation – both in Tasmania and nationally.
An adept facilitator, Amy said her “…passion for working with the energy sector is driven by a fundamental belief that essential services have an impact far beyond energy outcomes... whether it’s acknowledged or not, those impacts extend to the health, safety, and financial wellbeing of all energy users.
“As Chair of the Stakeholder Advisory Group, I have a privileged opportunity to work with other likeminded stakeholders to help ensure TasNetworks’ impact on Tasmanian customers is a positive one.”
One of Amy’s first activities as Chair will see her join forces with Dr Cynthia Townley, newly appointed Customer Advisory Group (CAG) Chair, to tease out potential customer outcomes that will be used to build TasNetworks’ forward engagement program for 2025-29. It is anticipated Amy and Cynthia will work closely together to ensure alignment and knowledge-sharing between both groups, including the shaping of agendas, activities and group focus areas.