DCC is a private company that bridges energy, telecoms, technology and government policy. It is building and maintaining the network that energy smart meters connect to and is responsible for linking meters in homes and small businesses with energy suppliers, network operators, and energy service companies.DCC operates in a complex regulatory framework including the Smart DCC Licence, the Smart Energy Code (SEC) and Retail Energy Code (REC).I was partnered to both Major Programmes and different Functions of the business to:•Advise how the company could navigate, comply with, and benefit from the regulatory framework, including ad-hoc regulatory advice.•Line manage and task managing duties of team members.•Lead on the development, planning and delivery of regulatory work packages and products. I was responsible for drafting significant parts of the framework and undertaking industry consultations.•Lead and represent Programmes and my function at Steering and decision-making forums.•Manage relationships and influence senior external industry stakeholders, including the government, regulator, DCC customers, and industry forums.Two of the major multi-year programmes of work delivered were:•Enduring Change of Supplier – Enhancing the security processes when an energy consumer changes energy supplier. Led on significant regulatory change to rights and obligations of DCC and its customers.•Switching Programme – Developing new REC regulatory obligations and associated governance framework. This service provides the capability for energy consumers to switch supplier on a next working-day basis and the enduring requirements for the service were activated as part of the new regulatory obligations in the REC.

The Ministry of Transport is the Government’s lead advisor on transport. It provides the Minister of Transport with robust, informed and evidence-based advice. It is not a large organisation (circa 200 staff) however plays a critical role in the transport sector to best advise the Government to meet the Government’s policy, regulatory and investment settings.As an experienced Senior Policy Advisor, I developed advice, briefings, regulatory impact statements and Cabinet Papers on contentious and complex issues. I led work across both strategic and operational policy covering various projects such as drug-driving reform, implementing frameworks for new transport revenue gathering, diverse infrastructure investments, and a ‘Future of Rail’ reform review.More broadly I worked on contentious issues involving sensitivity, conflict and risk on various areas the Ministry was responsible for, spanning:• Advising on legislative, regulatory and policy settings• Leading transport’s medium and longer-term planning• Advising on transport investment, and overall funding levels and priorities• Acting on behalf of the Crown as ‘purchaser’ for key programmes and projects• Crown agency governance, appointments, performance, and accountability.I was based in the Strategy and Investment Function, working across three teams (People and Environment; Rail and Freight; and Demand Management and Revenue).With expertise in all stages of the policy lifecycle, I applied good judgement to determine the most effective techniques and developed rigorous frameworks to support evidence-based decisions.

As a fast-progressing Policy Advisor, I was quick to understand the machinery of government and the legislative process.I was based in the Funding and Infrastructure team driving improved management of the transport asset base and value for money through advice on transport funding and policy settings:• Wrote numerous first-class briefings, Regulatory Impact Statement’s and Cabinet Papers, which scored highly across internal and external quality assurance assessments.•Led several transport fees and charges reviews. This included review of fuel excise duty, road user charges and a wider review of New Zealand’s search and rescue sector. Received letter of recognition and invitation to awards ceremony at Parliament from New Zealand Search and Rescue (NZSAR) Council. • Played a crucial role in undertaking a strategic policy project on future funding for the transport system. • Team member developing Government Policy Statement on Land Transport. It is a key strategic document for the transport sector and sets out the government’s priorities for over $12 billion (NZD) of expenditure on land transport over three years, and how funding is allocated between various activity classes.• Produced timely and high-quality quarterly revenue and expenditure reports to the Ministers of Finance and Transport based on macro-economic forecasting working with various government departments including the NZTA and Treasury.