Our Board and Executive team establish the overall corporate governance of Powerlink, including strategic direction, policies and operational framework.
The board and management work together to establish and maintain a legal and ethical environment and framework that ensures accountability throughout Powerlink that is in the best interests of shareholders and the corporation.
Board of Directors
Kathy Hirschfeld AM
ChairKathy Hirschfeld AM
Chair (Appointed 2018)
BE (Chem), HonFIEAus, FTSE, FIChemE, FAICD
Kathy has extensive experience on ASX, NYSE, private company and government boards and brings to her board roles corporate and commercial experience as a CEO of a complex manufacturing business. In addition, Kathy has expertise in operational risk management, safety and corporate governance.
Kathy is a chemical engineer with 20 years' experience with BP in oil refining, logistics and exploration in Australia, the UK and Turkey. Kathy was also a Logistics Officer in the Australian Army Reserve. She is currently a director of Central Petroleum Ltd and Sims Limited.
Kathy was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 for her significant contribution to engineering, women and business.
Kathy is passionate about improving the representation of women in leadership and engineering and in 2015 was named one of Australia’s AFR/Westpac 100 Women of Influence. In 2014, she was the ninth woman recognised by Engineers Australia as an Honorary Fellow. In 2023 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering by the University of Queensland.
Kathy is a member of the Powerlink Board’s Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, People, Safety and Environment Committee and the CopperString 2032 Project Committee.
Alan Millis
DirectorAlan Millis
Director (Appointed 2015)
BE (Hons), MEngSc, BEcon, DipCompSc, GAICD
Alan has more than 40 years' experience in the energy sector and has held management roles covering corporatisation of the Queensland Energy Government Owned Corporations, general energy policy, development of the national energy markets, energy market trading and risk management.
He has held a number of senior executive roles in the electricity industry and in government including as Deputy Director-General within the Queensland Government departments responsible for energy, and as the Queensland Energy Regulator.
Alan has a detailed knowledge of the operational and regulatory environment of the Queensland and national electricity sectors and the issues they face going forward.
Alan is Chair of the Powerlink Board’s Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and a member of the CopperString 2032 Project Committee.
Joanna Brand
DirectorJoanna Brand
Director (Appointed 2022)
BA, JD, MBA (Executive), GAICD
Joanna has more than 25 years’ of governance, legal and executive experience, with a record of delivering growth through developing and executing strategy, capital raisings, commercial negotiations, M&A and project management, predominantly in the infrastructure and energy and resources industries.
Joanna is currently an Energy + Infrastructure lawyer with Law Squared, and has previously held roles including Acting General Counsel for Senex Energy and General Counsel and Company Secretary for Iris Energy, Epic Energy, ME Bank and Billabong International. She has also worked for Qantas as the Chief Legal Counsel of Jetstar Airways and on projects including QCLNG and PNG LNG.
Joanna was previously on the Board of Powerlink from 2015 - 2016 and is also Deputy Chair of the Melbourne Writers Festival.
Joanna is the Chair of the Powerlink Board’s People, Safety and Environment Committee and a member of the CopperString 2032 Project Committee and the Mega Projects Committee.
Kevin Hegarty OAM
DirectorKevin Hegarty OAM
Director (Appointed 2020)
BBus(Dist), MAICD
Kevin had a 22 year career within Queensland Health, 17 years of which he was a Health Service Chief Executive. This included accountability for the development of the $1.87B Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Prior to his health sector career Kevin had 14 years in the electricity supply sector commencing in 1981 with the transmission areas of both the Queensland Electricity Generating Board and Queensland Electricity Commission and finally Capricornia Electricity.
Following his retirement from fulltime employment in June 2017, Kevin conducted his own consultancy practice that included clients within the health, education and infrastructure sectors. He ceased this activity in 2024 to focus on board activities.
For three years until June 2021, Kevin served as a Board member of the Queensland Government’s then infrastructure body, Building Queensland.
Kevin was awarded the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division in the Australia Day 2019 Honours List for service to public health administration.
He is a member of the Board's Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, CopperString 2032 Project Committee and the People, Safety and Environment Committee.
Wayne Collins
DirectorWayne Collins
Director (Appointed 2020)
BE (Elect), BBus, MIEAus, GAICD
Wayne has more than 43 years of experience in the power and mining industries. Prior to his retirement in June 2020, Wayne lead TransAlta Corporation’s global mining activity and power generation operations across all fuel types. TransAlta is a publicly traded international power business based in Calgary, Canada.
In his previous role as Chief Operating Officer for Stanwell Corporation Ltd (Queensland), he was responsible for a fleet comprising coal, gas and hydro power generation and a large open cut coal mine.
His career has predominantly been in power plant operations and maintenance but also included a period developing and building new utility scale renewable power plants.
He has spent more than 20 years working in associated energy commodity markets (power, coal, gas, liquid fuel).
Wayne is the Chair of the Powerlink Board’s CopperString 2032 Project Committee and a member of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and the Mega Projects Committee.
Kate Drews
DirectorKate Drews
Director (Appointed 2023)
BA(Politics and History), MCom(Industrial Relations and Organisational Behavior), GAICD.
Kate has more than 25 years’ experience in the property, energy and infrastructure sectors. She has considerable experience delivering complex infrastructure for public and private sector clients. Throughout her career, Kate has been involved in the delivery of projects totalling over $3 billion across various sectors including property, energy, transport, Defence, aviation and justice. She is passionate about the energy transition, circular economy and equity, diversity and inclusion.
Kate is the Regional Head for the Surbana Jurong (SJ) Group in ANZ, a global urban, infrastructure and managed services consulting firm with over 70 years in successful project delivery. She chairs of the SJ Global Council of Excellence for Sustainability. Additionally, Kate is the President of the Queensland Military Historical Society and a member of the Healthy Land and Water Risk and Audit Committee, as well as the Queensland Veterans Reference Group.
Kate is a member of the Board's CopperString 2032 Project Committee, People, Safety and Environment Committee and the Mega Projects Committee.
Amanda Yeates
DirectorAmanda Yeates
Director (Appointed 2023)
BEng, FIEAust, RPEQ, MAICD, Adjunct Fellow - University of Sunshine Coast
Amanda is an experienced and contemporary leader with strong business, policy, financial, strategic, and political acumen. She has a keen interest in the role of ‘for purpose’ infrastructure in inclusivity, economic vibrancy and shaping local communities. Amanda also has extensive experience in leadership of major public infrastructure programs.
Amanda is currently the CEO of SunCentral, leading the development of Australia’s largest greenfield CBD development, the Maroochydore City Centre.
Amanda is also Chair, Australian Institute of Company Directors Sunshine Coast; Co-Chair University of the Sunshine Coast Engineering Industry Advisory Committee and Board Director Wishlist (Sunshine Coast Health Foundation).
She is also the Chair of the Powerlink Board's Mega Projects Committee and a member of the Board's Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and CopperString 2032 Project Committee.
Prins Ralston
DirectorDr Prins Ralston
Director (Appointed 2023)
DJS, LLM, LLB, BBus (Acc), BBus (COMP), FCPA, FAICD, FACS, Adjunct Professor James Cook University
Dr. Prins Ralston has a career spanning over three decades as an Executive and Board Director and offers significant expertise in navigating critical strategic, policy, organisational design, capability building, large project delivery, and leadership challenges.
Prins has held roles such as Chief Executive Officer of international companies, Partner at top tier legal firms, Principal at the Nous Consulting Group and most recently as the CEO of the Townsville Local Government.
Prins was a Board member of the Gladstone Ports Corporation, a Queensland Government-owned entity, for three years until 2023.
Prins is a member of the Powerlink Board's CopperString 2032 Project Committee, Mega Projects Committee and People, Safety and Environment Committee.
Executive Team
Paul Simshauser AM
Chief ExecutivePaul Simshauser AM
Chief Executive
BEcon, BCom, MCom, PhD, FAICD, FCPA
Prof. Paul Simshauser AM brings to Powerlink more than 25 years’ experience in the energy industry across the public and private sectors with extensive experience in generation, retail, energy policy and public administration.
Paul’s previous roles include Director-General of the Queensland Department of Energy & Water Supply, EGM Energy Markets at Infigen Energy and Chief Economist at AGL Energy Ltd.
Paul holds a PhD in Economics and a Masters Degree in Finance.
Paul is also Professor of Economics at Griffith University's Centre for Applied Energy Economics and Policy Research.
He was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 for significant contribution to the energy industry through executive roles and applied economics and policy research.
Darryl Rowell
Chief Financial OfficerDarryl Rowell
Chief Financial Officer
FCPA, MBA, BCA
Darryl is an experienced executive in both Australia and New Zealand with a background in both private and public sectors, including the energy industry.
Prior to joining Powerlink, Darryl was the Chief Financial Officer at Queensland Urban Utilities.
Darryl also recently led CleanCo Queensland as Interim Chief Executive Officer for seven months.
At Powerlink, Darryl manages all finance, tax, treasury, investment analysis, contract management, internal audit, insurance, network regulation, and legal, business and risk services.
Jacqui Bridge
Executive General Manager Energy FuturesJacqui Bridge
Executive General Manager Energy Futures
BEng (Hons) GAICD FIEAust CPEng EngExec
Jacqui has more than 20 years of experience in the energy sector and brings a detailed understanding of the electricity supply chain, regulation and energy markets.
Her energy consulting career included working with electricity, gas and water utilities throughout the Australia Pacific region.
As Executive General Manager Energy Futures at Powerlink Queensland, Jacqui engages with a range of stakeholders to understand customer needs and influence the development of policy and regulatory frameworks for the future power system.
Jacqui is responsible for leading Powerlink’s corporate strategy, energy regulation, energy markets and energy policy functions.
Gary Edwards
Chief Operating OfficerGary Edwards
Chief Operating Officer
BBus, AssocDipElecEng
Gary is an experienced senior leader with more than 35 years’ experience in technical and leadership roles within the energy industry.
Gary is responsible for delivering Powerlink’s state-wide operations including 24/7 real time operations, all field maintenance, telecommunication services, operational technology, and laboratory and warehousing services.
Leigh Pickering
Executive General Manager People and Corporate ServicesLeigh Pickering
Executive General Manager People and Corporate Services
BEcon, GAICD
Leigh is an experienced senior executive who has held a range of roles at the federal and state level including in the finance, education and transport sectors.
She has extensive experience in delivering on transformational activities and innovation.
At Powerlink, Leigh leads the people and culture, business information technology, communications and customer engagement, and health, safety and environment functions.
Stewart Bell
Executive General Manager Network and Business DevelopmentStewart Bell
Executive General Manager Network and Business Development
BEng, PhD (Electrical), MBA, CEng, FIET, RPEQ
Stewart is a delivery focused career professional with more than 15 years senior management experience in the electricity transmission industry.
Stewart has extensive experience in asset management and investment, project delivery and network operations and maintenance. He is responsible for leading Powerlink’s business development, network portfolio and strategy functions.
Ian Lowry
Executive General Manager Major ProjectsIan Lowry
Executive General Manager Major Projects
Bachelor Engineering - Electrical (Hons); Graduate Diploma Business, GAICD
Ian is an experienced senior leader and power systems engineer with an extensive background in the electricity transmission industry, spanning over two decades.
Ian has diverse experience across the many facets of the sector, including asset management and investment planning, customer account management, project development, stakeholder engagement, field operations, and capital program delivery and management.
He leads Powerlink’s Major Projects Division which is responsible for developing the transmission network in Queensland, supporting the delivery of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and SuperGrid Infrastructure Blueprint.
Ian is passionate about fostering strong relationships between Powerlink and landholders, Traditional Owners, communities and other key stakeholders. His current focus is on delivering new transmission infrastructure in a way that supports resilient regional communities, drives positive economic development, and facilitates the decarbonisation of the energy sector and broader economy.
Sarah Huang
Executive General Manager Delivery and Technical ServicesSarah Huang
Executive General Manager Delivery and Technical Services
Sarah Huang is an electrical engineer and experienced leader in the electricity transmission industry. With more than 25 years’ professional experience in Australia and overseas. She has gained diverse electrical engineering design knowledge across the private and public sectors, and developed her leadership while progressing through frontline to senior leadership positions.
Sarah is currently Acting EGM Delivery and Technical Services where she is responsible for leading Powerlink’s community and delivery services, design solutions and infrastructure delivery functions.
Sarah also represents Powerlink as a Board Director for Australian Power Institute (API).