Our role

Carmel is an experienced chief executive, board member and regulator with over 35 years of public sector experience. She was the Chief Executive of the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) and has also held executive roles in emergency services and insurance regulation. Carmel’s career has been focused on improving financial, economic, health and social outcomes for both individuals and the broader NSW community.  

In January 2022, Carmel was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to regulatory reforms in NSW.

Carmel commenced as Chair of the Tribunal on 1 July 2021 and has been appointed for a term of 5 years to 30 June 2026.

Jonathan Coppel is an applied economist with over 30 years’ experience, including a decade as Commissioner at the Australian Productivity Commission and international roles with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Energy Agency. Jonathan brings knowledge and expertise in energy markets, regulatory practice and competition policy.

Jonathan was appointed to the Tribunal for a term of five years to 15 November 2028.

Sharon brings more than 25 years’ experience in complex regulatory investigations, and enforcement and compliance matters across all sectors of the Australian economy, including electricity, gas and renewables. She has been appointed as a permanent Tribunal member for a three-year term.

Sharon is a former head of the Competition Law and Regulatory Group with King & Wood Mallesons and a member of the federal government’s Competition Policy Review expert advisory panel.

Darryl has thirty years’ experience in the Australian federal government, advising the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Energy Regulator, and with international bodies such as the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. 

Dr Biggar has been appointed as a temporary Tribunal member for a term of two-years.

Mike has been the Chief Economist at IPART since May 2015 and was appointed a Deputy Tribunal member in February 2020. Prior to these IPART roles, he was a consulting economist in private practice for 15 years.

Mike has given expert evidence in the Federal Court of Australia and the Australian Competition Tribunal. He advised the Public Accounts Committee of the NSW Parliament on inquiries into the Forestry Commission and financing urban infrastructure.  His academic training is in astrophysics and his early career work was in engineering and physical sciences.