Mike Waller

Mike’s work covers the energy, resources, water, transport and urban planning. Mike has held senior executive positions in the UK and Australian Federal public services and in BHP Billiton, followed by a decade of consulting on major issues of public policy and business strategy.

Project experience

Environmental and sustainability strategy and public policy

• Chair of the Living Victoria Ministerial Council advising government on strategy for the delivery of Living Melbourne, Living Victoria policy objectives for the state’s urban water sector
• Expert advice to the ACT Government on climate change policy and developed commercially viable large-scale solar power projects
  Shaped a new city development in the Melbourne region to deliver innovative environmental and social outcomes in a commercially sustainable way, as a member of a four person expert panel
• Leadership within Sustainability Victoria on the evaluation of costs and benefits of an integrated approach to the provision of transport, energy and water to a 22,000 house residential development in regional Victoria
  Research, analysis and policy advice to the Queensland Minister for Climate Change on energy security issues facing Queensland
• Development of strategic advice for the Queensland government on climate change mitigation and adaptation, including transport, energy supply/demand and water issues
• Lead author of a sustainability audit of the Melbourne 2030 structure plan focusing particularly on the link between urban planning, resource efficiency, structure and climate change
• Strategic advice to the NSW Minister for the Environment of the impact of climate change risk on the NSW electricity generation and distribution assets
• Strategic advice to the Victorian Minister for the Environment and the Department of Sustainability and Environment on issues of greenhouse, water consumption/pricing, sustainability and energy supply for energy intense projects
• Leadership in the development of Australia’s first National Response Strategies for Ecologically Sustainable Development and Climate Change.

Transport, logistic and infrastructure strategy development

• Independent commercial and strategic advice to the Victorian Minister for Transport and Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure on the future of the Victorian rail freight network and the restructuring of Melbourne’s train and tram systems
• Membership of Australian Competition Tribunal – lead author of economic elements of the ACT access determination in relation to freight forwarding at Sydney Airport
• Delivery of regulatory and legal framework for the privatisation of the Federal Airports Corporation
• Concept development and initial detailed work on Australia’s National Competition Policy.

Commercial strategy

• Development and delivery of a commercial strategy for bringing German offsite manufactured housing technology to Australia
• Evaluation and strategic advice on the commercial and policy implications of proposed rail access arrangements and port developments policies in the Pilbara for a new entrant iron ore producer
• Provision of commercial strategic advice to Australia’s largest geothermal energy company on the outlook for Australian electricity and gas markets and the development on the company’s behalf of a public submission to the Garnaut Inquiry on climate change policies
• Led and determined BHPB policy on Part IIIA of the National Competition Act and detailed consideration of specific access issues (rail, ports and gas pipelines)
• Developed BHPB’s new position on climate change – worked with the Managing Director and Board in launching a leadership position for BHPB in Australian climate change policy debate
• Refocussed BHPB business development towards sustainability – developed the first global strategic relationship between BHPB and leading international micro-credit agency; driving change in BHPB’s approach to investment in Ok Tedi Mining
• Designed and implemented a new strategy development and execution processes within BHPB involving scenario development with the Board and the coaching of executive teams in structured opportunity identification and work planning
• Developed the first comprehensive business conduct policies for BHPB and supporting monitoring and implementation arrangements
• Led Energy Use Group within BHPB to determine the Company’s strategic approach to competitive sourcing of electricity and gas.

 Economic modelling and frameworks

• Created a macroeconomic framework and thermal coal strategy for the Australian and overseas operations of a global coal producer, focusing on the interaction between global macroeconomic trends, energy prices and emerging carbon markets
• Worked with a global resources company to perform an analysis on the implication of the Russian rail transport system development for global coal markets
• Developed China’s macroeconomic and steel demand models/scenarios for a global mining house
• Developed workforce and demographic modelling and impact analysis for the Pilbara (Western Australia), initially for a major iron ore producer and subsequently a multi-client, private/public sector study

Education / accreditation / board membership

Mike holds an honours degree in economics and has undertaken senior executive training at the London Business School.

Past employment

Prior to his consulting career, Mike was Chief Economist and head of Environment and Community Relations with BHP Billiton, the world’s largest resources company. Before joining BHP Billiton, Mike held senior positions in the UK Treasury and a number of Federal Australian government departments, including head of the microeconomic division of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and deputy head of the Department of Transport.

Interests

Mike is committed to:

• leading policy and organisational change in the public and private sectors that enhances economic, social and environmental outcomes in Australia and internationally
• enabling people to give of their best and realise their personal potential based on establishing clear values, objectives and standards, trust and delegation, and
• achieving personal satisfaction and well-being based on a balance between personal and professional life.