Job ad reveals new Power and Water CEO’s six-figure salary

THE next Power and Water Corporation boss will take home a hefty pay packet including superannuation and company car, with the role now listed on the government’s employment website

The role of chief executive at P&WC has been advertised on the government’s jobs website.

THE next Power and Water Corporation boss will take home a hefty $360,000 pay packet including superannuation and company car, with the role now listed on the government’s employment website.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner sacked previous P&WC chief executive Michael Thomson along with Territory Generation CEO Tim Duignan in December in response to their “unacceptable” handling of a nine-hour blackout in Alice Springs.

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In return for their six figure salary, the new head honcho will be expected to assist the board and chair John Langoulant “in leading and progressing the organisation’s strategic imperatives, operating model and drive for cultural transformation”.

Key responsibilities include ensuring “accountability is established” at all levels of the corporation and maintaining a “high profile with the media, politicians, government departments, business, unions and the community”.

Former Power and Water CEO Michael Thomson (front) was sacked last December following a nine-hour blackout in Alice Springs

“Provide leadership through the development of relevant policy, research and media comment on power, water and gas issues for both urban and regional and remote communities,” the ad reads.

“Create an environment that promotes high performance and high levels of employee engagement, continuing the work on the desired people and safety culture outcomes.

“Focus on building existing workforce capability; and managing the balance of new hires through effective talent and succession planning.

“Assure legal and regulatory compliance; and ensure there is a program to monitor and review compliance to legislation.”

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The Utilities Commissioner conducted an independent investigation into the Alice Springs system-wide power outage in October and Mr Gunner told ABC radio at the time the inquiry found “an unacceptable level of preparedness for this incident”.

“No work had been done essentially for when this occurred to know how to respond to it in terms of role-playing, having the right procedures in place, or knowing how do you respond to this when it happens,” he said.

“That led to the confusion and delays in getting the power back on. All of this is unacceptable, which is why we acted swiftly and decisively because the people of Alice Springs do deserve to have their power on and know the people who manage that power will look after them in a time of crisis.”

Djuna Pollard has been filling in as CEO at P&WC and David Brown was temporarily installed in the role at Territory Generation.

Mr Thomson and Mr Duignan had been at the helm since 2015 and 2014 respectively.