AGA Board

The last AGA Board elections were conducted at the AGM held on 3 December 2008. Since then, Mr Chris Devlin has been appointed to fill a vacancy left by a Director's resignation.

The AGA Board is responsible, amongst other things, for safeguarding impartiality.

The term of office for elected Directors is three years and a brief biography for each of the current Directors follows:

Chair and Independent Non-Executive Director - qualifies as an independent person with technical regulatory experience, recognised technical skills and experience and who is experienced in dealing with legislative issues affecting business regulation.

Colin Bickell, CEng MIGEM (UK)

Appointed as Chair in January 2006, and reappointed for a second term in December 2008, Colin was Manager Customer Safety with Energy Safe Victoria (previously Victorian Office of Gas Safety) until retiring from that position in September 2005. Prior to that Colin held senior executive positions with the Gas & Fuel Corporation of Victoria, and was initially responsible for reorganizing and modernizing their technical standards then managing their strategic systems engineering unit. He has many years experience with Standards Australia, including managing their certification of independent cylinder testing operators. Colin has experience in manufacturing, and holds a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (RMIT) and a Graduate Diploma in Management (RMIT).

Colin brings relevant skills and significant experience in the gas industry, manufacturing, the development and application of technical standard, and management on technical services. Apart from the categories listed above, Colin also qualifies for a Board position as "a consumer", someone that has "recognised technical skills and experience in the areas of Product and not associated with an AGA member" and "recognised business skills and experience, not associated with an AGA member".

Deputy Chair and Independent Non-Executive Director - qualifies as "a certificate holder" and as a "consumer representative."

Andrew Creek MAAS, FAICD

Andrew Creek has wide experience in the gas appliance industry spanning more than 30 years. Trained as a Mechanical Engineer (Diploma RMIT), Andrew joined Vulcan Electrics Pty Ltd as a Cadet Engineer in 1964. For eight years he worked through all aspects of production, supervision and management, and was involved in the production engineering of electric, oil, and gas appliance manufacture.

For the next 10 years, Andrew worked for Australian Gypsum Ltd as its Architectural Sales Manager. This was during the high-rise building boom in Melbourne (and Australia) during the mid to late 1970's. A technical exchange agreement with the United States Gypsum Co. involved Andrew in visiting and studying construction techniques in the USA. The major emphasis was related to fire ratings and sound ratings in buildings, and resulted in a qualification in Acoustics. Andrew subsequently returned to Vulcan, where he led a team developing and marketing a self-tracking solar collector. He was appointed Export Sales Manager, and later Group Product Marketing Manager. In 1991 Andrew Joined SIT Gas Controls Pty Ltd as Managing Director, a position he still holds.

In 1998 Andrew was elected President of GAMAA, a position still held. Andrew is also a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is very active in manufacturers issues and advocacy. He brings many years of experience to the Board.

The December 2008 election result confirms Andrews continued involvement at AGA Board level until the end of 2011.

Independent Non-Executive Director - qualifies as "a certificate holder"

Phil Hubbard ARMIT (Applied Physics)

Phil Hubbard holds an AGA Silver Flame Award for his contribution to the gas industry, in particular for his involvement in helping to establish overseas recognition of local testing laboratory expertise. Phil holds a Diploma of Applied Physics and has many years of service as an industry representative on various standards-writing committees, including a number of terms as chairman. He has also represented the local industry internationally.

From a work perspective, Phil has over 30 years experience in appliance design (both gas and electric) and was in charge of research and design for Chef Australia for more than 25 years. Phil brings considerable senior management and product certification experience to his new role of AGA Director and his current local manufacturing presence will help ensure an appropriate perspective on product manufacturing issues at Board level.

Independent Non-Executive Director - qualifies as a person "who is not associated with any member" and who has "recognised experience in dealing with legislative issues affecting business regulation" and "recognised business skills and experience."

Mr Chris Devlin BA/LLB

Currently a lawyer to Australian Energy Market Operator, formerly lawyer to Victorian Energy Networks Corporation and formerly Chief Solicitor to Gas & Fuel Corporation of Victoria.

Mr Devlin also acts for the AGA, which he has done for many years, and he brings significant experience in legal and legislative matters affecting the energy industry to his role as a Director.