Our leaders

We are led by four commissioners and our chief executive officer. Our commissioners collectively constitute the commission.

The commission is responsible for administration of the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (Vic), the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Act 2007 (Vic) and undertaking other roles as conferred on the commission in other legislation.

Our commissioners are responsible for approving the determinations, reviews, penalty notices, litigation and other decisions that respond to our primary responsibilities as an economic regulator.

Kate Symons – Commissioner and Chairperson

Kate was appointed full-time commissioner and chairperson in September 2019, after being a part-time commissioner since October 2016. As a lawyer with qualifications in public administration and corporate governance, Kate has experience across a number of sectors.

Kate has particular expertise in risk, compliance and governance issues. She acted as solicitor-assisting for the HIH Insurance Royal Commission, has held roles within the university sector and the Federal Court of Australia, and has worked in private practice both in Australia and overseas.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Adelaide, a Master of Public Administration from Flinders University and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute of Australia.

Sitesh Bhojani – Commissioner

Sitesh commenced as a commissioner in September 2019. He is a barrister and is highly experienced in competition and consumer law.

Sitesh's previous roles include practising law as a barrister with the Western Australian Bar Association, the New South Wales Bar Association and Victorian Bar. He was also a member and deputy chairman of the Competition and Consumer Committee of the Business Law Section at the Law Council of Australia.

Between 1995 to 2003 Sitesh was a commissioner at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Sitesh has a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University.

Rebecca Billings – Commissioner

Rebecca was appointed part-time commissioner in February 2020. Rebecca is an economist with over 20 years' experience providing economic and policy advice to government across a diverse range of regulatory systems.  

Rebecca's consulting roles include being a director at PwC, NERA Economic Consulting and Deloitte Access Economics. She was previously a senior economist at the Department of Treasury and Finance, where she supported the implementation of the Reducing Regulatory Burden reforms.

Simon Corden – Commissioner

Simon was appointed part-time commissioner in April 2019. He has nearly 30 years' experience advising on economic, regulatory and social policy. 

Simon's previous roles include senior executive positions in the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Treasury and Finance, the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission Secretariat, WorkSafe, and the Productivity Commission. 

From 2011 to 2018 he was the Director, Policy, Programs and Evaluation, Management Consulting at KPMG Australia.

Sarah Sheppard – Chief Executive Officer

Sarah was appointed Chief Executive Officer in August 2023. Sarah joined the commission as Executive Director of Energy in April 2021. Sarah has degrees in law and arts from the University of Adelaide and has extensive experience in economic regulation and the energy sector, including six years with the Victorian Government, a decade at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and experience as a competition lawyer in the private sector.