Essential stories: Jonathan, transport team member

‘I like playing board games. Every few months, I organise a board game night at the commission. It's a good way of getting to know your colleagues. I think people focus on the game, let their guard down a little, and their personalities come out. I've gotten to know a lot of people here that I might not have otherwise.

‘The commissioners and executive staff are very accessible. This helps all of us understand their decision processes and what issues matter most to them. It makes our job a lot easier and gives me plenty of learning opportunities.

'I’m proud of our work on the 2016 taxi fare review. We used data from millions of taxi trips to assess whether taxi fares (prices) were at the right level for the industry and for consumers. It was a really interesting challenge and I don't think data has been used in this way to set taxi fares anywhere else in Australia.

‘I like being able to use microeconomics for these projects because it benefits consumers. We set prices in many of the industries we regulate, so the impact of our work is quite clear.’

Jonathan Roberts, transport team member at the Essential Services Commission

Photo: Paul Jeffers

The Essential Services Commission is made up of a diverse range of people who bring something unique to our workplace. In 2018, our 'essential stories' series showcases some of our team members and why the work they do here is important to them. Follow us on LinkedIn for regular 'essential stories' updates.