National Broadband Network board named

The board of the National Broadband Network Company has finally been revealed, with former Freehills, Westpac and Wesfarmers executives set to join chief executive Mike Quigley.

The announcements may silence some critics of the NBN, who have said the project is losing steam with no definitive production schedules.

The announcement was made by communications minister Stephen Conroy yesterday, who said the board will ensure the company delivers the network’s objectives, which are to rollout, operate and maintain the NBN.

“The Board is required to meet reporting and other obligations for Commonwealth companies set out in the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997,” he said in a statement.

“These appointments move us to an important next stage in the implementation of this historic nation-building infrastructure project.”

Conroy announced the board will include current head of the Tasmanian NBN, Doug Campbell, along with Peter Hay, Siobhan McKenna, Diane Smith-Gander and Gene Tilbrook. They will join current chairman and chief executive of the NBN Co, Mike Quigley.

Campbell will join the board having already been appointed as head of the Tasmania NBN Co. He is the founding group managing director of Telstra Country Wide, and was heavily involved with original NBN bidder Acacia.

Peter Hay is former chief executive of law firm Freehills, and has spent 30 years working in the legal industry. Conroy said in a statement he brings “substantial legal and regulatory experience that will be crucial in establishing and operating NBN Co”.

Siobhan McKenna is a former partner at management consultancy group McKinsey, and is also a member of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology advisory board. She was appointed as a part-time commissioner of the Productivity Commission earlier this year.

Diane Smith-Gander is also a former partner at McKinsey, but worked in the US, where she focussed on “post-merger integration”. Most recently, she was head of the business and technology services division at Westpac.

Gene Tilbrook was former finance director at Wesfarmers, and was also director of business development. Conroy said he brings substantial financial and capital management to the company.

“The breadth and depth of his business experience in corporate strategy and finance, acquisitions and capital projects will be crucial in establishing and operating NBN Co.,” Conroy said.

The appointments come after Conroy announced firms KPMG and McKinsey will be the lead advisors for the Government’s NBN implementation study. Both companies will investigate how the network will be built, operated and financed.