Our leaders

The commission is comprised of four commissioners. The commission is a statutory provided for by the Essential Services Commission Act 2001 (ESC Act). The commission has functions and powers as set out in the ESC Act and other relevant legislation, including but not limited to the Electricity Industry Act 2000, Gas Industry Act 2001, Water Industry Act 1994 and the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Act 2007.

The commission also has a Chief Executive Officer who leads an executive team.

Gerard Brody – Commissioner and Chairperson

Gerard was appointed commissioner and chairperson in August 2024.

A leading consumer rights lawyer, Gerard has deep consumer policy, regulatory and legal experience, and a longstanding passion for improving the consumer experience. 

Gerard is a former CEO of the Consumer Action Law Centre, an independent, not-for-profit consumer organisation. 

Prior to taking up this role, Gerard served as Chair of both Community Legal Centres Australia and the Consumers’ Federation of Australia and has also served as a director for the Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.  

Gerard holds degrees in Arts, Law and Public Policy from the University of Melbourne and is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course.

Rebecca Billings – Commissioner

Rebecca was appointed as a 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.

Jess Young – Commissioner

Jess Young was appointed as a commissioner in June 2024. An expert in regulatory economics, Jess was formerly the Director of Networks and DER Integration, at the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

Prior to joining the Victorian Government, Jess was a Director at Deloitte Access Economics where she spent over 10 years advising regulators, state, commonwealth and overseas governments, and private sector clients, on regulation and energy market analysis and policy.

Elly Patira – Commissioner

Elly was appointed as a commissioner in November 2024.

A commercial lawyer and expert in participatory approaches to public policy-making, Elly has deep public administration, regulation and legal experience and a longstanding passion for improving outcomes for marginalised consumer groups.

Elly is a former CEO of Aboriginal Investment NT and served as interim chief executive of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, establishing Australia's first formal truth-telling body. Elly was also a founding director of Australian Lawyers for Remote Aboriginal Rights.

She has held senior executive roles within the Victorian Public Service, most recently as the Deputy Secretary, First Peoples – State Relations Group at the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Elly holds degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Melbourne and a Masters in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford.

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.