9 June 2006

Ergon Energy Chairman to Take Reigns of Leading Not for Profit

Keith Hilless, current chair of Ergon Energy, has been appointed National President of the Australian Institute of Management.

A long serving Board Member and immediate Past Chairman of the Queensland and Northern Territory division of the Institute, Mr Hilless is well known for his commitment to developing regional and remote leadership capability.

“Regional management and leadership capability is a platform I have spoken on for many years,” Mr Hilless said.

“As a challenge that I believe faces the greater Australian management community, I hope my passion reaches a wider audience in my role as National President.”

AIM was incorporated over 65 years ago to accommodate management of the day's need to find like-minded individuals for peer reference, networking and formal learning.

“As I travel the country under a range of guises, I consistently find myself in the company of Members of the Institute who are by no coincidence some of this country’s finest leaders,” Mr Hilless said.

“There is no doubt that our intention to go beyond the “voice of management” to a strategic position wherein we influence the leadership agenda in this country is in the process of being realised.”

Mr Hilless brings to his role as President experience gained from a career in the electricity supply industry spanning almost 50 years.

Prior to taking up the role as Chairman of Ergon Energy, Mr Hilless held the position of Managing Director with international energy corporation NRG Asia Pacific Ltd for five years.

He served as the Queensland Electricity Commissioner with oversight of electricity generation, transmission, distribution and regulation in Queensland from 1991 to 1994.

Throughout his career Mr Hilless also held a number of chief executive roles with the Queensland Transmission and Supply Corporation and Ergon Energy's predecessor organisations, SWQEB and NORQEB.

He completed his Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Queensland and is currently a member of the Council of the Queensland University of Technology.

ENDS

For more information or to arrange interviews contact Dawn Hewitt from Sequel Communications on 07 3251 8128 or 0403 090 910.