• Transaction support
• Infrastructure policy and planning
• Governance and anticorruption
• PPPs
• Clean energy and carbon strategy
• Regulation of natural monopolies
• Expert evidence
• Antitrust
• Market modelling
• Policy advocacy and strategy
  • Policy Advocacy and Strategy - Projects
  • Policy Advocacy and Strategy - Key Staff

POLICY ADVOCACY AND STRATEGY | Key Staff

Castalia helps clients understand and influence the policy and market environment in which they operate.

Alex Sundakov—Alex is a public policy expert and advises companies and industry groups on effective policy proposals and strategies. Alex has been actively involved in policy instruments designed to respond to Kyoto Protocol obligations, including the debate on the design of the Emissions Trading Schemes in Australia and New Zealand and implementing transactions to trade carbon credits. Alex is closely involved in pharmaceuticals policy, through the review of the National Medicines Strategy in New Zealand and through submissions to the Health Standing Committee inquiry into the Common Drug Review in Canada.

Stephen Gale—Stephen has 20 years experience in public policy analysis in a wide range of areas. He has helped airlines negotiate with New Zealand airports over landing fees and has advised the Air Traffic Control Authority over pricing policy. He has advised the New Zealand government over the Telecommunications Service Obligation of the incumbent provider, the policy for phone number portability between networks and the government approach to spectrum licence renewals. He has advised protagonists in debates over environmental policy in areas like marine farming and urban retail development. He has assisted transport authorities in identifying the appropriate discount rate for public sector roading projects and in designing approaches to shared funding between local and central government for public transport. He has reviewed Government policy on electricity security of supply for the New Zealand regulator has advised the gas regulator on mechanisms for balancing pressures in open access pipelines.

Veronica Chalmers—Veronica has worked in government and is familiar with policy making processes. She has particular experience in water allocation and water quality policy. Since joining Castalia Veronica has written a report assessing water allocation regulation in New Zealand, and helped advise a water wholesale and waste water treatment company on a profitable differential pricing scheme for re-treated effluent. Veronica also helps clients develop carbon management strategies in response to the emerging climate change regimes in Australia and New Zealand. She is experienced in client advocacy and helped represent the New Zealand government before the Waitangi Tribunal, which hears Maori grievances against government.

Kevin Richards—Kevin has worked in both the public and private sectors on policy formulation, analysis, advocacy and strategy. He previously worked for the United States government on monetary and macroeconomic policy in the Whitehouse Council of Economic Advisors; and for the US government on agriculture trade, biotechnology, energy, and climate change policies. Kevin has advised private clients on opportunities in risk management and emerging markets with complex policy dimensions and government oversight. Kevin frequently engages in the development of sustainable public policy, most recently focusing on energy and environment policy in the US and internationally, including co-authoring the publication “Energy Tax Incentives and Climate Change Policy”.