THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has appointed Liza Carver as a commissioner for a five-year term, effective March 1, 2022.

Ms Carver brings significant legal and consumer experience to the ACCC. The appointment sees her return to a regulatory role after previously being an associate commissioner with the Trade Practices Commission and the ACCC between 1993 and 1999.

She was also a commissioner with the Australian Energy Markets Commission between 2005 and 2008, and a member of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal from 1997 to 2000.

She fills a position left vacant after the appointment of former ACCC commissioner Sarah Court as deputy chair of Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Ms Carver was most recently the Regional Head of Competition, Australia at Herbert Smith Freehills, and has wide-ranging experience in mergers, competition, consumer enforcement, cartels and infrastructure.

In her role as senior solicitor for the Public Interest Advocacy Centre between 1989 and 1996, Ms Carver worked very successfully on a wide range of consumer law matters, including important consumer test cases.

ACCC chair Rod Sims said: “I am delighted with the appointment of Liza Carver, who brings extensive legal and regulatory experience to the ACCC and has expertise in such a wide range of fields relevant to the agency’s work.

“Liza has been consistently ranked as one of Australia’s leading competition lawyers. We are pleased she has re-joined the ACCC and her experience and expertise in matters involving the Competition and Consumer Act will be of great benefit to the agency.”

Ms Carver graduated from the University of Sydney with degrees in Economics, Law and a Master of Laws.

By Neil Dowling