Wellington, July 1 NZPA - Dr Stephen Gale has been appointed an associate member of the Commerce Commission.

Commerce Minister Simon Power said Dr Gale's expertise in energy economics and competition policy would be valuable to the commission.

"He has also worked across sectors such as building and construction, water, gas, dairy, and airports. His appointment is another step towards further strengthening the commission's membership and overall capability."

Dr Gale's five-year term begins on 1 July 2010.

Dr Gale was most recently a director of the advisory firm Castalia. He was with the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research from 1986 to 2003, and the Ministry of Energy before that.

He holds a doctorate in physics from Cambridge University and has 30 years of experience as an economist specialising in energy policy, energy sector finance and, in the past 15 years, competition policy.

Also on the commission were Mark Berry (chairman), members Sue Begg, Donal Curtin, Pat Duignan, Anita Mazzoleni, and Ross Patterson (also Telecommunications Commissioner), and associate members David Caygill, and Gowan Pickering.