Commerce Commission Chair reappointed

Dr Small was first appointed an associate member of the Commission in 2018, before being appointed a full member in 2020 and becoming Chair in 2022. His second term as Chair begins on 7 July 2025 and will end on 6 July 2030.

Dr Small is an economist with a background in academia and private practice. As Chair, he has raised the Commission’s public profile and supported new and innovative ways for the Commission to work to improve market outcomes, such as participating in the Energy Competition Task Force and being the Crown monitor for Watercare.

During his time with the Commission, he has contributed to important market studies into retail fuel, retail groceries, residential building supplies and personal banking services.

Dr Small was the founding director of economic consultancy firm Covec and formerly headed the University of Auckland’s economics department. He has extensive experience of complex competition analysis in a range of sectors including energy, transport, agriculture, telecommunications, payment systems and construction.

Mr Ridgeway is an Associate Commissioner with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. He was first cross-appointed as an associate member of the Commerce Commission in 2022. He is widely recognised as one of Australia’s leading competition and consumer lawyers. Mr Ridgeway’s expertise is valuable to the Commission, particularly as it relates to mergers of businesses operating in both Australia and New Zealand.

Cross-appointments between the commissions aim to align administration and enforcement of competition and consumer law in Australia and New Zealand.

The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs recommends Commissioners for appointment for their knowledge and experience in the fields of industry, commerce, economics, law, accountancy, public administration or consumer affairs.