If you have any further news tips, please send to [email protected]. Read about last year’s grid connections here.
Week beginning May 06
Origin Energy has announced the appointment of retiring National Party MP Adam Marshall as its new senior government relations manager. Marshall will finish up as the state member for the Northern Tablelands on May 13 and take up the role at Origin on May 15.
Ampcontrol has announced the appointment of Victoria Aspden as executive general manager of digital and transformation.
Ian Porter has started a new role as first assistant secretary of data, research, strategy and Net Zero at the federal government’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
Week beginning April 29
Simon Corbell has left his role as CEO of the Clean Energy Investor Group to take up a new role as chair of the Victorian government’s State Electricity Commission.
Four new board members have also been appointed to the SEC: Joycelyn Morton, Anna Skarbek, Jo Benvenuti and Damien Barnes. Read more here.
CEIG policy director Marilyne Crestias steps in as interim CEO at the investor body.
Week beginning April 22
Emma Fagan says she has finished up in her role as head of energy policy and regulation at Tesla Australia after seven years with the company.
Alan Rai has started a new position as senior manager at AEMO Services.
Week beginning April 15
Mint Renewables says it has appointed Hieu Nguyen as Head of Grid and Power Systems.
General Motors has appointed former Tesla Australia head of marketing Heath Walker as the new Marketing Director for GM Australia and New Zealand.
Chair of The Superpower Institute (TSI), Rod Sims, has announced Baethan Mullen as the Institute’s inaugural CEO.
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has appointed Kirsten Rose to the newly created position of deputy chief executive.
Fernando Santamaria has announced he is stepping down as head of renewables of Iberdrola Australia.
Week beginning April 8
Origin Energy has appointment of Tony Lucas as Chief Financial Officer. Lucas is currently the head of Origin’s Future Energy and Technology division, and has worked within the company over 22 years. He will replace current CFO Lawrie Tremaine from July 1.
Sarah Barker has joined Pollination as a managing director in the company’s advisory business. Barker comes from Minter Ellison, where she built a leading climate law practice over the past two decades.
Week beginning April 1
Shane Quinnell has been promoted to the role of state manager, development – Queensland at Lightsource bp.
Jake Whitehead is transitioning from his current role as Head of Policy at the Electric Vehicle Council to take on a part-time role as the EVC’s new Chief Scientist, focused on strategic issues for the EV industry. The EVC will seek a new head of policy.
Andrew Mills has been appointed as the new Chair of the Independent Planning Commission, replacing outgoing Chair Professor Mary O’Kane. Mills has 40 years of experience in a wide range of senior government, accounting, legal and academic roles.
Mark Legge has joined Nextracker Inc. as Sales Director – Australia & New Zealand. Legge was previously country manager at Gamechanger Solar.
Week beginning March 25
A recruitment process for the new Hydro Tasmania CEO will commence in the coming weeks following the announcement that current CEO Ian Brooksbank will step down on October 03.
Beon Energy Solutions has appointed Danish Ahmed as project procurement manager.
Sandra Gamble has resigned as a tribunal member of NSW pricing regulator IPART and accepted a new role as independent chair of Marinus Link.
The Australian Energy Council CEO, Sarah McNamara, will finish up with the organisation at the end of April, and will join Alinta Energy. Her position at the AEC will be filled on an interim basis by corporate affairs boss Ben Barnes.
Week beginning March 18
Former NFF boss Fiona Simson and Hydro Tasmania chair Richard Bolt have been appointed members of the Climate Change Authority (CCA). Chief Executive Officer Brad Archer has been reappointed for another five year term.
Week beginning March 11
Tom Butler has been seconded into a new role as Acting Group Manager – WA Market Development and Energy Procurement at Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
Andrew Dyer has announced that he will retire from the position of Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner, effective March 31, 2024. Federal energy minister Chris Bowen says an acting Commissioner will be appointed while a search gets underway for the next Commissioner.
Week beginning March 04
Australia’s Smart Energy Council has announced the appointment of Don Henry as its new president.
Week beginning February 26
Mary O’Kane has been appointed chair of AEMO, replacing Drew Clarke.
Squadron Energy has appointed former APA Group CEO and managing director Rob Wheals as its new chief executive officer. Squadron’s current CEO, Jason Willoughby, will become Chairman of the company.
Global renewables developer Neoen has appointed Yves-Eric François as chief financial officer. François moves to the new role from his current position as chief financial officer of Neoen Australia.
Week beginning February 19
Synergy has welcomed new board members Katherin Domansky and David Joyce, who have been appointed to serve two-year terms as non-executive directors. Rob Bransby will retire as non-executive director.
Tom Werner, the former chief executive officer of US solar giant SunPower Corp, has returned to the company as executive chair.
Offshore wind developer Oceanex Energy has appointed Ian Marshall as the company’s new industry development manager for Western Australia. The new appointment follows the appointment four months ago of Daniela Hajkova as development manager and dedicated resource for the Bunbury Offshore Wind Farm project.
BayWa r.e. has appointed Raymond Gilfedder as its new managing director for its Australian projects business.
Week beginning February 12
Octopus Australia has appointed Sonia Teitel as co-managing director of renewables Australia and Sophie Gibbons as head of product, distribution and marketing. Other changes to staff include the appointment of Darren Brown to co-managing director, renewables Australia, and Jonathan Filbey to CFO.
Anthony Fowler has taken the helm as CEO of Tilt Renewables. Fowler is the former head of Lochard Energy who have appointed Tim Jessen at its new CEO.
Nick Stylianou has joined CBRE as head of projects, energy and Infrastructure.
Week beginning February 05
Firm Power has announced a series of new appointments: Marcus Keller takes up the role of chief commercial officer, Duncan Macdonald is chief technical officer and Greg Tischljar is the new head of projects.
RE Alliance has appointed Kitty Walker as its new communications director.
Long duration battery energy storage company Redflow has appointed Juergen Reitz as its new chief engineer.
Week beginning January 29
More changes to the ranks at Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Future Industries, with former Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner resigning from his role as director of Australia & NZ. Also moving on is Deborah Caudle, who this week resigned as chief financial officer.
Annika Reynolds is joining the Climate and Energy Program at the Australian Conservation Foundation as the National Climate Policy Advisor.
Wyatt Roy, the former National Party MP who has been working with solar innovator SunDrive, has joined NEOM, the massive renewable project in Saudi Arabia, as Head of Innovation.
Dr Michael Schaper has been announced as the new chair of Energy Consumers Australia, the independent, national voice for residential and small business energy consumers.
Cameron Garnsworthy, previously head of Juwi Renewables in Australia and before that FRV Australia, has been appointed managing director of SunCable Australia, while former gas industry executive Martin Hay will be SunCable’s chief development officer.
Week beginning January 22
Tim Barrass has joined GridBeyond as regional director, asset development, in Australia. he previously worked with ERM.
Ralph Griffiths is starting a new position as head of Policy and Regulation at AGL. He was previously head of Energy Markets at the SEC implementation office in Victoria.
Phil Burn has joined Virya Energy as Head of Development.
The Smart Energy Council has appointed Wilf Johnston to be the general manager for Western Australia in its new office in Perth.
Week beginning January 15
Andrew Flanagan has been appointed as the new CEO of RWE Clean Energy. Flanagan was previoulsy the company’s chief development officer. He replaces Mark Noyes, who resigned as CEO.
Tim Barrass has joined GridBeyond’s Australian team as regional director – asset development.
The board of global oil major bp has appointed Murray Auchincloss as chief executive officer with immediate effect. Murray, who has been interim CEO since September 2023, will continue as a member of the bp board.
Mike Kilcullen is starting a new position at Fortescue as senior manager – engineering readiness.
DNV has appointed Matthew Forwood as the new country manager in Australia and New Zealand. Graham Slack has decided to step down, after 12 years in the leadership role.
Inverter and battery storage company SMA Australia has appointed Darren Gladman to the role of energy policy and regulatory manager.
Former Fortescue executive Felicity Gooding has joined Gina Rinehart-backed lithium developer Vulcan Energy Resources as its new group chief financial officer.
Ark Energy CEO Daniel Kim has announced he is stepping down, after three years in the role.
Vast Renewables has appointed former Oil Search managing director Peter Botten as its new chair. Tom Quinn has also been named as a new director.
Week beginning January 08
Australian flow battery maker Redflow has welcomed Michael Hipwood to the team as its new CFO, working out of the company’s Brisbane head office.
Nexif Ratch Energy has appointed Cyril Dissescou as chief executive officer. Dissecou takes over from Matthew Bartley who stepped in as interim CEO to establish Nexif Ratch Energy during its first year.
Energy industry veteran Wilf Johnston has joined the Smart Energy Council as general manager for Western Australia. Johnston will operate from the SEC’s new office in Perth alongside policy adviser Connor Woulfe.
Solar and storage company RayGen has named Eleanor McCracken-Hewson as its chief legal officer. Prior to that she was commercial manager at Acciona and senior originator, power & environmental origination at AGL Energy.
Energy infrastructure company Jemena has announced the appointment of Kate Webster as new Group CFO following a competitive recruitment process.
Simon Franklin has started in the role of country director at EDP Renewables APAC.
CS Energy has appointed Michael Louis as Operations Superintendent – Renewables and Firming. Louis will be accountable for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the Chinchilla and Greenbank batteries, and the Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant when they are up and running.
Week beginning December 18, 2023
Energy solutions and battery storage outfit Redback Technologies has named Adrian Knack as its new chief executive officer (CEO).
Queensland-based long-duration battery maker Redflow has announced the appointment of Michael Hipwood as chief financial officer, commencing mid-January 2024.
If you have any further news tips, please send to [email protected]. Read about last year’s grid connections here.
