Grid Connections 2025: Who’s going where in Australia’s energy transition

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You can catch up with 2024’s grid connections here.

Week beginning February 17

Benn Barr has announced that he will finish up as chief executive of the Australian Energy Market Commission on March 17, and “step back from all Commission policy deliberations effective immediately,” ahead of taking on a new role at Energy Queensland. The AEMC will run an internal process for an acting CEO before running an external search process for the new permanent chief.

The Albanese government has appointed James Cain as chair and non-executive director of the Snowy Hydro board, for a three-year term, commencing 1 March 2025. Cain replaces outgoing chair David Knox.

Mark Squires has joined RE-Alliance as community engagement manager, NSW.

Guy Chalkley, head of Endeavour Energy and a former CEO of Western Power, has been named as non executive chairman of Frontier Energy, following the decision of former premier Mark McGowan not to take the job.

Week beginning February 10

Paul Peters, founder and head of advisory company Novo, has been named as interim CEO of the NSW government’s Energy Security Corp.

Louis de Sambucy, the former head of Neoen Australia, has been appointed regional head in Europe.

The Renewable Energy Alliance said it has elected Anna Hancock as its new chair. Hancock is executive director at Pollination.

Dara Memarpouri has been appointed head of grid at Enervest.

Ben Cerini has been appointed Head of Energy Markets at Enervest. He was formerly at Firm Power.

Tim Pratt has been announced as vice president power products, Pacific Zone, at Schneider Electric, overseeing sustainable energy solutions and advancing customer and partner innovation.

AGL Energy‘s chief operating officer, Markus Brokhof, will retire with effect from 15 September 2025. As previously announced, Miles George steps in as chair of the board on Wednesday February 12, replacing Patricia McKenzie.

Dr Genevieve Simpson is starting a new position as General Manager Governance and Delivery, PoweringWA at Energy Policy WA.

Natalie Thompson has finished up at the Electric Vehicle Council where she was chief of staff and senior manager for policy.

Fortescue appointed Noel Quinn as a non executive director to its board.

RayGen has appointed Will Sommers, formerly of Allens and ACCC, as its senior legal counsel.

Week beginning February 3

Terry Stinson has retired as chairman and director of Carnegie Clean Energy. Anthony Shields, currently a non-executive director, will assume the role of non-executive chair.

Synergy says it has appointed Kurt Baker as Acting Chief Executive Officer.

Week beginning January 27

EV network operator ChargeFox says CEO John Sullivan has chosen to step down. He will remain with Chargefox until April 2025, to enable a transition to new leadership. 

Alan Rai has joined Core Markets as head of its advisory team. Rai was previously with Someva Renewables and before that at Baringa.

NHOA Energy announced the “sudden passing” of its Australia head Ashley Mangano. “We are in disbelief,” the company said in a LinkedIn post. “It is a tremendous loss for our company and the industry.”

The Clean Energy Council says it has appointed former 2GB broadcaster Chris O’Keefe as its national spokesperson.

The Electric Vehicle Council has appointed Julie Delvecchio as its new chief executive officer.  She replaced inaugural CEO, Behyad Jafari, and the interim CEO, Samantha Johnson.

Global oil giant Shell says it has appointed Machteld de Haan as its new head of its renewable energy operations. He will replace Huibert Vigeveno who leaves at the end of March.

Week beginning January 20

Jonathan Cole is leaving his role as CEO of offshore wind developer Corio Generation, the Macquarie-backed company announced this week. Cole will, from January 31, be replaced as CEO by Samuel Leopold, who has been chair of Corio since it was launched in 2022.

The SunCable board of directors has appointed Ryan Willemsen-Bell as group CEO. Willemsen-Bell joins SunCable from Origin Energy where he has spent the last 16 years working in senior roles, most recently as general manager of future fuels and carbon.

Australian electrolyser company Hysata has appointed Monique Conheady to its board of directors.

Week beginning January 13

Danish wind giant Vestas has named Jakob Wegge-Larsen as its new chief financial officer. Wegge-Larsen is expected to take up the CFO role in the second quarter after moving from logistics group DB Schenker.

Clean Energy Investor Group has appointed Allison Hawke as a new board director. Hawke is general manager of development at Atmos Renewables.

Shane Quinnell has joined WestWind Energy Australia as its new head of development for New South Wales and Queensland.

OpenSolar has shifted Maaike Gobel to the role of general manager – Asia. Sophie Wright has taken up the role as general manager – Australia and New Zealand.

Week beginning December 16

Ross De Rango says he is stepping down from his position as Head of Energy and Infrastructure at the Electric Vehicle Council to focus on a new business venture.

Shell‘s head of renewables in the Americas Amanda Dasch will leave the company to join Danish offshore wind giant Ørsted in January as head of its US operations.

Week beginning December 09

Kayne Munro has been appointed Applications Specialist – BESS at Pacific Energy, a market leader in the provision of sustainable distributed energy. He previously was the Project Delivery Lead – ESS at SolarEdge Energy Storage.

Hydro Tasmania has announced that Rachel Watson will take up the role of chief executive officer of the state government-owned utility on April 14, 2025. Watson is currently country manager for global renewable developer OX2 and was formerly CEO of Pacific Hydro and chair of the Clean Energy Council.

Week beginning December 02

Hans Martin Smith has decided to step down as Chief Financial Officer of Vestas by the end of 2024, a role he has held since 1 March 2022. Until a successor has been found, CFO responsibilities will be handled by Senior Vice President and Head of Group Financial Performance, Rasmus Gram.

Energy Network Australia (ENA) has welcomed two utility CEOs to its board at its Annual General Meeting. SA Power Networks CEO, Andrew Bills, and AusNet CEO, David Smales, were appointed to the Board in November 2024.