Chief Executive Officer
Smart Energy Council
Canberra I Sydney I Melbourne (National Role)
Lead Australia's clean energy future.
The Smart Energy Council (SEC) is Australia's peak body for the renewable and smart energy industry. We represent the businesses, innovators and investors driving one of the most significant economic and industrial transformations in the nation's history.
Following a period of strong policy influence and sector growth, the Council is entering its next chapter-focused on scaling impact, strengthening institutional capability, expanding global engagement, and driving sustainable commercial growth.
We are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead this next phase.
The Opportunity
This is not a caretaker role.
This is a sector-shaping leadership opportunity at a pivotal moment in Australia's energy transition.
Reporting to the Board, the CEO will:
• Lead the strategic direction of the Smart Energy Council
• Elevate the organisation's national policy influence
• Strengthen commercial performance and long-term financial sustainability
• Expand international engagement, including COP representation
• Position the SEC as the authoritative voice of the smart energy industry
With a strengthened executive structure-including a Chief Operating Officer (operations, membership, events and financial delivery) and a Chief Advocacy Officer (policy and government engagement) -the CEO will focus on strategic leadership, external influence, growth and institutional impact.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop and execute a clear multi-year strategy endorsed by the Board
• Serve as the principal spokesperson and public face of the organisation
• Maintain senior relationships with Ministers, regulators, industry leaders and global stakeholders
• Drive revenue growth and diversified income streams
• Lead strategic partnerships and capital relationships
• Align and inspire a high-performing executive team
• Ensure strong governance, accountability and performance culture
About You
You are a strategic and commercially astute executive with the credibility to lead at the highest levels.
You bring:
• Proven CEO or senior executive experience in a complex, stakeholder-rich environment
• Strong commercial acumen and experience delivering financial performance
• Demonstrated success influencing government, regulatory or public policy environments
• Experience working closely with Boards and governance frameworks
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication capability
Experience in renewable energy, infrastructure, climate policy, industry bodies or adjacent sectors will be highly regarded.
Most importantly, you are motivated by impact. You understand the scale and urgency of the energy transition and are driven to build institutions that shape the future.
Why Join Us?
The Smart Energy Council sits at the centre of Australia's energy transformation - influencing policy, unlocking investment, convening industry and representing Australia globally.
This is a rare opportunity to lead a national institution at a time of structural economic change.
If you are ready to shape the future of Australia's smart energy sector, we would like to hear from you.
How to Apply
Applications: Please apply directly through Seek or forward your application to
Confidential Enquiries: For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Steve Blume via
Position Description
Chief Executive Officer
Smart Energy Council
1. Position Overview
Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Reports to: Board of Directors
Direct Reports:
• Chief Operating Officer (COO)
• Chief Advocacy Officer (CAO)
• Other senior executives as determined by structure
Location: Canberra preferred (with significant national travel)
2. Organisational Context
The Smart Energy Council (SEC) is Australia's peak industry body for the renewables and smart energy sector. It represents a broad ecosystem of developers, manufacturers, financiers, technology providers, and industry leaders driving Australia's clean energy transition.
The SEC's core pillars include:
• Policy and advocacy leadership
• Industry representation and membership services
• Major events and convening power
• Strategic partnerships and sector development
The organisation is entering a new phase of leadership transition and institutional strengthening. A clarified executive structure separates strategic leadership from operational execution. The CEO leads overall strategy, external positioning, sector influence, commercial growth, international representation, and institutional sustainability.
3. Purpose of the Role
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the overall leadership, strategy, reputation, and performance of the Smart Energy Council.
The CEO's core mandate is to:
• Maintain the SEC as the authoritative voice of Australia's smart energy industry.
• Drive national policy influence and engagement.
• Ensure long-term financial sustainability and commercial growth.
• Strengthen the institution's governance, performance culture, and strategic clarity.
• Deliver measurable value and influence for members.
The CEO is accountable to the Board for organisational outcomes, financial performance, and strategic direction.
4.Strategic Priorities
The CEO will lead the organisation to:
* Elevate Policy Influence
Working closely with the CAO, ensure the SEC is central to national energy, climate, industrial, and market reform discussions.
* Drive Sustainable Growth
Expand and diversify revenue streams across membership, sponsorship, events,
strategic partnerships, and international initiatives.
* Build Institutional Strength
Develop a disciplined, high-performing, governance-aligned organisation capable of long-term sector leadership.
* Increase Member Impact
Ensure members experience tangible strategic, commercial, and policy value from their engagement with the SEC.
1. Key Accountabilities
5.1 Strategic Leadership
• Develop and execute a multi-year strategy endorsed by the Board.
• Identify emerging sector risks and opportunities.
• Position the organisation ahead of regulatory, political, and market shifts.
• Ensure alignment between advocacy, commercial activity, and operational delivery.
5.2 Executive Leadership & Organisational Alignment
• Lead and align the executive team (COO, CAO, and others).
• Clearly define decision rights and accountability across strategy, advocacy, and operations.
• Build a high-performance culture with measurable KPls.
• Ensure succession planning and leadership development.
5.3 Advocacy & Sector Influence
• Serve as the principal public voice of the SEC.
• Maintain senior relationships with Ministers, Shadow Ministers, regulators, and key policymakers.
• Support and empower the CAO to deliver effective, evidence-based policy
platforms.
• Lead high-level negotiations and sector-shaping initiatives.
• Ensure SEC continues to deliver reforms that accelerate the renewable and smart energy transition in Australia and Australia's influence in the region for our
members.
5.4 Commercial & Financial Accountability
• Deliver sustainable revenue growth and financial resilience.
• Oversee financial performance in partnership with the COO and Board Treasurer.
• Drive commercial discipline, strategic partnerships, and long-term capital
relationships.
• Ensure robust budgeting, forecasting, and risk management frameworks.
5.5 Governance & Board Relationship
• Maintain a strong, transparent, and trusted relationship with the Board.
• Provide high-quality reporting, strategic advice, and performance updates.
• Ensure compliance with governance obligations and regulatory requirements.
• Facilitate structured strategic planning and Board engagement.
6. Executive Structure & Reporting Relationships
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
The COO is responsible for:
• Operational management
• Membership services
• Events and program delivery
• Project execution
• Organisational systems and performance management
Chief Advocacy Officer (CAO)
The CAO is responsible for:
• Policy development and regulatory strategy
• Government relations and political engagement
• Industry consultation and consensus building
• Advocacy campaigns and submissions
• Technical and regulatory expertise
1. Performance Expectations
The CEO's performance will be assessed against:
• Revenue & surplus growth and diversification
• Financial sustainability and disciplined cost management
• Measurable policy influence and advocacy outcomes
• Member growth, retention, and engagement metrics
• Strengthened executive team alignment and performance culture
• Enhanced national and international reputation
• Board confidence in leadership and governance discipline
8. Required Experience
• Proven experience as a CEO, Managing Director, or senior executive in a complex, stakeholder-driven environment.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen with P&L responsibility.
• Experience influencing government policy and regulatory environments.
• Track record of organisational growth and institutional strengthening.
• Experience working closely with Boards and governance frameworks.
9. Desired Experience
• Renewable energy, energy markets, climate policy, infrastructure, or adjacent
sectors.
• Leadership within an industry association or member-based organisation.
• International engagement experience, including trade or climate forums.
• Experience developing relationships with philanthropic funders
• Experience leading organisational transformation or scale-up phases.
1 0. Leadership Capabilities
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
• Strategic foresight and sector insight
• Political judgement and policy literacy
• Commercial drive and financial discipline
• Gravitas and credibility with senior stakeholders
• Ability to manage complex and competing member & stakeholder interests
• Institutional mindset focused on long-term impact
11. Personal Attributes
• High integrity and credibility
• Confident and persuasive communicator
• Decisive and outcomes-oriented
• Resilient and composed under pressure
• Collaborative but firm in leadership
12. The Opportunity
The energy transition represents one of the most significant economic and industrial shifts in Australia's history. The Smart Energy Council sits at the centre of this transformation.
The Chief Executive Officer will shape not only the organisation's future, but the national trajectory of the smart energy sector.
This is a sector-defining leadership role at a pivotal moment.