ARENA welcomes new Board leaders and directors

Head and shoulders shot of smiling female executive wearing a pale blue suit jacket and dark eyeglasses
ARENA chair Marianna O'Gorman (Image: ARENA)

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has welcomed new leadership appointments to the ARENA Board, with with Marianna O’Gorman appointed chair and Elizabeth O’Leary appointed deputy chair.

ARENA also welcomed Lara Olsen and Kobad Bhavnagri to the ARENA Board, while farewelling longstanding Board director Stephen McIntosh.

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Acting CEO Zoe von Batenburg said the new leadership team would help guide the agency through the next phase of Australia’s energy transition.

“ARENA plays a critical role in accelerating the development and adoption of renewable energy technologies, and strong leadership at the Board level is essential to us delivering on this mission,” von Batenburg said.

“Marianna’s experience across clean energy investment and public policy, and Elizabeth’s deep financial and sector expertise, have already been invaluable to us and we’re delighted to have a female chair and deputy chair leading the Board for the first time in ARENA’s history.

“I’m also thrilled to welcome Lara and Kobad to the Board, both of whom will bring additional expertise and fresh perspectives to support the agency’s work in accelerating Australia’s transition to net zero emissions.”

“I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution of outgoing chair Justin Punch and director Stephen McIntosh, who have helped guide the agency through a period of growth and impact and have been instrumental in shaping ARENA’s strategic direction,” she said.

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Current Board members Ruby Heard and Dean Travers have also been reappointed for another term.

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