Board of Directors

The Energy Efficiency Council is governed by a board of directors representing its members.

President - Simon James, Honeywell

Simon James is the General Manager for Honeywell’s Energy and Environment Solutions business in South Asia Pacific. His role is responsible for delivering a broad range of solutions that deliver better environmental outcomes for customers by enabling buildings and facilities to improve their energy efficiency and address sustainability as a long term business goal. With over 20 years experience working for Honeywell, Simon has held a number of leadership, marketing, technology and engineering roles focused on developing and implementing intelligent solutions for buildings and facilities. He led the development of new building management system products in Australia and then was responsible for marketing and deploying these products as global offerings.

Simon has a diverse range of experience, working in Australia, Asia-Pacific and the United States buildings markets. He has recently served as Vice Chair and Board Member of the Continental Automated Buildings Association, which is a not-for-profit industry association that promotes advanced technologies for the automation of homes and buildings in North America. Simon has a Bachelor or Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from Wollongong University, Australia. He also received a Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.

Vice President - James Allston, Siemens

As Marketing Manager for Energy Efficiency at Siemens, James Allston is also a founding member of the Energy Efficiency Council. Looking after the environmental portfolio at Siemens, James plays a vital role in thought and technology leadership around energy efficiency. James' goal is to see energy efficiency become second nature in Australian society.

Secretary - Stuart Macfarlane, Schneider Electric

Stuart Macfarlane has qualifications in electrical engineering and illumination with post graduate studies in management. Stuart has a wealth of experience in electrical engineering, energy performance contracting and energy management. His background encompasses electrical design in the building services and manufacturing sectors, project management, electrical contracting and procurement. Following many years of practice in Government and private engineering firms, Stuart commenced employment with Energy Conservation Systems in 1990, which was acquired by Schneider Electric in 2011. Over this period, Stuart has been involved in many large energy management projects and energy performance contracts and has worked closely on various Government led energy management programs as well as having written and delivered numerous papers, lectures and training relating to energy conservation and energy performance contracting for consultants, energy managers and professional engineers throughout Australia, Asia and Europe.

Tom Cawley, Balance Energy

Tom Cawley started working in industrial energy efficiency 10 years ago, with a realisation that corporate management would become interested if significant cost savings could be realised. Tom’s followed this up with his first major implementation, saving $550,000 per annum completed while on staff at Holden in 2000.

Tom founded Balance Energy in 2002, and immediately continued implementing energy efficiency opportunities in the automotive sector. In more recent years, Tom has expanded Balance Energy’s client base to cover a greater spread of industries, with the notable inclusion of malting, mining and minerals processing. Recent implementations have included a successful trial in the worlds largest lead blast furnace, efficiency improvement in mid-sized power generation, highly valuable process control improvements in multiple industries, heat recovery and various measures at Ford Broadmeadows.

Underlining a commitment to implementation, rather than just consulting, Tom is leading Balance Energy through the purchase and re-development of a gas turbine powered cogeneration plant.

Simon Helps, MWM Energy

Simon Helps is the National Sales Manager for MWM Energy Australia, one of the world’s leading suppliers of cogeneration and other highly efficient gas power generation systems. Simon has over 10 years experience in the cogeneration and clean energy industry, and has held a variety of senior roles in clean energy groups in Australia. Simon leads the Energy Efficiency Council’s work on cogeneration policy, and is passionate about building the market for distributed energy in Australia.

Jon Jutsen, Energetics

Jon Jutsen is an overnight success story in energy and carbon management, having started in this field a mere 25 or 30 years before it became fashionable. Jon founded Energetics, Australia’s leading energy and carbon management company, in 1984. He is a chemical engineer by training with a Masters in Energy Technology. He was selected as one of the ‘100 Most Influential Engineers in Australia’. He is on the Boards of energy and environmental associations.

Simon Kelley

Simon Kelley is the Head of Carbon Price Implementation at AGL Energy. Over the last decade Simon has developed considerable technical and policy expertise on the National Electricity Market, energy efficiency, climate change and renewable energy. He has worked with all levels of government on policy development, and as the leader of AGL’s carbon pricing responsibilities, manages both an overarching strategic response as well as contributing to the commercial opportunities that arise from a price on carbon. With a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters in Economics, Simon’s goal is ensure the EEC supports the growing importance of energy efficiency in securing Australia’s longer term low-emission energy future.

Dr Garry McDonald

Dr Garry McDonald is the Associate Director of the National Centre for Sustainability(NCS) at Swinburne University of Technology. He is responsible for the strategic leadership of the Centre. Under Garry’s leadership, the NCS Swinburne has developed and delivered Australia’s most recognised accredited courses in sustainability in the VET system and numerous research projects that inform the need for education and training across a breadth of sustainability issues, particularly green skills, energy efficiency, carbon management and behaviour change.

Garry has been project director or co-director of the projects involving energy efficiency, green skills and training qualifications development. He represents TAFE Directors Australia on the Commonwealth's Implementation Group of the national Green Skills Agreement. Garry also provides specialist advice and support to Swinburne University management on sustainability strategy and policy, best practice sustainability services, education and training programs, and professional development programs for teachers. In his previous recent roles with the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, Garry was Institute Director - Rutherglen Research Institute and Research Director

Ione McLean

Ione McLean has 14 years experience in the field of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas abatement in the corporate, government and non-profit sectors. Since August 2009 Ione has worked for Ecovantage in program management and business development, with a particular focus on energy efficiency certificate schemes in NSW and Victoria. Prior to this, Ione worked for the NSW Government’s Sustainable Energy Development Authority as the Program Manager for the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating (ABGR), Energy Smart Business and Energy Smart Government Programs, and at Environment Victoria, developing programs that engaged with residents and encouraged energy and water saving actions. Ione was previously on the Environment Victoria Committee of Management and co-president of EarthShare Australia, a fundraising organisation for the environmental non-profit sector.