About the Energy Efficiency Council
The Energy Efficiency Council is a not-for-profit membership association for businesses, universities, governments and NGOs.
Founded in 2009, the Council’s members are diverse, but are united by a common cause: building a sophisticated market for energy management products and services that delivers:
- Healthy, comfortable buildings;
- Productive, competitive businesses; and
- An affordable, reliable and sustainable energy system for Australia.
The challenge
For Australia to thrive in the twenty-first century we need to put smart energy management at the heart of our economy.
Energy management encompasses a wide range of practices and technologies including energy efficiency, demand management or load shifting, and demand response. Smart energy management makes our buildings healthier and more comfortable, our businesses more productive, and our energy system more affordable.
However, Australia is lagging the world in all these areas. Independent analysis of the world’s 25 largest energy consuming countries ranked Australia as the worst developed country for energy efficiency policy and performance. This is a huge issue for our nation as it means:
- Our buildings are contributing to poor health outcomes for Australians;
- The energy productivity of our businesses has fallen behind our global competitors; and
- Our energy bills and carbon emissions are far higher than they need to be.
Importantly, embracing smart energy management enables us to:
What we do
The Council’s job is to make Australia a global leader in smart energy management. To this end, the Council works with its members and partners to:
- Drive ambitious government policy by advocating for smart energy management policies and programs that deliver for all Australians;
- Support business decision making and growth with trusted, impartial information on energy so that businesses have confidence making the right energy management investments; and
- Ensure quality with standards and professional development by supporting standards development and benchmarking for the sector, and training and professional development for professionals across Australia.
The Council is a national organisation with headquarters in Melbourne.
Download our flyer here.
Our Mission
The Energy Efficiency Council's Rules of Association highlight that the Council exists to establish energy management as the pre-eminent measure for carbon mitigation, build the market for energy management products and services, and ensure that energy management is implemented with excellence and accountability. To these ends, the Council will:
- Foster government policies that increase the demand for energy management services and products that deliver national environmental and economic benefits;
- Market energy management services and products to the public and private sectors;
- Improve the quality, reputation and confidence in energy management services and products; and
- Adhere to the principals of good governance and accountability in all areas of operation.
Click here to view the Council's Rules of Association.
Structure and governance
The Energy Efficiency Council’s mission is to build a sophisticated market for energy management products and services that delivers:
- Healthy, comfortable buildings;
- Productive, competitive businesses; and
- An affordable, reliable and sustainable energy system for Australia.
Strong governance ensures alignment between the Council’s strategy and operations.
Governance structure
The Council’s Board works closely with the Chief Executive Officer and the rest of the executive team. The Board has also established a number of committees and advisory bodies that seek to maximise opportunities for members to shape and support the Council’s priorities.
The Board has delegated some decision-making authority to Committees. By contrast, the Executive Advisory Group and the Task Groups are advisory bodies.
Board
The Energy Efficiency Council has a ten-member Board of Directors, which has annual half-Board elections. The Board is responsible for the Council’s overall strategic management, and meets six times each year.
Executive Advisory Group
The Council’s Executive Advisory Group is made up of senior executives from the Council’s most senior members, including leading non-governmental organisations. The Executive Advisory Group provides industry guidance on the Council’s strategy and priorities.
Members meet annually in Melbourne and Sydney with the Council’s President and CEO.
Committees
The Council has three Committees that have delegated authority for discrete activities:
- The Finance and Governance Committee;
- The Policy and Advocacy Committee; and
- The Strategic Planning Committee.
Membership of the Committees is made up of Board members, Council members appointed by the Board, and invited external experts. All Committees are chaired by members of the Board. The Committees meet up to six times each year.
Task Groups
Task Groups are focussed on particular priorities, like commercial buildings, energy efficiency schemes, or energy market reform. They give members the opportunity to develop the Council’s policy and advocacy position on key areas, as well as to shape priorities for broader sector development.
Membership of Task Groups is open to all Council members, with no more than one representative per organisation. Task Groups are chaired by senior Council members.
Task Groups are advisory bodies and have no delegated authority. They meet as required.
If you're a member of the Energy Efficiency Council and would like to join one or more of the Council's Task Groups, please email julianne.tice@eec.org.au.
Annual General Meetings and Board elections
The Council holds half-Board elections at its Annual General Meeting each November.
As a membership association that exists to build a sophisticated market for smart energy management products and services, the Council’s industry members are the only members with voting rights.
Voting rights are dependent on the tier of membership, with Industry Leader members holding four votes, Corporate members three, Associate members two, and Network members one.
What we do
The Energy Efficiency Council’s job is to make Australia a global leader in smart energy management. To this end, the Council works with its members and partners to:
- Drive ambitious government policy by advocating for smart energy management policies and programs that deliver for all Australians;
- Support business decision making and growth with trusted, impartial information on energy so that businesses have confidence making the right energy management investments; and
- Ensure quality with standards and professional development by supporting standards development and benchmarking for the sector, and training and professional development for professionals across Australia.
Driving ambitious government policy
Since 2009 the Council has worked with Commonwealth and state governments to drive policies that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits for Australia by improving energy management across the economy.
The Council is a leading voice on best practice energy management policy for commercial and residential buildings, manufacturing, agribusiness, resources, transport and government operations. The Council also leads on calling for energy market reforms to ensure that flexible demand-side resources are available to support Australia’s energy transition. Additionally, the Council champions the central role of energy management in addressing climate change.
Learn more here.
Supporting business decision making and growth
The Council is deeply committed to supporting businesses and energy users that are in the process of navigating the rapid transition underway in Australia’s energy system. The Council drives business growth by providing businesses with credible and impartial information on energybriefing.org.au, running events like the Energy Efficiency Expo that allow businesses to connect and learn from leaders in their sector, and by providing direct training and support.
The Council aims to enable businesses to confidently navigate Australia’s dynamic energy landscape, managing the risks – and capturing the opportunities – of the energy transition through smart energy management.
Learn more here.
Ensuring quality with standards and professional development
The Council supports the development of the energy management sector through standards, training, professional development and events.
The Council drives standards development and benchmarking through bodies like Standards Australia and the NABERS National Steering Committee. It also supports professional development by upskilling new professionals on energy management fundamentals, and raising their understanding of crucial emerging topics.
Council certification programs – including the Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP) and the Energy Efficiency Certification Scheme (EECS) – help build confidence in the energy management market by allowing energy users to identify professionals they can trust.
The Council also delivers and supports a range of events, including the flagship event for energy management professionals, the National Energy Efficiency Conference. Council events are designed to bring industry leaders, energy management experts, policy makers and energy users together to share best practice and learn about the latest trends and technologies in smart energy management.
Learn more here.
Member Services
The Energy Efficiency Council provides a range of member services designed to support our members' ability to meet their business and organisational goals.
Learn more here.
Our team
The Energy Efficiency Council has a small team of dedicated and knowledgeable staff with extensive knowledge and experience in energy management policy, sustainability, financing and a range of supporting skills.
Luke Menzel
Chief Executive Officer
Luke Menzel is Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Efficiency Council, a not-for-profit membership association for businesses, universities, governments and NGOs.
Luke is Vice-President of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council. He is a member of the NABERS National Steering Committee, the Queensland Government's Ministerial Energy Council, and the Victorian Government's Clean Economy Skills and Jobs Task Force.
Rob Murray-Leach
Head of Market Transformation
Rob has an extensive background in climate change, energy, transport and sustainability, as an author of the Garnaut Climate Change Review and senior policy expert in the South Australian Government. His academic background from Oxford and Adelaide focussed on behaviour and sustainability, and he has contributed to a number of texts in this field.
Founding CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council, Rob now leads the Council’s policy and advocacy activities, working with members and governments to inform the development of robust and cost-effective energy efficiency policies and programs in Australia.
Katie Bartrop
Head of Operations
Katie is a CPA and works with the Energy Efficiency Council's CEO to develop the Council’s strategy, budget and business plan, and works with area leads across the organisation to ensure it is operationalised effectively. Katie also has responsibility for financial management, including governance, financial reporting and compliance, human resources, and the Council’s general office functions.
Holly Taylor
Head of Projects
Holly leads a team that focuses on strategic projects that build the market for energy management and facilitate the transition to an affordable and reliable energy system that underpins a prosperous, net zero economy.
Holly has worked internationally with organisations like the UN and CDP to support private and public sector organisations with innovative solutions to tackling climate change.
Tim Fisher
Head of Engagement
As a journalist, editor and communications educator, Tim has worked for the ABC, SBS, RMIT and Broadsheet Media. A former media advisor on Victorian state government climate and energy programs, he has also worked as Director of Communications, Marketing and Research at Jobsbank, a for-purpose NGO dedicated to diversity and inclusive employment. As a current board member of both Psychology for a Safe Climate and Emerging Writers and a member of Surfers for Climate, he devotes much of his time to storytelling and communication around climate change.
Alex St John
Acting Head of Policy
Alex is a public policy professional and has spent the last decade providing advice on energy, climate change, science and research across government and NGOs. He spent several years advising parliamentarians on energy and climate in the Australian Parliamentary Library, and worked on reviews of Australia's climate change policy and capabilities for the Climate Change Authority and the Australian Academy of Science.
Alex holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Melbourne and brings a commitment to robust, evidence-based policy development. He supports the Council's policy, advocacy and research work.
Rachael Wilkinson
Senior Advisor - Policy and Projects
Rachael has worked in both the public and private sector over the last decade, most recently providing policy and advocacy support to thousands of businesses with the Ai Group.
Her key focus is encouraging the uptake of energy efficient products and technologies to support Australia’s net zero transformation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Public Policy) from the University of Tasmania.
Amelia Jarrett
Projects Manager
Amelia has over 10 years' of international experience in the energy sector in both renewable energy and net zero related project roles. Since moving to Australia from the UK where she worked on large scale renewable energy projects, she has managed net zero related projects within industry (ERM Power/Shell), at Monash University and within government (DELWP).
Amelia's role at the Council involves using her diverse background to deliver strategic projects that build the market for energy management and services in order to accelerate the transition to net zero.
Toby Lawrenson
Sector Development Manager
Toby is a sustainability specialist with extensive experience in the built environment, energy efficiency, sustainability and retail energy, and a strong interest in identifying insights and delivering improvements through policy and program innovation. He has worked across corporate, not-for-profit and government organisations, most recently prior to the EEC in the City of Melbourne’s Climate Change and City Resilience branch as CitySwitch Program Manager.
Toby leads the Council’s sector development work including research and analysis regarding jobs, market sizing, skills and training. He develops and manages the Council’s professional certifications framework, its training and professional development programs, and engages on related issues including Australian and international standards.
Ruth Clifford
Certifications Coordinator
Ruth is an experienced administrator with a background in arts management and demonstrated success with customer service, data management and HR administration. With a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) from Monash University, Ruth is passionate about social issues, education and sustainability. Ruth is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy from RMIT.
Tom Krieser
Digital Communications Officer
Tom is an experienced content producer in the not-for-profit sector. Tom explores the different ways in which media platforms and comms are used to engage stakeholders. With a Bachelor of Professional Communication at RMIT, Tom is passionate about social issues, technology and how they intersect.
Tom's role involves creating engaging content across the Council's diverse platforms and social media.
Nat Corveddu
Project Officer
Nat joined the EEC on a part time basis whilst completing her Master of Environmental Science at the University of Melbourne with a focus on sustainable development, energy efficiency and stakeholder engagement. Since graduating Nat focuses on supporting the projects and policy teams with completing the EEC's essential advocacy, workforce development and business engagement activities.
Having completed a Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology), Nat is passionate about environmental issues and the way science contributes to management strategies.
Our board
The Energy Efficiency Council Board of Directors is elected by our members and represents a broad cross section of the industry.
The Board oversees the strategic direction and financial management of the organisation. A number of sub-committees drive the development of key projects activities and report to the Board.
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Dr Mary Stewart (President)
Energetics
Mary is the CEO of Energetics. For more than twenty years, she has advised some of Australia’s largest businesses on strategic approaches to energy and climate risk management. She is an internationally recognised expert on life cycle assessment as it applies to resources and in the development of carbon footprints and carbon neutral positions. Mary is the BINGO (business, industry, NGO) observer on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Technology Executive Committee’s Implementation taskforce. She was invited to take up this position by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The taskforce supports technology needs assessment, collaborative technology development and transfer, and the uptake of existing clean mitigation and adaptation technologies. Mary strongly believes that energy efficiency is the first fuel and a vital part of the answer as we strive to meet both short term (2030) and mid-century targets, and keep global warming below 1.5oC.
Merrily Hunter (Vice President)
MAC Energy Efficiency Group
Merrily Hunter is the Founder and CEO of MAC Trade Services, a holistic energy management company. MAC is renowned for their expertise in designing and constructing large scale distributed energy resources, demand response assets and delivering trade-based electrification upgrades to more than 5000 sites annually. With 15 years of experience implementing and executing energy saving initiatives, Merrily has a comprehensive understanding of the challenges involved in delivering electrification programs in Australia. In addition to running MAC, Merrily supports the Energy Efficiency Council by serving as Vice President of the Board.
John Huggart (Treasurer)
John has a strong background in energy gained with retailers and new technology start ups. His industry roles have spanned sales, marketing, strategy, service & operations and business unit P&L accountability, including leading engineering services and project teams.
John is a passionate leader who is inspired by driving strategic change, building winning teams and achieving improved outcomes for customers, partners and shareholders. He has strong commercial and technical acumen with ability to build success based on clear plans and accountability.
Jane Butler
AGL
Jane is the Head of Product, Strategy and New Technology at AGL and has over 18 years’ experience across energy efficiency consulting, cogeneration, industrial utilities management, commercial solar and demand response. Jane brings a unique combination of skills and an understanding of the technical manufacturing realities of energy efficiency, and we are delighted to have her join the Board.
Ryan Dillon
Websters Group
Ryan Dillon is the founder of Websters Group, an award-winning consultancy focused on delivering energy efficiency upgrades within health care and industrial sectors. In 2019, Websters Group reached an important milestone having identified $10M in cost saving for their clients. With a Master’s Degree in Applied Finance and 10 years energy & water auditing experience, Ryan brings finance and engineering disciplines together to help businesses obtain investment grade energy improvements on site. Websters Group also directly co-funds equipment, installation and engineering with minimal upfront cost for projects via an internal investment fund. Ryan has a strong entrepreneurial focus and interest in deploying disruptive business models that can scale at the speed required to meet our collective climate requirements. He strongly believes energy efficiency will play a key role over the next nine years (towards 2030) in addressing climate change and limiting temperature increases to 1.5 degrees. It is time to rapidly scale up the capacity of the energy efficiency sector in Australia so we can meet this challenge!
Liz Fletcher (Marketing and Communications Expert)
Birdwood Energy
Liz has spent more than a decade traversing the energy sector and growing businesses that help the transition to net zero. Over the years, her marketing, policy and strategic skills have been put to use at TransGrid, Flow Power, the Energy Security Board and others. Today she heads up birdwood business energy where the team are combining proven experience with the best technology and a real understanding of business problems to build the business case net zero at Australian businesses. In her spare time, she is the Marketing and Communications Expert on the Energy Efficiency Council board and sits on the Advisory Panel for the Business Renewable Centre.
Scott Ferraro (Training and Professional Development Expert)
Monash University
Scott Feraro is currently Program Director of the Net Zero Initiative at Monash University, and was previously Head of Implementation at ClimateWorks Australia.
With an engineering background, he is a leader in net-zero emissions strategy, and brings with him a deep understanding of the opportunities for carbon reduction across energy, transport, industry and building sectors.
Andrew McCluskey
Siemens
Andrew has worked for Siemens in Western Australia for seven years. He currently works as the Regional General Manager reporting to the CEO and also as the WA Branch Manager for the Building Technologies division. Most of his working life has focussed on technology in commercial buildings, hospitals and manufacturing plants. Andrew has a technical background having started his working life as an electrical technician in Victoria, working on robots and automation systems. Before joining Siemens Andrew held State Management roles at Schneider and Honeywell. Andrew has studied in electronic and management areas and is currently completing a MBA.
Caroline Ottmann
Schneider Electric
Caroline is Director of Strategy, Innovation and Corporate Affairs at Schneider Electric. She brings over ten years of international experience across technology and energy industries in a series of consulting, strategy, commercial and transformation roles. She is passionate about the energy transition and leads Schneider’s Pacific sustainability commitments and new energy landscape strategy, covering key topics including energy management, energy efficiency, safety, sustainability and cyber security.
Claire Richards
Enel X
Claire is an energy regulatory specialist with experience in both the government and private sectors. As Manager of Industry Engagement and Regulatory Affairs at Enel X, she has combined her passion for smart energy management with a deep knowledge of Australia's electricity system and regulatory reform processes; knowledge she built in roles at the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) and the federal government driving policy change across the electricity supply chain.
Immediate Past-President
Prof. Tony Arnel, Deakin University
Professor Tony Arnel was the Council's President from 2014 until 2021. Tony is an Industry Professor at Deakin University and was the Global Director of Sustainability at leading consulting firm Norman Disney & Young. He also serves on various boards including Forest and Wood Products Australia and the Sustainable Melbourne Fund. He is the former chair of both the World Green Building Council and the Green Building Council of Australia. Tony is a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Our advisors
Alan Pears, Senior Advisor
Alan Pears AM is a Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT University and also does consulting work. He has worked across all aspects of sustainable energy in policy, program development, public education and specific projects, and is a well-known commentator on sustainable energy issues. In the industry sector, Alan helped to develop SEDA’s Energy Smart Business program, the Commonwealth’s Energy Efficiency Best Practice program and, more recently, the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program.
EEC Life Fellows
2022 - Sara Gipton, Life Fellow
Sara served as the Council’s Treasurer for nearly six years from February 2015 to October 2020, and her outstanding contribution to the Council and its mission, especially as a non-member in a voluntary capacity, is undisputed.
Sara is a passionate and recognised leader in climate change policy, carbon markets and corporate sustainability. Using her broad and extensive experience, Sara provides strategic advice to business and governments in meeting the opportunities, challenges and risks that climate change brings. She is known for her values driven leadership, her strong focus on relationships and the quality of the outcomes she delivers.
Sara is an expert for the Australian carbon market, corporate disclosure and the complex workings of carbon legislation.
2020 - Stuart Macfarlane, Life Fellow
Stuart was a founding Board member of the Council in 2009, served 10 years on the Board and was awarded a Life Fellowship in 2020.
Following many years of practice in Government and private engineering firms, Stuart commenced employment with Energy Conservation Systems in 1990 and has since 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.
EEC Fellows
2018 - Simon James, EEC Fellow
Simon is the founding President of the Energy Efficiency Council, holding the post as a representative of Honeywell from 2009 to 2013. He is a recognised industry leader in embedded utilities, energy efficiency, energy management, integrated buildings, intelligent buildings, automation and control and smart grid solutions, and under his leadership, the EEC become a highly influential and respected voice in the energy debate.
2017 - Simon Helps, EEC Fellow
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. This includes eight years leading the Energy Efficiency Council’s work on cogeneration policy, and is passionate about building the market for distributed energy in Australia.
Careers
Not currently hiring.
Advertising & Promotion
There are a number of opportunities to promote high quality products, services and events in partnership with the Energy Efficiency Council.
Online Member Profiles
Profiles for all EEC members, together with details of their products, services and expertise can be found here on our website. This is an outstanding opportunity to promote your organisation as an industry leader. This opportunity is available exclusively to EEC members. Click here to find out more.
Website Banner Advertising
A range of banner advertising opportunities are available. EEC Sponsor members receive a complimentary online advertising package as part of their membership. Discounted rates are available for all other EEC members and standard rates are available for non-members. To find out more, contact us online here or call us on (03) 8327 8422.
Events Listings & Industry News
EEC Members and selected external partners can list their latest news and events on our website. To submit your story/event for consideration, send us details online here.
Event Sponsorship
There are a range of opportunities to raise your profile at key Energy Efficiency Council events including:
- Sponsoring or exhibiting at the National Energy Efficiency Conference
- Sponsoring or supporting a National Energy Efficiency Forum or Energy Efficiency Leaders' Lunch
To find out more, contact us online here or call us on (03) 8327 8422.
