Justin Punch retains post as ARENA chair

New board members were also announced. 

The Australian Government has announced the re-appointment of Justin Punch as chairman of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) board for a third term.

“Justin Punch is re-appointed as chair for his third term. He brings experience as an environmental investor with a focus on climate and energy investments,” the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water said in a statement.

The department also announced Elizabeth O’Leary will continue on the board for her second term. She is the senior managing director at Macquarie Asset Management Real Assets. 

New board members were also announced, namely Ruby Heard, who is an electrical engineer, the founding director of Alinga Energy Consulting, and the first indigenous and regionally located member on the ARENA board, and Dean Travers, an energy sector strategist who has developed renewable energy projects across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia.

ARENA has allocated over $2.6b in grant funding since its formation in 2012. This has helped deliver nearly $12.5b in investment in Australia’s renewable energy sector.