Marianna O'Gorman Becomes ARENA's First Woman Board Chair

The Australian Government has announced a new leadership team for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), appointing Marianna O'Gorman as the agency's first woman Board Chair. Her three-year term will begin on July 18, 2026, marking a historic milestone as ARENA will have both a woman Chair and Deputy Chair for the first time. The appointments form part of the Albanese Government's efforts to strengthen the agency's leadership as it continues to support Australia's transition to renewable energy and net zero emissions.

Key Highlights

• Marianna O'Gorman becomes the first woman to chair the ARENA Board
• Elizabeth O'Leary appointed Deputy Chair alongside two new board members
• New leadership will guide ARENA's renewable energy and net-zero mission

O'Gorman succeeds Justin Punch, who has served as ARENA Chair since July 2020. She has been a member of the ARENA Board for the past three years and became the agency's inaugural Deputy Chair in March 2025. Her appointment reflects her extensive experience in clean energy investment, climate policy, and public sector leadership.

During her career, O'Gorman has held senior positions at the World Bank, the Australian Government, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and several public policy organisations. She also serves on the boards of Stanwell Corporation and the McKell Institute Queensland. Her academic qualifications include a Master of Climate Change from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Queensland.

Elizabeth O'Leary has been promoted to Deputy Chair after serving on the ARENA Board for four years. During her tenure, she chaired the Board's People and Culture Committee and contributed to the agency's governance and strategic direction. Outside ARENA, O'Leary is Senior Managing Director and Global Chair of Agriculture and Natural Assets at Macquarie Asset Management, where she has led one of Australia's largest diversified agriculture investment portfolios.

The Government has also appointed Kobad Bhavnagri and Lara Olsen as new Board members for three-year terms beginning on July 18, 2026. Bhavnagri is recognised for his expertise in the energy transition and his strong understanding of renewable energy technologies across multiple sectors.

Olsen brings significant experience in sustainability and clean energy. As Managing Director of South East Water, she oversees water, sewerage, and recycled water services for approximately 1.9 million Victorians. A chemical engineer by profession, she previously held senior leadership roles at Tesla Energy and ARENA, where she led major battery storage projects. She also serves on several industry boards and holds qualifications from the University of Melbourne and INSEAD.

To ensure continuity within the organisation, existing Board members Ruby Heard and Dr Dean Travers have been reappointed for further three-year terms commencing on July 23, 2026.

Welcoming the appointments, Acting Chief Executive Zoe von Batenburg said strong Board leadership is essential to accelerating the development and adoption of renewable energy technologies across Australia. She highlighted O'Gorman's expertise in clean energy investment and public policy, together with O'Leary's financial and sector knowledge, as valuable strengths for the agency.

Von Batenburg also welcomed the appointment of Bhavnagri and Olsen, saying their experience would provide fresh perspectives as ARENA advances its work on renewable energy innovation. She acknowledged the contributions of outgoing Chair Justin Punch and departing Board member Stephen McIntosh, whose leadership helped shape the agency's strategic direction during a period of significant growth. The refreshed Board is expected to guide ARENA as it continues supporting Australia's clean energy transition and progress towards its net-zero emissions goals.