The Clean Energy Regulator was established by the Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011.
It is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

The Clean Energy Regulator is led by Mr David Parker, Chief Executive Officer.

Portfolio Ministers

The Hon Chris Bowen MP

Minister for Climate Change and Energy

Member for McMahon

The Hon Josh Wilson MP

Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy

Member for Fremantle

The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP

Minister for the Environment and water

Member for Sydney

The minister appoints the Chair and Regulator members under the Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011.

The Regulator is a decision-making body responsible for determining the Clean Energy Regulator's strategic objectives and policies. These underpin our operation and performance to ensure we function effectively.

Members must have significant experience or knowledge in fields relevant to us. As well as their general responsibilities, each member also applies their expertise to an area of focus. Members give updates on their area of focus at each Regulator meeting.

The Chair holds office on a full-time basis. All other members hold office on a part-time basis.

The Regulator 

The Regulator is an independent statutory authority. It is currently made up of the Chair and 4 members. They set the strategic direction for how we administer regulatory schemes.

We support the Regulator to administer schemes and deliver high quality services to our clients and stakeholders.

Current members

Mr David Parker AM, Chair 

David Parker was appointed Chair of the Clean Energy Regulator on 3 July 2017.

Mr Parker has over 20 years experience in economics, public administration and policy and regulatory matters.

Before joining the agency, Mr Parker was Deputy Secretary at the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, the Department of Environment and Energy, and Treasury. He also worked at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris.

Mr Parker has qualifications in economics and law. He has been a Member of the Order of Australia since 2012.

David Parker's 2nd term will end on 2 July 2026.

Headshot image of John Kettle

Mr John Kettle, Member 

Focus: the Australian renewable energy sector, especially competition, international trade and regulated industries.

Mr Kettle has over 30 years experience as a corporate, competition, trade and energy lawyer in Ireland, the UK, the EU and Australia. He now runs the international corporate, competition, trade and energy law practice at McCullough Robertson.

Mr Kettle's clients include government, state-owned companies, private equity, multinationals and financiers in energy and network markets. He is a frequent speaker at legal and industry seminars and conferences in Australia and overseas.

Mr Kettle is a graduate of both Trinity College Dublin (LL.B) and Oxford University (BCL).

Mr Kettle's term ends on 3 April 2025.

Oliver Costello head shot

Mr Oliver Costello, Member

Focus: First Nations policy and management of Country, land resource management and ecological science.

Mr Costello is a Bundjalung man from the Northern Rivers and has been actively engaged in Cultural Land Management projects. He believes strongly in the role of Aboriginal culture as a keystone to maintaining livelihoods, supporting identity, connection to Country and enabling healthy and regenerative communities to care for Country. Mr Costello was an Indigenous Contributing Author to the Extreme Events Chapter of the 2021 State of Environment Report, started the Firesticks Initiative and was a founding Director of both the Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation and Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation.

Mr Costello Is a board director of the Natural Hazards Research Australia and Vice President of the Northern Rivers Fire and Biodiversity Consortium. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Adult Education and Community Management from the University of Technology, Sydney and has a broad range of experience in Natural Cultural Resource management, cultural fire practices, Aboriginal Joint Management partnerships, culturally significant species and threatened species management.

Mr Costello works to support a range of research, policy, advocacy, education and on ground projects. He is passionate about Aboriginal leadership, empowerment, partnerships and recognition of cultural knowledge and practice.

Mr Costello’s term will end on 2 February 2028.

Anna Hancock head shot

Ms Anna Hancock, Member

Focus: industry; energy markets, measurement and reporting; and greenhouse gas abatement measures, emissions measurement and reporting.

Ms Hancock is an energy system, climate transition and ESG professional with 25 years of power and resources sector experience. As Executive Director at Pollination, she works in industrial decarbonisation and power strategy.

Most recently, Ms Hancock established and led the Sustainability and Climate Change function at EnergyAustralia, and negotiated the Climate Transition Action Plan. She readily integrates climate drivers into strategy, policy, risk, and capital allocation agendas, having previously headed corporate finance, investor relations, supply, and retail operations. Prior to joining EnergyAustralia, Ms Hancock held senior roles in mining, including establishing BHP’s first office in China to source engineering equipment for sites across the globe.

Ms Hancock Chairs the Board of the Renewable Energy Alliance. She has an MBA from INSEAD, France, (Honours List), and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Melbourne/Universiteit van Amsterdam.

Ms Hancock’s term will end on 2 February 2028.

Jo Sheppard head shot

Ms Jo Sheppard, Member

Focus: agriculture, public administration and environmental markets.

Ms Sheppard is a strong advocate for the agricultural sector. Originally from a sheep and cattle property near Cunnamulla, she has a special place in her heart for regional and remote Queensland. Ms Sheppard has worked across a number of industries from agriculture, small business and local government to education, communications and the NFP sector, developing skills in both public and private sectors.

Ms Sheppard previously operated her own business for 10 years delivering Vocational Education and Training to the agricultural industry partnering with RTO’s across Queensland and NSW. Also formerly an elected councillor for 12 years including Mayor for 4 years with the Paroo Shire Council, Ms Sheppard has a sound understanding of regional and remote Queensland and extensive experience in economic development and advocacy. Other roles included CEO, Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Director – Stakeholder Engagement, University of Southern Queensland. Ms Sheppard is now CEO, Queensland Farmers Federation.

Ms Sheppard holds a Bachelor of Business (University of Sydney), a Diploma in Executive Leadership (Oxford University), Certificate in Sustainable Investing (Harvard Business School), is an Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate. Previous board and advisory roles include Commissioner with the Queensland Local Government Grants Commission, Director with Sunwater and Chair of Eco-Markets Australia. Ms Sheppard is currently the Queensland Energy System Advisory Board.

Ms Sheppard’s term will end on 2 February 2028.

Matt Cahill head shot

Mr Matt Cahill, Member

Focus: land resource management, public administration and environmental markets.

Mr Cahill is a former deputy secretary, with over 20 years’ experience as a senior executive in multiple Commonwealth Public Service portfolios. He has led policy, operational, service delivery, program, regulatory, corporate and assurance leadership teams. He has led core environment regulatory functions and immigration compliance policy and operations. He is also a former Assistant Commissioner of Taxation.

Mr Cahill now consults across government, including engagements in the environment, science, climate and energy spaces. He provides subject matter expert advice on organisation and program design and risk and chairs or serves on multiple governance committees.  

Mr Cahill is an FCPA and GAICD and has a Master of Business Administration and undergraduate degrees in Economics and Science.

Mr Cahill’s term will begin on 4 April 2025 and end on 3 April 2028.

Former members

Ms Kate Vidgen, Member

21 May 2021 to 31 December 2024.

Mr Charles Kiefel AM, Member

24 November 2021 to 23 November 2024.

Mr Michael D’Ascenzo AO, Member

2 April 2013 to 25 February 2022.

Dr Peter Davis, Member

18 January 2016 to 17 July 2021.

Ms Anne Brown, Member

4 June 2012 to 2 December 2020.

Ms Virginia Malley, Member 

4 June 2012 to 2 December 2020.

Ms Jody Swirepik, Acting Chair

1 April 2017 to 1 July 2017.

Ms Chloe Munro AO, Chair 

2 April 2012 to 31 March 2017.

Dr Michael Sargent AM, Member

2 April 2012 to 24 January 2015.

Ms Jennie Granger, Member

2 April 2012 to 14 September 2012.