Greg Bourne has been appointed acting chair of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) board by Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson.
Resources Minister Martin Ferguson
ARENA, which commences in July 2012, will be an independent statutory agency that will administer a range of initiatives that were previously administered through a range of bodies, including the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy and the Australian Solar Institute. It will consolidate AU$3.2bn in funding for renewable energy innovation.
Bourne has an “extensive” background in renewable energy development and project commercialisation, and has been a former director of Carnegie Wave Energy and chief executive officer of the World Wildlife Fund Australia from 2004 to 2010.
Additionally, Ferguson also announced the appointment of Brian Spalding to the board, in addition to the ex-officio appointment of Drew Clarke, secretary of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET).
Spalding is a current Australian Energy Market Commissioner with more than 30 years’ experience in power system operations, as well as providing continuity from the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy board.
There are four ARENA board positions that have yet to be filled with appointments.
