John Grimes

The Smart Energy Council is Australia’s peak independent body for renewable energy and the smart energy industry. We are Australia’s strongest voice for fomenting a rapid national transition to sustainable sources of energy, backed by our members and a mandate to deliver smart energy policy. As the Smart Energy Council’s Chief Executive, I’ve led a perpetually growing team to achieve: • Strong Renewable Energy and Storage Targets at both a national and state/territory level. • Intervened to avoid a nationwide solar shutdown and saved tens of thousands of jobs by extending inverter regulation compliance dates. • Helped to save ARENA and the CEFC, vital institutions in our race to Net Zero. • Oversaw the death of #CoalKeeper, and #SolarStopper. • Proposed and supported the Capacity Investment Mechanism, that will unlock $10bn in new generation storage projects. • Launched the world-leading Zero Carbon Certification Scheme for renewable hydrogen projects. • Oversaw the world’s first Green Ammonia plant certification. • Fixed the Victorian Government’s Solar Homes Program. • Established the ACT Renewable Hydrogen Cluster. • Founded the Climate Capital Forum to catalyse renewables investment.

The Australian Solar Council is Australia’s leading scientific, industrial, and community organisation dedicated to: • promoting solar and related R&D and the adoption of Solar Energy • compiling and disseminating information on solar and complementary technologies • education programs • lobbying Started in 1954, The Solar Council is a non for profit organisation whose primary membership includes academia, solar-related companies, research and development organisations, users, community groups, and private citizens.

Perpetual Water Limited is a public company in the environmental space, focused on water reclamation for a global market. As the Founder and Chair, I was responsible for all facets of the company’s strategy and execution, including product development and engineering, investor liaison, building a world class scientific team and developing strong revenue streams. Which included selling our products into the US, Middle East and China. Under my leadership the business won a slew of wards including: - National Winner Sensis Yellow Pages 2004 Business Ideas Grant ($65,000 cash prize) - The New Inventors July 2005 Winner Judges Choice & People Choice - Canberra Business Council 2004 Innovation Award Winner - Ideas @ Work Commercialisation Competition – Winner Innovation, entrepreneurship, product commercialisation, leadership skills, excellent communication, and developing detailed business and financial plans to attract significant investment were all essential in the role.

As the co-founder of technology company Argus Solutions, I helped take the company from a start up to a successful listing on the Australian Stock Exchange. In the process taking the companies valuation from $2 to $34.9 million on listing. As a public company I was responsible for all elements of risk management and corporate governance to comply with very stringent disclosure and listing rules. I was responsible for managing complex relationships with employees and partners across the United States and the Asia Pacific, including with companies such as Siemens, Unisys, and CSC. I led government relationship management, briefing national Ministers and departmental heads and was responsible for making significant sales into federal government. Stakeholder relationship management; strong financial expertise; governance and compliance; and excellent investor relations and communication skills were all essential in this position.

I held several roles including in the Cabinet, Ministerial and Parliamentary Branch and the International Operations Branch of the department. I was required to provide regular written briefings to senior cabinet ministers on breaking events across the portfolio. I also served as a senior political officer in the Australian Embassy in Myanmar, where I was responsible for providing high level briefings and advice on issues of concern to the Australian Government. In 1999 I was appointed as the Assistant Chief Negotiator in the Bougainville Peace Monitoring Group, responsible for monitoring the peace process across Bougainville. I was responsible for providing high level political and security related briefings to the Bougainville Provincial Administration, the United Nations representative, and senior offices from the PNG Defence Forces. I was awarded the Australian Service Medal for this work.

As an Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, I held a range of positions over nearly decade. I started my career providing operational support to Australia’s long range tactual bombing capability-the F-111 aircraft, stationed at Amberly Air Force base in Queensland. I later worked at Defence Haadquarters, where I was placed in command of 430 service personal from the Army, Navy and Airforce. In this role I had responsibility for all aspects of their work including housing, training, postings, and discipline. Prior to that I was responsible for 75 staff on a 24-hour roster basis. While in the RAAF I was also appointed as Director of Security Intelligence for the RAAF and was responsible for security intelligence across all of the operations of the RAAF in Australia and around the world. Across this period and developed excellent leadership skills; stakeholder engagement; and significant budget responsibilities within an organisation of 34,000 people.