Our board

Mr Paul Binsted

Paul has played a significant role at board level in the electricity industry and energy transition since 2012. He has  three decades of experience in corporate finance/M&A as well as infrastructure including sea ports, rail, energy and renewables. He was managing director and joint CEO of Lazard in Australia and has held other senior roles at investment banks including CitiGroup Australia. He was former chair of both the State Rail Authority of NSW and the Sydney Ports Corporation. 

Paul has a strong commercial working knowledge of the energy and electricity industries and was an inaugural director of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) from 2012-2017. He has been Chair of the Queensland Government’s Stanwell Corporation, the state's largest electricity generator, which is at the forefront of transition to clean energy production and storage since 2020. 

Ms Sandra Gamble

Sandra brings her leadership experience and a deep commitment to sustainability. With a career committed to advancing Australia's journey towards a clean energy future, she has held prominent positions within the electricity industry, including senior executive roles at Jemena, Sydney Water, and the COAG Energy Council. 

Sandra's expertise is underpinned by her academic achievements, including a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Sydney and an MBA from Deakin University.  

Dr Rebecca Colvin

Dr Colvin is an award-winning researcher, published academic and is a leading voice in Australia on community engagement and social license for regional energy projects. 

Leveraging her expertise in environmental management at the University of Queensland, she guides policy discussions as an Associate Professor at the prestigious Crawford School of Public Policy at ANU in Canberra.  

Ms Donna Rygate

Donna brings a unique combination of rural experience and professional and academic achievement to the EnergyCo table. As a sixth-generation farmer from central west NSW, she holds a Juris Doctor from Macquarie University, a Master of Planning and a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Sydney.  

Donna’s distinguished public service career includes serving as the Chief Executive of Local Government NSW. Prior to this, she held leadership positions as CEO of the NSW Office of Communities and served at deputy level in agencies including the Department of Planning. Donna's current directorships underscore her continued dedication to public service. She serves on various bodies including Planning Panels, the Rice Marketing Board of NSW, the Local Land Services Board, and is a member of Audit, Risk and Improvement Committees in the Commonwealth, State and Local spheres.  

Dr Alex Wonhas

Dr Wonhas has a distinguished 20-year career in the energy sector. Dr Wonhas has held executive leadership roles at AEMO, Aurecon and CSIRO. For example, as EGM System Design at AEMO, he oversaw the development and delivery of the Integrated System Plan, led Victorian electricity system planning and managed generator connections. His extensive experience is further cemented by his involvement on various energy-related advisory committees and boards. Dr Wonhas also holds a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Cambridge, UK. 

John O'Neil

John is a highly experienced energy and infrastructure banker with over 35 years expertise in financing major greenfield energy projects across Australia and internationally. He has played a pivotal role in funding large-scale construction projects within the energy sector and has advised on some of the nation's most complex developments, including the Snowy 2.0 and Genex Kidston pumped hydro projects, both currently under construction.

John brings deep experience in renewable energy and energy storage, developed over years of involvement at the highest levels of decision-making. He is a longstanding member of the Investment Committee at Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) overseeing the $10 billion renewable energy fund and the $19 billion Rewiring the Nation initiative.  

In addition, John serves as Chair of the Investment Committee of EnergyCo’s $2.4 billion Transmission Acceleration Facility (TAF), which supports the development of new transmission infrastructure linking renewable energy zones. He is also a member of the Investment Committee at the $7 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), further contributing to critical infrastructure development in the region.

John holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

 

Sarah Zeljko

Sarah brings extensive experience and expertise, having served as Chair of Energy Queensland - Australia’s largest utility Government Owned Corporation with an enterprise value of $30 billion - and on the Boards of Powerlink, Brighter Super, Verbrec, Venlo, and Millovate, among others. She currently sits on the Boards of Stockyard Beef, Unitywater, and Intellidesign, as well as not-for-profit organisations including Queensland Rugby Union and the International River Foundation.

Recognised for her commercial acumen, Sarah has a proven track record in driving revenue growth through corporate strategy, negotiating complex agreements, and managing multi-million-dollar projects.