Kane Thornton will step down as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Clean Energy Council on 1 August 2025, concluding more than 15 years of leadership within the organisation and Australia’s clean energy sector.
Thornton has played a central role in the growth of renewable energy in Australia, overseeing the industry’s evolution from a niche sector to one that now supplies more than 40 per cent of the country’s energy mix.
Clean Energy Council board chair Ross Rolfe AO paid tribute to Thornton’s legacy.
“Kane has made an indelible contribution to the Clean Energy Council and to the broader transformation of Australia’s energy system,” Rolfe said.
“Kane has been at the forefront of creating the policy and the investment environment that has led to the transition and growth of the sector.
“During his tenure, renewables have become central to Australia’s energy future… Under Kane’s leadership, the organisation has grown in influence, professionalism and impact and is now one of the most significant, mature and influential peak bodies in Australia.”
“Kane leaves not only an enduring legacy for the sector but has positioned the Clean Energy Council well for its next phase of growth amid greater policy certainty and investor confidence,” Rolfe said.
Reflecting on his time at the council, Thornton said: “It has been the privilege of my career to lead the Clean Energy Council and to work alongside such committed, passionate and principled people across the industry.
“I am proud to be leaving the organisation as it enters its next period of growth and opportunity.
“The clean energy sector has never been more important and I have full confidence in the team, the board and the broader industry to continue to deliver Australia’s clean energy future.”
He also described the recent federal election as “a referendum on renewable energy”, saying the outcome provides important continuity for strong and effective policy that is critical to new investment in clean energy and better outcomes for all Australian energy customers.
The Clean Energy Council board has commenced a national search for the organisation’s next CEO.
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