Policy Team

Russell Marsh

Policy Director

Russell has over 10 years experience in climate and energy policy, working in senior positions for a range of non-government, environment and business organisations, mostly in the UK. These include the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy, the CEC’s sister organisation in the UK.

He was closely involved in the development of a number of elements of the UK’s climate change policy including the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, EU Emissions Trading Scheme, UK Renewable Energy Target (RET) and the development of a heat market in the UK.

At the CEC Russell manages the policy team and oversees the co-ordination, development, delivery
and advocacy of our policy work across the technologies we represent. He is a senior representative and spokesperson for the CEC addressing politicians, senior bureaucrats and media.

Tim Sonnreich

Policy Manager

Tim leads the CEC's policy work on residential and commercial-scale solar technologies. This includes oversight of the Solar PV and Solar Hot Water/Heat Pump Directorates and various working groups including off-grid.

Prior to joining the CEC, Tim worked for five years as a political adviser in the Victorian Government, including a stint as the Senior Adviser for Environment, Climate Change & Innovation to former Premier John Brumby. He was based in the campaign head office for two state elections and has been part of a number of marginal seat campaigns during federal elections.

Tim has a Masters degree in Australian Politics and a BA (hons) from Monash University.

Ange Nichols

Policy Officer

With a Bachelor of Arts & Law and Master of Environment & Sustainability, Ange packs some serious heat when it comes to her policy areas at the Clean Energy Council. These include bioenergy and small wind as well as the newly formed co-/tri-generation, energy storage and off-grid working groups.

And if that's not enough, Ange also assists other members of the policy team on solar hot water/heat pump, carbon pricing, solar PV and stand-alone solar PV.

Prior to joining the CEC in 2010, Ange was a Project Assistant at Solar Systems and a Research Assistant at the National Environmental Law Association (NELA).

Felicity Sands

Policy Analyst

Felicity has been part of the Clean Energy Council team since July 2008 which means she's officially part of the furniture. She has previously worked in policy analysis and development in local government and the not-for-profit sector.

In her current role, Felicity provides analytical and research support for the development of policy across the industry, with a focus on the work of the Wind and Grid Directorates.

Felicity is also responsible for the input and writing of the annual Clean Energy Australia and technology-specific industry reports, quarterly REC market reports and the Wind Industry Best Practice Guidelines. She also manages the CEC's renewable energy power plant database.
 

Lucy Stevens

Research/Policy Analyst

Lucy joined the Clean Energy Council in August 2011 after finishing a Bachelor of International Relations at La Trobe University, a research stint at the Grattan Institute under the Energy Program, as well as work on advocacy campaigns for both government and non-government organisations, including Parks Victoria.

She is currently working with members in the emerging technologies space, leading the charge on the Marine Energy and Geothermal Working Groups.

Lucy is also in the process of forming a Smart Grid Working Group which will engage members as well as external industry, research and government bodies workshops through a range of collaborative forums. Talk about hitting the ground running!

Alicia Webb

Senior Policy Advisor

Alicia works on wind energy policy for the CEC, having spent several years as a wind engineer.

She started her career working as a project assistant for Vestas on the construction of a Victorian wind farm, before spending several years as a technical wind energy consultant specialising in wind monitoring and energy resource analyses. Alicia also spent a year working for a non-profit organisation in the emerging community renewables sector.

Alicia has written a research report for Sustainability Victoria and the Alternative Technology Association called 'The Viability of Domestic Wind Turbines in Urban Melbourne', and continues to write on happenings in the wind industry for the ATA's magazine, ReNew. She has a degree in Mechatronics engineering from the University of WA.
 

Tom Butler

Network Specialist

Joining the CEC team in January 2012, Tom is our resident Network Specialist and is responsible for consultation members of the CEC Grid Directorate.

Originally from WA, he has a Bachelor in Power Systems and Renewable Energy Engineering from Murdoch University in Perth.

Tom has three years experience in the renewables sector through consulting on the grid connection process to renewable generation projects.

He has also carried out significant research into the interaction of large scale renewable generators within the SWIS Wholesale Electricity Market, and into the broader network impacts of the widespread uptake of distributed small-scale embedded generation on distribution networks across Australia.