Executive team

We are a dynamic and outcomes-oriented agency, staffed by highly qualified and experienced people. Our executive team brings diverse experience from across the energy sector, as well as broad experience in:

• Business development
• Policy
• Energy technology
• Finance.

Darren Miller – Chief Executive Officer

Darren Miller has more than 25 years’ experience across renewable energy, electricity retail, technology, finance, media and entertainment sectors. Since joining ARENA as CEO in 2018, Darren has led the Agency as it was renewed for a further 10 years with $1.6 billion of new funding, and has overseen the commitment of almost $500 million to nearly 200 projects.

Darren has driven a new strategic direction which has ARENA focusing on optimising the electricity transition — including through large scale storage, demand flexibility and ultra low cost generation — commercialising clean hydrogen and supporting the transition to low emissions metals. In 2021, the Australian Government reappointed Darren for a further three year term.

Prior to joining ARENA, Darren was co-founder and CEO of Mojo Power, an innovative electricity retailer. He was also previously the Director of Asset Finance at Sungevity Australia, and co-founder and CEO of Sumwise, a technology and services company.

Darren’s experience also includes managing investments for Publishing and Broadcasting Limited and Consolidated Press Holdings as well as in corporate finance and advisory at Ernst & Young.

Darren is a Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of New South Wales.

Chris Faris – Chief Operating Officer

Chris Faris brings a diverse range of experience to the role of Chief Operating Officer, which he took up at ARENA in August 2021. Chris oversees ARENA’s legal, people and culture, ICT, risk, government relations and corporate reporting functions.

Chris has worked in and around climate and innovation policy since 2000 and has more than eight years’ experience at senior executive level across a number of Commonwealth government departments.

His public sector experience includes international climate negotiations, portfolio agency oversight, intergovernmental negotiations, and regional development. Chris has led Government teams working on the Barkly Regional Deal, international postal negotiations, and international crime cooperation, and represented Australia on the Executive Board of the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism.

In addition to his public service, Chris’ previous experience includes corporate law, the non-government sector and working with the United Nations in Egypt, Bhutan and Sudan.

Chris holds Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts degrees (University of Melbourne) and Master’s Degrees in International Law (Australian National University) and Public Administration (New York University).

Ian Kay – Chief Financial Officer

Ian Kay is ARENA’s Chief Financial Officer and leads ARENA’s business development and transactions teams. Ian’s focus is on optimising the use of ARENA’s grant money to help proponents secure the sponsor equity, third party equity and project finance debt needed to bring projects to financial close.

Ian possesses 15 years’ experience leading investment in infrastructure, development and commercialisation of renewable energy projects at Origin Energy and Macquarie Group.

He has particular skill in managing joint venture partnerships and a track record of designing innovative transaction structures. Ian brings a depth of experience to ARENA and has originated, developed and led projects totalling more than $12 billion in enterprise value and $3.7 billion total required equity commitment. He has experience of a broad range of renewable energy projects.

Ian holds a Master of Arts (Honours) in Economic Science from Aberdeen University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (England and Wales).

Alicia Barnes – General Manager Project Delivery

Alicia is a proud Wiradjuri yinaa (woman) from Western NSW. She has more than ten years’ experience in both the public and private sectors, and across a range of Australian Government agencies.

Alicia has built a broad range of skills and experience leading teams across program management and delivery, having worked on whole of APS policy and programs and on delivery of the Federal Budget.

During that time Alicia was twice seconded to non-profit organisations to pursue her passion for continuous learning and contributing to positive change for Australia’s First Nations peoples.

Alicia joined ARENA from Reconciliation Australia, where she served as its Chief Operating Officer, focussed on building people and organisational capability.

As General Manager, Project Delivery, Alicia is responsible for ARENA’s project portfolio of more than150 projects with over $2 billion in total project costs.

Alicia has a double degree, Bachelor of Public Relations and Bachelor of Arts (Legal Studies and Government and Politics) and is currently studying Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage at Charles Sturt University.

Dhruv Vishrani – General Manager Strategy

Dhruv Vishrani leads Strategy and Planning at ARENA where he helps to identify, review and prioritise ARENA’s strategic and investment objectives, keeping an eye on long term impact and helping teams to deliver against those objectives.

Dhruv has more than 10 years of experience at McKinsey & Company where he has served clients and coached executives to deliver sustainable transformative change. He has extensive strategy and execution experience across a range of sectors, especially heavy industries such as mining, cement and energy, across Australia, South East Asia and India.

Dhruv holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow.

Amanda Sheat – General Manager Corporate Affairs

Amanda Sheat leads ARENA’s Corporate Affairs team responsible for strategic communications and engagement. With more than 15 years’ experience across public affairs, marketing communications and operations in Australia, the UK and New Zealand, Amanda worked in media, advertising and PR agencies before moving to public service in 2018.

Having worked in sectors including environment, regulation, emergency management as well as FMCG, technology and not for profit, Amanda brings a strategic eye for issues and reputation management, brand, government relations, digital and content, industry communications and community engagement.

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland and a Post Graduate Diploma in strategic communications and public relations from Auckland University of Technology. She worked for 6 and a half years in the Victorian Public Service environment portfolios before joining ARENA in 2023 and is a Director on the Board of Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria.

Amanda is passionate about finding innovative ways to drive change in meaningful ways, that community is at the heart of decision making and ensuring our world is liveable for future generations.

Stephanie Purcell – General Manager People and Culture

Stephanie Purcell leads ARENA’s People and Culture team responsible for delivering workforce strategies and programs that support the achievement of organisational goals. Since joining ARENA in 2021 she has led the rebuilding of the People and Culture team’s capability and the delivery of programs in recruitment, culture, remuneration and capability.

Stephanie has more than ten years’ experience in senior leadership roles where she has coached executives to achieve effective, values-based leadership and create great places to work.

She holds a Master of Human Resources from Charles Sturt University and is certified by the Australian Human Resources Institute.

Cameron Kelly – General Counsel

Cameron joined ARENA in 2018 as General Counsel, heading up the Legal, Governance and Secretariat team. Cameron’s team provides legal and governance services to all areas of ARENA, including the ARENA Board and committees. Provision of secretariat support to the ARENA Board and committees is also part of Cameron’s responsibility. In addition, Cameron oversees and manages the engagement of all external legal service providers.

A renewable energy specialist, Cameron has particular expertise (both in Australia and overseas) in advising sponsors in project financed large-scale renewable projects. In addition, Cameron has extensive experience working in international carbon markets and has a deep understanding of the energy sector gained both through his professional work and through his PhD studies on comparative renewable energy laws in selected EU and Australian jurisdictions.

Prior to his current role, Cameron was in-house counsel with a private equity developer in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he advised on several hundred megawatts of project financed solar PV and onshore wind transactions in Jordan, Egypt and Turkey. Cameron has previously worked at top-tier law firms in Australia, and has practiced in the fields of environment and planning, projects, construction and energy and resources law.

Cameron is a highly experienced practitioner, with over 15 years experience as a lawyer. Cameron holds a Bachelor of Science (University of New South Wales), Bachelor of Law (University of Technology, Sydney) and a PhD in Law from the University of East Finland.

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