Chief External Affairs Officer

Energy Networks Australia; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements (remote/

Office spaces in Sydney, Melbourne, &

Regular domestic travel

Job summary

Energy Networks Australia (ENA) seeks a senior leader to direct how ENA engages with government, regulators, members, media and the public. Reporting to the Chief Executive and as part of the Executive Leadership Team, you will advise the CEO and Board on reputation and advocacy and shape ENA’s strategic direction.

This lean executive role focuses on prioritising high-impact activities, leading a small team, and delivering evidence-based policy positions and campaigns, with strong external

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in advocacy, government relations, or communications.
• Sound judgement and ability to carry a position with stakeholders.
• Proven ability to engage Ministers, regulators, boards and CEOs.

Responsibilities

• Set and deliver ENA strategy, business plan, and budget with the Executive Leadership Team.
• Advise the CEO and Board on reputation, advocacy, and stakeholder outcomes.
• Lead ENA's Communications and Advocacy Strategy for priority impact.
• Build and lead a small External Affairs team with clear accountability.
• Establish senior relationships with Ministers, parliamentarians, regulators, and industry partners.
• Translate technical work into clear messages for senior decision makers, and inform policy positions.
• Lead industry campaigns and secure co-funding from major stakeholders.
• Serve as senior spokesperson for ENA in media and at external events.

Skills

Senior leadership

Advocacy

Stakeholder management

Media spokesperson

Team leadership

Strategic thinking

Public policy

Education

Tertiary qualification in communications/public policy/journalism/economics/law/engineering

Job description

Energy Networks Australia (ENA) is the industry body representing Australia’s electricity transmission and distribution and gas distribution networks, a sector that has created significant opportunities and is playing a large part in the country’s future. Our members provide more than 16 million electricity and gas connections to almost every home and business across Australia.

Our team works with networks, regulators, and industry partners to develop research and advice on the national and state policy and regulation that shape how energy networks operate. This includes key technical issues such as network safety and security of supply, reliability and power quality, peak demand management, energy efficiency, and sustainable energy.

The Role

We’re looking for a senior leader to direct how ENA engages with government, regulators, members, media, and the public. Reporting to the Chief Executive and as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you’ll advise the CEO and Board on reputation and advocacy and contribute to ENA’s overall strategic direction.

This role turns ENA’s expertise into influence and outcomes for our members. You’ll work alongside the Chief Operations Officer, who leads ENA’s regulation, policy, and network transformation work, drawing on ENA’s technical and regulatory experts to put evidence before senior decision makers in plain English. You’ll also build support and co-funding for industry campaigns, respond quickly and credibly to media, and keep ENA relevant to members through strong events and engagement.

ENA brings together a diverse membership and gives it one strong, credible voice. Shaping that voice takes sound, independent judgement and the conviction to carry a position with members, government, and stakeholders.

This is a lean, focused executive role. Success comes from choosing the few priorities that matter most and leading a small, high-performing team, not from running a large corporate affairs function.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working with the Chief Executive, Chief Operations Officer, and fellow executives to set and deliver ENA’s strategy, business plan, and budget.
• Advising the Chief Executive and Board on reputation, advocacy, and stakeholder matters, and reporting on outcomes against agreed measures.
• Setting and leading ENA’s Communications and Advocacy Strategy, focusing effort and resources on the priorities with the greatest impact.
• Leading and developing a small External Affairs team, with full ownership of its performance.
• Building trusted relationships at the most senior levels with Ministers, parliamentarians, senior officials, regulators, member CEOs, consumer organisations, and the ENA Board, using creative approaches that go beyond traditional meetings.
• Working with ENA’s technical and regulatory experts to translate complex work into clear, compelling messages for senior decision makers, and contributing to ENA’s policy positions, reports, and submissions.
• Leading ENA’s industry campaigns, building support and securing co-funding from major stakeholders, and managing strategic partnerships and sponsorships.
• Acting as a senior spokesperson for ENA in the media and at external events, including in the Chief Executive’s absence, and leading proactive media, issues, and crisis management.
• Leading ENA’s external events program, publications, digital channels, and brand.

An ideal role for a senior leader with a proven record of shaping public debate and policy outcomes in Australia, who is equally comfortable setting strategy and getting hands-on in a small team.

To be successful, we expect you will need:

• Senior leadership experience in advocacy, corporate affairs, government relations, or communications.
• Sound, independent judgement, with the conviction to carry a position with members, government, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with, and influence, Ministers, senior officials, regulators, boards, and CEOs.
• The ability to work closely with technical and policy experts and translate complex work into clear, compelling messages.
• Proven experience as a spokesperson, including proactive and reactive media and issues management.
• Experience securing funding, partnerships, or sponsorship for campaigns or programs.
• A track record of leading and developing high-performing teams, with the emotional intelligence and collaborative style to bring people with you.
• The ability to focus on the priorities that matter most and deliver in a lean environment.
• A strong understanding of Australian political, policy, and regulatory processes.
• Tertiary qualifications in communications, public policy, journalism, economics, law, engineering, or another relevant discipline.
• Experience in a member-based organisation or industry association will be highly regarded.

We're searching for a leader who brings enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, integrity, and curiosity to all aspects of the work, the ENA team, and our members.

Experience in the energy sector, particularly with energy networks, is desirable but not essential. If you’ve shaped policy outcomes in another complex, regulated sector, we’d encourage you to apply.

Why Join Us?

• A seat on ENA’s Executive Leadership Team, with direct influence on strategy and close working relationships with the Chief Executive and Board.
• Mission-driven work on Australia’s energy future.
• A small, high-performing team where ideas and initiative are valued.
• Flexible working arrangements (remote or hybrid) with shared office spaces in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The role does involve regular domestic travel.
• An attractive remuneration package.