Hydro Tasmania Chair Richard Bolt has revealed that CEO Ian Brooksbank will be stepping down from his position on October 3rd, marking the end of an era for one of Australia's prominent renewable energy companies. Brooksbank's departure is expected to usher in a new chapter as the company focuses on driving major initiatives in generation and storage infrastructure to bolster power reliability and support Tasmanian industry growth.
Bolt commended Brooksbank for his leadership over the past three years, citing his instrumental role in shaping Hydro Tasmania's strategic direction. “Ian is respected and admired across the company and the energy industry. He is a skilled and compassionate leader, with a sharp business mind and deep knowledge about a sector which is undergoing a major transition,” Bolt said.
“In his time as CEO, he has set a clear strategic path for the business, driving proposals for major new generation and storage projects, delivering strong financial results and championing a significant shift in culture.
“He has been particularly adamant about the importance of safety, and it’s no coincidence that under his leadership we achieved the lowest ever rate of injuries,” Bolt added.
Brooksbank has worked in the energy industry for decades, including executive roles at Blue NRG and AGL, where he managed the Bayswater and Liddell Power Stations. He started at Hydro Tasmania as Chief Financial Officer in 2019, acted in the CEO role from August 2021 and was appointed CEO in July 2022.
"I feel incredibly privileged to work with the team at Hydro Tasmania and proud of our record over these past few years,” Brooksbank said. “We’ve positioned the business to be at the forefront of the national transition to renewables, which has the potential to deliver enormous benefits to Tasmania and to Australia.
“The path ahead is very exciting, but it’s time for another leader to take the reins and drive what is an ambitious agenda. And it’s time for me to slow down and spend more time with my partner and my family. Communication technology is great these days, but it’s not the same.”
A recruitment process for the new Hydro Tasmania CEO will commence in the coming weeks.
Tammy Chu (left) has been appointed Hydro Tasmania’s Interim Executive General Manager Construction, with Dr Amanda Ashworth (right) becoming Acting Managing Director for Entura.
Meanwhile, Entura, a subsidiary of Hydro Tasmania, announced interim changes within its management team. Tammy Chu, the longstanding Managing Director, will assume the role of Hydro Tasmania's Interim Executive General Manager Construction, overseeing the implementation of the Battery of the Nation program. Chu's transition marks a strategic move to enhance focus and coordination in advancing critical projects.
“I’m excited to take on this new challenge, and after 13 years as Managing Director at Entura, I know I’ll miss working alongside the amazing team of people that drives the success of the business. However, I’m not far away, and with the work involved with Battery of the Nation, I know I can rely on the Entura team to support and partner with us for success,” said Chu.
Dr. Amanda Ashworth has been appointed as Acting Managing Director for Entura, bringing her extensive experience spanning 23 years with the company. or the past five years she’s been part of Entura’s Executive Team, most recently as Director of Strategy, Sales and Commercial. She is well known for creating and driving the Entura clean energy and water institute (ECEWI) since its launch in 2012, which has delivered training to Entura’s clients nationally and internationally. Through ECEWI and other connections, Ashworth has maintained a significant international profile across the Indo-Pacific.
The interim appointments are slated to end in December 2024.
