Doug Halley (Chair)
BCom MBA, FAICD
Essential Energy Term – 25 August 2020 to 24 August 2024
Doug is an experienced Chair and director with expertise in corporate strategy, treasury, financial management and business development. He has over 30 years of experience in commercial enterprises and investment banking.
Doug is the Chair of Essential Energy and a member of its Audit Committee.
Doug was formerly the Chair of the Australian Enterprise Holdings Ltd Advisory Board, DUET Group Ltd, Foyson Resources Ltd, Mikoh Ltd, Television and Media Services Ltd and Vocation Ltd, and the Finance Director at Fairfax Media Ltd. He was also the CEO of Thomson Publishing in Asia Pacific and the Chief Financial Officer at Goodman Fielder.
John Cleland (Chief Executive Officer)
BEc DipFinMan CA FFin, GAICD
Appointed 18 July 2016
John is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with comprehensive executive and non-executive experience with large and complex organisations in the infrastructure (rail, ports, energy transmission and distribution), resources and logistics sectors.
John is a director of Essential Energy and a member of its Board Regulatory Committee, and the Chair of Energy Networks Australia.
John previously held the position of Head of Infrastructure, Coal Division at Anglo American PLC and prior to that he was the CEO of WestNet Infrastructure Group.
Terri Benson
BBus (Act), CPA, GAICD
Essential Energy Term – 28 April 2022 to 27 April 2025
Terri is an experienced director in the energy, water and engineering sectors with extensive senior executive financial, regulatory, strategic planning, regional operations and human resources management expertise.
Terri is a director of Essential Energy, the Chair of its Audit Committee and a member of its Risk and Cyber Security Committee. She is the Managing Director of Birdon’s Australian Operations.
Terri was formerly the Managing Director of the Victorian Government’s water services company, South East Water and Essential Energy, Chair of the Energy and Water Ombudsman of NSW, and a non-executive director of the Centre for New Energy Technologies, Water Services Association of Australia, CBHS Health Fund, DUET Group and Energy Networks Association. She was also the CEO of SEQ Water.
Jennifer Douglas
BSc/LLB LLM MBA GAICD
Essential Energy Terms - 15 March 2018 to 14 March 2021;
and 15 March 2021 to 14 March 2025
Jennifer is an experienced director with expertise in customer centred transformation and digital technology. She has over twenty five years of experience in the technology and media sector first as a lawyer and then executive including as Executive Director of Telstra’s Customer Office, responsibility for Telstra's $3B Fixed Voice business and start up business Platinum and General Counsel of Sensis.
Jennifer is a director of Essential Energy, the Chair of its Board Regulatory Committee, and a member of its Risk and Cyber Security Committee. She is a director of GUD Holdings Limited, Judo Capital Holdings Limited, Judo Bank Pty Ltd, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and St Kilda Football Club.
Jennifer was formerly a director of Hansen Technologies Limited, TSM Pty Ltd (Telstra Security & Monitoring), Family Life Inc, Pacific Access Superannuation Fund and Kilvington Grammar School.
The Hon. Duncan Gay AM
Essential Energy Terms – 25 August 2020 to 24 August 2023;
and 28 August 2023 to 28 August 2026
Duncan is an experienced director and brings extensive parliamentary and government sector experience to the Board. He has held numerous ministerial roles including Minister for Roads and Ports, Minister for Roads and Freight, Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight and Minister for the North Coast.
Duncan is a director of Essential Energy, Chair of its Safety, Human Resources and Environment Committee and a member of its Board Regulatory Committee. He is the Chair of the MU Group and National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, a director of the Bush Children’s Education Foundation and Sir Earl Page Trust.
Duncan was formerly a director of the ARC Asia-Pacific Consortium and Citrus Group.
Grant Every-Burns
BE (Hons), FAICD
Essential Energy Term: 31 October 2023 to 30 October 2026
Grant is an experienced director in the energy sector with extensive senior executive and director expertise in the operation and maintenance of large power generation facilities, including 15 years at the Chief Executive and Managing Director of Macquarie Generation. Grant became a Director of Hydro Tasmania in 2012 and subsequently served as Chair for nine years until July 2023.
Grant is a director of Essential Energy, and a member of its Audit Committee and Safety, Human Resources and Environment Committee.
Grant also previously held directorships of the National Safety Council of Australia and the Energy Association of Australia; and has served as a non-executive Director of the National Generators Forum Limited.
