In this episode, David chats with Kane Thornton, CEO of the Clean Energy Council, about his career journey from IT into clean energy🍃💨, and the role of purpose in navigating career shifts. Kane shares what sparked his passion for renewables, the lessons from 15 years at the helm of Australia’s peak clean energy body, and why looking after your mental health matters - especially in leadership.

🎧In this episode:
⚡Making a career shift into the energy industry
⚡Leadership lessons from 15 years at the Clean Energy Council
⚡The power of purpose and doing work that matters
⚡Thoughts on diversity, inclusion, and culture change
⚡Mental health and staying grounded as a leader

Powering Your Career - Mark Branson - CDO Voyager Renewables - ep008

In Episode 8 of Powering Your Career, David speaks with Mark Branson, Chief Development Officer at Voyager Renewables.

Mark’s journey from ecologist to energy leader is anything but conventional. With senior roles across Australia, Asia Pacific, and the Americas—including time at SunCable, CWP Renewables, and ERM—he’s now helping drive Voyager’s mission to deliver 6 GW of onshore wind, solar, and battery projects across Australia by 2030.

In this episode, Mark shares his take on building trust with communities, why he’s always said yes to opportunity, and how he juggles leadership with being a father of five. He also opens up about what he wanted to be as a kid (spoiler: it wasn’t in energy) and how alpine skiing shaped his mindset.

An inspiring listen for anyone considering a career pivot or passionate about renewables.

In Episode 7 of Powering Your Career, Dave sits down with Heidi Sick – an inspiring and honest voice in the energy sector who was named a 'Top 100 Green Power Player'. Heidi shares her journey from growing up on the Mornington Peninsula to becoming Regional Business Line Director – Energy & Environment at AECOM. With a background in chemical engineering and a career built on saying yes to new opportunities, Heidi reflects on the twists, turns and pivots that shaped her path to executive leadership.

This episode explores:

• Navigating imposter syndrome and the pressure to "do it all"
  
  
• The value of vulnerability and building trust at work
  
  
• What she’s learned from being mentored – and mentoring others
  
  
• The reality of balancing big roles, parenting and personal wellbeing
  
  
• Supporting the next generation of leaders in energy and infrastructure

It’s a real, down-to-earth conversation on leadership, setbacks, and self-belief – and one many of you will relate to.

Episode 006 of Powering Your Career is now live — and in this one, I sat down with Lyndon Frearson, Managing Director at Ekistica, whose unique career journey is matched only by the impact he’s having across some of the country’s most complex energy projects.

Lyndon shares his journey from working at Ford to running one of the most fascinating businesses involved in projects ranging from large-scale transmission to remote community energy systems — and everything in between. A storyteller, systems thinker, and passionate leader, Lyndon brought incredible insight and authenticity to our chat.

Here are just a few standout themes we covered:
✅ Engineering meets purpose — how curiosity and a willingness to say “yes” shaped a fulfilling and unconventional career.
✅ Mental health, vulnerability, and why building connection within teams is just as important as technical skill.
✅ Why we need to rethink Australia’s “energy transition” as an industrial transformation — and the critical role people play in its success.

Lyndon’s reflections on leadership, impact and what drives him personally made this one of the most thought-provoking episodes so far.
🎧 Tune in to the episode now at: 🔗 https://www.westrecruitment.com.au/powering-your-career-podcast

🚀 Powering Your Career - Episode 005: Megan Fisher, CEO of EnergyLab 🎙️🔋

In this episode of Powering Your Career, host David Smith sits down with Megan Fisher, CEO and Director of EnergyLab, to discuss the future of clean energy startups, innovation, and leadership in the energy sector.

🔎 Topics Covered:
✅ Megan’s non-traditional path into energy from product development & innovation
✅ The role of startups in shaping the energy transition
✅ How EnergyLab supports clean energy entrepreneurs & emerging tech
✅ The biggest opportunities for startups in the energy sector
✅ Navigating the challenges of leadership and mental health & wellness
✅ Why Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is critical to fostering innovation

🌍 With a background spanning multiple industries, Megan shares insights on how Australia can become a renewable energy superpower and why collaboration between startups, venture capital, and industry giants is key.

🎧 Listen now for actionable insights and career inspiration in the evolving energy landscape.

🔗 Connect with Megan Fisher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megansfisher/
🔗 Learn more about EnergyLab: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energylab-international/

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us for more insights from energy leaders!

#EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #Leadership #Innovation #Startups #CareerDevelopment #RenewableEnergy #EnergySector #PoweringYourCareer #EnergyLab #Entrepreneurship #MentalHealth #Sustainability

I’m excited to share the latest episode of Powering Your Career! This time, I had the privilege of sitting down with Robert (Bob) Webster – a man whose career has spanned farming, politics, and leadership in some of Australia’s biggest energy businesses.

From serving as NSW’s Minister for Energy to chairing Endeavour Energy, Bob has had a front-row seat to decades of change in the industry. In this episode, we dive into:

⚡ Career transitions & leadership – How Bob navigated his journey from politics to the corporate world.
⚡ The future of Australia’s energy transition – What we really need to get right to ensure success.
⚡ The role of nuclear energy – Should it be part of Australia’s energy mix?
⚡ Building a board career – Insights for those looking to step into executive leadership.
⚡ The importance of diversity, equity & inclusion – Why it matters now more than ever in the energy sector.

Bob’s depth of experience and no-nonsense insights made this a fascinating conversation, and I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed recording it.

Would love to hear your thoughts - what’s your biggest takeaway?

Episode 3: Andy Evans – Pioneering Offshore Wind & Reinventing Careers

In this episode of Powering Your Career, David Smith sits down with Andy Evans, a trailblazer in Australia’s renewable energy sector. Andy’s career has been anything but traditional—starting in AFL, moving into law, and ultimately co-founding major offshore wind ventures like OceanEx and Star of the South.

Beyond energy, Andy is also a documentary filmmaker, using storytelling to reshape conversations around renewables. In this episode, he opens up about:

• Navigating bold career transitions
• The state of offshore wind and the role of renewables in Australia’s energy future
• The mindset needed to embrace risk, uncertainty, and entrepreneurship
• Mental health in high-pressure industries

This is a must-listen for anyone looking to carve their own path in energy, leadership, or business.