The Smart Energy Council warmly welcomes the appointment of David McElrea as Chief Advocacy Officer at the peak renewable energy industry group. 

Taking over from his long term predecessor Wayne Smith, David has held positions in government, not for profits and the private sector. He has also worked as a lawyer in Australia and the UK, with qualifications in law, arts, finance, and corporate governance.

“As Deputy Chief of Staff to the Australian Minister for the Environment and Water, David led major policy initiatives including the regulation of federal environmental laws, implementation of nature markets, and the development of water policy,” Chief Executive John Grimes said.

“This expertise and insight is highly complimentary to the Smart Energy Council’s mandate of helping Australia decarbonise.” 

David has been at the centre of extensive engagement with the renewable energy sector, playing a key role in navigating contentious legislation through Parliament, giving him a deep understanding of the regulatory and political environment that shapes Australia’s clean energy transition.

“The renewable energy transition is the defining economic and social transformation of our time,” Mr McElrea said.

“I am totally committed to supporting a credible, inclusive, and ambitious path to net zero—one that aligns environmental imperatives with industry innovation and community support.”

“David’s deep expertise in member-based organisations, campaign design, regulatory strategy, and media communications, will be instrumental in our mission and ambition to help Australia become a renewable energy superpower, and I can’t wait to make that happen,” Mr Grimes said.