SMA Australia, announces the appointment of  Darren Gladman to the role of Energy Policy & Regulatory Manager.

Darren has more than 20 years of experience in climate and energy policy and has worked for governments, industry associations, small and large businesses, technology start-ups, and not-for-profit organisations.

For the last 12 years, he has played a leading role in strategy, advocacy, media and communication for Australia’s distributed energy industry.

In his new role, Darren will head up SMA Australia’s advocacy strategy to achieve the reforms needed for our energy system’s net zero transformation.

Darren said he is ready to embrace his new role with SMA Australia and is keen to get started laying the foundation for a more resilient, net-zero future.

“I could not be more excited to get started in this new role,” he said.

“Effective regulation and industry policy are the linchpins in steering our climate toward a sustainable future. As we navigate the complexities of climate change, regulation and policy serve as the compass, guiding our actions and shaping the trajectory of the energy landscape.”

Working with the Clean Energy Council from 2012 to 2022, Darren led the strategic reform agenda for Australia’s distributed energy sector, focusing on the industry’s key priorities in economic regulation, technical standards, safety, and customer protection.

In 2022-23 he was Head of Policy and Regulatory Affairs for SwitchDin, an Australian energy software provider. He led reforms to interoperability policy, with a focus on the policies governing distribution networks, aggregators, and operators of virtual power plants.

Darren has a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science. He is also a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

“We are thrilled to welcome Darren to our team. With more than two decades of experience in climate policy, Darren has the deep industry insights needed to help us advocate more effectively on industry policy and regulatory affairs,” said Doris Spielthenner, SMA Australia’s Managing Director.

“Darren’s expertise will help SMA Australia advance its advocacy and engagement with policies and regulations in line with our strategy within Australia and globally. Ultimately, the new role will help SMA enhance its contributions to advancing all aspects of our energy industry.”