We’re a small team with big ambitions. Our passion lies in helping people and businesses reduce their emissions down to zero through better energy. It’s our day-to-day, and it’s a pretty good one. Meet the energy experts that make up our team.
Our people
Our staff
Dean Kline, Chief Executive Officer
With more than 10 years’ experience in renewable energy and energy efficiency, Dean has tackled more than a few energy challenges. Today, he leads the transition to a more sustainable energy future in the City of Yarra as the CEO of the Yarra Energy Foundation. Before that, he was Senior Project Manager on the London Low Carbon Zone project, which delivered more than 10,000 commercial and residential energy efficiency upgrades across the municipality.
Tim Shue, Chief Operating Officer
Tim has worked for several years at the nexus of local governments, climate action and communications. He has worked for local, national and international not-for-profits with foundational experience in communications. A self-described generalist, he thrives in bringing people and organisations together, developing innovative solutions to complex situations, breaking down siloes and creating bridges between knowledge and practice to empower people and communities to reduce emissions and respond meaningfully to climate change.
Glenne Drover, Secretary
Glenne is an energy sector advisor and consultant based in Melbourne Australia, and the YEF Secretary. The wearer of many hats, he is also the Secretary of the Australian Institute of Energy – Victoria, an advisor to Sumitomo Electric Industries, and EMC Renewables. Glenne’s clients cover the energy storage, solar, wind and hydrogen sectors based in Australia, Japan, and China. Glenne’s previous roles have included two decades of power station design and construction, and nearly two decades in the Victorian Government’s Economic Development and Energy Departments.
Chris Wallin, Commercial Programs Manager
As an experienced electrical engineer on large industrial installations, and a seasoned business professional in the technology sector, Chris is a passionate promoter of, and contributor to, the renewable energy sector. He has worked with community and industry organisations to define and develop solutions as part of the major energy transition in Australia. Chris’ focus is to accelerate the uptake of renewable energy in the City of Yarra and beyond for both business and community, taking advantage of the many innovative technologies coming to market, and working with partner businesses in the sustainability ecosystem.
Lachlan Hensey, Energy & Storage Project Lead
Lachlan holds a deep interest in public issues involving science and technology, especially how local communities can participate in innovative responses to contemporary issues such as the climate crisis. As a researcher, he has investigated the politics of deliberate technological interventions into the climate system. He is enthusiastic about facilitating efforts towards a more resilient, adaptive, and democratic energy system, and a more accessible and sustainable society. Lachlan has worked across the disability, creative arts and environment sectors.
Andreas Katsineris-Paine, Project Officer Energy and Storage
Andreas completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Sociology and French Studies at the University of Melbourne, where he is completing a Master of Public Policy. A keen traveller, Andreas has always been passionate about environment, community and new ways of thinking. A new resident in the City of Yarra, Andreas is excited to be part of a growing movement towards zero emissions.
Mitch O’Neill, Energy Advisor
Mitch worked for 6 years at Reposit Power initially developing battery optimisation and virtual power plant software as a Technical Lead before leading product, strategy, and regulatory parts of the business as the Head of Strategy. Since then he’s been helping companies, networks, and governments accelerate the rollout of distributed energy resources through Grids Energy and working within the Energy Security Board on the Post 2025 Market Design project.
Catalina Villaro, Business & Solar Manager
Catalina holds a Master of Sustainability Science and Policy from the Netherlands, and has served as the Coordinator of the Energy Advice Service team of the Australian Energy Foundation. Over the past year she has advised more than 1,000 households on improving their energy efficiency, and is keen to explore energy innovations in the commercial space.
Lloyd Heathfield, Project Officer
Following his passion for Biology, Lloyd went on to study Zoology at the University of Leeds, UK. As an eager environmentalist, he worked as a PV solar installer and technician here in Australia, responsible for the install and maintenance of over 3.5MW of solar arrays across Victoria. He also has experience as a writer and marketer, working in both the freelance and agency space. Lloyd is dedicated to assisting communities reduce emissions and respond to the climate crisis.
Marie Lakey, Communications and Engagement Officer
Marie is deeply committed to helping communities drive and benefit from transition efforts. Since completing her Honours Bachelor in 2018, Marie’s work has focused on initiatives that tackle the intersection of energy and social justice. This work led her to positions in engagement, project delivery, research and communications across various contexts, spanning co-operatives and consultancies.
Our board
Our organisation is governed by an independent board of directors. They support our core team.
David Anstee, Chair
David is a director of Withywindle, providing consulting advice in the electric vehicle, distributed energy resources and microgrid areas. Clients include Schneider Electric, Evo Energy, Who Gives a Crap and Planet Ark Power. His career commenced in corporate finance with Merrill Lynch (nee McIntosh), encompassed assistant cameraman for National Geographic in the Arctic, diving instructor in Cairns and as co-founder of technology business ihavemoved.com and founding employee at GreenSync. David holds a BCom from Melbourne and a distinction MBA from London Business School.
Kirstin Schneider, Vice-Chair
Kirstin is the CEO and Founder of Hyfen Consulting and is an experienced business executive, working with energy, retail and government businesses on strategy, transformation, operating models, and adaptive people strategies. Today, she partners with boards and leadership teams to achieve sustainable and scalable results by cultivating intangible asset strength. Kirstin has co-owned and run small businesses, founded start-ups and mentored within the Australian innovation ecosystem. She holds a senior executive MBA from the Melbourne Business School.
Cr Amanda Stone, non-executive Director (Yarra Councillor representative)
Cr Amanda Stone was elected in October 2016 and is a representative of the Nicholls ward. Cr Stone was first elected to Yarra City Council in November 2008 and re-elected in October 2012. She served as Yarra’s Mayor in 2008-2009 and again in 2016-2017. An education consultant who has previously worked as a teacher, student counsellor and assistant principal, Cr Stone holds a Bachelor of Arts and Graduate Diplomas in Education and Child Psychology as well as GAICD. Cr Stone serves on a number of not-for-profit organisations involved in social justice and the environment, abd she chairs the Collingwood headspace Consortium.
Cr Edward Crossland, non-executive Director (Yarra Councillor representative)
Edward Crossland is a town planning, transport and urban design professional, with over a decade of experience in local and state government. Edward is the current Deputy Mayor of Yarra.
Melinda Scaringi, non-executive Director
Melinda is a director at social impact and communications consultancy, Ellis Jones, where she leads the agency’s work in energy and environment. In a career that has spanned public service, not-for-profit and commercial roles, her singular focus has been on people: understanding their behaviour through research; and moving them through communications. Over nearly 20 years, she has delivered multimillion-dollar campaigns – and campaigns on a shoe-string for organisations large and small. Her work extends across marketing and advertising, community and stakeholder engagement, public relations and digital content. She is driven to support Australia’s transition to a cleaner energy future that leaves no one behind.
Arunesh Choubey, non-executive Director
Arunesh is a seasoned board member and business leader with capability honed from decades of corporate leadership, enterprise scale-up, and management consulting in global markets. He has partnered with energy, technology and manufacturing businesses transforming their business operations in line with board-mandated objectives. He holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School and tertiary engineering qualifications in information technology, industrial production and business improvement. He is also a published author and blogger.
Mi-Lin Chen Yi Mei, non-executive Director
Mi-Lin Chen Yi Mei was a Councillor at the City of Yarra from 2016 to 2020. She was admitted to legal practice in 2014 and currently works in legal policy. Her experience includes the position of a Judicial Associate in both the County Court and the Federal Court as well as within the community sector, coordinating an integrated service program. Mi-Lin is a member of the Australian Labor Party and previously held the position of Deputy Mayor.