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 nearly a decade as CEO of the Yarra Energy Foundation, Dean brings significant leadership experience in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Before YEF, 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. After moving back to Australia, Dean worked at Hume City Council delivering energy efficiency programs, which shaped his and YEF’s strong focus on community outcomes. Dean holds a Diploma of Built Environment Energy Assessment from the University of Brighton, UK.
Tim Shue, Chief Operating Officer
With several years’ working climate non-profit and local government sectors, Tim brings a wealth of practical experience specialising in science and sustainability communications. He leads YEF’s Programs & Operations team and the organisation’s community and stakeholder engagement business services. Since joining YEF, he has been heavily involved in the delivery of neighbourhood battery projects and led several neighbourhood battery training courses. Tim holds a Master of Environment from the University of Melbourne with a specialisation in sustainable cities.
Sasha Mayorov, Chief Financial Officer
Sasha is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of experience, deeply passionate about energy and technology. His career has spanned a variety of roles in consulting, finance, and operations at major energy companies like AGL and smaller ventures such as Elysian Energy, where he served as CFO and subsequently CEO during the 2022 energy crisis. Sasha’s expertise covers a wide spectrum of the energy sector, from greenfield site development to end-consumer applications. Over the past decade, Sasha has occupied leadership roles, consistently driving strategic direction and operational excellence within these organisations. Currently, as the COO/CFO of BE Power Group, Sasha is actively involved in advancing projects in pumped hydro and battery storage, aiming to support Australia’s transition to renewable energy. Sasha holds a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) from RMIT University.
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, Energy & Storage Programs Manager
As an experienced electrical engineer on large industrial installations, and a seasoned business professional in the technology sector, Chris is a nationally recognised expert and practitioner in neighbourhood batteries. He has worked with community and industry organisations to define and develop solutions as part of the major energy transition in Australia. Chris was Project Manager for Victoria’s first inner-urban community battery project located in Fitzroy, funded by the Victorian Government.
Finn Buchhorn, Energy & Storage Project Officer, Emerging Business
A graduate from Monash’s Science – Global Challenges program, Finn has several years’ experience as a project manager on some of Australia’s first hydrogen mobility projects. Joining YEF in 2024, Finn now applies his technical and business skills, adaptability and understanding of the challenges facing new technologies to help enable the energy transition.
Phani Harsha Yeggina, Energy & Storage Project Officer
Phani has a background in engineering and holds a master’s degree in environmental studies, specialising in climate change. His expertise spans financial modelling, electricity markets, and in-depth understanding of emerging trends in energy. He has been involved in multiple neighbourhood battery projects, guiding them from planning and inception through to delivery. He is passionate about advancing the energy transition, supporting climate adaptation, and enhancing liveability in the context of climate change.
Lloyd Heathfield, Solar & Electrification Lead
With experience as a solar installer and technician, Lloyd leads YEF’s solar & electrification programs. Lloyd helps YEF’s clients to design, plan, and deliver coordinated programs and is passionate about the need to ‘electrify everything’ to achieve our collective climate goals. Lloyd is a regular speaker at community information sessions and conferences connecting governments and industry on the rollout of solar and electrification initiatives. A passionate biologist, Lloyd holds a Bachelor of Zoology from the University of Leeds, UK.
Marie Lakey, Communications and Engagement Officer
Marie has worked in the energy and climate space for close to a decade across not-for-profits, consultancies, and social enterprises. During this time, she has developed specialised skills in communications, engagement and research in the renewable energy sector. At Yarra Energy Foundation, she works with senior stakeholders on community energy projects, including neighbourhood batteries and residential electrification programs. Marie completed an Honours Bachelor in Social Science and Environmental Studies and commenced a Master of Environmental Science.
Lachlan Hensey, Energy & Storage Advisor
With a background in science and technology studies, Lachlan is interested in how the energy transition may afford opportunities for a more equitable, democratic and adaptive energy future; and how communities and the power system respond to the increasing impacts of the climate crisis. Since joining YEF in 2021, Lachlan has developed industry-leading expertise in neighbourhood and community batteries, with specialist knowledge on operating models, site assessment, and carbon abatement. He also contributes skills in community engagement, social research, GIS, and education and facilitation.
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.
Nicole Lonergan, Administration & Project Support Officer
With over 10 years’ experience in production management, Nicole supports the Yarra Energy Foundation team with operations, project coordination, and customer service. Nicole’s work covers a range of areas, with a focus on residential electrification and energy efficiency programs, bringing her passion for helping residents lower their carbon emissions.
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.
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.
Cara Spencer, non-executive Director
Cara is a highly experienced corporate affairs practitioner with a background spanning community, government, industry and corporate organisations. Her passion for people and planet has driven her career, taking on executive roles with some of Australia’s leading charities and most innovative service providers. Cara is passionate about delivering quality corporate communications and community engagement to elicit social change. Her professional purpose is to enable corporations and causes to connect and thrive through effective strategy, communication, marketing, business development, mentoring and management.
Gavin Lewis, non-executive Director
Gavin is an accomplished energy leader with extensive experience in both domestic and international settings. He has a successful track record in startups, emerging technologies, and high-growth companies. With a focus on operational efficiency and innovation commercialisation, Gavin is dedicated to improving customer experiences while also prioritising carbon reduction efforts. As the Head of New Energy at Ausnet Services, he spearheads initiatives in BESS, clean mobility, and SAPS markets, driving innovation and cost savings while maintaining a strong commitment to carbon reduction. His previous role as COO/Co-CEO at Green Peak Energy resulted in significant contract wins and a successful company sale, furthering his reputation as a valuable asset in the energy and renewables sector.
Amanda Stone, non-executive Director
Amanda Stone joined the board following a long career in local government and brings skills and experience in municipal and political leadership, strategic planning, financial management, community engagement, stakeholder collaboration and partnerships to the work of the Board. She was instrumental in the establishment of YEF in 2010 and has been involved in numerous organisations focused on delivering energy and sustainability outcomes for local communities. She has served on not-for-profit boards and committees focusing on social justice and sustainability both in Australia and overseas and is currently Board Chair of ICLEI Oceania.