Accelerating your Energy Transition - From Idea to Action A conversation with John Cleland, CEO of Australia’s Essential Energy

In the latest episode of our CEO Viewpoints podcast series, host James McLean sits down with John Cleland, CEO of Australia’s Essential Energy. This year, the annual CEO survey focuses on critical questions facing leaders today including how to balance reinventing the business to succeed in a changing world with the need to manage short-term pressures and challenges. In the podcast discussion John shares his experiences and learnings of leading and accelerating a utility through the energy transition, balancing customer and stakeholder expectations, his commitment to sustainable and safe energy, and his outlook on where the sector is headed.

(00:01)- James’s introduction to CEO Viewpoints and John Cleland(01:34)- John shares more about his career background so far(03:02)- John explains more about Essential Energy in terms of scale, customers and employees(04:29)- John shares more about what enticed him towards his current role(06:49)- John explains some of the challenges he’s faced along the way in his role, and how he’s navigated those challenges(11:18)- John explains the implications of the major cultural and digital changes that have taken place in recent years(13:32)- John explains how the company’s recruitment strategy has evolved over time(15:17)- John sheds light on his stakeholder management strategy(17:59)- John shares some of the critical investments and surprises along the way during the company’s transformation(22:53)- John explains how the company is being cost-effective while still innovating(25:50)- John shares some of the things he might have done differently when looking at the journey in hindsight(28:13)- John and James share their closing thoughts and conclusions