Kath Rowley Announced As New Chief Executive Officer

The Climate Change Authority has appointed Kath Rowley as its new Chief Executive Officer, a move that signals sharpened focus on delivery, transparency and whole‑economy coordination in Australia’s decarbonisation push. Rowley steps into the role with deep experience at the front line of policy design and implementation, bringing a pragmatic edge to the challenge of cutting emissions while maintaining a resilient economy.

A track record shaped by climate policy

Rowley arrives with more than two decades working across climate, energy and sustainability policy. Most recently, she led the Emissions Reduction Division within the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. In that role, she helped steer the Australian Government’s Net Zero Plan and sectoral strategies, translating high‑level goals into roadmaps for action in areas such as energy, industry and transport. Her remit also included oversight of core evidence systems—most notably the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and forward projections—that underpin transparent measurement of progress.

This appointment also marks a return. Nearly a decade ago, Rowley served at the Authority as General Manager for Reviews, where she led public assessments of Australia’s emissions reduction targets and the effectiveness of existing policy. That experience—scrutinising what works, what doesn’t and why—positions her well to guide the Authority through the pivotal years ahead.

Her career has spanned state and national governments and extended to the global Climate Policy Initiative, where she engaged with international climate finance and policy design. The blend of domestic implementation and international perspective equips her to bridge data, policy architecture and investment signals—an increasingly critical skill set as capital shifts toward low‑emissions technologies and nature‑positive outcomes.

Why this appointment matters now

Australia’s decarbonisation pathway is entering a decisive phase. Sector plans must be coordinated to achieve near‑term emissions cuts while laying the groundwork for deeper reductions through 2030 and beyond. Rowley’s background suggests several near‑term priorities for the Authority:

• Turning sectoral strategies into credible delivery plans, with milestones that are measurable and comparable across the economy.
• Strengthening the integrity and clarity of greenhouse data—improving inventories, projections and assumptions—so communities, investors and industry can track progress with confidence.
• Linking mitigation with co‑benefits for nature, health and regional development, ensuring transitions are fair and economically durable.
• Providing independent advice that aligns emissions outcomes with infrastructure build‑out, market design and innovation cycles.

For heavy industry and energy systems, clear policy signals and robust projections reduce uncertainty and unlock investment in decarbonisation technologies. For regions navigating structural change, transparent planning and timely information are essential to ensure job creation and community resilience keep pace with emissions reductions.

Leadership transition and institutional momentum

The Authority has also acknowledged the contribution of outgoing Chief Executive Officer Brad Archer, whose tenure spanned a period of organisational growth and change. Under his leadership, the agency strengthened its analytical capability and culture of public service. He leaves the institution well‑positioned to scale its advisory work as national ambition accelerates.

The road ahead

With Rowley at the helm, the Authority is poised to focus on practical delivery of emissions reductions, consistent tracking against net‑zero milestones and clear, independent advice to government and the public. Expect greater emphasis on aligning sector pathways, tightening the feedback loop between evidence and policy, and ensuring that progress is visible and verifiable.

Australia’s emissions challenge is as much about execution as ambition. The combination of policy experience, data stewardship and cross‑sector insight that Rowley brings will be central to turning plans into outcomes—cutting pollution this decade while laying foundations for a competitive, climate‑resilient economy.