Our Executive

Mr Learmonth has more than 30 years’ experience as a financier and investor, having worked in Australia, Asia and Europe across asset finance, clean energy and major infrastructure projects, as well as pioneering Australian social impact investing.

Prior to his appointment as CEO for the CEFC in 2017, Mr Learmonth established Social Ventures Australia’s Impact Investing business, which included raising venture capital and affordable housing funds as well as launching Australia’s first Social Impact Bond in 2013.

Previously an Executive Director of Macquarie Group for 12 years, Mr Learmonth has extensive global investment banking experience establishing various Macquarie businesses, notably European renewable energy and carbon credit investing as well as cross-border asset and structured finance and securitisation in Asia and Europe.

Mr Learmonth has degrees in Law and Commerce from The University of Queensland and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a member of The University of Queensland Business School Advisory Board and has been a long-standing director of Sydney’s Belvoir Street theatre company.

Paul McCartney is an experienced finance and investment executive with more than 35 years’ experience across commercial leadership, infrastructure investment and clean energy finance. 

He brings deep institutional knowledge and a strong track record of delivering nationally significant investments. Since joining the CEFC at its inception, he has played a key role in deploying capital to support Australia’s energy transition, with a particular focus on electricity grids, infrastructure and emerging clean energy markets. 

Prior to his appointment as the next CEFC CEO, Mr McCartney was Chief Investment officer – Rewiring the Nation, with responsibility for leading the CEFC specialist Rewiring the Nation Fund, Alternative Fuels and Industry and WA teams. 

Mr McCartney has worked across clean energy, commercial property, funds management and IT services. He has also worked in mergers and acquisitions area, and held chief financial officer roles for listed and unlisted companies. 

Mr McCartney is a Certified Practising Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from RMIT University. He is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Ms Chan leads the specialist Rewiring the Nation Fund, Alternative Fuels and Industry and WA teams, which are focused on unlocking investment critical to Australia’s clean energy transition via large-scale nation building projects. The role’s focus includes transmission and distribution networks, Renewable Energy Zones, green hydrogen and sustainable fuels. 

Prior to her appointment as Acting Chief Investment Officer, Ms Chan was leading the strategy and governance aspects of the Rewiring the Nation Fund in an Executive Director role.  She previously co-led the large-scale solar business, supporting Australia’s growing renewable energy sector, and led the Future Grid business at the CEFC. Gloria has over 20 years of institutional banking and investment experience, spanning project and corporate finance as well as credit. Gloria was previously a Director at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, financing projects and corporates across a variety of industries, including renewables, utilities, mining and mining infrastructure, and oil and gas. 

Mr Every leads the CEFC Corporate Affairs team, which is responsible for the CEFC brand, reputation and external positioning. The team does this while ensuring the organisation’s most critical external relationships with responsible Ministers, the Australian Government and the Australian Parliament are maintained and grown. 

Corporate Affairs supports the CEFC by aligning intent, messaging and effort across public affairs, First Nations and marketing and communications activities. Mr Every is responsible for the development of CEFC-related public Policy, First Nations matters and CEFC stakeholder relations. He also leads CEFC media, marketing, and corporate communications.  

Mr Every has been leading government strategic relations at the CEFC since inception. He advised on the creation of the CEFC while at Low Carbon Australia Limited, before it was merged into the CEFC. He has more than 20 years’ experience working for and advising Commonwealth entities, including as Chief of Staff to a Federal Cabinet Minister. 

Mr Every is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a 2022 Vincent Fairfax Fellow. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, majoring in Political Science and History, from the Queensland University of Technology. 

Ms Leong is responsible for the management of the diverse CEFC portfolio of debt, equity and early‑stage/venture capital investments, as well as oversight of the organisation’s environmental, social and governance function.

Ms Leong has extensive experience in infrastructure, project and structured finance as well as asset, portfolio and funds management. 

Prior to joining the CEFC, Ms Leong worked at Deutsche Bank, Macquarie Group and ANZ Banking Group, in Australia and the UK and held non-executive directorships for portfolio companies in the utilities and infrastructure sectors.

Ms Leong has a Master of Laws (Corporate and Commercial) from the University of NSW, a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Business (Finance) from the University of Technology, Sydney. She is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Ms Leong is a director of venture capital firm Virescent Ventures.

Mr Lonergan leads the CEFC team responsible for the origination and execution of investments in infrastructure and alternatives, which includes the $500 million Powering Australia Technology Fund.

Mr Lonergan works on direct investment opportunities as well as on indirect investments via third-party fund managers across multiple sectors.

He has led the development of the CEFC Infrastructure, Natural Capital, Impact Capital and Private Equity platforms.

Mr Lonergan has more than 30 years’ experience in the equity investment and wider funds management sectors, having worked at PwC, Zurich Capital Markets and Challenger Limited, where he was Head of Transaction Structuring.

Mr Lonergan is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms McDonald leads people and culture initiatives to ensure that the talent, capability and workplace culture is in place to enable the CEFC to make a positive impact.

Ms McDonald brings over 25 years of senior leadership experience in organisational development across the energy, financial services, and IT sectors. She has successfully designed and led transformative leadership and cultural change initiatives that have accelerated strategic execution both in Australia and internationally.

As a management consultant, Ms McDonald led strategic initiatives for clients in the financial services, manufacturing and public sectors.

Ms McDonald was a 2017 Chief Executive Women (CEW) Scholar, holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology and a Master of Commerce in Organisational Behaviour from the University of NSW.

Ms Miller leads the CEFC team responsible for the origination and execution of investments in renewables and sustainable finance, overseeing transactions in the areas of renewable energy, storage and debt markets.

This includes the $1 billion Household Energy Upgrades Fund™. Ms Miller has more than 20 years’ experience in clean energy and environmental finance.

Prior to joining the CEFC, Ms Miller worked at Macquarie Bank and Baker McKenzie in Sydney and London, with extensive experience in renewables and carbon investment and structuring, international emissions trading and policy advice.

Ms Miller holds a Bachelor of Arts/Law degree with Honours from the Australian National University and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr Powell leads the CEFC finance team which is responsible for the overall financial planning, reporting and performance, cash management and strategic financial direction of the CEFC. Mr Powell also leads the CEFC information technology team which is responsible for delivering high-quality end-user and workplace technology, services and supporting infrastructure, safe, secure and resilient systems as well as information management and enabling business value through digital evolution.

He has more than 35 years’ business experience, working within industry and public accounting both in Australia and the United States. Mr Powell was founding Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of Low Carbon Australia Limited, where he also contributed to its strategic direction before it was merged into the CEFC.

Mr Powell has previously held the role of Senior Vice President of Finance for then NASDAQ-listed Symyx Technologies, Inc. and senior roles with EY (Ernst & Young) in both Australia and the United States. He is experienced in all aspects of financial accounting, as well as mergers and acquisitions, public listings and transaction and deal structuring.

Mr Powell is a Chartered Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from Macquarie University, and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Sung is responsible for shaping and executing the CEFC’s enterprise strategy and optimising capital management to deliver investments that maximise emissions reduction, market impact and financial returns. 

Her role integrates strategic planning, capital management and allocation, ensuring the CEFC remains at the forefront of Australia’s transition to a net-zero economy while delivering on its legislative investment mandate. 

Ms Sung has previously led CEFC investment strategy across agriculture, forestry and broader nature-based solutions to accelerate and contribute to the decarbonisation pathway for Australia.  

She has more than 25 years’ experience in financial services across private and public markets, including agriculture funds management with Macquarie’s Infrastructure and Real Assets Group. Heech holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from University of Technology Sydney. 

Mr Tolson leads the CEFC second-line of control functions, which includes Legal, Credit, Risk and Compliance and Corporate Governance at the CEFC. Mr Tolson was appointed to the Chief Operating Officer role on 1 December 2025, in addition to his existing responsibilities as the CEFC General Counsel and Company Secretary.

An experienced leader within the financial services industry, Mr Tolson was previously General Counsel for Credit Suisse in Australia, where he worked across a broad range of complex financing, investment banking and capital markets transactions.

He previously held senior legal positions with National Australia Bank and Commonwealth Bank of Australia. In private practice, Mr Tolson worked for Linklaters as a banking and finance solicitor in London and Singapore.

Mr Tolson completed his legal studies in England and is admitted to practice in New South Wales, England and Wales.