About Us

Graeme Wood AM is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and environmentalist who has more wins than failures so far. He believes in investing for positive social impact and changing the world to become a better place through business. He likes businesses that both make money and solve real world problems.
His philanthropic interests include environmental sustainability, the arts and public interest journalism..
Graeme is the founding sponsor for the Global Change Institute at the University of Queensland, founding investor in Guardian Australia, and is behind the regeneration of the Triabunna Woodchip Mill into Spring Bay Mill on Tasmania’s east coast. Graeme and his partner Anna Cerneaz are the current custodians of Spring Bay Mill. Once home to the world’s largest wood chip mill and built on the unceded lands of the paredarerme people, this 43-hectare site is now managed by a bunch of provocateurs intent on charting a sustainable path.
Graeme is also co-founder and chair of tech startup Mawson Ventures, co-founder and chair of Artology and Chair or Board member on several tech startups and impact investments.
Graeme holds an Honorary Doctorate in Economics from the University of Queensland and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2012.

Blair Palese is Director of Philanthropy at Ethinvest, Australia’s oldest impact investment advisor, and managing editor at Climate & Capital Media, focused on the trends and investment opportunities of the emerging climate economy. Blair was named as one of The Australian’s Top 100 Green Energy Players in late 2023. She has worked in the climate and environment space in Australia, the US and internationally for almost 40 years. In 2009, Blair founded 350.org Australia and was CEO for 10 years. She was Communications Director for Greenpeace International and head of PR for The Body Shop, both in the UK. Blair has been on a number of NGO boards and has consulted to Google X’s climate moon-shot team, C40 Cities for Climate Action, the Australian Museum’s Climate Solutions Centre, the Climate Group, Climate Institute, Green Building Council of Australia and a range of climate-related NGOs, businesses and government programs.

John Hepburn is an activist and social entrepreneur with over twenty-five years experience running environmental campaigns. In 2017, he was an inaugural recipient of the Climate Breakthrough Award, which was the catalyst for Sunrise to scale its work globally. Prior to founding The Sunrise Project in 2012, John spent a decade leading campaigns with Greenpeace, and previously worked on a wide variety of environmental campaigns at a grassroots level. He is the founder of several non-profit recycling businesses, which led to him being awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2002. John holds degrees in Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Business Management, and before becoming an activist, worked for several years as an engineer making components for the oil, gas and coal industries.

Tim has 30 years of financial market experience covering the Australian, Asian and global equity markets and is a highly influential energy finance commentator. He has written more than 100 reports on the global energy transition, and the roles of finance and policy in accelerating critical decarbonisation trends.

Tim was previously the Australasian Director of the global Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, 2013-2021. Prior to this, Tim was a top-rated equity research analyst, including Head of Equity Research in Singapore at Deutsche Bank, Managing Director, Head of Equity Research at Citigroup for 17 years, Head of Institutional Equities at Shaw & Partners and co-Managing Director of Arkx Investment Management P/L, a global listed clean energy investment start-up jointly owned with Westpac.

Tim started his career as a lecturer in Finance and Market Regulation at the University of Technology, Sydney before moving to Macquarie Group in 1988 to work in equity research. Tim has a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting and Finance from UTS (1985-87), the US SEC Series 7 (General Securities Representative Qualification Examination) and Series 24 (General Securities Principal Qualification Examination) qualifications.

When not studying energy markets, Tim enjoys bushwalking in Kurringgai national park in on the north shore of Sydney with friends, concurrently recharging, exercising and railing about our politicians.

Annemarie has more than 25 years’ experience in public and corporate affairs, media/communications strategy, research, publishing and academia, and holds a PhD and MA from the University of Sydney. Previous roles include joint chief of staff at the CMC, Climate Council, director of communications at The Sunrise Project and the National Trust, head of corporate and communications for multibillion dollar investment fund manager, philanthropist and animal protection activist Brian Sherman of Equitilink, and for business leader and philanthropist Graeme Wood’s NFPs, and general manager of the Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas. She has written and edited several books, including for MIT Press in the US and Melbourne University Press. Her background also includes feature journalism for News Limited and Fairfax, and work as a tenured academic at the University of Sydney in digital culture.

Annemarie also holds a BA and MA from UTS. 

She is a news and politics junkie, and passionate about climate, social justice, and animal protection. She loves bushwalking, observing the endless wonders of nature, movies, art, reading and bingeing on the golden age of streaming TV.

Matthew  focusses on the significant growth opportunities future-facing companies have in the electrified transport and energy transition. He has completed a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland (UQ), majoring in International Trade and Finance. Previously, Matthew spent 2 years studying biotechnology, focusing in chemistry and nanotechnology at UQ. Matthew’s work for CEF has included co-authorship of the major report, published in March 2023, “A Critical Minerals Value-Adding
Superpower: Mapping Australia’s ‘once in a century’ opportunity to lead the world in new economy minerals mining and renewables-powered onshore refining and manufacturing pre-export” and two other major reports on capping the diesel rebate to support electrification of heavy mining transport and the potential for partnership with South Korea on an onshore battery manufacturing industry.

In his spare time, he enjoys searching for the best eggs benny on the market, hitting the fairway, and avidly following F1.

Caroline is passionate about empowering mutual understanding, exchange and collaboration between Australia and China to accelerate decarbonisation and deliver mutual economic benefits.

She has over 9 years’ experience in law, policy and international relations across the Australian public administration and overseas. A passionate linguist and interculturalist, Caroline is fluent in English, Chinese, French and Italian. Prior to joining CEF, she was a Senior Policy Advisor in disaster preparedness at the New South Wales Premier’s Department where she facilitated the first ever knowledge-sharing collaboration between the NSW Government and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. She has written many government and parliamentary research reports and policy papers, including the report of the Australian Senate Inquiry into the 2019-20 bushfires. Caroline has provided leadership in building and strengthening international partnerships across national defence, education and parliamentary diplomacy. This included preparing multiple policy briefings and research papers to support senior executive officials’ and various ministers’ international engagements.

She has also worked in Guangzhou as a Project Manager (Sustainability partnerships) at a non-profit organisation focussed on China-Europe cultural diplomacy.

Caroline holds Arts (French) and Law (Honours) degrees from UNSW, a NSW practising certificate as a solicitor, and has studied a Masters in International Law and Administration at the Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University. In her spare time, Caroline enjoys playing tennis, practising yoga, reading, and spending time with friends.

Fatima is a dedicated Quality Analyst and Executive Assistant with experience in improving processes and supporting efficient workflows. Skilled at managing tasks, ensuring quality, and keeping things running smoothly, She thrives on tackling challenges and making things better.

Outside of work, Fatima is a coffee lover, always on the hunt for the perfect cup to fuel the day and stay focused.