Our people

Sam joined Octopus Investments UK in 2012 as Head of Energy Investments. After leading the Renewables team in London for over six years, Sam founded Octopus Australia in 2018. Sam’s leadership has been instrumental in supporting the company’s growth under its three main pillars: Energy Infrastructure, Technology, and Change, which includes team culture, community programs, and government partnerships.

As CEO, Sam is dedicated to steering Octopus Australia towards its mission of accelerating the renewable energy transition, focusing on ensuring that this transition benefits the economy, community, and environment.

Under Sam’s leadership, Octopus Australia now has offices in Melbourne and Sydney and has grown into an energy transition company with a multi-billion-dollar portfolio across wind, solar, and battery storage.

Sophie has over 10 years industry experience working in Funds Management Research and Wholesale Distribution and is also a CFA Charter holder.

Since joining Octopus in 2019, Sophie has led the team through multiple successful fundraises and has been integral in building Octopus Australia’s current product offering and investor base which spans a diverse range of clients across institutional, wholesale groups, private banks, and family offices.

As Head of Distribution, Product and Marketing Sophie leads the team towards further expanding their distribution footprint and the presence of Octopus Australia in the market, driving much needed funds towards the energy transition in Australia.

Outside of the office Sophie can be found with her two young sons at the beach.

Committed to driving Australia’s energy transition, Sonia brings over two decades of experience in renewable energy and storage, with a focus on investment and project development. She has worked at Tier one renewables and financial businesses creating value across the entire project life cycle.
 
Sonia is the Co-Managing Director of the Renewables Australia team and is responsible for leading the team to realise its development assets and scaling our portfolio. In her time at Octopus Sonia has been instrumental in securing the existing renewable portfolio and growing the high performing team.
 
Outside of work Sonia enjoys hiking through the Australian bush, admiring our green and golden landscapes.

Darren has over 20 years’ experience in the energy sector, working in Energy Infrastructure across Acquisition, Development and Operations. Darren’s career spans Tier one Energy and Infrastructure businesses across Oil, Gas, Energy, Transmission and Renewables. Enabling in excess of $2bn of renewable assets across wind, solar and storage.
 
Darren is the Co-Managing Director of the Octopus Australia Renewables team and leads the Investment team to scale our Portfolio. Since joining Octopus in 2020, Darren has acquired Dulacca Wind Farm and Darlington Point Solar Farm, which are now both part of our growing portfolio.
 
Outside of forging renewable energy projects, you can find Darren shooting hoops, coaching basketball or kicking a football with his boys.

Jonathan joined Octopus Group in 2013 where he’s worked across Energy Investments and Funds Management, and as of 2024 is now CFO.
 
With the investment team, Jonathan completed over c$1.4 billion in transactions to grow Octopus’s energy platform into one of the largest in Europe. In 2018, upon relocating to Australia Jonathan led the establishment of the Octopus Australia’s energy platform and fund products. As CFO, Jonathan looks after strategic decision making and scaling operations for Octopus Australia.
 
Prior to Octopus, Jonathan worked with Deloitte Corporate Finance Advisory where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Jonathan has a BA from Columbia University and an MBA from Oxford University.
 
Out of the office, Jonathan can be found either cycling down Beach Road on sunny weekends or catching the latest concerts coming through town.

Iain has been with the Octopus Group since 2012, and was a founding solicitor at Lightsource Renewable Energy UK (then an Octopus Group company), before joining Octopus as Head of Legal for UK and European renewables in 2016.

In 2019 Iain joined the Octopus Australia team. Iain is a Director of Octopus Australia and member of the Octopus Australia Investment Committee. He is a qualified solicitor admitted in Victoria and NZ and is responsible for guiding the Australian business on legal and commercial matters.

Iain has a particular interest in biodiversity and integration of sustainable farming practices into renewable energy projects.

Tim is responsible for managing Octopus Australia’s institutional funds and investors.

Tim has over 14 years of funds management experience and prior to Octopus Australia, has worked at NAB, Quentin Ayers, AustralianSuper and the Commonwealth Department of Finance and Administration.

Tim has a Master of Commerce and a Master of International Business from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Engineering (Computer) from the University of New South Wales.

Darren has over 20 years’ experience in the energy sector, working in Energy Infrastructure across Acquisition, Development and Operations. Darren’s career spans Tier one Energy and Infrastructure businesses across Oil, Gas, Energy, Transmission and Renewables. Enabling in excess of $2bn of renewable assets across wind, solar and storage.
 
Darren is the Co-Managing Director of the Octopus Australia Renewables team and leads the Investment team to scale our Portfolio. Since joining Octopus in 2020, Darren has acquired Dulacca Wind Farm and Darlington Point Solar Farm, which are now both part of our growing portfolio.
 
Outside of forging renewable energy projects, you can find Darren shooting hoops, coaching basketball or kicking a football with his boys.

Committed to driving Australia’s energy transition, Sonia brings over two decades of experience in renewable energy and storage, with a focus on investment and project development. She has worked at Tier one renewables and financial businesses creating value across the entire project life cycle.
 
Sonia is the Co-Managing Director of the Renewables Australia team and is responsible for leading the team to realise its development assets and scaling our portfolio. In her time at Octopus Sonia has been instrumental in securing the existing renewable portfolio and growing the high performing team.
 
Outside of work Sonia enjoys hiking through the Australian bush, admiring our green and golden landscapes.

Born and bred a Melbournian, after 7 years working across the European energy sector with 5 years focusing on M&A/business development, Lee is excited to be back home helping to decarbonise the Australian economy. Lee is an Investment Director within the Octopus Australia team and is working to deploy client’s capital across the renewable energy landscape.

Having joined Octopus in 2013, Mike is a senior member of the Investment team, bringing over 11 years of experience in renewables. His expertise spans investing across core renewable technologies, contributing to over $2 billion in global utility-scale renewable generation financings for both retail and institutional funds.

In 2019, Mike relocated with Octopus from the UK to Australia, playing a crucial role in positioning the company as a significant player in the Australian energy market transition.
 
Mike has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Economics from the University of Nottingham.
 
Mike is also an avid golfer and loves to hack it around the course most weekends.

Kian possesses extensive expertise in clean energy investment, having successfully overseen the final investment approval and financial closure of more than 400MW generating capacity both in Australia and internationally within the past four years. In his role at Octopus Investments, Kian leads the identification of investment opportunities, undertakes investment evaluations, and secures third-party project financing.

Beyond his professional pursuits in the renewable energy sector, Kian showcases a different kind of prowess on the tennis court. Channelling the finesse of Roger Federer, or perhaps embodying the grace of a slightly uncoordinated flamingo, he finds balance and joy in his athletic endeavours outside the world of sustainable finance.

Chris joined Octopus in 2020 and has seven years’ experience working across the Funds Management and Impact Investment sectors. Skilled in mergers and acquisitions, deal execution, debt and equity financing, valuations, and ESG, he has been involved in several renewable energy transactions covering multiple technologies.
 
Chris is Chair of the Octopus Australia ESG Committee and has a passion for enabling impact and for purpose capital. Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) / Bachelor of Laws from Deakin University.
 
Outside of work, Chris enjoys adventuring, travel, and exploring new ideas. 

Patty joined Octopus in December 2023 with a background in commercial advisory and transaction execution across renewable energy, circular economy and infrastructure. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) / Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney and has previously worked for PwC and Macquarie Group.

At Octopus, Patty is part of the investment team and enjoys tackling the complexity of mergers and acquisitions, financial models and commercial structures.

Patty also loves to travel and explore new places, particularly if it results in discovering a new dish or two.

Bowen joined Octopus in mid-2023 with a passion for the renewable energy industry. She has over five years of experience in Investment and Deal Execution.

Prior to joining Octopus, Bowen worked in Private Equity focusing on consumer and fintech investments in the APAC region and portfolio management including strategising corporate-level growth plans. Bowen is a U.S. Certified Public Accountant.

In her free time, Bowen enjoys reading about cutting-edge technologies, skiing and hiking.

Kristina joined Octopus in April 2023 as an Investment Associate.  Prior to joining the team, Kristina handled the origination and execution of long-term financing for the largest geothermal company in the Philippines. She moved here to Melbourne in 2022 to pursue her MBA.

During her free time, Kristina loves to try out cafes and pastry shops scattered around the city then go to the gym or for a long walk to offset all the calories.

Brenton has over 15 years of energy industry experience focused on the project development and project management of large-scale renewables and electricity network infrastructure. Brenton is responsible for delivering Octopus Australia’s development strategy and driving the portfolio of renewable energy developments forward.

When Brenton is not delivering renewable projects, you’ll find him surfing, mountain biking and chasing his young kids around.

Jaryd joined Octopus in 2023, having previously held senior roles in the utility sector helping customers achieve their decarbonisation goals. He has a broad spectrum of experience developing, designing and building energy projects, and loves it when a good plan comes together.

At Octopus, Jaryd leads the development of projects in Victoria and is passionate about delivering positive outcomes for our investors and the regional communities we operate in. When he’s ‘out of office’ you’ll find him spending quality time with his wife and daughter, working on the house or enjoying a road trip somewhere in regional Victoria. 

Claude joined Octopus in 2023, as a Senior Development Manager and brings with him deep experience from the Oil and Gas industry in Development, Project Management, and Engineering, having previously worked for Shell Australia, Shell UK and Viva Energy. Claude is keen to be part of the energy transition and is now responsible for delivering key renewables projects within the Octopus development pipeline.

Claude holds an Environmental Science and Chemical Engineering (Hons) Bachelor degree from the University of Melbourne.

When not at work, Claude can be found running after his bustling young family household, cycling, volunteering and enjoying a strong 3/4 full almond latte or two!

With nine years of experience in the Renewable Energy Industry, Shevy Feiglin joined Octopus in 2024 as a Development Manager. Her extensive background includes expertise in wholesale electricity market design and leadership of large-scale renewable energy projects in Victoria and New South Wales. At Octopus, Shevy plays a pivotal role in supporting the development team to achieve project milestones, helping to solidify Octopus Australia as a leader in renewable energy in Australia.
 
When she’s not advancing renewable energy projects, Shevy enjoys spending quality time with her large family, both in Australia and overseas.

Marcelo joined Octopus in May 2024 as a Development Manager, with over 12 years of techno-commercial experience across the renewable energy value chain. Marcelo has previously worked at a diverse range of employers including global corporate GE, academic research at the University of Melbourne, and non-profit think tank, Beyond Zero Emissions.
 
Marcelo has degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematical Physics as well as having been a member of two leadership programs – GE’s Engineering Graduate Program and the Centre for Sustainability Leadership’s Future Markers Fellowship.
 
In his spare time Marcelo enjoys listening to music, reading the latest quarterly essay and drinking his favourite Yerba Mate tea.

With over 20 years of experience across the analytics and energy industries, Brent lives and breathes data. He strongly believes in the insights that can be created through a solid analytical foundation and how they can be used to better understand Australia’s evolving energy markets.

When not busy working, Brent enjoys travelling and exploring new places with his family.  Whether that is an Australian road trip to rural destinations or an overseas adventure to experience new cities and cultures. He also likes trying new restaurants and a degustation menu with a great view is always a favourite.

Swagata joined Octopus in February 2023.  He has 17 years of experience in the energy sector, with a focus on the energy markets, power generation, and water utilities in Australia and different Asian countries.

He has extensive experience in utilising the commercial market modelling software Plexos and Prophet to simulate various energy markets. His experience in the power and water industry spans a wide range of fields, including plant operations and maintenance, reliability, settlement software development, performance testing, commercial and contracts management, and overall business optimisation.
 
Outside of the office, he enjoys watching cricket and reading various kinds of tweets on Twitter.

Tom joined Octopus in December 2022 and is leading the offtake strategy underpinning our renewable energy investment portfolio in Australia. He has held a variety of roles in the energy industry and has advised some of Australia’s largest energy users with the strategic procurement of electricity and Renewable Energy PPAs.

Outside of the office he is a keen surfer and likes to get away hiking for the weekends.

Ed joined the Octopus Australia team in 2023, with varied previous experience in the energy industry in Market Forecasting, Electricity Retailing and Renewables Development.

Ed works in the Energy Markets Team across data and analytics, ensuring a data driven approach to our decision making, as well as developing and securing offtakes for our growing portfolio of renewable and storage assets.

Outside of work Ed most enjoys moving about, particularly by foot or rail, taking in both the natural and built environment.

Zac joined Octopus in 2024, having previously worked in energy markets consulting, advising large energy users and renewable energy investors on PPA transactions and market strategy. He has a background in actuarial science as well as an MBA.
 
As part of the Energy Markets team, Zac provides modelling and analytics to support the development and strategy for Octopus’ portfolio of generation and storage assets.
 
Outside of work Zac enjoys reading, golfing and watching the mighty Geelong Cats.

Eric, while new to Octopus as GM of Assets has 38 years of experience in Construction, Engineering and Operations, with the most recent 13 years in Renewables. He has a passion for renewables and driving for a cleaner energy future. He passion also spills over to bicycles, he loves to ride in all it forms. Mountain, gravel and road cycling are his tools of choice and always up for ride- don’t be surprised if you find him out riding around the renewable assets, explorer the trails, roads and communities!

Kate joined Octopus in 2014, bringing over 10 years’ experience in renewables across finance and asset management.

Kate is responsible for overseeing Octopus Australia’s asset management business (OSCAR), with a focus on contract execution and delivery, driving asset performance as well as valuations and reporting. She previously ran the finance function of Octopus Australia and its investments when it was established in 2018.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is a Qualified Chartered Accountant, having previously worked at PwC in the Private Clients team.

Outside of work, Kate loves spending time with her two young children and sheep dog Pablo, while trying to fit in a Pilates class (when she can!).

Suzie has worked in the renewable energy and infrastructure construction project delivery for over 10 years.  Her experience extends across all stages of the asset lifecycle including feasibility, masterplan, design, construction, commissioning, and operation; including landmark infrastructure projects with complex delivery models and stakeholder requirements. As a senior project manager at Octopus, Suzie is responsible for the construction phase delivery of our renewable energy projects.
 
Suzie is always keen to hear about a great place to eat or a new place to visit.  She will go to great lengths to track down all the hidden gems – whether it’s a scenic trail to hike, an off-the-beaten-path country bakery, or the best coffee in the neighbourhood.

Kaushal joined Octopus in October 2023 having worked in various roles across the Renewables sector.

Kaushal has 14 years of experience across Grid Connection, Engineering, Construction, Commissioning and Operations of Solar Farms and has worked on one of the largest Solar Farms in the world.

At Octopus, Kaushal provides engineering support to the development team and manages the construction of Renewable projects.

Outside of work, Kaushal loves travelling, reading novels and chilling out with friends.

Ubayeda is an electrical engineer who joined Octopus from the Jemena Group, where he focused on the unregulated and regulated services sector of the business, including design and delivery of energy projects, terminal station upgrades, and connection projects. Prior to Jemena, he worked at Plenary Group, an infrastructure developer, where he contributed to various Public Private Partnership projects in Australia.

At Octopus, Ubayeda is responsible for the engineering and delivery of Octopus’ pipeline of renewable assets. Outside of work, Ubayeda is passionate about history and politics and enjoys staying active through sports.

Tom has extensive experience in renewable energy asset management, complimented by a strong commercial background gained through working with leading developers, asset managers and tier-1 OEMs. 
 
Tom is responsible for leading the technical asset management for Octopus Australia’s growing portfolio of wind, solar and storage assets.
 
In addition to supporting the energy transition, Tom enjoys mountain biking with his family or smashing out the annual peaks challenge cycling event in Falls Creek, Victoria.

Jonny’s role at Octopus focuses on financial analysis and valuation, analysing asset performance to derive insights and reporting these back to the Octopus team. Prior to joining Octopus, Jonny investigated and quantified insurance claims in the energy sector.

Jonny is a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) who has worked for KPMG and Deloitte in the past.

When not directing his attention to a spreadsheet, he is an avid reader, runner, and quizzer who is known occasionally to be competitive.

John joined Octopus Australia in 2023 as Grid Manager with over 10 years of industry experience in OEM, Developer and Network Service Provider roles.

John is passionate about enabling the transition to renewables and is responsible for leading the grid team while providing grid oversight for the broader business.

When not looking at generator performance standards, you’ll find him on a road trip, trying out a new eatery or watching eagerly at the MCG.

Marcus joined Octopus in March 2024, having previously worked in OEM and System Operator roles. He brings with him a broad experience in the energy industry, ranging from commissioning synchronous machines to assessing the network impacts of distributed PV.
 
At Octopus, Marcus is part of the grid team and is responsible for guiding the development projects through the obstacles of the grid connection process. In his free time, you can find him on a basketball court, golf course or at a live music concert.

Emilie joined Octopus in 2024, having previously worked at Vestas executing the grid connection scope for large-scale wind projects, and in consulting, providing power system modelling services to renewable energy developers.

As part of the Octopus grid team, Emilie supports projects from early development through to registration, commissioning, and ongoing grid compliance.

Outside of work, you’ll find Emilie exploring Melbourne and its surrounds, or meticulously planning her next dinner party menu.

Sid joined the Octopus team in 2023 with over 7 years of experience across various power generation technologies, focusing on engineering, project management, and asset management of projects under development, construction, and operations.

At Octopus, he will provide engineering support across all stages of the asset lifecycle and manage the construction of renewable projects.

In his free time, you will find Sid exploring new places, new adventures and challenging his fears. Sid enjoys spending time with his family and friends in Australia and overseas.

Tara has over five years of dedicated experience in the field of electrical engineering. Her expertise lies in construction and development detail design, with a keen focus on adapting to local construction methodologies.

Tara joined Octopus in October 2023. In Tara’s role at Octopus Australia, she’s excited to shift her focus towards the grid connection aspect of projects, which allows her to delve deeper into the intricacies of electrical engineering in the renewable sector.

Outside of work, she is an avid fitness enthusiast and an outdoor activities lover.

Matt brings 10 years of experience working in the resources industry for BHP where he focused on Traditional Owner Agreements and Negotiations, Global Communications, and Project Management of offshore oil and gas assets and onshore coal, nickel and iron ore assets. He most recently completed a stint managing the Policy team for the Treaty Negotiations with the Victorian Government.

Matt will be responsible for delivering Octopus Australia’s stakeholder engagement strategy, building long lasting mutual relationships with our many stakeholders.

Afterwork, Matt is an Australian Bushfood and Botanicals advocate which sees him talking all around the Country on the beauty of our native ingredients.

Sophie has over 10 years industry experience working in Funds Management Research and Wholesale Distribution and is also a CFA Charter holder.

Since joining Octopus in 2019, Sophie has led the team through multiple successful fundraises and has been integral in building Octopus Australia’s current product offering and investor base which spans a diverse range of clients across institutional, wholesale groups, private banks, and family offices.

As Head of Distribution, Product and Marketing Sophie leads the team towards further expanding their distribution footprint and the presence of Octopus Australia in the market, driving much needed funds towards the energy transition in Australia.

Outside of the office Sophie can be found with her two young sons at the beach.

Tim is responsible for managing Octopus Australia’s institutional funds and investors.

Tim has over 14 years of funds management experience and prior to Octopus Australia, has worked at NAB, Quentin Ayers, AustralianSuper and the Commonwealth Department of Finance and Administration.

Tim has a Master of Commerce and a Master of International Business from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Engineering (Computer) from the University of New South Wales.

Campbell joined Octopus Group in 2017 and is responsible for wholesale funds and investors. Prior to joining the Australian team, he worked in various fund management and finance roles for Octopus Renewables in London, where he launched and managed institutional and retail renewable energy funds.

Campbell has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland and is a Chartered Accountant. He previously spent over five years with EY globally before working in investor relations and strategy roles for a FTSE100 business.

When not thinking about our clients, Campbell can be found spending time at the beach with his young family or pounding the pavement training for his next marathon.

Tim joined Octopus in 2024, having over 20 years’ experience in fund operations focusing on alternative assets and superannuation funds. Prior to Octopus, Tim held senior roles at NGS Super, Quentin Ayers and Maritime Super. 

Tim has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney.

At Octopus, Tim is responsible for fund operations and managing various operational processes including investor reporting.

Outside of the office, you will see Tim chasing his two kids or trying to get a game on the squash court. 

Christen joined Octopus in January 2023, joining Tim in the institutional funds team. Christen has six years funds management experience and prior to Octopus Australia, worked at JANA Investment Advisers and Lazard Asset Management Australia.

Christen has a Master of Commerce (Finance) from the University of New South Wales and an Undergraduate degree in Architecture from The University of Technology, Sydney.

Christen joined Octopus to combine his interests in investing and the built environment. Outside the office he spends most his time in the ocean.

Brendan joined Octopus in 2023 with a growing passion for the renewable energy sector and is responsible for wholesale and institutional distribution. Brendan has over eight years of experience and prior to Octopus has worked at Mercer, Mason Stevens and PwC.

Brendan holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales and is a registered Chartered Accountant. He has also completed his Chartered Alternatives Investment Analyst Level 1 exam.

Brendan is a self-proclaimed foodie and outside of the office enjoys playing badminton, cooking, travelling and following esports.

Mark joined Octopus in January 2023.  He helps drive the sales process to our mid-market advisors and family offices.

Mark is passionate about bringing renewable energy products to investors and is a strong advocate for their function in client portfolios.

Prior to joining Octopus, Mark worked in Private Wealth Management for 7 years servicing HNW and wholesale clients.
Outside of work you will likely find Mark in his home music studio, on the tennis court, or watching his beloved Western Bulldogs.

Thomas joined Octopus in June 2024, bringing with him a decade of business development experience within wealth management. With a passion for helping clients understand the Octopus funds and offerings, Thomas is excited about the opportunity to foster strong relationships and provide valuable insights.

He holds a major in Finance from Macquarie University and is currently pursuing the CAIA accreditation. Prior to Octopus, Thomas worked at Allianz Retire+ PIMCO, State Street Global Advisers and BT Financial Group.

Outside the office, Thomas is an avid sports fan who loves good food (yes to pineapple on pizza), golfing, and more recently thought it would be a good idea to compete in triathlons.

Ruby has over 6 years’ marketing experience in the financial services sector, having previously worked in Funds Research and Data, Investment Management, and Accounting marketing roles.
 
Ruby joined Octopus Australia in January 2024 after spending a year at Octopus Investments in the UK, and is passionate about providing creative and meaningful marketing outcomes. Ruby is responsible for managing the day-to-day marketing requirements of the Australian business and amplifying the Octopus brand.
 
Outside of work, Ruby enjoys spending time at the beach with her Kelpie and travelling.

Jonathan joined Octopus Group in 2013 where he’s worked across Energy Investments and Funds Management, and as of 2024 is now CFO.
 
With the investment team, Jonathan completed over c$1.4 billion in transactions to grow Octopus’s energy platform into one of the largest in Europe. In 2018, upon relocating to Australia Jonathan led the establishment of the Octopus Australia’s energy platform and fund products. As CFO, Jonathan looks after strategic decision making and scaling operations for Octopus Australia.
 
Prior to Octopus, Jonathan worked with Deloitte Corporate Finance Advisory where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Jonathan has a BA from Columbia University and an MBA from Oxford University.
 
Out of the office, Jonathan can be found either cycling down Beach Road on sunny weekends or catching the latest concerts coming through town.

Iain has been with the Octopus Group since 2012, and was a founding solicitor at Lightsource Renewable Energy UK (then an Octopus Group company), before joining Octopus as Head of Legal for UK and European renewables in 2016.

In 2019 Iain joined the Octopus Australia team. Iain is a Director of Octopus Australia and member of the Octopus Australia Investment Committee. He is a qualified solicitor admitted in Victoria and NZ and is responsible for guiding the Australian business on legal and commercial matters.

Iain has a particular interest in biodiversity and integration of sustainable farming practices into renewable energy projects.

James joined Octopus in 2021 and has over 10 years finance experience accumulated across Octopus, Commonwealth Bank and at Big 4 professional services firms. He is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Adelaide.
 
James is responsible for the overall financial and tax management of Octopus and its assets, and for financial and tax due diligence on investments and new opportunities.
 
Outside of Octopus, you’ll likely find James on a tennis court, golf course, in the ocean, or reading.

Elise joined Octopus in 2021. She has over nine years of experience in the renewable energy sector and is passionate about contributing to Australia’s energy transition. As Senior Commercial Manager, Elise supports the Octopus portfolio of renewable energy projects throughout their lifecycle, focusing on late-stage development to achieve FID and financial close.
 
Prior to joining Octopus, Elise advised on all stages of large-scale onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage projects in Australia and overseas, as a private practice lawyer at tier 1 and magic circle law firms (Herbert Smith Freehills (Aus) and Linklaters (UK)) and in-house at AGL. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons 1)/Bachelor of International Studies.
 
Outside of work, Elise loves to travel and learn new languages and to spend time with her young family and energetic groodle.

Chris joined Octopus in February 2024 as a Senior Legal Manager, bringing with him over nine years of experience in advising lenders, borrowers, sponsors and governments on the development and financing of major domestic and international energy and infrastructure projects. Chris is committed to using this experience to support Octopus’ mission to accelerate the transition to a future powered by renewable energy.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Law from the University of Oxford.

Outside of the office, Chris is a passionate triathlete and runner whose ideal weekend is spent exploring Australia’s amazing National Parks on foot or by bicycle.

Damith is a CPA with more than 10 years of combined, multi-industry experience in corporate valuations & strategy, finance, management consulting, and FP&A in markets across Europe, South Asia and Australia.

Damith joined Octopus in 2021 and has spearheaded the building and development of the financial modelling architecture within Octopus. He has also been involved in numerous transactions from a buy-side perspective. Among other things, his current focus is on formulating systems for the cohesive and effective use of information across the organisation, to enhance the use of key information in decision-making and strategy. Damith is passionate about the future of sustainable circular economies and about collaborating closely with stakeholders within First Nations communities.

His passion for the environment extends to Damith’s life outside of work, too – he can usually be found trekking around wildlife reserves and exploring bushland and rockpools.

Edwina joined Octopus in 2023 with private practice legal experience in the Future Energy team at King & Wood Mallesons. Before that, Edwina was a Judge’s Associate at the Federal Court of Australia and a member of the General Counsel Division at the Australian Rail Track Corporation. Edwina is a qualified solicitor and holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons 1) / Bachelor of International Studies from the University of Adelaide.

At Octopus, Edwina is responsible for supporting the business on legal matters relating to renewables development, investment and operations.

Outside of work, you will find Edwina outside on a (slow) Saturday morning run followed by a strong coffee and window shop.

Irfan joined Octopus in October 2023 bringing over four years’ experience from Mergers and Acquisition and Restructuring across various industry sectors. Irfan has a Master of Finance and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Finance), is a Chartered Accountant (CA ANZ) and is a CFA® Exam Level III candidate.

Driven to be a part of Australia’s renewable energy transition, Irfan is deploying his skillset through the suite of financial models at Octopus to facilitate impactful investments in renewable energy.

Nicola joined the finance team at Octopus in 2024 and assists in managing the day-to-day finances of Octopus Australia and our assets. Prior to joining Octopus, she spent four years working in assurance at PwC in Johannesburg and Sydney.

Nicola has an honours degree in Accounting from Stellenbosch University, South Africa and is a Chartered Accountant.

When Nicola is out of the office she enjoys spending time at the beach, reading or at a Pilates class.

Grace joined Octopus in May 2024 as an HR Advisor, bringing with her deep experience in HR management. Prior to joining Octopus, Grace worked at Allens as a Senior People and Development Consultant in the HR Consulting team.
 
Grace has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Notre Dame. With a background in law, Grace transitioned into the HR space after practicing as a family lawyer.
 
In her role at Octopus, Grace is a generalist and handles all of our daily core HR functions, including recruitment, onboarding, employee support, employee relations, performance management, and training & development.
 
Outside of work, Grace enjoys playing tennis, travelling and trying new local restaurants.

In June 2022, Cheryl became a part of the Octopus team bringing 25 years of expertise in HR, Accounts, and Office Management from both Big 4 and small business sectors.

Cheryl is known for her adeptness in aligning values, prioritising team well-being, and embracing innovative approaches.

Cheryl’s decision to join Octopus was effortless due to the resonance of the company’s values with her focus on taking care of people.

Beyond work, Cheryl finds joy in travelling abroad, attending the theatre, engaging in outdoor activities like hiking and tennis and cherishing time with family and friends.