Net zero leader Audrey Zibelman joins Pollination board
Energy transition and innovation leader Audrey Zibelman will join the board of global climate and nature investment and advisory firm Pollination, contributing her world-leading expertise at a time of strategic growth and opportunity for the company.
“There are few people who understand the challenges and opportunities of the net zero transition more clearly than Audrey and we are thrilled she has agreed to help steer Pollination as it expands its presence across North America, Europe and Asia, while cementing its market leading presence in Australia,” Pollination CEO Martijn Wilder said.
Ms Zibelman joins the board after acting as a senior advisor to Pollination since 2022 and said she was excited to be expanding her involvement.
“The work that Pollination is doing to drive global decarbonisation is something I have long admired, and I have been lucky enough to be involved in an advisory capacity,” she said. “The opportunity to get more directly involved with Pollination’s next phase was a great match for my skills and interests and it is a challenge I am greatly looking forward to taking on.”
Ms Zibelman was CEO of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) between 2017 and 2021, and Chaired New York State’s Public Service Commission prior to that. After leaving AEMO, she worked as a Vice President at Google’s X, the moonshot factory, leading an innovation initiative relating to digitisation of electricity grids.
Resident in the United States but a frequent visitor to Australia, Ms Zibelman brings a deep familiarity with the tech innovation and energy sectors in both nations and beyond. Her experience and contacts will be invaluable in helping Pollination identify new partnerships and opportunities that can leverage the US$1.5 trillion Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
“The IRA provides huge opportunity for new approaches and new infrastructure and is a powerful tool to attract and deploy capital to meet the challenges we see across hard-to-decarbonise sectors of the global economy,” she said.
“We know that around US$125 trillion is needed globally by 2050 to finance the transition to net zero,” Ms Zibelman said. “The truth is we mostly have and know the solutions we need to deploy if we are going to limit global warming below 1.5 degrees.”
“The critical and urgent work ahead lies with bringing together those who wish to invest in solutions and those who are working on them, all while creating regulatory and enabling environments that make collaboration easier and faster.”
“Pollination is uniquely placed to help make all of that happen, which is what excites me about this role and the impact we can have together.”
Ms Zibelman’s addition to the company’s board follows the recent appointment of former Climate Counsellor to the US Treasury Secretary, John Morton, as the company’s Head of Americas. Pollination also opened its first Asian office in Singapore late last year, joining existing offices in Australia, as well as London, Washington DC and Chicago.
Mr Wilder said the company was continuing to put in place the building blocks to deliver on its goal of becoming the pre-eminent climate and nature firm worldwide.
“We know that the expertise, the strategic understanding and the partnership-forming capabilities we have gathered are widely needed right now and that demand for these things is only going to increase in the years to come,” he said.
“The shift to a net zero and nature positive future is an unstoppable global megatrend, and Pollination is both determined and well equipped to play a leading role in bringing it to life. Audrey will be a huge asset in delivering on that.”
ENDS
ABOUT POLLINATION
Pollination is a global climate change investment and advisory firm dedicated to accelerating the transition to a net-zero, nature positive future. Launched in 2019, the organization has a presence in 13 countries across The Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. The Pollination team includes global leaders in finance, technology, business, law and policy. Harnessing the team’s diverse expertise, Pollination helps government, business, and public and private capital to navigate the climate transition, designing and investing in breakthrough ideas that deliver financial returns.
pollinationgroup.com
Media contact
Dan Silkstone, Communications Director (APAC)
0414622762
daniel.silkstone@pollinationgroup.com
