Jim soorley
Non-Executive Chairman
MA, BA
Director since 1 October 2015
Jim Soorley was the Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 1991 to 2003, presiding over an annual budget of $1.6 billion and a workforce of 7,000. Jim lists his greatest achievement as Lord Mayor as transforming Brisbane from a city with a ‘country town’ mentality into a vibrant urban metropolis, without compromising its liveability.
More recently, Jim has worked as a consultant for government and business across a range of issues relating to sustainable development, partnerships between government and corporations, and environmental initiatives.
Jim is currently Chair of Unitywater, a business that provides water supply and sewerage services to Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast residential and business customers. He is also a non-executive director of resources company TerraCom, which has a portfolio of assets in Mongolia and Queensland, Australia.
Jim chairs CS Energy's Culture and Remuneration Committee.
Brian Green
Non-Executive Director
B.Bus (Mgt), Dip Eng (Elec), MAICD
Director since 23 August 2012
Brian Green has been involved with the electricity industry for more than 40 years, holding a number of senior positions in energy companies in Australia while building extensive knowledge of the Australian energy industry. Over this time, Brian specialised in the management, operation, maintenance and asset management of heavy industrial plant.
Brian has broad experience in the private power generation industry in Australia and overseas and was previously the Chief Operating Officer of Alinta Energy, a publicly listed energy company. Prior to this, Brian was General Manager of Operations for NRG Energy, an American-owned energy company, operating their power generation assets in Australia.
Brian has wide experience as an executive director and non-executive director, previously serving on a number of Australian boards including ASX listed companies.
Julie-Anne Schafer
Non-Executive Director
L.L.B (Hons), FAICD
Directors since 1 October 2015
Julie-Anne Schafer is an accomplished company director with experience in diverse and highly regulated sectors, including financial services, transport, member services and health. She has ASX, unlisted public company, government and advisory board experience.
Julie-Anne is the President of the National Competition Council.
Her current non-executive directorships include Queensland Urban Utilities, AV Super, Catholic Church Insurance Limited and Chair of the National Injury Insurance Agency. She was previously Chair of RACQ and RACQ Insurance, a non-executive director of Queensland Rail, and was a National Transport Commissioner.
Julie-Anne holds an honours degree in law and was a partner in two Queensland legal professional services firms. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and facilitates in risk and strategy. Julie-Anne is also a former Queensland Telstra Business Women’s award winner.
Toni Thornton
Non-Executive Director
BA PolSci Ec, GradCert AppFin
Director since 2 October 2015
Toni Thornton is a successful businesswoman who has worked in corporate finance agencies for more than 15 years. Toni brings a strategic commercial focus to the CS Energy Board, having previously held senior positions with both JBWere and Goldman Sachs JBWere. Her current directorships include Devcorp, Habitat Early Learning and Triathlon Queensland.
Toni chairs CS Energy’s Audit and Finance Committee, and the Enterprise Risk Committee. Toni was previously a Board member of South Bank Corporation, chair of the strategic advisory group to RSL Queensland and a director of the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation.
Toni has more than 10 years’ experience in audit at Board level, is a licensed real estate agent and, during her time at Goldman Sachs, was a responsible executive with the ASX holding both derivative and RG146 accreditation. She has also completed an Accelerated Executive Management program through AGSM (The Australian School of Business), the Goldman Sachs JBWere Non-Profit Leadership Program, and the Goldman Sachs Executive Director Leadership Program.
Toni has significant strategic advisory experience with prominent Queensland listed companies, some of Australia’s wealthiest family offices and not-for-profit organisations including strategic advisory work for a number of significant Queensland hospital groups and other well-known not-for-profit groups.
peter schmidt
Non-Executive Director
B. Tech, FIEAust, CPEng (Ret), GAICD
MBA Technology Management
Director since 12 October 2017
Peter Schmidt has more than 40 years’ experience in the management of large industrial assets. He has held executive positions in the power generation industry in engineering, asset management, operations and project management.
For the last 15 years, Peter has been the Principal of O&M Management Consulting, which provides strategic operations and maintenance services to the power generation and process industries in Australia and Asia.
His previous roles include Engineering and Operations Manager at Geodynamics, General Manager Pacific Western and General Manager of Production at Stanwell Corporation. Peter is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds an MBA in Technology Management.
Peter chairs CS Energy's Performance Committee.