Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, November 2025 – Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Member for McMahon, has announced the appointment of Kath Rowley as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Climate Change Authority (CCA) for a five-year term commencing in December.
Kath will work closely with The Hon. Matt Kean, Chair of the Authority, to lead the organization in providing independent, expert, and transparent advice to the Australian Government on climate policy. Her appointment comes at a pivotal time as Australia continues its transition toward a low-emissions, sustainable future, guided by the Authority’s evidence-based and consultative approach.
Minister Bowen expressed his confidence in the appointment, highlighting Kath’s exceptional public service career and her depth of experience in climate policy, governance, and public administration across both Commonwealth and state governments. He also extended his appreciation to Brad Archer, outgoing CEO, for his seven years of dedicated leadership — including his pivotal role in restoring and strengthening the Authority in 2022.
Prior to her appointment as CEO, Kath Rowley served as Head of Division at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, where she led the delivery of Australia’s Net Zero Plan and 2035 emissions target, integrating analysis from the Treasury and independent advice from the Climate Change Authority. Her leadership has been central to shaping Australia’s decarbonization pathway across six key industry sectors.
Before that, Kath held several senior positions at the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, including Acting Head of the Climate Change Division and Joint Lead of the COVID-19 Response Taskforce, where she was instrumental in coordinating national policy and stakeholder engagement during a time of unprecedented operational challenges.
Earlier, she served as Executive Director of Climate Change at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (Victoria), where she led major legislative reforms including the Climate Change Act 2017 and Environment Protection Act 2018, and oversaw a $250 million implementation program to strengthen environmental governance. She also worked as a Special Adviser on Climate Change at Infrastructure Victoria, embedding climate considerations into the state’s 30-year infrastructure strategy.
Kath has also held leadership roles at the Climate Change Authority (Australia) as General Manager, Reviews, and served as Director at the Climate Policy Initiative in San Francisco, where she led analytical work evaluating the effectiveness of U.S. climate and energy policies. Her earlier roles include senior positions with the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Australian Treasury, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
About Climate Change Authority
The Climate Change Authority (CCA), established under the Climate Change Authority Act 2011, is Australia’s independent statutory body responsible for providing expert, evidence-based advice on climate change policy. The Authority plays a vital role in reviewing Australia’s emissions reduction goals, legislated policy mechanisms, and progress toward achieving net-zero targets.
By fostering transparency and scientific integrity, the CCA informs both government and public debate on climate action, contributing to Australia’s long-term sustainability and international climate commitments.
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