Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, April 2026 — Alicia Purtell has taken on the role of Executive General Manager, People & Culture at Origin Energy, at a pivotal time as the organization plays a central role in Australia’s energy transition.
In her new role, Alicia will lead the people and culture agenda, supporting leaders and teams to navigate large-scale transformation across the energy system, evolving technologies, and new ways of working. Her appointment reflects the increasing importance of people leadership in driving sustainable business outcomes and enabling organizations to adapt to complex industry shifts while continuing to deliver value to stakeholders.
Prior to joining Origin Energy, Alicia spent over two decades with Lion, where she held several senior leadership roles across People & Culture and transformation. Most recently, she served as Chief People & Transformation Officer, where she partnered closely with the executive team to design and deliver the organization’s future operating model, driving both performance and cultural transformation at scale.
Earlier at Lion, she held the role of Chief People Officer, where she shaped the organization’s human capital strategy, focusing on talent, leadership development, diversity, equity and inclusion, safety, wellbeing, and people analytics. She worked closely with the CEO, Board, and executive leadership to align people strategy with business goals and build a culture of performance and belonging.
Her earlier leadership journey at Lion includes roles such as People & Culture Director, Talent Director, and Strategy & Insights Director, where she contributed significantly to organizational design, leadership capability building, and culture transformation initiatives. Over the years, she played a critical role in embedding change management practices and enabling business growth through strong people strategies.
Before her long tenure at Lion, Alicia worked with Citi as a Human Resources Relationship Manager and Senior Consultant, supporting key business divisions and strengthening leadership capability. She also held roles at Westpac Institutional Bank, where she contributed to HR strategy and people management initiatives aligned with business objectives.
In addition, she has been associated with The Positivity Institute as a Senior Associate, contributing to coaching and positive psychology initiatives across sectors, further strengthening her expertise in leadership development and human-centered transformation.
Origin Energy is one of Australia’s leading energy companies, serving over 4 million customer accounts through electricity, natural gas, solar, and LPG solutions. With a strong focus on sustainability, the company is committed to leading the transition to a cleaner energy future.
Origin has set ambitious targets to reduce emissions, aiming to halve Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2032 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Beyond business, the organization contributes significantly to community development through the Origin Energy Foundation, supporting education and social impact initiatives.
Read Also : When HR “Produces Nothing”: A Response to Jennifer Sey’s Anti-HR Vision
The Fine Balance: Navigating Work, Life, and Mental Wellbeing
Mind the Leadership Gap – From Learning to Real-World Impact
How the Adecco Group is empowering its employees for the future of work
