South African energy executive Niroshma Chetty has been appointed Managing Director of Generation Australia at global energy company ENGIE, marking another senior international leadership role for a South African executive in the rapidly evolving energy sector.
Based in Melbourne, Chetty will oversee ENGIE’s Australian generation portfolio, including the Yuri renewable hydrogen project, the Hazelwood rehabilitation programme and the company’s South Australian thermal assets.
She will also take responsibility for Health, Safety and Environment and Security functions across the portfolio.
Chetty joins ENGIE’s Australian business from South Africa, where she served as Chief Executive Officer of Avon and Dedisa Peaking Power, two open cycle gas turbine plants that play an important role in supporting national grid stability.
Her experience spans infrastructure finance, operations and project development, including leading projects through financial close and into steady state operations.
Her appointment comes as energy markets globally face the challenge of balancing reliable electricity supply with affordability and the transition towards lower carbon energy systems.
Managing portfolios that combine existing thermal generation, rehabilitation programmes and emerging energy technologies requires operators to balance immediate reliability with longer term transition objectives.
“Navigating a portfolio that spans thermal generation, rehabilitation, and emerging energy projects requires a strong focus on execution and performance,” Chetty said.
“Each asset plays a different role in the system, and the challenge is ensuring they operate reliably today while supporting the transition to a lower carbon energy mix over time,” she said.
From South Africa to Australia
Chetty’s move to Australia highlights the growing international relevance of South African energy sector experience, particularly in managing complex generation assets and maintaining grid stability during periods of energy transition.
At Avon and Dedisa Peaking Power, she led businesses operating open cycle gas turbine facilities that can provide electricity to the national grid when additional generation capacity is required.
Her executive experience in South Africa has been complemented by non executive board roles across several renewable energy businesses, including solar photovoltaic and hybrid operations.
This has given her exposure to multiple technologies and different stages of the energy value chain.
ENGIE said her combination of financial, operational and strategic experience was particularly relevant to the Australian portfolio.
“Niroshma brings a combination of financial, operational, and strategic experience that is directly relevant to the Australian portfolio,” Mo Hoosen, Managing Director, Renewables and Batteries AMEA, said.
“Her understanding of both infrastructure delivery and asset performance positions her well to lead a diverse and evolving generation business,” Hoosen said.
Leading through the energy transition
Chetty’s appointment comes at a time when electricity markets are undergoing significant structural change, with companies required to manage existing generation assets while developing new renewable and lower carbon technologies.
For ENGIE, this includes managing thermal assets alongside renewable energy, battery and hydrogen projects.
The Yuri renewable hydrogen project is part of this emerging portfolio, while the Hazelwood rehabilitation programme involves the long term management and rehabilitation of the former Hazelwood power station site in Victoria.
Chetty’s role will therefore extend beyond traditional generation operations, requiring oversight across different technologies and stages of asset development.
ENGIE said the appointment reflected its broader approach to developing and deploying leadership talent across its international operations.
The company’s global presence allows experience gained in one market to be applied to other regions, particularly where energy systems are undergoing significant transformation.
Chetty’s appointment is a notable example of South African energy leadership moving into a senior international role, with her experience in infrastructure, generation operations and renewable energy providing a foundation for managing a complex Australian portfolio.
ENGIE has approximately 98 000 employees across 30 countries and operates across the energy value chain, from energy production and infrastructure to sales.
The group’s stated purpose is to accelerate the transition towards a carbon neutral economy.
For Chetty, the move to Australia represents an opportunity to apply her South African experience to a different energy market while managing the same fundamental challenge facing utilities and energy companies around the world: maintaining reliable power today while preparing for a lower carbon energy future.
ashley.lechman@nationalmg.co.za