Paul Murfitt appointed as MEFL's new CEO
January 14, 2008
The Moreland Energy Foundation (MEFL) has looked close to home in making its CEO appointment.
The MEFL Board has appointed Paul Murfitt to take on the leadership position that has been so ably filled by Jim Downey and before him by Esther Abram. The appointment, which commenced on the third of January, is for a five-year period. Paul is well-known to many MEFL and Moreland people as he has played so many significant roles already within this community.
Paul is a Brunswick resident who worked with Moreland City Council as its Conservation Coordinator from 1997 to 1999. Paul served on the MEFL Board as a community representative from 2001 until 2004. The close connection doesn't stop there!
From 1999 until the end of 2006 Paul worked with the Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria (SEAV) and its successor, Sustainability Victoria (SV) with the initial responsibility of developing a local government program to expand local energy conservation and support for renewables. He participated in the leadership and development of SEAV and SV as a significant contributor to local sustainable energy programs, managed significant budgets and led a team of enthusiastic staff. During his time at SEAV and SV Paul also worked with MEFL on a range of projects and collaborated closely with the two previous MEFL CEOs.
Paul left Sustainability Victoria to establish his own energy consultancy, a business that was developing such a client base that it was a difficult decision for him to actually apply for the MEFL position. Paul says that it was his strong belief in MEFL the organisation and MEFL the model for a community-based approach to greenhouse that led him to take the plunge and change his career direction.
Paul wants to build on the strengths of MEFL's current programs and bring in additional resources to enable MEFL to engage in new areas across Victoria and Australia, and to drive the action needed on climate change. Paul is acutely aware that MEFL's success is due to its highly-supported local programs targetting businesses, households and institutions such as schools and kindergartens. MEFL is effective because of its collaboration with Council and its partnerships with organisations such as the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Paul is looking to build on these existing strong relationships.
Paul arrives at MEFL at a time when its role has expanded significantly as it embarks on the co-ordination of the Rudd Government's $5M Solar Coburg grant. He is buoyed by the opportunity this offers to Council's own Coburg Initiative and is confident that Coburg is positioned to become a national leader as a sustainable energy centre. If MEFL is to be effective locally and abroad Paul feels it will need to expand its already strong reputation as a creative energy entrepreneur.
Paul brings to the position an excellent understanding of the scope of the challenge, a broad range of contacts and a well-earned respect as a leader in energy action. He understands the politics of energy and climate change and looks forward to extending MEFL's role as a credible lobbyist and advocate.
MEFL Chair Mike Hill has expressed the MEFL Board's delight that Paul decided to take on the role: 'Paul holds highly relevant degrees, including a Masters of Social Science in Environmental Policy and he has produced a variety of significant pieces of highly credible research. He has extensive experience in liaising and lobbying with different levels of government and he actually spent some time working with Environment Victoria as a Research and Policy Officer. He is extremely knowledgeable in the energy field and he has a passion for attacking climate change. Paul knows MEFL inside out and is under no illusions about its strengths and weaknesses. For MEFL this is a dream appointment."
Mike says that one of the strongest endorsements for Paul's appointment was the enthusiasm of the outgoing CEO: "Jim is rapt that we selected Paul to carry on the good work!"
