Katie Barnett Appointed CFO of BrightNight Australia

BrightNight, a next-generation global renewable power producer, has announced the appointment of Katie Barnett as Chief Financial Officer of its Australia platform. With over 20 years of experience in power markets, energy finance, and mergers & acquisitions, Barnett’s leadership will be instrumental in driving BrightNight’s capital strategy and portfolio expansion in Australia.

A Proven Leader in Energy Finance and M&A

Barnett brings a wealth of expertise in large-scale project financing and energy transactions. Throughout her career, she has led over 50 transactions exceeding A$18 billion ($12 billion USD), positioning her as a key player in Australia’s renewable energy transition.

Prior to joining BrightNight, Barnett was a Partner at PwC, where she played a pivotal role in advancing the firms energy transition, deals, and M&A practice, particularly in the utility-scale storage sector. She previously held senior roles at Origin Energy, focusing on renewable energy and corporate development, and served as the founding CEO and CFO of PowAR (now Tilt Renewables), overseeing an A$1.5 billion ($1 billion USD) portfolio of onshore wind and solar projects.

Barnett holds a Master in Applied Finance from Macquarie University and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Driving BrightNight’s Growth in Australia

As CFO, Barnett will be responsible for securing capital and structuring financial strategies to support BrightNight’s ambitious multi-gigawatt portfolio expansion in Australia. The company is soon set to commence construction of the Mortlake Energy Hub, Victoria’s largest integrated hybrid renewable energy project, and is actively growing its portfolio of dispatchable, large-scale renewable projects to meet Australia’s clean energy goals.

“I’m thrilled to join BrightNight during this pivotal phase of its growth” Barnett said. “With the company’s proven ability to deliver transformative energy solutions, I look forward to applying my experience in Australian power and capital markets to help accelerate BrightNight’s expansion and bring its innovative projects to fruition.”

Positioned to Lead Australia’s Renewable Energy Transition

Jerome Ortiz, CEO of BrightNight APAC, highlighted the strategic importance of Barnett’s appointment, stating:

“Katie’s deep expertise in energy finance, M&A, and large-scale renewables will be critical as we execute and grow our business in Australia. As the country transitions towards more complex dispatchable energy solutions to meet its 2050 net-zero target, BrightNight is committed to playing a leading role in enabling clean, reliable, and round-the-clock power solutions.”

Barnett is based in Sydney, New South Wales.