The CEFC is Australia’s specialist climate investor, helping cut emissions in the race towards net zero by 2050. With access to more than $33 billion from the Australian Government, we invest to deliver a positive return for taxpayers.

Location

- Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth

About the opportunity This is a rare opportunity to help shape how Australia’s specialist climate investor works with First Nations people, businesses and communities through the clean energy transition.

As a Senior Associate in our Corporate Affairs team, you will work alongside the Director, First Nations and Stakeholder Relations to advance the CEFC’s emerging First Nations capability, supporting our investment teams, strengthening relationships across government, industry, Traditional Owner groups and First Nations businesses, and helping to grow First Nations participation in Australia’s energy transition.

This is a newly created role in a rapid growing, and deeply important area of focus for the CEFC. The work is genuinely varied, spanning investment support, stakeholder engagement, policy and research, and our internal reconciliation program, and there is real scope to shape the role around your strengths, your expertise and your interests.

This is an identified position. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity is a genuine occupational requirement for this role, given its responsibilities supporting engagement with First Nations peoples, communities, organisations and stakeholders.

The role you’ll play:

A significant part of the role involves supporting and advising our investment teams as transactions move through pre and detailed screening, helping them consider First Nations outcomes, cultural heritage, native title and broader social and community licence matters, and working with them in a practical, transaction paced way on land based and First Nations led investments.

The role also involves building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders connected to our investments, from Traditional Owner groups and First Nations businesses through to project proponents, fund managers and peak bodies. It supports the identification and development of opportunities for First Nations led and First Nations partnered investments, while contributing to CEFC’s ongoing engagement with government on First Nations policy as it intersects with clean energy.

Alongside this, the role contributes to the CEFC’s reconciliation and cultural capability initiatives, including National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week activities and cultural learning across the organisation.



We recognise that no one person will bring equal depth across all areas of the role and are open to tailoring the balance of responsibilities to the experience, strengths and interests of the successful candidate.

Your responsibilities will include:

- Supporting the implementation of the CEFC’s developing First Nations strategy, engagement priorities and reconciliation initiatives, both across the organisation and across our investments.
- Building and maintaining effective relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, organisations and communities.
- Working with our investment teams on screening, due diligence and transaction support as they relate to First Nations outcomes, cultural heritage and social and community licence.
- Identifying and developing opportunities to strengthen First Nations economic participation in the clean energy transition and in CEFC investment activity.
- Engaging with First Nations businesses, representative bodies, Traditional Owner groups and community organisations, and representing the CEFC at forums, conferences and community events.
- Undertaking research and analysis on First Nations policy, stakeholder, economic development and clean energy matters.
- Preparing stakeholder briefings, reports, presentations and strategic advice for senior management and executives.
- Monitoring emerging stakeholder issues, trends and opportunities, and providing insights on stakeholder perspectives and potential reputational considerations.
- Contributing to the CEFC’s internal education, cultural capability and reconciliation activities.

You may bring some of this experience:

- Experience in stakeholder engagement, community engagement, public affairs, government relations, partnerships or a related field.
- Experience working with or engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations and communities.
- Strong relationship building skills, with the ability to build rapport and consensus across very different audiences, from community organisations through to investment professionals.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing briefing materials,



reports and strategic communications.
- Sound research, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to apply insights to new situations.
- Commercial awareness, sound judgement and the ability to identify emerging policy, industry and stakeholder issues, risks and opportunities while managing competing priorities.
- An understanding of cultural protocols and culturally informed engagement practices, with existing networks in relevant First Nations stakeholder communities highly regarded.
- An interest in First Nations economic empowerment, cultural heritage, native title, clean energy, infrastructure or investment related sectors, with knowledge of any of these highly regarded.
- A relevant tertiary qualification in public policy, communications, government relations, social sciences, business, Indigenous studies or a related discipline, or equivalent experience. We welcome candidates from a broad range of backgrounds and place real value on transferable skills.

Are you ready to contribute to the achievement of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets? If you're someone who’s driven to make a positive impact, exploring new frontiers, overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities, then the CEFC could be the place for you.

Apply online now

We encourage you to apply early.

We review applications as we receive them, which means we may close the role earlier than the advertised close date if we discover the ideal candidate.

About us:

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people can bring their whole selves to work. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, this includes dedicated First Nations Cultural and Ceremonial Leave, and access to First Nations peer networking opportunities

If you require adjustments to your working arrangements or the recruitment process, please let us know when applying.

The successful candidate must have current Australian work rights and will be required to complete background checks, including security clearances if required, prior to commencement.

By registering your interest or applying for employment with the CEFC you acknowledge that we collect your personal information to enable us to carry out pre-employment checks. Our Privacy Policy contains further information. Any information we collect is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

We request no unsolicited resumes or approaches from recruitment agencies. The CEFC is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes .

📌 Senior Associate - First Nations and Stakeholder Relations (Brisbane)
🏢 Clean Energy Finance
📍 Brisbane