Alan Rai

At a glance:

Joined Baringa in

2020

Works across

Energy and resources

Favourite author

Tom Clancy

In detail:

Based in Sydney, Alan specialises in advising clients on policy and regulation to decarbonise the electricity sector. For example, he’s helped state governments set up renewable energy zones. He’s helped Australia’s competition regulator better understand the electricity market so it could take the forces of competition to drive decarbonisation. And he’s helped Australia’s biggest solar farm raise the funding it needed to buy large numbers of solar panels.

Alan’s journey to consulting has been varied. He studied economics and started his career at the Reserve Bank of Australia, but he switched sectors because he was eager to work on the energy transition. After several years at government bodies including at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, he found his best fit in consulting, which lets him use his energy expertise to solve policy problems with a markets and commercial lens.

Alongside his role at Baringa, Alan teaches energy industry professionals on managing financial risks in the electricity market. He enjoys this because it helps him test and expand his own knowledge, while educating and inspiring people to encourage positive change in the industry. It beautifully complements his work at Baringa and his prior financial markets experience at the Reserve Bank of Australia.

In Alan’s lectures, he’s seen as a trusted advisor – and that’s exactly how clients perceive him too. He helps clients understand the big picture around decarbonisation and policies to achieve this in a timely fashion. And he constantly challenges them to think two steps ahead. He particularly enjoys helping clients take a broad challenge and narrow it down into specific pieces of work.

When he’s not striving to decarbonise the electricity sector, Alan leads a busy life as a father of four. He loves kayaking and playing soccer with his kids. And he also enjoys playing cricket, which was his sporting passion growing up. His favourite place is Tanna island in Vanuatu, because it combines a volcano, picturesque beaches and beautiful scenery.