Anna Skarbek AM

Anna Skarbek AM is CEO of Climateworks Centre, working to develop the low carbon economy, and advising on numerous boards. A former banker and green policy adviser, Anna has led Climateworks since its creation in 2009, analysing emissions reduction opportunities, setting the ambition and unblocking barriers to implementation. Climateworks’ independent and non-partisan approach, co-founded by The Myer Foundation and Monash University, sees Anna and colleagues working with multiple federal government departments as well as state governments and large corporations along with other stakeholders including investors, and business, environment and civil society leaders.

Anna is a Member of the Order of Australia, appointed in the King’s Birthday Australian Honours Awards 2025 for significant service to conservation and environment in leadership and board roles.

Anna is an inuagural boardmember of the Net Zero Economy Authority, SEC Victoria Pty Ltd and the Asia Pacific Advisory Board of GFANZ (the global Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero). She was a founding board director of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the Carbon Market Institute, the Centre for New Energy Technologies and has previously held board roles with the Green Building Council of Australia, Sustainable Australia Fund, Impact Investment Group and Amnesty International Australia and The Big Issue. She is a member of the Grattan Institute’s energy program reference panel, and was the 2020 Mission Innovation Champion for Australia. She was also invited to become a member of the influential women in leadership organisation, Chief Executive Women (CEW), and is a former member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists.

Anna has been appointed to multiple government advisory committees including the Australian Government’s Nature Finance Council, Energy White Paper reference panel, Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board and NGO Roundtable on Climate Change, and Victoria’s Independent Review of the Climate Change Act and South Australia’s Low Carbon Economy Expert Panel.

Anna has a background as an investment banker, policy advisor and lawyer. Before Climateworks, she worked in London’s carbon markets as Vice President of Advisory with Climate Change Capital, an investment manager raising capital for low carbon activities. Anna’s prior career in Australia included senior policy advisor to the Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Water, Environment and Climate Change, investment banker in Macquarie Bank’s energy and utilities team, and solicitor with Mallesons Stephen Jaques.

Anna has a Bachelor of Commerce/Law with Honours from Monash University, is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed leadership and management programs at Oxford University’s Said Business School and Melbourne University’s Business School. She was named among the Top 100 Green Power Players by The Australian newspaper.