Who we are

Steven Sargent,
Non-executive Chairman

Steven was appointed Chairman of the Foundation since inception. He is an independent Non-executive Director of Origin.

Steven has been with Origin since 2015 and is Chairman of the Remuneration & People Committee. Steven’s executive career included 22 years at General Electric, where he led businesses across the USA, Europe and Asia Pacific. Steven was President and CEO of GE Mining, GE’s global mining technology and services business. Prior to this he was President and CEO of GE Australia, NZ & PNG where he had local responsibility for GE’s Energy, Oil and Gas, Aviation, Healthcare and Financial Services businesses.

Steven is Chairman of OFX Group Ltd (since November 2016) and Deputy Chairman of Nanosonics Ltd (since July 2016). Over recent years Steven has been a Non-executive Director of Veda Group Ltd (2015 – 2016).

Steven holds a Bachelor of Business from Charles Sturt University and is a Fellow with the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow with the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Dyonne Anderson,
Independent Non-executive Director 

Dyonne is a proud Githabal woman from the Far North Coast of NSW and was the CEO of the Stronger Smarter Institute 2023-2025.  

Dyonne is an accomplished educator and First Nations leader with a record of transforming education outcomes at a community level, with many years serving as the Principal of Cabbage Tree Island Public School in northern NSW.   

A key contributor to a number of expert panels and industry working groups including the 2022 National Teaching Workforce Action Plan group, Dyonne also helped establish and is President of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Principals Association.  

Frank Calabria,
Non-executive Director

Frank is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the parent Origin Energy Limited (Origin) since 2016.

Frank first joined Origin as Chief Financial Officer in November 2001 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Energy Markets in March 2009. Frank is a Director of the Australian Energy Council and the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association. He is a former Chairman of the Australian Energy Council and former Director of the Australian Energy Market Operator.

Frank has a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University and a Master of Business Administration (Executive) from the Australian Graduate School of Management. Frank is also a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Christine Cawsey AM,
Independent Non-executive Director  

Christine Cawsey AM, Independent Non-executive Director
Christine is the principal of Rooty Hill High School (since 1997) and a past president and life member of the NSW Secondary Principal’s Council.

A former board member of The Smith Family (2013-2024), Christine chaired The Smith Family’s Principal Advisory Group and is a member of the ‘Thrive: Finishing School Well’ advisory group in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney, Western Sydney University and the NSW Department of Education.

Christine is also a former board member of the Giants AFL Football Club (2011-2022) and is now a life member.

Christine is an influential educational leader, a published author and has been recognised for her academic and professional work in alumni awards from both Macquarie University and Western Sydney University.

Grant King,
Non-executive Director

Grant King has been a Director since the Foundation’s inception. Grant retired from his role as Managing Director of Origin after 16 years in the
role, in October 2016.

He is Chairman of HSBC Australia, Sydney Water and Transgrid. He is also Chairman of North Harbour Clean Energy and Arventa and runs his own advisory business specialising in energy markets, climate and technology. He also holds a position as Professor of Energy Engineering, Chairs the Engineering Deans Advisory Committee and the
Energy Institute and a Board member of ATRaCE, all at the University of New South Wales. He is also a Director of O’Connell Street Associates.

Grant is the former Chair of the Climate Change Authority, GreenCollar, CWP Renewables, Contact Energy Limited, Oil Company of Australia and a former Director of BHP and Envestra Limited.

He served as President of the Business Council of Australia from 2016-2019. He was a former Chairman of the Energy Supply Association of Australia and former President of the Australian Gas Association. He is also a former Director of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Limited (APPEA).

Grant has a Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of New South Wales and a Masters of Management from the University of Wollongong. He is a Fellow of Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He is involved in a number of community and philanthropic activities. He is Chairman of the Melanoma Institute Australia, a Director of the Great Barrier Foundation and a member of the UNSW Foundation.

Mick McCormack,
Non-executive Director 

Mick McCormack joined the Origin Board as an independent in December 2020. He is a member of Origin’s Audit and Risk, Remuneration, People and Culture and Safety and Sustainability committees. 

Mick is Chair of Central Petroleum Limited (since November 2020) and Non-executive Director of Whitehaven Coal Limited (since February 2024). He is also a director and long term supporter of the Clontarf Foundation, Chair of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Foundation, and a Patron of the Australian Ice Hockey League. 

Mick was previously Managing Director and CEO of APA Group (2004-2019) and Non-executive Director of Austal Limited (2020 – 2024).  

Mick holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Queensland, a Graduate Diploma of Engineering from Monash University, a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Queensland and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Samantha Stevens,
Non-executive Director

Samantha joined Origin in March 2018 and is responsible for Origin’s external affairs, government relations, employee communication functions and the Origin Energy Foundation.

Samantha has more than 25 years’ experience in corporate affairs, mainly in the resources, industrials and financial services sectors.

Prior to joining Origin, Samantha led Corporate Affairs for the global mining services company, Orica, and previously led the global media function and all Corporate Affairs at global mining house, BHP, and has held senior Corporate Affairs roles at two of Australia’s major banks.

Kitty te Riele,
Independant Non-executive Director

Kitty was appointed as Professor to the University of Tasmania in 2016, where she leads the research portfolio in the Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment. Prior to this, she worked in research at Victoria University, Melbourne (2012-2016), and in pre-service teacher education at the University of Technology Sydney (2004-2011) and the University of Sydney (2001-2003). She earned her PhD from the University of Sydney in 2003.

She is inaugural co-chair of the Board of the Australian Association for Flexible and Inclusive Education, and member of the Education Committee, Jesuit Social Services Board; Out-Of-Home Care Monitoring Expert Advisory Panel, Tasmanian Commissioner for Children and Young People; and Research Assessment and Approval Committee, Tasmanian Department of Education.

Michelle Zahra,
Head of Foundation

Michelle was appointed Head of the Origin Energy Foundation in 2022 to lead the team and continue the Foundation’s work focused on supporting young Australians and helping to break the cycle of disadvantage through education.

Having worked with the Foundation for six years prior to her appointment, and with Origin since 2008, Michelle has a deep understanding and passion for the Foundation’s work in the non-profit sector.

Michelle has strong leadership and commercial experience, with a career spanning more than 25 years in senior Corporate Affairs roles across the non-profit, energy, finance and technology sectors.