Who we are

Steven Sargent,
Non-executive Chair

Steven was appointed Chair of the Foundation in September 2015.

Steven was an independent Non-executive Director of Origin Energy Limited from 2015 until 2024. He was formerly the Chair of Origin’s Remuneration, People and Culture Committee and a member of the Safety and Sustainability Committee and the Nomination Committee.

Steven has been a Non-executive Director of Nanosonics Limited since July 2016 and was appointed Chair in July 2022. He is also a Non-executive Director of Ramsay Healthcare Limited (since December 2021) where he is Chair of the Global Risk Committee. Steven is also on the board of Ramsay’s European subsidiary Ramsay Générale de Santé (since August 2025) which is listed on the Euronext in Paris. Steven is also a Non-executive Director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

The experience Steven brings to the Origin Foundation has been built over more than 46 years across multiple industries and geographies.

He spent 22 years with General Electric (GE), leading businesses in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia and New Zealand — across healthcare, energy, and financial services. Prior to GE he worked at Westpac Banking Corporation in Australia and the US.

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

Dyonne Anderson,
Independent Non-executive Director 

Dyonne joined the Foundation Board on 3 December 2024.

Dyonne is a proud Githabal woman from the Far North Coast of NSW and was the CEO of the Stronger Smarter Institute from 2023 to 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 Island Principals Association.

Frank Calabria,
Non-executive Director

Frank joined the Foundation Board in 2016. He is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Origin Energy Limited.

Frank is also a member of Origin’s Safety and Sustainability Committee. Frank has been with Origin since 2001 and volunteers with the Foundation’s Give Time program.

Frank is a Director of the Australian Energy Council (since 2015) and was appointed Chair in 2025. He is also a Director of the Australian Energy Producers (since 2017). He is a former Chair 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 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 joined the Foundation Board on 4 March 2025.

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.

Grant is Chairman of HSBC Australia, Transgrid, Arventa and North Harbour Clean Energy. He runs his own advisory business specialising in energy markets, climate and technology. He also holds a position as Professor of Energy Engineering and Chair of the Energy Institute at the University of New South Wales.

Grant is the former Chair of the Climate Change Authority, Sydney Water, GreenCollar, CWP Renewables, Contact Energy Limited and the Oil Company of Australia. He is a former Director of BHP, Envestra Limited and the Australian Energy Producers. He served as President of the Business Council of Australia from 2016 to 2019.

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

Grant is involved in a number of community and philanthropic activities. He is Chair of the Melanoma Institute Australia, a Director of the Great Barrier Foundation and a member of the University of New South Wales Foundation.

Mick McCormack,
Non-executive Director 

Mick joined the Foundation Board on 3 December 2024.

Mick is an independent Non-executive Director of Origin Energy Limited since December 2020, and a member of Origin’s Audit and Risk, Remuneration, People and Culture and Safety and Sustainability committees.

Mick is a Non-executive Director of Whitehaven Coal Limited (since February 2024) and Qube Holdings Limited (since May 2025). 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 Chair of Central Petroleum Limited (2020-2025), Managing Director and CEO of APA Group (2004-2019) and Non-executive Director of Austal Limited (2020-2024).

Mick holds a Master 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 the Foundation Board in June 2024.

Samantha joined Origin in March 2018 and is responsible for Origin’s external affairs, government relations, employee communication functions and the Origin Foundation. She is also a Director of the Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition.

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 mergers and acquisitions activity at global mining house, BHP.

She also held senior Corporate Affairs roles at two of Australia’s major banks.

Kitty te Riele,
Independent Non-executive Director

Kitty joined the Foundation Board in 2021.

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; Director of the Board of Life Without Barriers Education; and member of the Rights Based Monitoring Expert Advisory Panel, Tasmanian Commissioner for Children and Young People.

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.