Christopher Murray — CEO & NED — Talks New Technologies, the Future of Renewable Energy & his Lifelong Passion for Tinkering
Christopher Murray is the former CEO and Managing Director of ReNu Energy Limited, a clean energy products and services company, delivering independent power solutions through the development of build, own, operate and maintain (BOOM) renewable energy projects in Australia. It was a welcome opportunity to feature Chris as a guest on the podcast, as he was one of Arete Executive’s very first clients back in 2009. It’s been interesting to watch his career unfold in past years and to catch up with him as he moves into a new role. It is always fascinating to speak with individuals within the first few months of them becoming CEO, while they’re creating a vision for themselves and their team.
Chris was born and raised in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, the elder brother of two sisters in a “typical, middle class family.” Chris describes his formative years as a “wonderful and blessed childhood, a great Australian upbringing,” and fondly recalls holidays in the family’s caravan, fishing and sailing at Lake Macquarie in NSW. From an early age, Chris was called to the energy and engineering industries. A passion for mechanics was shared by his father, a valuer for the Electricity Commission of NSW, and the pair spent much of Chris’ boyhood tinkering with, and building, car and boat engines.
After completing his education, Chris attended the University of New South Wales, where he completed a bachelor of mechanical engineering. Since then, Chris’ entire career has been in the energy sector working in varying roles and organisations, including as an engineer, consultant, director and as the head of research and development facilities. Chris is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He also sits on the Board of the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia as a non-executive director.
He lives in Brisbane with his wife and has two adult daughters.