Energy technology company SwitchDin has appointed Darren Gladman as its head of policy and regulatory affairs, a newly created role.

Darren is the former director of distributed energy at the Clean Energy Council (CEC), where he has earned a reputation as one of Australia’s most knowledgeable and respected distributed energy resources (DER) experts over the past decade.

At SwitchDin, Darren will spearhead engagement with regulatory agencies and government, industry bodies and stakeholder organisations in Australia and overseas, and will play a key role in strategy with the executive team.

“Darren’s appointment will help to solidify SwitchDin’s position as the trusted technology and knowledge leaders in the distributed energy space, and amplify our involvement in the important regulatory and policy processes driving DER transformation in Australia and the world,” SwitchDin chief executive Andrew Mears says.

“He will continue to be an inspirational lead in the energy transition in an increasingly complex and nuanced environment and will help SwitchDin to pave the way for the clean, distributed grid that the world urgently needs.”

As the role of DER on the grid becomes increasingly important and widespread, the policy landscape is evolving to keep pace with trends and pressures. New rules and regulations will be introduced to ensure a smooth energy transition, and it is crucial that these consider the positions and experience of companies implementing changes on the front lines.