Brad Trethewey | Manager of Innovation
Essential Energy

Brad Trethewey is the Manager of Innovation at Essential Energy, where he provides strategic leadership on the modernisation of Australia’s electricity distribution networks. Based in regional New South Wales, Brad leads the organisation’s innovation agenda across power systems, digital capability, and emerging energy technologies, with a focus on delivering practical outcomes that support reliability, affordability, and the energy transition. He is responsible for a multidisciplinary innovation portfolio spanning power systems engineering, network operations, and applied technology deployment. Under his leadership, Essential Energy has delivered nationally relevant programs in vehicle‑to‑grid integration, energy storage, fault detection capability, power quality, and smart energy solutions—initiatives that translate policy intent and research into solutions that function reliably in real‑world operating conditions. Brad is a trusted industry representative in cross jurisdictional collaborations and is recognised for his ability to bridge research, regulation, and operations, ensuring that innovation delivers tangible outcomes for customers and communities. He regularly engages with government agencies, regulators, and industry partners, contributing practical insight to policy development and sector reform discussions. Brad holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Computer Systems Engineering (Hon).