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Our Team

The team at Clutch represents a carefully selected group of individuals who are passionate about energy and deliver quality grid connection outcomes.

The team at Clutch represents a carefully selected group of individuals who are passionate about energy and deliver quality grid connection outcomes.

The team shares a passion to push past obstacles and find efficient paths to outcomes. With a combined experience of over 50 years, the team at Clutch will not only guide you through the complexity of grid connections but give you the visibility of the process, status of the risks and alignment to you project schedule. The best team in the energy industry is here to support you.

Managing Director + Grid Connection Specialist

Scott Connel

Scott is the founder and Director of the Clutch group of companies. Scott has
over 18 years’ experience in driving commercial, financial and strategic decisions in the energy market.

Scott is the founder and Director of the Clutch group of companies. Scott has over 18 years’ experience in driving commercial, financial and strategic decisions in the energy market. Scott specialises in:
+ business and strategic planning
+ risk identification and mitigation
+ due diligence
+ team culture
+ stakeholder management

Scott has significant leadership and management experience within energy, financial and customer focused organisations and has successfully built new businesses within the energy industry.

With strong commercial and negotiation skills, Scott also has a detailed understanding of the National Electricity Rules and regulatory requirements, as well as holding strong relationships across key energy industry stakeholders nationally.

Having previously lead ElectraNet’s unregulated business for 10 years contracting over half of Australia’s wind farm connections (at the time), Scott has a solid track record within the energy industry of working closely with multiple stakeholders to push past technical and commercial challenges and bring about successful energy project outcomes.

Director + Grid Strategy Lead

Jezac Crowe

Jezac is a co-founder and Director of the Clutch group of companies. Jezac is a specialist in the leading the commercial transaction and process for high value grid connections related investment decisions.investment decisions.

Jezac is a co-founder and Director of the Clutch group of companies. Jezac is a specialist in the leading the commercial transaction and process for high value grid connections related investment decisions.

Jezac has over 12 years’ experience in large leading commercial, financial and strategic transactions in the energy market This includes practical experience is in both closing out new grid connections as well as optimising commercial outcomes for existing grid connected facilities.
Jezac specialises in strong external stakeholder engagement, leading internal teams and driving positive team culture, risk identification and management as well as thorough business, project and strategic planning.

Jezac has over 20 years of managing large business to business transactions, market development and business improvement. Skill set includes a broad understanding of National Electricity Market market, technical, commercial and regulatory drivers.
Jezac has very experience and knowledge of the electricity generation (both renewables & traditional generation), Oil & Gas, heavy industry and mining & resources sectors. Jezac is supported by an existing strong nationwide network of clients, suppliers and stakeholders.

Partner + Grid Connection Specialist

Nathan Potter

Nathan is a Partner of the Clutch group of companies. Nathan has a decade of experience in managing new grid connections and working with facilities connected to the national electricity market.

Nathan is a Partner of the Clutch group of companies. Nathan has almost a decade of experience in managing new grid connections and in working with clients with operational facilities connected to the national electricity market.

Nathan has a solid understanding of the market and the commercial drivers required in developing large-scale projects. He has successfully led the connection process for more than a dozen large-scale renewable and thermal generation projects, leading the commercial process and facilitating regulatory and approval matters.

Nathan’s skillset includes extensive experience in negotiating and facilitating telecommunications transactions, utilising the often under-utilised telecommunications networks owned by network operators.

Nathan's drive, leadership and commitment to delivering outstanding results for our clients and industry stakeholders has been the key to his success.

Grid Connection Specialist

Mitch Baker

With strong communication skills, account management expertise, and a strong balance of technical and commercial acumen, Mitch is well placed to help our clients plan and manage the delivery of outcomes.

Mitch is a Grid Connection Specialist at Clutch with several years of experience in the electricity, resource and energy industries. Mitch joined the Clutch team previously working with a Transmission Network Service Provider (TNSP), managing connections for renewable and thermal projects to the National Electricity Market as well as working with existing transmission customers to assist with expansions, modifications to their plant and compliance related matters.

In his previous Business Development role with a TNSP, Mitch worked with a major developer on their successful connection of several solar projects to the transmission network and National Electricity Market. In this role, Mitch also worked alongside leading renewable energy companies to assist the connection process for several wind and battery projects.

Mitch brings a demonstrated understanding of the complexity and risk involved in the network connection phase for developing projects. Mitch has valuable experience in the electricity, energy and resource sectors and brings a diverse knowledge base to the Clutch team.

Grid Compliance Lead

Phil Court-Kowalski

Phil is a seasoned senior leader with 35+ years’ experience spanning multiple sectors in Australia, Germany and the UK. Phil’s highly inclusive approach to client work ensures the delivery of excellent technical and commercial outcomes.

Phil is a seasoned senior leader with 35+ years’ experience spanning multiple sectors in Australia, Germany and the UK, including electricity supply, electronic controls, semiconductors and aerospace & defence. He previously held executive management roles at ElectraNet leading large divisions with operational and financial accountability across network operations & maintenance, engineering, capital projects, WHSE, IT, HR & facilities management.

With his strong engineering background, Phil’s hands-on and highly inclusive approach to client work ensures that work teams remain focused and well-connected in delivering excellent technical and commercial outcomes.

Grid Compliance Specialist

Dylan Trenerry

Dylan has over a decade of regulatory experience in Local Government. Dylan's out of the box thinking to client projects aims to deliver on positive compliance outcomes and avoid non-compliances.

Dylan has over a decade of regulatory experience in Local Government. Dylan joined the Clutch Team from the City of Adelaide after working in a customer facing compliance role where he worked alongside a broad range of stakeholders to deliver legislative compliance while negotiating outcomes for ratepayers and business owners.

Dylan brings a demonstrated history of working with clients to achieve compliance while thinking outside the box on how to most efficiently achieve compliance outcomes and avoid non-compliances. His experience in working in a Government environment brings a broader perspective to the Clutch Compliance team and our clients.

Office Administrator

Stephanie Covino

Stephanie is an Office Administrator for Clutch. She has completed an Honours degree in Psychology and certification in Xero Accounting Software. She has previous experience as a Research Assistant where she provided administrative support for a small team.

Stephanie is an Office Administrator for Clutch. She has completed an Honours degree in Psychology and certification in Xero Accounting Software. She has previous experience as a Research Assistant where she provided administrative support for a small team.

Her role at Clutch involves supporting the team to deliver great client outcomes, co-ordinating accounting procedures and performing various human resources duties. She brings a range of organisational and time management skills to the team and thrives in a fast-paced environment.

Project Support Coordinator

Sam Morton

Sam has joined the team from his previous role in the legal field, working primarily in the employment and governance sector. Sam brings a range of skills to the team surrounding strategic thinking and problem solving.

Sam has joined the team from his previous role in the legal field, working primarily in the employment and governance sector. Sam brings a range of skills to the team surrounding strategic thinking and problem solving.

Sam's assistance throughout the team allows for a smoothly running work environment and for matters to be attended to in a timely manner.

Project Support Team Member

Harrison Georgiadis

Harrison is an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering and Finance student, currently in his fourth year of study at the University of Adelaide.

Harrison is an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering and Finance student, currently in his fourth year of study at the University of Adelaide. He has a keen interest in understanding the intersection between energy economics and the transition to renewable energy and is eager to learn from a team of people with such vast experience in the field.
Office Administrator

Alina Kosenko

Alina is an Office Administrator for Clutch. She has completed a Bachelor's degree in International Economy in Ukraine and Master's in Law and Economics in France.

Alina is an Office Administrator for Clutch. She has completed a Bachelor's degree in International Economy in Ukraine and Master's in Law and Economics in France. She has extensive experience working in an international environment as an instructor and administrator where she was responsible for the development and quality control of the educational department.

Her role at Clutch is to provide administrative support to the wider team, including arranging events with Clutch clients and providing accounting and bookkeeping support. She has outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities.

The Clutch Advisory Board was implemented in early 2020 to provide strategic focus to the direction and growth of the Clutch Group.

The Clutch Advisory Board was implemented in early 2020 to provide strategic focus to the direction and growth of the Clutch Group.

The Clutch Advisory Board ensures effective governance and planning occurs to ensure Clutch can continue to increase the value it provides to the market.

Chair

Peter Khoury

Peter has over 30 years Senior Leadership and Executive level experience gained in several industries and sectors, including energy and utilities.

Peter has over 30 years Senior Leadership and Executive level experience gained in several industries and sectors, including energy and utilities. Peter brings a unique set of skills and experience to the role of Executive Chairman at Clutch, combining his experience as an Executive with a Transmission Network Service Provider (TNSP) with his Professional Services background for around 20 years, which included leading BDO as Managing Partner.
Peter has a proven track record of establishing and growing consulting practices. In the energy and utilities sector, Peter led the successful capture and execution of the largest portfolio of unregulated capital projects in the history of the South Australian TNSP. The portfolio included the very first contestable project, Bungala Solar Power Project in Port Augusta, South Australia.
Managing Director + Grid Connection Specialist

Scott Connel

Scott is the founder and Director of the Clutch group of companies. Scott has
over 18 years’ experience in driving commercial, financial and strategic decisions in the energy market.

Scott is the founder and Director of the Clutch group of companies. Scott has over 18 years’ experience in driving commercial, financial and strategic decisions in the energy market. Scott specialises in:
+ business and strategic planning
+ risk identification and mitigation
+ due diligence
+ team culture
+ stakeholder management

Scott has significant leadership and management experience within energy, financial and customer focused organisations and has successfully built new businesses within the energy industry.

With strong commercial and negotiation skills, Scott also has a detailed understanding of the National Electricity Rules and regulatory requirements, as well as holding strong relationships across key energy industry stakeholders nationally.

Having previously lead ElectraNet’s unregulated business for 10 years contracting over half of Australia’s wind farm connections (at the time), Scott has a solid track record within the energy industry of working closely with multiple stakeholders to push past technical and commercial challenges and bring about successful energy project outcomes.

Director + Grid Strategy Lead

Jezac Crowe

Jezac is a co-founder and Director of the Clutch group of companies. Jezac is a specialist in the leading the commercial transaction and process for high value grid connections related investment decisions.

Jezac is a co-founder and Director of the Clutch group of companies. Jezac is a specialist in the leading the commercial transaction and process for high value grid connections related investment decisions.

Jezac has over 12 years’ experience in large leading commercial, financial and strategic transactions in the energy market This includes practical experience is in both closing out new grid connections as well as optimising commercial outcomes for existing grid connected facilities.
Jezac specialises in strong external stakeholder engagement, leading internal teams and driving positive team culture, risk identification and management as well as thorough business, project and strategic planning.

Jezac has over 20 years of managing large business to business transactions, market development and business improvement. Skill set includes a broad understanding of National Electricity Market market, technical, commercial and regulatory drivers.
Jezac has very experience and knowledge of the electricity generation (both renewables & traditional generation), Oil & Gas, heavy industry and mining & resources sectors. Jezac is supported by an existing strong nationwide network of clients, suppliers and stakeholders.

Advisor - Legal

Christos Tsonis

Christos is the legal adviser to the Clutch Board and, together with his team, they provide corporate and commercial legal advice across the Clutch business lines.

Christos is the legal adviser to the Clutch Board and, together with his team, they provide corporate and commercial legal advice across the Clutch business lines.
He is the founder and director of CXT Legal; dynamic legal consultancy team servicing the local and national market in fixed price transactions, advice and commercial law solutions.
He has established a strong track record in mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings and corporate governance. He also specialises in financial services law with financial services licensing, banking and finance, registered and unregistered managed investment schemes, disclosure statements and securities industry issues, all forming part of his expertise.
Christos was listed in the 2019 and 2020 editions of Doyle’s Guide listing of leading and recommended South Australian Commercial Lawyers. In 2019, Christos also led the CXT Legal team to be recognised as one of South Australia’s fastest growing businesses by revenue placing in the Top 25 of the BDO/Brand SA Fast Movers Program.
Christos also has served on a number of boards (including as Chair of a State School Governing Council) pursuing ambitious reform agendas (including private companies and not-for-profits/Associations). Current board appointments include the Education Standards Board (SA), Cottage Homes Incorporated and as a director of a diversified financial.
Advisor – Accounting & Tax

Brendan Hall

As an advisor to Cultch Consulting , Brendan has over 20 years of working in the provision of taxation and accounting services to small and large businesses and professional clients specialising in the wine, viticulture, transportation and logistics industries.

As an advisor to Cultch Consulting , Brendan has over 20 years of working in the provision of taxation and accounting services to small and large businesses and professional clients specialising in the wine, viticulture, transportation and logistics industries. Brendan is involved at an Advisory Board level for a range of these businesses providing both strategic advise and financial acumen.
Brendan has international experience working as a financial accountant in the United Kingdom and is a Member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia. Brendan commenced working with Tilbrook Rasheed in 2004 and was appointed a Partner and Director in 2013.
Chief Financial Officer

Nick Gaeta

Nick has over 15 years experience in corporate finance/accounting across several industries including manufacturing, media and utilities including the energy sector.

Nick has over 15 years experience in corporate finance/accounting across several industries including manufacturing, media and utilities including the energy sector.