A senior executive at Hydro Tasmania has been recognised for his leadership in addressing and mitigating the challenges posed by climate change.

Alan Evans was awarded Company Secretary of the Year in the 2015 Climate Alliance Leadership Awards, announced this month.

The Climate Alliance Limited is a not-for-profit company that engages with business leaders and communicates the opportunities and risks of climate change. The awards recognise Australian business leaders and organisations that have demonstrated leadership by addressing the opportunities or risks presented by climate change, above and beyond ‘business as usual’.

Mr Evans is passionate about driving practical actions to address climate change both in his current role with Hydro Tasmania, Australia’s largest renewable energy generator, and in previous roles in the energy and mining sectors in Australia.

He also serves as the Chairman of Kakamas Hydro Electric Power (KHEP), a joint venture in which Hydro Tasmania’s South African subsidiary has an equity stake.  KHEP owns the Neusberg hydropower project, which provides valuable base load renewable power – enough to supply 5000 households. Through its development and ongoing commitments KHEP helps to stimulate the local economy, create employment and provides an ongoing social and economic boost for the local community.

Mr Evans acted as Director Business Development during part of the development of Hydro Tasmania’s King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project. The project aims to displace use of expensive diesel fuel. It has resulted in King Island’s energy needs being supplied solely from renewables when conditions allow, a world-leading breakthrough. This project won the 2014 Innovation Award from the Energy Supply Association of Australia.

Other category winners in the Climate Alliance Leadership Awards included the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Ergon Energy.

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