Member Under the Microscope
Simona Chady - Poten and Partners, APAC Advisory Team
Simona Chady has established herself as a leader in the energy industry, with over 20 years of
international experience.
Her journey began at Curtin University where she earned a Commerce degree with Honours and began her scholarship funded PhD candidature. But it was an eye-opening internship with Shell that introduce her to the world of energy and the “profound and far-reaching impact the industry has on communities large and small alike”. “I was hooked,” she recalls.
Soon, London called, and Simona joined Shell’s Middle East gas team. From there she moved to Singapore where she worked on the Sakhalin LNG Project and with the Shell FLNG team. After four impactful years in Singapore, she was appointed first Ichthys Commercial Manager then promoted to Director of LNG Business Development and later Deputy Vice President of USA and Canada for TotalEnergies, based in Paris.
A switch to focus on renewables led Simona back to Australia where she embraced the next challenge as Chief Executive Officer for the Kwinana Energy Transformation Hub, a hydrogen-lead research facility, successfully securing $15 million in State funding in the one-year role and solidifying her commitment to driving innovation in the sector.
This year, Simona became a graduate of the AICD and has recently joined the Poten and Partners’ APAC advisory team, where she is growing their hydrogen/ammonia and renewable energy commercial advisory services in Australia as well as leading gas and LNG consulting projects across the APAC with their regional team, delivering tailored commercial solutions to the energy industry.
Simona joined the Energy Club in 2023, which she sees as a “platform to bring together forward thinkers from across the industry, government and educational institutions”.
The club has enabled her to reconnect with past colleagues, the community in Perth, make new connections as well as find opportunities to give back by expanding energy education and finding fulfillment in mentorship.
Simona’s love of travel will come as no surprise; as well as living in London, Paris, Singapore, and Portugal she has visited more than over 40 countries and 80 cities.
Yet, her return to Perth was driven by family and a desire for her two teenage boys to share her experience of Australia.
In her downtime, Simona is an epicurean at heart, delighting in exploring diverse cuisines and discovering hidden gems where-ever she goes. She has a love for art,
culture and enjoys connecting with close friends and meeting fascinating individuals who inspire her. Whether savouring a well-crafted meal or engaging in thought-provoking conversations, Simona believes that life’s richness lies in shared experiences and the stories we create together.