24 June, 2022
Christine Corbett is an experienced business leader and non-executive director with extensive experience in delivering strong financial and people outcomes in the energy, retail, eCommerce, and logistics sectors.
Christine recently announced her departure from AGL Energy following the company’s decision to withdraw its demerger proposal. Christine joined AGL Energy in 2019 as Chief Customer Officer and was appointed Managing Director and CEO-elect of AGL Australia in June 2021 as part of the proposed Demerger.
Christine also had an extensive career at Australia Post spanning more than two decades culminating as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at a time of exponential growth in e-commerce and regulatory reform.
What is the biggest career achievement to date?
Reimagining and modernising Australia Post’s retail and e-commerce business putting the customer at the centre. I am passionate about leading transformational change with iconic brands that play a key role in the lives of everyday Australians.
I’m also very proud of the people I’ve worked with over the years, many of whom have gone on to achieve great things and realise their own career aspirations.
What leadership values are most important to you?
Passion, Purpose and Positivity. People look to leaders for hope and optimism, leaders need to give energy and light the fire within and to paint the picture of how an individual’s role and an organisation’s role gives meaning.
Importantly being a leader you need to be able to connect with people and get things done.
Has the pandemic changed your idea of what an effective leader looks like? And if so, how?
I love a quote I saw recently by Maya Angelou who said: “My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style.”
I think many people can look back over the last two years and at different times have needed to inject all of these qualities into the blurring of work and personal lives.
We got to know our people more, we got to know some of their back stories and the different challenges and opportunities people face day to day.
Communication is an essential skill in an effective leader and even more so, when people feel isolated and disconnected so using all the tools at your disposal and reinventing new ways to engage has been critical.
How has your customer focus changed since COVID-19?
Customer focus has always been important however responding with empathy, empowering people to make decisions and being flexible has become part of how we do business more than ever before.
Where do you see the energy market and technology trends go in five years?
Our purpose at AGL Australia is to Connect every Australian to a sustainable future so we are “all in” in terms of our commitment to decarbonisation and the role we can play in the electrification of Australia’s economy. The rate of change continues to keep accelerating in the energy sector, so I think it will be very exciting to see where the market and technology is in five years.
Hear from Christine at our upcoming Business Leaders' Forum on Wednesday 20 July. Find out more and buy tickets here.