The Australian National University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Llewelyn Hughes as the Interim Director of the Institute for Climate, Energy, and Disaster Solutions (ICEDS).

Professor Hughes is a Professor at the Crawford School of Public Policy and a member of the University's Academic Board. He brings to the role a wealth of experience in research, policy engagement, and leadership across the fields of climate change, energy transitions, and international collaboration.

Professor Hughes’ research focuses on the political economy of the low-carbon transition, with particular attention to how the structure of energy markets and technologies shapes government action and business strategy. His recent work explores interdependence and global supply chains in clean energy deployment, drawing on sector-specific and technologically informed approaches.

He is widely published across leading journals such as Nature, Climate Policy, Journal of Cleaner Production, and Global Environmental Change. His book Globalizing Oil: Firms and Oil Market Governance in France, Japan, and the United States was published by Cambridge University Press.

In addition to his academic roles, Professor Hughes contributes to international policy and industry engagement. He serves as a non-executive director of the Australia-Japan Innovation Fund and the Australian Institute for International Affairs and is a member of the Energy Transition Subcommittee of the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee. He is also the Australian Focal Point for the Energy Research Institute Network of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and a Research Fellow at the Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy at Johns Hopkins University – SAIS. 

“We are delighted to have Professor Hughes stepping into this position at a time when Australia is adopting a global leadership role addressing climate change and its impacts. His research in the energy transition is particularly important in this ‘critical decade’ for decarbonisation, and his experience with policy and industry engagement makes him uniquely positioned to connect our leading researchers with the world,” said Professor Tim Senden, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure and Entities).

Prior to joining ANU, Professor Hughes held academic appointments at George Washington University and Harvard University. He has worked extensively in Japan, including as a corporate advisor on energy and environmental policy. 

“I am looking forward to contributing to the work of ICEDS, helping to build on its outstanding record of impact through research and engagement with communities across Australia, the Asia-Pacific, and globally,” said Professor Hughes. 

Please join us in congratulating Professor Hughes on his appointment.