Ex-Clean Energy Council CEO Kane Thornton joins CDC Data Centres
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The news: Kane Thornton, who was chief executive of renewable energy industry group the Clean Energy Council for nearly 11 years, has joined Infratil-owned CDC Data Centres as head of strategic impact.
The context: A spokesperson told Capital Brief the executive role has a “broad remit of providing leadership and driving impact across community, advocacy and industry” and is not a government affairs role. He began in the role at the start of July.
Thornton left the Clean Energy Council in August 2025 after a 15 year stint with the industry group. He is currently a non-executive director at VicGrid, the Victorian government body overseeing the state’s renewable energy zones and community group The Men’s Table.
What they said: “I was looking for a sector that is complex, challenging and central to Australia’s future. Data centres sit at the intersection of digital infrastructure, energy, capital investment, technology and public policy. Few sectors present a bigger opportunity — or bigger challenges — to solve,” Thornton said in a LinkedIn post.
“CDC stood out because it is serious about developing sovereign Australian digital infrastructure, applying world-class technology, and thoughtfully managing its impacts on the energy system, water resources and local communities.”
The source: LinkedIn post
