Zero vision: As the Electric Vehicle Council’s first CEO, Behyad Jafari will continue the fight for policy change in Canberra that drives the uptake of zero- and low-emissions electrified cars in Australia.

FAST rising to prominence in Australia since its official launch in May, the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) recently announced that chairman Behyad Jafari had joined the national advocacy body on a permanent basis as its first chief executive officer.

Citing a “growing momentum of support” for Australia’s electric vehicle industry, Mr Jafari confirmed his appointment as the council released its ‘State of Electric Vehicles’ report, an assessment of the industry prepared by ClimateWorks Australia, and said his full-time status would provide the EVC with “an ongoing advocacy presence and management of its growing program of events and initiatives”.

In an open letter to the industry, Mr Jafari said: “There is a lot of work ahead of us on the road towards mass uptake of electric vehicles, but I’m confident that with your continued support it will be a happy and prosperous journey, with many more successes to come.”

Mr Jafari has considerable experience in public and corporate affairs, most recently as group manager of regulatory policy for electricity transmission network company TransGrid – a position he held while also serving as chair of the EVC.

EV Launch Canberra

He spent almost three years with TransGrid, having earlier worked for three years as senior media and public affairs officer for aged care and community services provider Uniting.

Mr Jafari has also worked as an adviser to several federal government ministers, is a former communications manager for the Communications Workers Union of Australia and was a campaign organiser for the New South Wales branch of the Australian Labor Party from 2006 to 2008.

His role as CEO of the EVC sees him working with a variety of industry sectors – including automotive, energy, infrastructure, non-profit and consumers – and pushing the cause with parliamentarians in Canberra in a bid to the shift the current noncommittal policy agenda on supporting EV uptake in Australia.

By Terry Martin

Electric Vehicle Council – Behyad-Jafari