Pingala Co-operative Ltd
Pingala Co-operative Ltd is the finance partner of Pingala Community Energy Inc
We fund, support, and manage community-ownership of renewable energy projects for businesses. We collaborate to create new ownership methods.
Our beginning
Pingala Co-operative Ltd (Cooperative) was founded in 2013 by a group of volunteers. We developed a community investment model with support from City of Sydney.
The Cooperative was formed with 74 members, who came together to invest in our first project, at Young Henrys brewery.
Pingala Co-operative working with Pingala Community Energy
Pingala Co-operative works with "Host Sites" to install solar farms on local businesses or organisations. We then activate the community surrounding that site to invest in the future of that site. The host owns their system and enjoys green energy, while the locals get a great return on their investment!
The Pingala Co-operative enables community investment in Pingala renewable energy projects.
The Co-operative has ~250 members, who came together to support each of our Solar for Business projects and have become part of the Pingala community.
Governance
Just like other co-operatives in NSW, it is registered with NSW Fair Trading, and is governed on democratic principles.
The Pingala Co-operative is governed by it’s rules and by a Board, which is elected each year by members at an Annual General Meeting. Find our rules here: Pingala Co-operative Limited - Rules
To meet our requirement for continuous disclosure, please see our Pingala Co-operative Ltd Disclosure Statement
Pingala Co-operative Ltd is registered under ABN 994 929 655 41
Meet the Pingala Co-operative board members
CHAIR - Jonathan Gray
Coming from an engineering background, Jonathan has had a long and very successful career in technical consulting, project management, funds management and as project director of some of Australia’s biggest and most innovative projects.
He has initiated and led teams that have developed and built resource projects across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. He is currently hard at work with personal projects to develop EV charging systems together with large scale decarbonisation and electrification. He brings with him a strong business acumen and experience across multiple sectors.
Jonathan is a Pingala Cooperative member and joined the Board in November 2023. He has been Chair of the Cooperative since October 2025.
FINANCE - Geoff Morrow
A CPA who has worked across many industries for a number of multinationals, Geoff has more recently assisted small manufacturers and “junior” miners. While his corporate experience included Managing Director for the local arm of a $3b US life science company, his core experience is driving finance and accounting to service the needs of internal and external stakeholders by providing accurate and timely information and analysis. This experience has been leveraged in the recent work with SME manufacturers and miners that required creating accounting and reporting protocols and performing the full breadth of the accounting function for these relatively small start-up companies.
As a volunteer he has used his professional skills in assisting a local primary school’s parent-run after-school care service and continues as treasurer for a national adoption/adoptee support group.
Geoff’s goal is to assist Pingala achieve the vision of expanding access to renewable energy through community driven initiatives and where the profits remain in the hands of that community. Geoff joined the Pingala Cooperative board as a non-member Director, and Treasurer, in July 2024.
SECRETARY - Sarah Lukeman
Sarah Lukeman has extensive experience in strategic planning, policy development and governance of not-for-profit organisations in regional Australia and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She was an elected independent on Singleton Council from 2016 to 2021 and chaired their Sustainability Committee over the same period. She is passionate about a just transition for coal mining communities and an active member of Hunter Community Alliance, Hunter Renewal and Hunter Jobs Alliance.
Sarah has a Chemical Engineering degree and worked for 10 years in the mining industry in Australia and South Africa in corporate research, business improvement and environmental management. She has also worked as a Sustainability Consultant, Kindermusik teacher and Tai Chi instructor. She is a Community Engagement practitioner in Health and Medical research and lives on Wonnarua / Wanaruah country in the Hunter.
Sarah invested in the Pingala Co-operative with the Allambi Care Project and joined the Pingala Co-op Board in 2021. She was Chair 2023-2025 and Secretary from the 2025 AGM.
Huw Phillips - Board member
Huw is a public policy leader with over 14 years of experience in government relations, political advocacy, and policy development across government, corporate, and not-for-profit sectors. He is a former Senior Adviser to the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, a former Policy Adviser to a City of Sydney Councillor, and spent 8+ years spearheading public policy across APAC for Airbnb.
From digital economy reform to deep government insight, Huw is a proven public policy strategist who knows how to turn complexity into impact, navigate complex regulatory landscapes, and deliver sustainable policy outcomes. He is skilled in stakeholder engagement, public affairs, government relations, advocacy campaigns, and message development, with a deep understanding of policy-making processes and government machinery. Being both strategic and with an eye for detail, Huw is adept at quickly mastering complex policy issues, developing evidence-based strategies, and crafting clear, compelling messages tailored to diverse audiences.
Huw has been a long-time Pingala shareholder having invested in the original Young Henry's Brewery project. Huw joined the Board at the AGM in 2025.