A career in sports journalism may seem worlds apart from renewable energy, but for Bec Manley, the skills she honed in fast-paced newsrooms have proven invaluable in her role as SAMCo’s Business Growth and Client Relations Manager. Now, she's leveraging those talents to help expand SAMCo’s footprint in the clean energy industry.

“My very early career started as a sports journo,” remembers Bec, who once covered major events like the Beijing Olympic Games. After an early career stint with 7News Brisbane, Bec found herself drawn to public relations, where she specialised in media, crisis communications, and government relations, working with energy industry clients. That experience, she says, was her first taste of the energy sector – and it stuck.

“When I started working with energy clients, I immediately connected with the sector. It’s dynamic, it’s evolving, and there’s always a new challenge to tackle,” she recalls. 

Bec joined Stanwell’s Corporate Affairs team in 2017, where she helped shape the company’s public profile – but her ambitions didn’t stop there. After completing her MBA in 2022, Bec took the leap into operations, joining SAMCo right at its inception and using her expertise to help grow the company in the clean energy space.

Launched in 2023, SAMCo builds on Stanwell’s decades of experience as one of the most reliable and efficient operators in the National Electricity Market (NEM). With a strong track record in maintaining complex energy assets, Stanwell’s expertise in safety, reliability, and performance is now being applied to the renewable energy sector through SAMCo.

SAMCo is partnering with asset owners, original equipment manufacturers and engineering procurement construction companies across Australia to provide operations and maintenance services and asset management for all forms of renewable energy. 

Driving SAMCo’s strategy

Today, as the Business Growth and Client Relations Manager for SAMCo, Bec leads a team responsible for developing SAMCo’s business strategy and driving the company’s growth in the renewable sectors.

“There’s no ‘typical’ day in my role, which is what I love – it’s never repetitive or boring,” she says. “One moment I might be meeting with potential clients, and the next I’m developing proposals or overseeing the rollout of our services to new sites.

“A large part of my role is focused on understanding the opportunities in the renewable energy market and how we can draw on Stanwell Corporation’s capability to deliver value.”

Bec’s team plays an essential role in shaping SAMCo’s position in the clean energy market. 

“Our Business Growth and Client Relations team looks after setting the strategy for how we will develop and position SAMCo in the market, building relationships with our clients and project-managing the mobilisation of SAMCo’s services to new sites,” she explains.

A significant factor in Bec’s success has been her deep understanding of stakeholder engagement – a skill she’s honed over 12 years in communications roles. For her, the key to managing both business growth and client relations in the renewable energy space is simple: listening.

“It’s really important just to listen – to the pain points clients have, to what they expect – and see the opportunities where we can improve their experience,” she says.

Bec’s role is all about capturing these insights, mapping out opportunities, and working closely with SAMCo’s service delivery teams to ensure that the company consistently delivers on its promises. 

From the ground up

Bec was SAMCo’s third employee, and she says joining the company at such an early stage has been both a rewarding and challenging experience.

“It’s been incredible watching our team grow from just three people to nearly 30 in such a short time,” she says.

One of her proudest achievements has been leading the mobilisation of SAMCo’s services to Collinsville Solar Farm, a key milestone in the company’s growth.

“That was a real moment when I realised I had truly moved from a corporate affairs role into more of an operations space, putting my hard hat on and my MBA to good use,” she reflects.

As a start-up, SAMCo is in the unique position of being able to shape its operations and culture. For Bec, this presents an exciting opportunity to build a more inclusive and diverse workforce in the renewables industry.

“We’re building something new, and that means we have the opportunity to get it right from the start,” she says. “We want to attract talent from all backgrounds and create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.”

In her view, diversity is not only an advantage – it’s an essential part of doing business. “We know that when there are more diverse workforces, businesses are safer, more innovative, and more productive.”

Of course, with rapid growth and a start-up mentality comes challenges – particularly in a fast-moving sector like renewables.

“One of the biggest challenges is that everything at SAMCo is new,” Bec explains. “We rely on a lot of systems and processes from Stanwell Corporation, but everything requires little tweaks to ensure they fit our environment and meet our clients’ needs. That can be difficult, but I thrive in that grey space where adaptability is key.”

As SAMCo continues to grow, Bec is focused on ensuring that the company is well-positioned to seize the opportunities ahead. 

“We’re looking at a pipeline of projects spanning solar, wind, BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems), and synchronous condensers,” she says. “It’s my job to ensure we showcase the service delivery teams’ capabilities and build strong relationships with our clients to cement those opportunities for SAMCo.”

Bec’s goal is clear: to ensure SAMCo is maintaining significant gigawatts of renewable energy and expanding its workforce exponentially over the next few years.

“We’re looking at more than 8 GW of energy that we’ll be maintaining, and growing our team significantly by 2035 if we do our jobs right,” she says with a smile.

“It’s exciting, but it also requires a lot of resilience. We’re not here to do things the way they’ve always been done – we’re here to set new standards.”

For those considering a career in the renewable energy sector, Bec has one piece of advice: “Take the leap.” 

Reflecting on her own journey, she credits stepping outside her comfort zone as one of the best decisions she’s made.

“I took a risk moving out of my comfort zone and it has well and truly paid off. I’m working with great people, on awesome projects, and learning more every day. The opportunities in this sector are ripe for the picking for anyone bold enough to ask for a shot.”