The chance of a lifetime

“I never planned to go into finance,” she said.

She just happened to land a role at a US trading firm back in her homeland of Switzerland after a student exchange boosted her English, despite not having a formal background in finance at the time.

But Corinne was curious and determined, fuelled by a strong work ethic and a keen interest in how things work, she completed industry relevant qualifications and worked her way onto the trading floor. Between 2006 and 2012, she worked as a proprietary trader, navigating the highs and lows of global financial markets.

Making the journey down under

Post global financial crisis, Corinne took a step back and a sabbatical brought her to Australia, where she fell head over heels in love with the country.

“I came here for a break, and I just never left,” she said.

She went on to complete a Bachelor of Economics at the University of Queensland, laying the academic groundwork for the next phase of her career. By 2015, she had broken into Australia’s energy sector with a physical trading role at Stanwell. Whilst working at Stanwell she became AFMA accredited and finished her CFA qualification.

A workplace that aligns with her values

When CleanCo was established in 2019, Corinne was able to transition to the new entity.

“I stayed patient and focused and eventually a role came up that really aligned with what I care about.”

Now at CleanCo for 5 years, Corinne helps manage the day-to-day operations of CleanCo’s power stations.

Her job involves analysis of real time market like supply/demand forecasts, competitor behaviour, fuel costs, weather and other market relevant information, which is all used to determine the optimal dispatch of assets such as the gas-fired Swanbank Power Station and Wivenhoe’s Pumped Storage Hydro Station.

“It’s a bit like solving a constantly changing puzzle,” she said.

“You have to be ready to adapt. One minute you’re fine-tuning a forecast, the next you’re responding to a unit trip or a sudden price spike. And the market settles every five minutes, so there’s no room for delay.”

Corinne thrives in this high-energy environment, but what truly motivates her is CleanCo’s mission.

“Being part of the energy transition is what drives me,” she said.

“It’s not just about numbers on a screen. It’s about contributing to the bigger purpose of having a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

She’s particularly excited about new technologies entering the market.

“New technologies and ideas are changing the market environment so fast, and that’s what makes this work so rewarding.”

Her advice for those thinking of getting into energy trading?

“Stay curious, stay informed and don’t feel boxed in—diverse backgrounds, whether it’s engineering or even retail energy, can lead to really meaningful careers in trading.”