Geoff de Groot

During his career Geoff has worked across strategy consulting and finance with a focus on energy and sustainability related projects.

Geoff was formerly a strategy consultant with PwC Strategy& in Sydney and has experience working for large corporate and government clients across the energy, utilities, retail, financial services, environmental services and aviation sectors. He is skilled in strategy development, market analysis and financial modelling. After Strategy&, Geoff worked for various corporate clients on sustainability topics including e-mobility and home energy generation (solar and batteries) and performed due diligence work for VC and Infrastructure funds on various sustainability investments across charging infrastructure, large-scale RE projects, alternate fuels, hydrogen commercialisation and CCUS.

He also has prior experience working in a North American private wealth manager (CIBC Private Wealth), a leading international commercial law firm (Allens Linklaters) and in the Office of the Honourable Kevin Rudd, 26th Prime Minister of Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (International Relations) from the University of Queensland.

Why is sustainability in aviation so important to you?

I love to travel but am increasingly worried about the enormous emissions impact. Travel has enriched my life immensely, introducing me to amazing people, stunning places and I want to enable others to continue to enjoy travel without environmental cost.

What excites you about the SkiesFifty mission?

Decarbonisation is one of the great challenges of our time, and aviation is particularly difficult. I like working on tough problems that have a positive social impact, and I feel like the SkiesFifty mission exemplifies that.

How do you balance life with work?

I am lucky to live close to my family and a good network of friends so I try to spend as much time as I can with them. I also live near the beach and am addicted to surfing so I try to get out 3-4 times a week and do a surf trip each year. Apart from that I like getting together with mates to play basketball and soccer once a week or so.

What is on your Spotify playlist right now?

I jump a lot between genres, anything from Fred again.. to Frank Ocean to Childish Gambino to Blink182 and lots in between, I think most of my road trips would revert back to 90s-2010s hip hop and house music.