Mr Combet commenced as the Chair of the Net Zero Economy Agency, the precursor to the Net Zero Economy Authority, on 10 July 2023.

Prior to this role, he most recently served as Chair of IFM Investors and Industry Super Australia. Mr Combet was formerly Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Defence Personnel, Science and Materiel, and a leader of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

In 2020, Mr Combet was appointed by the then Prime Minister to the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission to assist the national response to the pandemic.

Prior to 2007 Mr Combet had a long and high profile trade union career that involved numerous industry restructurings.

Mr Combet was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006 for service to industrial relations.