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Appoints Brian Morris as CCO and Katie Barnett as CFO
MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BrightNight, the next-generation global renewable power producer, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Morris as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Katie Barnett as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of its Australia platform. These strategic appointments come as BrightNight accelerates its expansion in the Australian renewable energy sector.
BrightNight is soon to commence construction of Mortlake Energy Hub, Victoria's largest integrated hybrid renewable energy project, after receiving grid and development approval in 2024. Further, the company plans to expand its portfolio of large-scale, multi-technology renewable power projects to serve the Australian market.
Leadership Appointments to Strengthen BrightNight Australia's Capabilities
Brian Morris brings more than 30 years of experience in energy trading, renewable energy strategy, and risk management to the role of CCO. He has a proven track record of securing long-term revenue contracts and building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders. As an advocate for sustainability, Brian's values align closely with BrightNight's mission to deliver reliable and affordable renewable power. He currently serves on the board of the Energy Users Association of Australia and previously the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity, further demonstrating his leadership in the industry. Brian joins us from Macquarie Group where he served as Director with the Green Investments business. He holds a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University.
Katie Barnett joins BrightNight with over two decades of experience in power markets, energy finance, and energy Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). She has an impressive track record of leading over 50 transactions exceeding A$18 billion (about $12 billion). As CFO, Katie will play a pivotal role in securing capital for BrightNight's multi-gigawatt portfolio expansion in Australia. Her leadership and expertise in large-scale project financing and M&A transactions will be critical as BrightNight scales its operations. Prior to joining BrightNight, she was with PwC as a partner in their Energy Transition, Deals and M&A department, helping advance their utility-scale storage practice. Katie has also held senior roles at Origin Energy in renewable energy and corporate development and was the founding CEO and CFO of PowAR (now Tilt Renewables), overseeing an A$1.5 billion (roughly $1 billion) portfolio of onshore wind and solar projects. Katie earned a Master in Applied Finance from Macquarie University and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Strategic Growth and Vision for Australia
Jerome Ortiz, CEO of BrightNight APAC, said: "Brian and Katie's wealth of experience and industry track record will be invaluable in the execution and growth of our business in Australia. As Australia transitions towards more complex dispatchable energy solutions to meet its 2050 net-zero target, BrightNight aims to play a key role in enabling clean and reliable round-the-clock power."
Brian Morris commented: "I am excited to join BrightNight at this critical time in the energy transition. BrightNight's cutting-edge technology and analytical capability, combined with a team of industry leaders, has already set the stage for a gigawatt-scale portfolio of world-class energy solutions. I look forward to helping steer the company's growth in Australia as we continue to deliver firm, renewable baseload power for customers."
Katie Barnett added: "I'm thrilled to join BrightNight during this pivotal phase of its growth. With the company's proven ability to deliver transformative energy solutions, I am keen to apply my extensive Australian power and capital markets experience to contribute to the expansion of BrightNight's global portfolio and bring their Australian projects to fruition. The future of renewable energy is here, and BrightNight is well-positioned to lead the charge."
Brian is based in Melbourne, Victoria, and Katie lives in Sydney in New South Wales.
ABOUT BRIGHTNIGHT
BrightNight is the first global renewable integrated power company designed to provide utility and commercial and industrial customers with clean, dispatchable renewable power solutions. BrightNight works with customers across the U.S. and Asia Pacific to design, develop, and operate safe, reliable, large-scale renewable power projects optimised to better manage the intermittent nature of renewable energy. Its deep customer engagement process, team of proven power experts, and industry-leading solutions enable customers to overcome challenging energy sustainability standards, rapidly changing grid dynamics, and the transition away from fossil fuel generation. To learn more, visit: www.brightnightpower.com
Photo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2614357/BRIAN_MORRIS__CCO__BRIGHTNIGHT_AU.jpg?p=medium600
Photo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2614358/KATIE_BARNETT__CFO__BRIGHTNIGHT_AU.jpg?p=medium600
Logo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/1978189/BrightNight_Logo.jpg?p=medium600
Appoints Brian Morris as CCO and Katie Barnett as CFO
MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BrightNight, the next-generation global renewable power producer, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Morris as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Katie Barnett as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of its Australia platform. These strategic appointments come as BrightNight accelerates its expansion in the Australian renewable energy sector.
BrightNight is soon to commence construction of Mortlake Energy Hub, Victoria's largest integrated hybrid renewable energy project, after receiving grid and development approval in 2024. Further, the company plans to expand its portfolio of large-scale, multi-technology renewable power projects to serve the Australian market.
Leadership Appointments to Strengthen BrightNight Australia's Capabilities
Brian Morris brings more than 30 years of experience in energy trading, renewable energy strategy, and risk management to the role of CCO. He has a proven track record of securing long-term revenue contracts and building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders. As an advocate for sustainability, Brian's values align closely with BrightNight's mission to deliver reliable and affordable renewable power. He currently serves on the board of the Energy Users Association of Australia and previously the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity, further demonstrating his leadership in the industry. Brian joins us from Macquarie Group where he served as Director with the Green Investments business. He holds a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University.
Katie Barnett joins BrightNight with over two decades of experience in power markets, energy finance, and energy Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). She has an impressive track record of leading over 50 transactions exceeding A$18 billion (about $12 billion). As CFO, Katie will play a pivotal role in securing capital for BrightNight's multi-gigawatt portfolio expansion in Australia. Her leadership and expertise in large-scale project financing and M&A transactions will be critical as BrightNight scales its operations. Prior to joining BrightNight, she was with PwC as a partner in their Energy Transition, Deals and M&A department, helping advance their utility-scale storage practice. Katie has also held senior roles at Origin Energy in renewable energy and corporate development and was the founding CEO and CFO of PowAR (now Tilt Renewables), overseeing an A$1.5 billion (roughly $1 billion) portfolio of onshore wind and solar projects. Katie earned a Master in Applied Finance from Macquarie University and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Strategic Growth and Vision for Australia
Jerome Ortiz, CEO of BrightNight APAC, said: "Brian and Katie's wealth of experience and industry track record will be invaluable in the execution and growth of our business in Australia. As Australia transitions towards more complex dispatchable energy solutions to meet its 2050 net-zero target, BrightNight aims to play a key role in enabling clean and reliable round-the-clock power."
Brian Morris commented: "I am excited to join BrightNight at this critical time in the energy transition. BrightNight's cutting-edge technology and analytical capability, combined with a team of industry leaders, has already set the stage for a gigawatt-scale portfolio of world-class energy solutions. I look forward to helping steer the company's growth in Australia as we continue to deliver firm, renewable baseload power for customers."
Katie Barnett added: "I'm thrilled to join BrightNight during this pivotal phase of its growth. With the company's proven ability to deliver transformative energy solutions, I am keen to apply my extensive Australian power and capital markets experience to contribute to the expansion of BrightNight's global portfolio and bring their Australian projects to fruition. The future of renewable energy is here, and BrightNight is well-positioned to lead the charge."
Brian is based in Melbourne, Victoria, and Katie lives in Sydney in New South Wales.
ABOUT BRIGHTNIGHT
BrightNight is the first global renewable integrated power company designed to provide utility and commercial and industrial customers with clean, dispatchable renewable power solutions. BrightNight works with customers across the U.S. and Asia Pacific to design, develop, and operate safe, reliable, large-scale renewable power projects optimised to better manage the intermittent nature of renewable energy. Its deep customer engagement process, team of proven power experts, and industry-leading solutions enable customers to overcome challenging energy sustainability standards, rapidly changing grid dynamics, and the transition away from fossil fuel generation. To learn more, visit: www.brightnightpower.com
Photo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2614357/BRIAN_MORRIS__CCO__BRIGHTNIGHT_AU.jpg?p=medium600
Photo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2614358/KATIE_BARNETT__CFO__BRIGHTNIGHT_AU.jpg?p=medium600
Logo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/1978189/BrightNight_Logo.jpg?p=medium600
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
BrightNight Announces Key Appointments to Drive Growth in Australia
BrightNight Announces Key Appointments to Drive Growth in Australia
NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- WePlay, a leading global social entertainment platform, today officially announced a strategic partnership with "The Little Prince," a French literary classic IP, to launch a special Valentine's Day themed collaborative activity. The campaign will run from February 7 to February 14, featuring innovative gameplay mechanics, limited-edition gifts, and emotional interaction systems designed to deliver a cultural feast that blends literary classics with modern social entertainment for young users across North America.
A Cultural Collision Across the Atlantic: Classic Literature Meets Social Entertainment
"The Little Prince" is a novella created by French writer and military pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 1943. Since its publication, it has become one of the world's best-selling literary works, with sales exceeding 140 million copies. The work has been translated into over 650 languages and dialects, making it the second-most published book globally, surpassed only by the Bible. It enjoys a broad readership across America, Europe, and worldwide, particularly beloved by Gen-Z and young adults. 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of "The Little Prince's" publication in France. WePlay has chosen this momentous occasion to launch this collaborative activity. The goal is to deeply integrate the novel's core philosophy of "taming creates bonds" with modern social entertainment scenarios, providing global young users with a Valentine's Day experience that is both culturally rich and entertainingly valuable.
Customized Gameplay Design: Reinventing Valentine's Day Social Expression
This WePlay Valentine's Day special activity features multi-layered, multi-dimensional interactive gameplay with the core objective of ensuring every user's love story is seen, celebrated, and permanently commemorated. Key Features Include:
- Customized Recharge Incentives & Growth Multiplier System: Offering 30% additional recharge bonuses while providing doubled charm and growth point rewards.
- Valentine's Day Limited-Edition Luxury Rings: Launching specially designed, visually stunning Valentine's Day exclusive rings with dazzling effects.
- Little Prince Co-branded Gifts & Rare Items: Collaboratively designed a series of co-branded gifts and props that blend classic elements from the novel—roses, Planet B-612, and foxes. Each item carries emotional symbolism from the Little Prince story.
- CP Couple-Exclusive Benefits & Proposal Mechanics: Lowering the threshold for using the platform's proposal feature while offering super-value rewards to couples who have established CP relationships and meet consumption targets.
- Ring Discounts & Limited-Time Promotions: Multiple ring options featuring special promotional pricing during the activity period, encouraging users to express emotional commitment through virtual jewelry "gifting."
WePlay's North American Market Position & Global Strategy
WePlay is the flagship global next-generation social entertainment platform under WEJOY PTE. LTD., headquartered in Singapore. Since its launch, WePlay has established a robust user base across multiple global regions including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. According to official data, WePlay has accumulated over 800 million downloads with monthly active users in the millions, establishing itself as a leading choice for young global users' social entertainment. In the American market, WePlay has secured a significant position in the App Store and Google Play's social entertainment category thanks to its "low-barrier entry, high immersion, strong social" characteristics. The user base primarily consists of 18-25-year-old young social entertainment users. WePlay's global IP strategy has already achieved several success cases. Previously, the platform collaborated with renowned IPs including "Care Bears," "Chibi Maruko-chan," and "Kumamon." Each collaboration effectively elevated the platform's brand perception and user stickiness. This partnership with "The Little Prince" marks a further breakthrough in both "selecting classic IPs with global cultural influence" and "innovative gameplay design."
Why "The Little Prince"? Why Valentine's Day?
Alan Smith, WePlay's North American market director, stated in an interview: "The Little Prince is a work with trans-generational, trans-gender, and trans-cultural resonance globally. At its core, it's about 'connection'—the deep spiritual linkage between people, which aligns perfectly with WePlay's mission to 'bring joy and friendship to young people worldwide.'" Alan further explained: "In the North American market, Gen Z and young millennial users increasingly seek product experiences that are 'warm' and 'culturally deep.' Purely functional innovations and price advantages are no longer sufficient to win their hearts. We believe that by introducing classic IPs with global resonance points and fusing their philosophical cores with social interaction mechanisms, we can elevate virtual entertainment into an 'emotional expression vehicle' and a 'mode of cultural participation.' Valentine's Day itself is inherently about being 'seen' and 'celebrated,' and WePlay's social mechanics are perfectly positioned to deliver exactly this."
WePlay's Future Roadmap
WePlay has announced that this collaboration with "The Little Prince" will set a new benchmark for the platform's global IP strategy. Going forward, WePlay plans to:
About WePlay
WePlay is a global next-generation social entertainment platform under WEJOY PTE. LTD., headquartered in Singapore. The platform integrates gaming, voice interaction, party entertainment, and various other functions, with the mission to "Bring joy and friends to young people around the world," committed to "Bring people together through games, lead the trend of global online social entertainment." WePlay has become the preferred social entertainment app for global young users through its innovative gameplay, immersive social experiences, and warm community culture. The platform consistently adheres to a product philosophy of "quality first, innovation-driven, cultural depth," collaborating with globally renowned IPs to deliver interactive experiences that are both entertainingly valuable and culturally meaningful.
Platform Features:
- Innovative combination of voice social communication and gamified interaction
- Hit games including 《Who's the Spy》, 《Guess My Drawing》, 《Mic Grab》, and more
- Immersive social experiences combining online and offline elements
About WEJOY PTE. LTD.
WEJOY PTE. LTD. is an internet company based in Singapore, founded on October 23, 2020. As a company with a global vision and innovative spirit, we are dedicated to expanding in the social and gaming business sectors worldwide. We focus on the development and operation of social board games and casual games, with a particular emphasis on creating innovative and engaging gaming experiences that connect people around the world. Currently, we are actively expanding into international markets, and in the future, we aim to make a significant impact on the global stage.
Media Contact
Company Name: WEJOY PTE. LTD.
Contact Person: Bryant
Email: bryant@wejoysg.com
WePlay Official Website: https://weplayapp.com/
WeJoy Official Website: https://wejoyhub.com/
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
WePlay Teams Up with "The Little Prince" to Launch 2026 Valentine's Day Special Activity, Creating a Romantic Social Media Feast for Young Americans
