The SEA Awards for Excellence and Innovation from the Sustainable Energy Association of Australia (SEA) honor outstanding achievement in the advancement and adoption of renewable energy technologies across Australia.

The Sustainable Energy Industry Excellence and Innovation Ambassador Award (sponsored by Western Power ) is presented to an outstanding individual that has, through philosophy, attitude, behaviour and action, shown commitment and leadership in the areas of sustainable energy, energy efficiency or greenhouse gas abatement / mitigation.

Professor Chem Nayar has dedicated his entire career to the sustainable energy industry and is renowned for his pioneering contributions in teaching, research and development; and, commercialisation of solar and wind power systems in Australia and overseas. His PhD (1985) from the University of Western Australia on harnessing wind power to generate electrical power was the first of its kind in Australia.

Professor Nayar has excelled through the university academic ranks and was promoted to the Personal Chair at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Curtin University in 1995. He established the Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies (CRESTA) which was at the forefront of renewable energy research and development and training for over 15 years. He was Program Manager for the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy ( ACRE) . He also became the first Program Manager for Research and Development at the Research Institute of Sustainable Energy (RISE) at Murdoch University.

He established Regen Power Pty Ltd which now has offices in Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Professor Nayar is also the director of Radiant Solar Pty Ltd - Hyderabad, India) and the Managing Director of Sola Now Pty Ltd T/A Sunterra specializing on low cost roof top solar power systems.