After leaving the Australian Public Service in 2017, Mr Clarke was appointed to the Boards of CSIRO and NBNCo, and as Chair of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). In 2024 he retired from all corporate non-Executive roles, but continues his involvement in Antarctic science through Monash University and the Australian Antarctic Science Council.

Drew Clarke, Australia's most senior energy and resources public servant, is a significant leader and innovator in energy reform and the spatial sector. He led the establishement of the Australian Government's $5 billion Clean Energy Initiative, including the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, Australian Centre for Renewable Energy, Australian Solar Institute, Australian Biofuel Research Institute, and the CCS and Sloar Flagship programs. The institutions and programs are the core clean energy programs within the Australian Government's climate change policy. Mr Clarke has been the Government's principal advise for these initiatives and has been instrumental in their design and implementation.