Dr Sargent is a Director of M.A.Sargent & Associates, providing strategic corporate consulting services to industry, with a particular focus on the information technology, research, energy, environment and utilities sectors. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of Transfield Energy Group, and before that was Chief Executive Officer of ACTEW Corporation from November 1991. Dr Sargent has 45 years experience in the utility industry in Australia, USA and Canada.

He has consulted both in Australia and internationally on research and innovation systems. He has been Chair of a number of Australian Government Committees and Taskforces in the area of research and innovation.

Dr Sargent is a Director of the Australian Energy Market Operator and a Director of the Australian Solar Institute Ltd. He is Chairman of Lighthouse Innovation Centre Limited, a high technology seed fund and incubator. He is an Adjunct Professor of the University of Technology Sydney and of the University of Queensland.

He has a degree in electrical engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland.

He is active in professional and community matters. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Academician of the International Academy for Quality, and was President of The Institution of Engineers Australia in 1990.

In recognition of his service to engineering he was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1993 and was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2003.