Speakers

Dr Bryn Williams is responsible for SA Power Networks' Network Strategy, a strategic blueprint for transforming the South Australian distribution network and services to support, enable and accelerate South Australia’s world-leading transition to distributed renewable energy.

Jai Thomas is the Deputy Director General - Coordinator of Energy, a statutory role that leads Energy Policy WA. As Coordinator of Energy, he is also the designated Hazard Management Agency for disruption to electricity, natural gas or liquid fuel supplies in Western Australia.

Robyn is a Transformation Lead at Synergy, where she has spent the last 10 years extending the business's ability to navigate the complexities of a fast-changing technology landscape and profoundly disrupted and transforming electricity industry.

Sam was appointed Western Power CEO in August 2022. He has been a member of the Executive team since 2014 serving firstly as the Executive Manager of the Governance & Assurance and then the Executive Manager Asset Operations.

Neetika is an academic turned energy professional with over 10 years of experience in the energy sector. She leads the AEMO team in WA responsible for ensuring there is sufficient generation capacity to meet current and future electricity demand on WA’s largest (and possibly one of the most isolated) electricity network, the South West Interconnected System.

Dora has spent 15 years in the Western Australian energy sector and was responsible for the design and delivery of the first Wholesale Electricity Market in the SWIS.At present, she is Director, Wholesale Markets in EPWA. Her team is responsible for the implementation of the reform of the Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) in the South West Interconnected System.

The Hon. Bill Johnston is Western Australia's Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Energy, Corrective Services and Industrial Relations. He has been a Minister for the McGowan Labor Government since

Kate Ryan is responsible for leading the Western Australia function and AEMO’s corporate strategy. Kate joined AEMO in February 2022, and has extensive knowledge and experience built over decades in the energy industry.

Chris grew up in Smithfield in Western Sydney, attending Smithfield Public School and St Johns Park High School. He graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics. He also has a Master’s Degree in International Relations and a Diploma in Modern Languages (Bahasa Indonesia).

As Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Power, Stephanie Unwin leads a team of 600+ energy professionals to deliver power to some of Western Australia’s most remote and regional communities.

Ruby Heard is a versatile and ambitious entrepreneur and electrical engineer with global experience and an affinity for sustainability. She began her career with Arup designing electrical and lighting systems for iconic buildings in Melbourne. In 2015 she transferred to San Francisco to follow her passion into the renewable energy sector, designing complex solar arrays and microgrids for Google campuses. 

Bringing connectivity to rural, regional, and remote Australia.

Ingrid Cumming is a Whadjuk Balardong Noongar woman from Fremantle, Western Australia and recognised young leader within the First Nations community. Ingrid is the founder and principal consultant of Kart Koort Wiern consultancy, representing First Nations Business globally for over ten years, alumni of Murdoch University and Melbourne Business School. Ingrid was part of the establishment of the Indigenous Women in Business network and has served as a Commissioner for Conservation for the WA state government. Ingrid has worked with a variety of sectors and organisations, creating, facilitating and evaluating programs and strategies to address issues and strengths. Ingrid has won and been a finalist in a range of awards like NAIDOC Perth, Telstra Women in Business, Curtin Vice-Chancellor Awards, ‘Champion for Change’ by EPHEA (Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia), WA Heritage Awards and Belmont Small Business Awards. Ingrid has presented at various forums and conferences around the world in relation to engagement, equity and diversity matters including as a delegate at the UN Women Leaders Conference in Israel in 2013, TedXPerth in 2014 been on various TV programs, including the Drum in 2021. Ingrid is a strong ally of LGBTIQ, First Nations, Youth and diverse groups, stakeholders and organisations.

A well-regarded energy professional with 15 years experience in Western Australia's unique energy sector. Mena's career has included high-profile electricity reform projects, such as the Energy Transformation Strategy and Electricity Market Review, She's developed an excellent understanding of the challenges ahead, and the opportunities for growth and leadership.

Supporting the energy transition. Specialties include strategy development, commercial negotiation, renewable projects, gas, electricity, hydrogen, asset sales and acquisitions.

Yolande Strengers is a digital sociologist and human-computer interaction professor investigating the sustainability, energy and inclusion impacts of digital and smart technologies, including emerging forms of AI.

Chris is a member of the Western Australian Expert Consumer Panel and Market Advisory Panel, where he advocates for consumers on a range of network regulatory, retail market and energy transition issues.

Pierluigi Mancarella is Chair Professor of Electrical Power Systems at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and Professor of Smart Energy Systems at the University of Manchester, UK.

TBC

Rob Chandler is Program Manager – Access Solutions in the Western Power Customer Decarbonisation business unit. His focus is transmission connected renewables and storage, working with commercial and industrial customers to connect new facilities to the SWIS. Before joining Western Power he was involved in the construction industry, initially onshore commercial and industrial projects before moving to an offshore construction contractor specialising in subsea infrastructure. He has a broad range of experience in construction contracting and project controls with a focus on commercial management.

Jacinda Papps is a regulatory, policy and government relations professional with over 20 years’ experience in energy markets across multiple jurisdictions, including 15 years in Western Australia.

Martin Wilkes is the Managing Director of RISC, an independent International Energy Advisory company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia.

Katie is an energy policy, regulation & stakeholder relations specialist focused on progressing a secure, low-carbon, consumer-centric energy transition through her current roles with AEMO and AIE.

Sally McMahon is an economist with more than 25 years’ experience in energy and industry reform programs.

David has more than 20 years' experience across the energy and telecommunications industries, including holding executive roles in operations, commercial sales, asset management and business development.

As the WA Business Development Manager at JET Charge, Mark has been privileged to be part of the team delivering landmark projects including the State Government's WA EV Network.

Sarah is an is an industry leader with more than a decade of experience working with policy and regulatory frameworks across the resources and energy sectors.

Dr Alan Finkel AC is a neuroscientist, engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Fabian Le Gay Brereton is a passionate clean energy entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and CEO of Gridcog, a groundbreaking startup dedicated to the clean energy transition.

Jenness Gardner is an experienced strategic leader working in the energy and resources sector leading economic policy development, commercial negotiations and large scale project development for the state.

Holly leads a team that focuses on strategic initiatives that build the energy management market, facilitating the realisation of an equitable, prosperous, net zero economy.

Scott is VP of Origination at Xodus with a remit to update and change the company’s business model as it relates to the offshore wind sector.

Cecily Rawlinson was appointed in July 2021 as Director of the WA AustCyber Innovation Hub, recently rebranded as CyberWest.

Professor Lachlan Blackhall is Entrepreneurial Fellow and Head, Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program at The Australian National University.

Rod Sims AO is Chair of the Superpower Institute, a non-profit organisation dedicated to Australia moving quickly to,and benefitting from, the transition to net zero emissions.

Michael Gunner is the Director of Australia West, leading Fortescue Future Industries’ (FFI) work across Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory.

Justin Nash heads up the Geraldton Export-Scale Renewable Investment (GERI) Project, H2Kwinana and is a director of bp’s Kwinana Refinery subsidiary.

Naoki Takahashi is Chief Representative of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation's Sydney Office

Peter Markussen is Senior Director at Energinet, the state-owned Danish Transmission and System Operator.

A retired career diplomat and former U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, Ms. Warlick has held a variety of senior leadership positions at the U.S. Department of State, National Security Council and Department of Defense, serving in Washington and abroad.

Greg Ruthven is an Associate Director with Rennie Advisory, with a focus on regulation, reform and strategy in the transitioning energy markets

Prof. Tschakert is trained as a human-environment geographer and applied anthropologist and conducts research at the intersection of political ecology, climate change adaptation, climate and mobility justice, multispecies justice, energy humanities,

Sarah Pink is a design anthropologist and documentary filmmaker. She is Professor and Director of the Emerging Technologies Research Lab at Monash University. Her work focuses on how we may live with emerging technologies in possible but as yet unknown and uncertain futures. Her films include Laundry Lives (2015) and Smart Homes for Seniors (2022). Her latest book is Emerging Technologies / Life at the Edge of the Future (2022).

Jeni has 15 years of experience collaborating with diverse community groups, organisations, activists, artists and academics to produce people-centred documentary films. Her work bridges documentary filmmaking and communication for social change, exploring how communication processes and products can perform multiple roles as research, observation, education, inspiring behaviour change, evaluation and advocating for structural change.

Dr. Kari Dahlgren is a Research Fellow in the Emerging Technologies Research Lab. Kari is a social anthropologist and ethnographer interested in the social and ethical aspects of energy production and consumption in Australia. Her work is situated at the intersection of economic and environmental anthropology, with a particular interest in the anthropology of energy, climate change, and transition. Her doctoral thesis in Anthropology, completed at the London School of Economics, draws on ethnographic fieldwork in two Australian coal mining towns, focusing on the livelihoods entangled with the industry.

Charlie Wilson-Clark is a social performance and community relations specialist with more than 25 years’ professional experience in communications and social management. Her experience includes leading large scale social studies and working with multi-disciplinary teams to plan and deliver on the social aspects of leading practice Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) – from the early stages of exploration, through operations and planning for transition and closure. Under her leadership, the WSP Communities and Social Performance team has built a national reputation for high quality data-driven delivery of social performance services and expert strategic engagement advice and delivery. The team is currently working for a range of industry partners, from small junior explorers through to multi-national mining and energy companies.

Greg is part Vestas’ development team and is responsible for project origination and development activities in Western Australia and South Australia.

As the head of HFW’s energy transition group Jo focuses on renewable power, decarbonisation projects, hydrogen, green technology commercialisation and climate change fields.

Anna has lead the development of WesCEF's net zero roadmap and supported a wide range of climate-related work streams.

Annabel is an experienced strategic advisor to government and industry

Kate has more than 25 years’ experience working with clients and communities in the Infrastructure, Mining, Energy and Property sectors.

Dr. Kari Dahlgren is a Research Fellow in the Emerging Technologies Research Lab at Monash University. Kari is a social anthropologist and ethnographer interested in the social and ethical aspects of energy production and consumption in Australia.

Fareed is a multidisciplinary social scientist. He is currently a research fellow at the Emerging Technologies Research Lab (ETRL) focusing on energy scenarios and digital technology futures. Additionally, Fareed is a research

Michelle Beresford is the Assistant Director of Energy Demand Initiatives, a team within Energy Policy WA that develops policy and program responses to support Western Australian consumers improve energy performance in their homes and businesses.

Lesley joined Synergy in January 2022 and has considerable prior experience with customer engagement in the banking and finance sectors.

Professor Peta Ashworth OAM is the Director, of the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition (CIET). Prior to joining Curtin University, Professor Ashworth was the Director of the Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership, and Chair in Sustainable Energy Futures at The University of Queensland (UQ).

As Western Power’s Distribution Grid Strategy & Planning Manager, Janica Lukas is charged with planning for the rapidly changing future of the distribution network of Western Australia’s South West Interconnected System. Janica is responsible for distribution network strategies and the scoping of investment proposals with a project pipeline of $40M-$50M per year.

Kieran Rayney is Assistant Director, Electricity Network Regulation at Energy Policy WA (DMIRS), where he is leading the implementation of the State Government’s Energy Governance and Legislation Reforms and advising on network regulation matters.

Reece has overseen government departments responsible for protecting Western Australia’s environment since December 2021 and regained the Racing and Gaming portfolio in December 2022.

Dr Kate George is a Putejurra woman from the Murchison-Gascoyne region in Western Australia. She was born on the 494 mile peg of the rabbit-proof fence and belongs to the Putejurra people who are part of the Martu of the Western Desert. She spent 14 years in a Perth institution from the age of 3. She was the first Aboriginal student to graduate in law from the Australian National University, the first Aboriginal woman admitted to practice law in WA, and one of the first Aboriginal women to chair an ASX-listed company.

Roland is an experienced social performance consultant with over a decade of experience in community development, social impact, and stakeholder engagement. He has worked on some of Australia's most significant energy and infrastructure projects, supporting clients such as AEMO, Acciona Energia, Alinta Energy, TransGrid, Hydro Tasmania and Origin Energy with strategy, assessments and audits that manage change and achieve improved social performance throughout the project life cycle. His project resume includes national strategy such as the Integrated Systems Plan, organisation-level strategy and framework development for major energy generation businesses, as well as delivering comprehensive project level Social Performance services across the entire suite of energy generation project types, including over 4GW of Wind, multiple Pumped Hydro facilities, over 1000km of new build Transmission and Battery Energy Storage.

Sarah Derham has been at the forefront of corporate governance and sustainability in the renewable energy sector since joining Collgar in 2021. As Head of Sustainability and Company Secretary, she is responsible for developing ESG strategies, ensuring corporate compliance, and implementing the systems to support best practices in these areas.Sarah brings extensive experience from her previous roles in corporate law and management consulting, where she focused on governance, strategy, risk, and stakeholder engagement. She is passionate about driving sustainable practices and creating positive impacts as part of Collgar’s strategy.Her dedication to strong ESG performance is complemented by her participation on the AEC’s Sustainability Working Group, where she provides the unique perspectives of a renewable energy generator and promotes attention to the challenges of the energy transition in WA.Originally from Kentucky, USA, Sarah holds a JD and BSc (Hons) and has postgraduate certificates in Sustainable Investing (Harvard Business School Online) and Applied Corporate Law and Corporate Governance (Governance Institute of Australia). Additionally, Sarah is an AICD Graduate, Infrastructure Sustainability Accredited Professional and is currently studying sustainability accounting through the IFRS.

Margot is the Transition Social Performance Manager at Western Power and has the exciting role of managing the development and implementation of social performance framework and strategy to support transmission expansion projects across the network.

Rachel Peterson was appointed Executive Director of the California Public Utilities Commission in January 2021. She leads the Commission’s statewide workforce to accomplish California’s pathbreaking goals in the areas of energy, telecommunications, safety, rail, water, and passenger transportation. California is a dynamic state and the CPUC sets policy and rules for utility services that are essential to modern life – and Rachel has set her sights on two long-range strategic priorities: achieve the Commission’s regulatory mission in the context of climate change, and invest in the Commission’s workforce. She is moving the CPUC toward this vision with effective leadership driven by values. Rachel has worked at the CPUC since 2011 in numerous leadership positions, including chief of staff and advisor to Commissioners, and as an executive in the areas of safety policy and enforcement.

Steve Duggan holds the position of General Manager for the Energy and Resources Program at the Bureau of Meteorology. His role involves strategic engagement, systematic gathering of insights, and deployment of the Bureau’s substantial capabilities to create significant impact and value for Australia’s energy and resources sectors at scale.An experienced engineering professional, Steve Duggan has extensive public and private sector experience and a depth of business and technical skills gained through years of delivering applied science solutions to the energy and resources sectors.‍

We have entered a time where we need to do things differently. Tim is connecting people driven by a shared purpose and popping up teams that draw on the best and brightest across business, government, technology and the community to get stuff done.

Jacqueline has a wealth of energy sector, policy, and regulatory experience, gained through more than fifteen years in the energy industry. In her role as Director Policy, Energy Services and Markets, Jacqueline leads the work at Energy Consumers Australia focused on ensuring good consumers outcomes from the complex energy markets. Jacqueline is passionate about addressing the complex challenges facing energy consumers and framing solutions in a human-centered way.

Steve has been the Chair of the Economic Regulation Authority since August 2021. He is an economist specialising in the energy sector. Steve has many years of commercial and regulatory experience working with the public sector, industry agencies and private industry. Before joining the ERA, Steve relinquished his role as Chair of Horizon Power to be appointed as Full time Chair of the WA Government’s Energy Transformation Taskforce. He was the inaugural Chair of the Australian Energy Regulator 2005-10 and was a member of the ERA governing body from 2006 to 2017. In a private consulting capacity, Steve has recently developed a high level design for the electricity market in the Northern Territory and is a member of the Electricity Market Reform Implementation Taskforce in the Northern Territory, as the independent energy market expert.

As the Managing Director of Energy & Utilities at Sia Partners, Australia, Jessica leads teams advising Western Australia's major energy players on strategy, business planning, performance improvement, and stakeholder engagement.

Michelle possesses more than 20 years of professional and management experience, predominantly in mining, resources and construction. Michelle has worked at all levels of organizations - designing, constructing, commissioning, operating, and across multiple commodities and business models from Alliances, Public-Private Partnerships, EPCM and Joint Ventures.

Jodie Kimber is an experienced engineer, and project manager with 20 years’ experience in mining, mineral refining, business development and energy transition critical technology, including hydrogen generation. Jodie is skilled in project management, financial modelling, stakeholder management and commercial due diligence. In addition to her Bachelor of Engineering, Jodie holds an MBA from the University of Western Australia. Jodie is currently Climate Opportunities Manager at Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers. In her current role, Jodie has developed an in-depth knowledge of established and emerging innovations and due diligence on cleantech. Jodie is proud to be involved with the Parmelia Green Hydrogen project on behalf of WesCEF.

Sharan Burrow is a global advocate for human rights, climate action and Just Transition. She is the Former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (2010-2022. Previously she was President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (2000–2010.)

Claude Morris leads the Battery Energy Systems Storage sector across Australia at global professional service firm, GHD.

Nick Sloan has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) since 2019.

Robert is an AIE (Perth branch) Committee member whose current role is the Network Contracts Principal at Synergy, working within and supporting the Customer Business Unit.

Dr Gabrielle Kuiper is an energy, sustainability and climate change professional with over 20 years’ experience in the corporate world, government and non-government organisations and academia.

Kerry-Ann Winmar is a Whadjuk and Ballardong traditional Owner and Elder with strong family connections across the Perth Metropolitan and the Southwest of Western Australia. She has extensive knowledge to share about Nyungar language, heritage, and Culture which was handed down from her parents.

Siriana Kvalvik Nair is a career Foreign Service Officer currently serving as the Principal Officer and Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Perth, Australia.

Helen Mitchell is an economist and former diplomat, most recently a senior expert providing strategic advice to the Prime Minister and rest of government.

Andrew has over 25 years of experience in the construction, communications and electricity industries in Australia, Southeast Asia and North America, including at an Executive level.

Sam has over 30 years of industry experience in the energy and utilities sectors, spanning operations, investment management, corporate development and strategy, and transaction execution responsibilities. He has worked in merchant energy, gas distribution, power generation (gas and renewables), and electricity and gas transmission primarily in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to joining Collgar Renewables, Sam held executive and senior roles at QIC Infrastructure, APA Group, Stockland and AGL, and before moving into the energy sector he was a lawyer at Clayton Utz with transactional, anti-trust and corporate finance experience.

Colin joined ATCO in August 2023 and is the General Manager for Clean Fuels. Colin is a leader in his field and has more than 20 years’ experience with roles at Deloitte, BHP, Alinta Energy and the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG).

Krystal Skinner is the Acting CEO of Horizon Power, leading a team of 600+ staff to deliver power to approximately 47,000 customer accounts across regional and remote Western Australia. She has extensive experience in WA's energy sector, including in executive roles leading electrification and distributed energy initiatives, and delivering priority asset programs for some of the State's most remote Aboriginal communities in support of Closing the Gap.

Andre Winarto is Program Director at the Perth USAsia Centre, WA's leading foreign policy think tank, where he leads the program on the geopolitics of critical minerals and the energy transition.

Saul Griffith is an engineer, entrepreneur, and author focused on clean energy and electrification. He has founded multiple technology companies and is the founder of Rewiring America, Rewiring Australia, and Rewiring Aotearoa.