| Victoria Adams Director, Corporate and Project Finance Clean Energy Finance Corporation Victoria Adams leads the Community Housing business platform at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. The CEFC’s energy efficient Community Housing Program is an initiative to deliver over 1,000 new energy efficient social and affordable housing dwellings. The program is delivering lower energy costs for low income residents while lowering Australia’s carbon footprint. Victoria also has experience in utility-scale solar projects, investment funds, social infrastructure, public private partnerships (PPPs) and climate bonds for the CEFC. Before joining the CEFC, Victoria worked at Deloitte, Goldman Sachs and Macquarie Capital. She has a broad range of corporate finance experience in mergers and acquisitions for both advisory and principal transactions across a number of industries. Before moving into investment banking, Victoria worked as a civil engineer, specialising in tunnel design and construction. | |
| Greg Bourne Climate Councillor Greg Bourne has worked at the nexus of climate change, energy business and policy for over 30 years. With BP he lived and worked in the UK, Middle East, USA, Canada, Ireland, Brazil, China, Venezuela and Australia. For two years he was Special Adviser on Energy and Transport to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He returned to Australia in 1999 as Regional President, BP Australasia and worked with business and governments on the Climate Change agenda. Greg was CEO WWF Australia for six years and later a non-executive director of Carnegie Wave Energy. He is the former Chair of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. A Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for services to the environment and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Western Australia for services to international business. | |
| Adam Clarke Program Co-ordinator - Corporate & Community Planning The City of Newcastle Adam Clarke is a Program Coordinator at Newcastle City Council in the Smart Cities Team. In this role he is responsible for managing and analysing energy and resource use across Council to develop and implement projects for financial and environmental returns for the City, including MW scale solar, street lighting upgrades, rooftop solar, power quality, EV and battery storage. Projects of note include leading the Energy Hunter program, which assisted 500 Hunter businesses to reduce their annual electricity consumption by over 4 million kilowatt hours, making $1.1m in annual savings and receiving the NSW Green Globe for Climate Change. Adam also led the installation of a 100kW solar system on the State Heritage listed Newcastle Museum. He is responsible for developing Council’s landmark $8m solar farm project and delivering a range of smart city infrastructure projects. Prior to joining Council in 2012, Adam worked at Low Carbon Australia on its Energy Efficiency program, a role which encompassed developing innovative finance models to increase investment and uptake of energy efficiency in the commercial sector. Adam has a degree in Law and Communications from the University of Newcastle and post graduate training in Project Management. | |
| Claire Connell Project Officer ClimateWorks Australia Claire supports ClimateWorks across a range of implementation projects, including Generation Yes and our electric vehicle uptake projects. In these roles she works with partners and individuals across sectors to develop understanding and action on climate change in Australia. Previously Claire has worked in engagement roles in higher education and the not for profit sector. | |
| Bernhard Conoplia Program Director NRMA Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Network Bernhard brings over 20 years of local and international experience and a background in Engineering, Product Development and Strategy to this pioneering challenge of building one of Australia’s largest fast charging networks. Electric vehicle take up is growing rapidly around the world, yet Australia is lagging. Late last year the NRMA announced it would do its part to encourage electric vehicle take up by investing $10m to build over 40 fast chargers across NSW and ACT. The network is designed to address the fundamental infrastructure barrier that stops people buying EVs today. The first chargers are now live with many more in the pipeline. Bernhard will be presenting the story behind why NRMA is making this investment, the challenges of the project and the opportunities for local authorities to maximise the benefit for communities. | |
| 0 | Anne Fitzsimmons Senior Sustainability Officer Inner West Council NSW Anne has worked in sustainability in local and State Government since 2008. She specialises in corporate sustainability and developing energy efficiency projects as well as working across teams to improve the environmental sustainability of Council facilities. She has managed a number of major lighting upgrades in Council facilities and more recently was part of the evaluation panel for the SSROC-led Power Purchase Agreement project, which tendered for a PPA to supply 20 metropolitan and regional councils with renewable energy. Anne spent nearly 6 years with Canterbury Bankstown Council before joining Inner West in April 2018. She has a Masters in Environmental Management from UNSW where she focussed on renewable energy policy and corporate energy management.
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| Helene Forsythe Team Leader Sustainability Canterbury-Bankstown Council Helene has worked in Local Government in NSW for 20 years with a background in Environmental Science and Education (Macquarie University) as well Environmental Management in Local Government (Newcastle University). She has seen a lot of change in how local government responds to environmental issues over the past two decades, and is confident that we are starting to make a real difference. Her main focus with work is around strengthening the resilience of Canterbury Bankstown council and her local community. The newly amalgamated City of Canterbury Bankstown is now the largest Council in NSW with a population of 368,000. The Local community are very ethnically diverse with 44% born overseas, and 41% from countries where English is not the first language. Canterbury Bankstown - where interesting happens! | |
| John Griffiths Senior Sustainability Officer, Urban Sustainability City of Melbourne John has spent 10 years working across the public and not for profit sector in energy efficiency, renewables and sustainability strategy. John is experienced in planning, implementing and monitoring energy and carbon reduction programs for business and government.
Joining the City of Melbourne at the beginning of 2015, John was a key team member responsible for the delivery of the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (MREP). The MREP marks the first time in Australia that a group of local governments, cultural institutions, universities and corporations have collectively purchased renewable energy from a newly built facility. The project resulted in the construction of the Crowlands Wind Farm near Ararat and has the potential to be replicated by other large energy users – delivering savings to customers and enabling new renewable energy projects to proceed. | |
| Councilor Mark Honey Mayor Kiama Municipal Council Mayor Mark Honey is a highly respected local dairy farmer who has operated the family farm for about 45 years, since the retirement of his father. He currently works the properties with his sons, with support from his wife Anne. In September 2012, Mark was elected to the Kiama Municipal Council and is currently in his second term. He was elected as Mayor in 2016. In his role as Councillor Mark participates in a number of Committees including the Blue Haven Care Board, the Local Traffic Committee, and Council’s Cultural Board, Walking Tracks & Cycleways and Planning committees. Mark also holds positions on a number of external bodies including the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation and is director on the CivicRisk Mutual Board. He was Chairman on the Moss Vale Rural Lands Protection Board for seven years, and Chairman of the Cumberland Livestock Health and Pest Authority for four years. Mark is a member of the Kiama/Jamberoo branch of the RSL, having served his country in 1972/74. He has a strong involvement in the local community through his efforts for the Kiama Rugby Club, the Kiama Show Society, the dairy industry bodies and many other sporting and community organisations. | |
| Professor Lesley Hughes Climate Councillor and Distinguished Professor of Biology, Macquarie University Lesley Hughes is a Distinguished Professor of Biology and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Integrity & Development) at Macquarie University.Her research has mainly focused on the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems. Lesley is a former federal Climate Commissioner and former Lead Author in the IPCC’s 4th and 5th Assessment Report. She is also a Director for WWF Australia, a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, the Director of the Biodiversity Node for the NSW Adaptation Hub and a member of the expert advisory committee for Future Earth Australia. | |
| Professor Karen Hussey Climate Councilor & Director, Centre for Policy Futures University of Queensland Karen Hussey is Director of the Centre for Policy Futures located in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at The University of Queensland, a position she took up in July 2017. Trained as a political scientist and economist, Karen undertakes research in the field of public policy and governance, with a particular interest in public policy relating to sustainable development. Her recent research has focused on water and energy security, the role of the state in climate change mitigation and adaptation and the links between international trade and environmental regulation. Karen is a Chief Investigator on the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC project 'Policies, Institutions and Governance of Natural Hazards'; Lead Investigator for the ERIN project 'An analysis of the desirability and feasibility of increased energy and electricity integration in South East Asia'. Prior to taking up her position at UQ, she was Associate Professor in the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the ANU, where she now holds an Adjunct Professorship. From 2007-2010 Karen was based in Brussels as the ANU Vice Chancellor's Representative in Europe, where she was responsible for developing the ANU's research relationships and profile with European research teams and institutions. | |
| Dr Sonia Marshall Strategic Policy Officer, Sustainability, Liveability and Natural Assets Sunshine Coast Council, Qld Dr Sonia Marshall is currently a Strategic Policy Officer in the Environment and Sustainability Policy Branch at Sunshine Coast Council. Apart from writing policy, she is also responsible for measuring and monitoring council’s greenhouse gas emissions and other sustainability indicators such as energy, waste, water and behaviour change. Sonia’s degree was in environmental management and her PhD in environmental interpretation. Her other experience includes campaigning for an environmental group, planning and delivering environmental education programs at tourism destinations and lecturing / tutoring in environmental management at universities. | |
| Brett McDonald Senior Greenhouse Project Officer, Sustainability & Transport City of Port Phillip Brett McDonald is Senior Greenhouse Projects Officer at the City of Port Philip, with a remit to help council achieve zero net emissions by 2020. In the six years he’s been there, he has led various projects to install solar PV and improve the energy efficiency of council assets and services. This includes halving the energy use at St Kilda Town Hall, the council’s largest energy user. And starting this January, all of council’s electricity will be 100% GreenPower, which will make the goal of zero net emissions by 2020 attainable. When he is not helping and advising others on their energy use, Brett enjoys riding around Melbourne and growing food on a small patch of garden at home. | |
| 0 | Anna McGuire Senior Policy Officer Climate Change ACT Government Photo and Bio to be added soon. |
| Julie McMinn Co-ordinator, Switch Your Thinking! Program City of Gosnells, WA Julie McMinn coordinates the award winning Switch your thinking program, a local government initiative that inspires sustainable action across Perth. Collaborating with other local governments, households, businesses, schools, researchers and community groups, Julie promotes resource efficiency and the uptake of renewable energy to drive greenhouse emission reductions. Julie is passionate about evidence based and community focused climate change mitigation. | |
| Nik Midlam Manager Carbon Strategy, City Sustainability City of Sydney Nik Midlam is the City of Sydney’s Manager of Carbon Strategy having worked with the City since 2002. Nik was involved in developing, and now delivering on the City’s targets to reduce emissions by 70 per cent below 2006 levels by 2030, 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050. Under Nik’s watch the City organization became carbon neutral and reduced emissions by 25 per cent. Across the local government area emissions are 19 per cent below 2006 levels. Nik is an advocate for energy efficiency and renewable energy. He understands issues faced by local government and communities in the pursuit of zero emissions across all sectors of our economy. Nik participates in C40 and Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance networks. | |
| Daniel Murphy Manager of Economic Development Bega Valley Shire Council Daniel Murphy has over 15 years’ experience in various corporate and government roles.
First starting out in banking in London he’s now fully reformed and has gone on to develop and deliver greenhouse action programs in non-profits, develop sustainable building assessment tools for local government and complete a variety of environmental projects in sensitive coastal areas. In a previous position at Council, he coordinated its role in development and delivery of the Green Globe winning Tathra Community Solar Farm – one of Australia’s first community backed solar farms. Community engagement has been a key requirement of all projects that he’s undertaken and he’s endeavored to navigate the needs and desire of the community with the roles, resources and responsibilities of local government. | |
| 0 | Peter Nattrass Technical Specialist Sustainability City of Adelaide Photo and biography to be added shortly. |
| Kate Nicolazzo Head of Development Moreland Energy Foundation Kate is MEFL’s Head of Development. Kate is responsible for developing strategic partnerships, programs and services that deliver on MEFL’s vision of a zero carbon society. Prior to this Kate was the Manager of Positive Charge, the Moreland Energy Foundation’s social enterprise. Leading a small team of dedicated staff delivering energy efficiency and renewable energy advice, products and services to householders, businesses, schools and community groups across Victoria, Kate also spearheaded the expansion of Positive Charge into New South Wales under the brand Our Energy Future. Kate has worked across the community and private sectors in a variety of roles focused on health, climate change and sustainability in the past 15 years before joining MEFL. She was the CEO of the Yarra Energy Foundation, General Manager for Sustainability and Innovation at the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI), she has also spent time managing her own consulting business, specialising in strategic planning and program development for organisations and individuals achieving great social and environmental outcomes. Kate has also been Treasurer and Secretary for Beyond Zero Emissions and regularly mentors Fellows from the Centre for Sustainability Leadership.
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| Dr Matthew Nott Founder Clean Energy for Eternity Dr Matthew Nott is an orthopeadic surgeon, based in Bega since 1999. He helps to provide a regional orthopaedic service for SE NSW. Dr Nott became interested in climate change in 2006 after reading Tim Flannery's "The Weather Makers". After much research, he started up the community group Clean Energy For Eternity. The organisation has been working hard to come up with community solutions to climate change ever since. Clean Energy for Eternity has been involved in human signs, has helped community groups fund raise for solar panels and has achieved renewable energy onto the roof-tops of surf clubs, fire stations, churches, community halls and schools. They have set an emission reduction target of 50/50 by 2020. Additionally, they have built Australia's largest community funded solar sculpture (IMAGINE). Their most recent project has been to fundraise for a 20kW solar array onto the roof of the local footy club, which they are hoping to launch in August 2018. They plan to keep doing what they are doing until 2020. | |
| Claire Painter EQ Infrastructure Readiness Manager Mercedes-Benz Australia Prior to joining Mercedes-Benz Australia, Claire was an Implementation Manager at ClimateWorks Australia. Claire managed efforts to reduce emissions across the transport and energy sectors. In the transport sector program, Claire led projects which focussed on best practice vehicle emissions standards, supporting the uptake of electric vehicles and net zero emissions strategies. Claire played a key role in the establishment of the Electric Vehicle Council, and authored the June 2018 second edition of the State of Electric Vehicles in Australia report. | |
| R. Rex Parris Mayor City of Lancaster, California In 2008, R. Rex Parris was elected Mayor of his hometown, Lancaster, California, located in Northern Los Angeles County. Currently serving his fourth term, Parris has positioned Lancaster as a global leader in the alternative energy arena. Under his auspices for the past decade, the City has fostered unique partnerships with innovative organizations from all around the world. Such relationships have led to the establishment of affordable residential solar communities and municipal solar ordinances, as well as Lancaster becoming home to BYD’s first North American electric bus manufacturing plant and battery storage facility. Soon, Lancaster will tout the nation’s first 100% electric bus fleet.Most notable is Lancaster’s inaugural footprint as a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), with Lancaster Choice Energy offering renewable, cleaner energy sources at more affordable rates than traditional power sources. Additionally, Lancaster has formed the California Clean Energy Authority to help other municipalities form their own CCAs. Mayor Parris’ tenacious “can do” attitude has shepherded Lancaster along the path of being one of the world’s first Zero-Net Energy Cities. In addition, Lancaster was recently designated as the Alternative Energy Research Center of Excellence for the State of California. | |
| Alix Pearce Director, Cities Power Partnership Climate Council Alix is the Director of the Cities Power Partnership for the Climate Council, the biggest climate program for local government in the country.
Prior to that Alix was the strategic projects manager at the Climate Council, leading projects in climate change and renewable energy that have generated millions of dollars worth of media, reaching over 350 million people and engaging hundreds of stakeholders and decision makers. This included spearheading Australia’s first climate security summit, involving international and Australian security leaders. Formerly a researcher at the Climate Council and the University of Sydney, she has co-written dozens of reports on climate change impacts and solutions with some of Australia's premier scientists. | |
| Vicky Petterson Senior Program Officer, Carbon Policy and Administration Brisbane City Council Vicky has worked in energy and carbon policy roles at local, state and national levels for the last 15 years. During this time, she contributed to the design and implementation of national policy measures, including the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme, National Carbon Offset Standard and Carbon Farming Initiative. Most recently, she has worked for Brisbane City Council’s Energy and Carbon team, with a focus on delivering the Lord Mayor’s commitment to becoming a carbon neutral organisation. Her role has included:
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| Shane Rattenbury MLA Minister for Climate Change & Sustainability ACT Government Shane is passionate about Canberra being a sustainable and fair city, with a great public transport system, low carbon emissions and resilience against the climate impacts ahead. Shane was previously Speaker of the Assembly, and in 2012, became the first ACT Greens Minister and holds the portfolios of Territory and Municipal Services, Corrective Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, and Sport and Recreation. Shane is a keen triathlete and photographer and has lived in Canberra for more than twenty years, He studied economics and law at the ANU, and then, after a short stint in the federal public service, followed his passion for the environment working for Greenpeace, both in Canberra and overseas. He campaigned to protect global oceans and headed up Greenpeace’s expedition to Antarctica to protest against Japanese whaling. In 2008, Shane was elected to the Legislative Assembly as one of four Green MLAs, and became the first Greens Speaker of a parliament anywhere in the world. As the Greens Spokesperson on Climate Change and Environment, and Attorney-General and Emergency Services, he worked to secure the ACT Government’s climate change target and campaigned for equal marriage rights. | |
| MC: Bruce Roberts Journalist and Newsreader Win Television Bruce has anchored more than 12,000 prime-time news bulletins and written countless news stories.
He’s been with WIN News for 10 years, daily presenting five bulletins aired throughout Victoria and southern New South Wales.
Bruce has a graduate diploma and a masters degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University. He graduated from NIDA in 1990 before working for the Seven Network, BBC and Sky Sports. He has a deep passion for military causes and MC’d numerous services for the RSL and is a Legacy ambassador. Bruce is also qualified in workplace training and assessment, MBTI, DiSC and PADI Logistics. | |
| Mayor Damien Ryan Alice Springs Town Council & Vice President Australian Local Government Association Mayor Ryan is the President of the Local Government Association NT and Vice President of the Local Government Association of Australia, an NT Grants Commissioner; Deputy Chair of the Outback Highway Development Council, and Board Member of the Finke Desert Race.
Elected as Mayor of Alice Springs in March 2008, Mayor Ryan is passionate about promoting and working for the Alice Springs community. He works tirelessly towards making Alice Springs the best possible place to live, work and visit. Mayor Ryan is strongly committed to the sustainable development and advancement of Alice Springs. | |
| Nicola Saltman Engagement Lead, 3 Council Regional Environment Program Waverley, Woollahra & Randwick Councils, NSW Nicola is an experienced program manager, engagement and communications professional in climate change and broader sustainability. Over the past 18 years, Nicola has successfully delivered sustainability programs and solutions across government, not-for-profit and commercial sectors - in Australia, the UK and Europe. She’s deeply passionate about driving positive social and environmental change, through collaboration and capacity-building. Most recently Nicola has been working in the Sustainable Communities Team at Waverley Council (Sydney) where she is driving awareness through an award-winning Second Nature program, helping strata buildings improve their environmental performance with Building Futures program, and driving uptake of solar power in schools and for renters. | |
| Councillor Andrew Sloan Councillor Kiama Municipal Council Andrew is a civil engineer and current Councillor from Kiama with a young family. He has over 20 years experience in water and environmental management, and holds a Masters Degree in planning and local government law. He is a proven campaigner in the fight to keep decision-making local and ensuring that community needs are always the highest priority for council. He worked hard to oppose the State Government’s plan for a four-fold increase in annual population growth rates for the area that threatened the prime agricultural land and natural areas surrounding Gerringong, Jamberoo and Kiama. Andrew’s other key priorities include improving facilities for families with children, improving water quality in estuaries and
on beaches, protecting heritage precincts, switching to cost effective renewable energy wherever possible, and improving traffic flow in the ‘west end’ of Kiama. | |
| Dan Stevens Community Engagement Manager Australian PV Institute Dan Stevens is the Community Engagement Manager with the APVI, focusing on the implementation of the SunSPoT Solar Potential tool, and holds degrees in both Business Administration and Energy & Carbon Studies. The SunSPoT tool allows real time insight into savings potential for Australians wanting to install solar PV - supporting smart energy decisions. Dan brings a wealth of management consulting experience to his role working with Australian councils to meet their smart energy and carbon reduction goals. Dan is a passionate advocate of renewable energy and is keen to help accelerate the transition to sustainable & renewable energy consumption. He utilises his numerous years in consulting, strategic planning, and procurement to ensure a streamlined approach to delivering projects, helping to drive the low carbon future. | |
| Katie Vines Director of Sustainable and Resilient Cities Climate-KIC Australia Katie brings expertise and experience working with mega-cities around the world to create innovative, end-user led transformation towards sustainable and resilient Australian cities and regions. Katie previously worked as the Head of Adaptation Research at C40 Cities climate leadership group. In this role she led a program of research and facilitated a global network of city staff that drove meaningful, measurable and sustainable climate change adaptation. Katie has worked in State and Federal government in Australia where she collaborated with communities, local governments, researchers and public and private organisations on building adaptive capacity.
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| Anthony Weinberg 3-Council Regional Environment Program Coordinator Waverley, Woollahra & Randwick Councils, NSW Anthony is an experienced project manager and sustainability consultant in the energy, waste, water, biodiversity and sustainability sectors. He is passionate about realising meaningful and long-lasting environmental outcomes by translating strategic plans and targets into real life projects and programs. Over the past 14 years, Anthony has worked on a number of successful results on major infrastructure projects, strategies and engagement activities for government and commercial sectors in NSW. In his current role as 3-Council Regional Environment Program Coordinator, he has planned, designed and implemented a number of successful projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the Eastern Suburbs to meet ambitious environmental targets. He developed and manages the Solar My School, public Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging rollout across the Eastern Suburbs and Compost Revolution programs which have achieved strong results and have been recognised at local and state level for delivering tangible environment outcomes and strong engagement with communities. | |
| Chris Wilson Director of Sustainability Advisory Services Pangolin Associates Chris is a developer and provider of a suite of sustainability advisory services. He constructs and maintains frameworks and management systems that deliver effective environmental outcomes and efficiency gains. Chris has several years experience in the sector. Chris is certified as an Associate Environmental Auditor through Exemplar Global, and a full member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. He has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from the University of New South Wales, and a Bachelor’s Degree in The History & Philosophy of Science from Griffith University. Chris is a Registered Greenhouse and Energy Auditor (Category 1) under section 75A of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 through the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Regulator. He is also President of the Australian Institute of Environmental Accounting. Chris has worked with many local and state government authorities to assist with measuring and achieving their carbon and energy reduction goals. This includes compiling and auditing carbon accounts under both the NGERS and NCOS frameworks, strategy and risk analysis, and renewables and offset feasibility studies. | |
| 0 | Tim Wong Senior Project Manager, Sustainable Government Team NSW Office of Environment & Heritage Tim Wong has worked on the Building Upgrade Finance program since 2014. He has overseen the streamlining of the product in NSW including its rebranding from Environmental Upgrade Agreements to Building Upgrade Finance. Before joining OEH Tim worked for several accredited certificate providers under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme. He has also supported businesses operating under the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Scheme. Prior to this he worked for Thomson Reuters where he developed some of the first Australian information services reporting on climate change and the commercial and regulatory implications for businesses.
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