2025 Speakers

Matt was appointed as Chair of the authority on 5 August 2024 for a term of 5 years. He was previously the Member for Hornsby in the NSW Parliament from 2011 until 2 August 2024.
Matt was most recently the NSW Shadow Minister for Health. He was Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberal party from August 2022 until March 2023. Throughout his 13-year political career, Matt also held ministries of Innovation and Better Regulation, Treasury, Energy and Environment.
As Treasurer and Energy Minister of NSW, Matt championed climate action that is in the best interests of households and businesses. In 2020, he delivered the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap: A 20-year plan for NSW’s energy infrastructure. The roadmap spurs private investment in renewable energy while reducing emissions and power bills for the people of NSW.
Matt commenced in the role of Director, Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Partnerships at Wollemi Capital on 15 August 2024.
Matt studied a Bachelor of Business at the University of Technology Sydney and is a Chartered Accountant by profession.

Dr Liz Smith is the Research Partnership Development Manager for the Land & Primary Industries Network, which is housed at Western Sydney University. She is a passionate advocate for projects that will allow landholders and primary industries to decarbonise while also preserving ways of life on the land and return on investment for our country's providers. She is also the Bid Director for the Agrisolar Cooperative Research Centre, which is in the bidding process to become a CRC. In leading the bid for the Centre, she has accumulated over $45M in partner contributions across over 50 organisations, and is excited to see what will happen if the Federal Government grants the CRC the opportunity to succeed. Liz resides in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, and has a red kelpie ‘Fizzle’ who regularly accompanies her as the LPI mascot when visiting landholders and farmers all over NSW.

Jarrod Irving is the General Manager of Renewable Gas and Fuels at LMS Energy, where he leads strategic initiatives in biogas-to-biomethane and biofuels project development. With over 14 years of energy industry experience, his expertise spans regulatory frameworks, project development, and commercial structuring for renewable gas projects. He serves as Chair of the Renewable Gas Alliance at Bioenergy Australia, is an active member of GreenPower's Renewable Gas Certification steering committee and sits on the AG-010 Committee developing the Australian Standard for natural gas
specification.

Scott is a highly respected civil engineer and project manager, having worked in the Queensland public and private sectors. He has extensive experience delivering projects across various industry sectors, including roads, bridges, precast concrete, railways and aviation. Working on complex and challenging projects, Scott enjoys building strong partnerships between government and the private sector, with a focus on delivering strong regional development to support and grow the community. Since May 2023, Scott has been engaged by Townsville City Council as the Program Manager for the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct, working with State agencies and private proponents to attract investment into the precinct.

John Sadler is a seasoned renewable energy executive with extensive experience across Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. He has held senior leadership roles at Roaring 40s (Hydro Tasmania), ACCIONA, CWP Renewables (now part of Squadron Energy), and Epuron Australia (now Ark Energy), where he was instrumental in advancing major wind and solar developments. With a strong background in project construction, development, and asset management, John has led on-the-ground delivery of projects from concept to operation.
Over the course of his career, John has managed the construction of landmark wind farms including Capital (NSW), Tararua (NZ), and Burgos (Philippines). He also played a key role in the development of high-profile projects such as Snowtown, Musselroe, Waterloo, MacIntyre, and Karara wind farms. His project pipeline includes the origination of more than 10GW of renewable energy across the region—making him one of the most experienced developers in the sector.

Warwick Squire is an experienced executive specialising in change leadership, policy development, and operational efficiencies with more than 20 years in the government sector. He has extensive expertise in cultivating productive relationships, particularly throughout rural and regional communities in Queensland.
Warwick currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Coexistence Queensland, a role in which he leads and works collaboratively with landholders, communities, agricultural, energy and resource companies, peak bodies, and all levels of government to achieve positive coexistence outcomes.
His authentic leadership ensures team engagement and aligned focus within teams and across departments, driving change and delivering innovative projects in complex environments.
Warwick has built a reputation for taking on challenging roles and leading teams to deliver exceptional results.

Joseph O’Brien has 25 years’ experience in the Australian electricity supply industry, with an investment track record across infrastructure, funds management, venture capital, and unique experience in major energy infrastructure development.
Joseph was involved in establishing numerous industry-leading advisory businesses and has advised government, regulators, industrial and electricity industry since the National Electricity Market was established.
He was a co-founder and CEO of the CopperString transmission project, a $5 billion network development considered one of the most important economic developments in Northern Australia presently being delivered by the Queensland Government.
Joseph has a long experience as company director in private and publicly listed businesses as well as the philanthropic sector, including VisIR Pty Ltd, Queensland Art Gallery Foundation, Mater Hospital Foundation, Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, Windlab (formerly ASX:WND, resigned 2020), CuString Pty Ltd and most recently Queensland Renewable Energy Council (QREC).
He has studied at Harvard Business School, University of Queensland, and James Cook University in Townsville, and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr Winter was appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of Critical Minerals Group in August 2023.
He is an experienced mining engineer with almost 30 years working across all aspects of mining exploration, development, engineering, financing and operations.
After early years at MIM, BHP and then managing major projects at Thiess, Scott progressed to C-suite roles including CEO and MD of MACH Energy Australia, COO for Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX:MRL), CEO (Surface) at Perenti Group and Interim CEO and Director at Jupiter Mines Ltd (ASX:JMS).

Ms Semler was appointed as Chief Technology Officer for Critical Minerals Group in May 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Metallurgical Engineering with an extensive background in the mining and resources industries, both in Australia and internationally. Ms Semler brings over 30 years experience encompassing greenfields and brownfields project development, commissioning, operations, cultural transformation, strategic and operational business planning and mine closure.

Tom has spent his career at the intersection of human rights, climate and the environment, working to empower – and enhance the rights of – communities both within Australia and across the globe. He is an experienced campaigner, communicator and community engagement specialist, having spent more than 15 years in the Australian and international advocacy and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to this, Tom completed a PhD in the UK, working for almost a decade as a research scientist with CSIRO. Tom lives on Kabi Kabi country in rural South East Queensland with his young family.

Kerrod is a First Nations entrepreneur who has spearheaded Indigenous engagement and participation in the Bowen Basin Mining industry and today applies this expertise in the renewables sector. A proud Gangulu and Iman man, Kerrod specialises in aligning market-led opportunities with genuine business and employment opportunities for Traditional Owners and First Nations people during the post-carbon transition.

Kerrod is recognised for recruiting, training, and mentoring future Indigenous and community leaders through innovative, culturally sound, and practical training and employment pathway programs. As Managing Director of two Indigenous owned and led businesses (Ochre Australia and Ochre Social Performance) Kerrod collaborates with industry to provide culturally safe environments that nurture new to industry recruits in diverse career pathways to ensure everyone is set up for success. Kerrod has partnered with a team of subject matter experts and c-suite executives so his companies can provide a range of world-class services while nurturing and raising up the next generation of Indigenous business leaders.

Bella Zanesco is AWS ANZ’s sustainability leader. She’s passionate about supporting customers to embrace the art of the possible on and with AWS to support their decarbonisation, climate, and nature goals. She’s a world champion sailor, a proud QLDer and was a recent finalist in Women in Digital’s Champion of Change for her work in sustainability.

Tony has been Director of the Energy Program since 2011 after 14 years working at Origin Energy in senior executive roles.
From 2009 to 2014 he was also Program Director of Clean Energy Projects at the Clinton Foundation, advising governments in the Asia-Pacific region on effective deployment of large-scale, low-emission energy technologies. In 2008, he was seconded to provide an industry perspective to the first Garnaut climate change review.
In January 2018, Tony was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his significant service to conservation and the environment, particularly in the areas of energy policy, climate change and sustainability. In October 2019, Tony was elected as a Fellow to the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.

As Director of Climate Energy Finance Australasia Tim has 35 years financial markets experience, including providing public interest related financial analysis on the energy transition since 2013, studying China, India and Australia.
Tim founded Climate Energy Finance Australasia in 2022, having co-founded and worked with the global energy finance think tank IEEFA over 2013-2021. For 17 years Tim was a Managing Director at Citigroup, Head of Australasian Equity Research. Tim has published over 100 reports on the global energy transition.

As CEO of Gas Energy Australia, Jordan is a dedicated leader advocating for the role of renewable forms of LPG in the energy transition, ensuring consumers have access to secure, cost-effective, and sustainable energy solutions. With deep expertise in the gas industry, Jordan has a track record of driving policy and advocacy efforts to support decarbonisation through renewable gas uptake, mirroring the transformation seen in the electricity sector. Beyond this role, Jordan actively contributes to renewable gas technology and business strategy innovations, leveraging extensive experience
in commercial operations, innovation, and optimisation. Passionate about building a future-ready energy landscape, Jordan is dedicated to addressing the challenges of developing a new industry and unlocking the potential of renewable gas.

Simon is a leader in the energy transition, with over 30 years of experience developing energy projects in more than 75 countries. As Co-Founder and Chief Projects Officer at Energy Estate, he leads large-scale renewable and decarbonisation initiatives encompassing onshore and offshore wind, solar, hydrogen, ammonia, and sustainable fuels across Australia, New Zealand, and other international markets .
A fervent advocate for sustainable energy solutions, Simon champions the cause of delivering enduring and sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders. Simon’s approach as a systems thinker involves designing clean energy ecosystems that accelerate decarbonisation and support the growth of new industries.

A qualified lawyer, Maggie joined Windlab in 2023, initially focusing on environmental and planning approvals for projects in Queensland. She now serves as Director of Policy, leading strategic engagement with regulatory and policy frameworks to support the responsible growth of the company’s renewable energy portfolio across Australia.
Among her proudest achievements is successfully managing the EPBC Act approvals process for the now-approved Gawara Baya wind energy project and shaping its biodiversity net-gain strategy – an Australian renewables first that goes beyond compliance.
Prior to Windlab, Maggie was a senior associate at a leading national law firm, advising on complex regulatory and project development matters. Motivated by a desire to contribute more directly to the clean energy transition, she moved into the renewables sector to help deliver projects that create meaningful environmental outcomes and ensure the benefits of clean energy are shared by all Australians.

Paul Purcell is Head of Policy and Advocacy at the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association where he leads APGA’s work to shape energy policy that supports a reliable and least-cost transition to net zero. His focus is on implementable solutions that reduce emissions while strengthening Australia’s ability to build and sustain onshore industries, maintain energy security, and navigate shifting global trade and geopolitical dynamics.
Paul leads APGA’s policy work to support the integration of renewables through firm, flexible infrastructure, advancing decarbonisation in a way that also safeguards Australia’s economic resilience. He focuses on ensuring the energy transition is underpinned by practical, community-backed solutions that build confidence in Australia’s long-term energy future.
He has held senior public affairs roles in federal politics and ASX15-listed companies, and began his career as a correspondent reporting from across the Asia-Pacific and Central Asia.

Neil is an accomplished energy industry professional with over 20 years of experience spanning commercial leadership, strategic advisory, and project delivery. He has led high-performing teams of up to 200 people and is known for his strong interpersonal skills and infectious passion for the energy transition.
Neil’s previous roles include General Manager at Verbrec, a mid-tier engineering services provider operating across the Asia-Pacific region. Seven years with Arrow Energy - a 50/50 joint venture between Shell and PetroChina - serving as Commercial Manager and later as Senior Advisor to the CEO. Prior to that Neil spent seven years with Shell in various roles in Europe, Australia and NZ gaining deep insights into the energy value chain and international operations.

"As General Manager of Nextracker Australia, Southeast Asia and New Zealand, Peter (Pete) Wheale oversees Nextracker's operations in Oceania, having scaled a team of local sales and engineering experts offering end-to-end solar project support establishing the company as the leading tracker provider in the region. With deep experience in sales and business operations management, as well as 15 years working in the solar industry in North America and Australia, Pete is focused on executing his vision for the region by leveraging his technical and commercial knowledge in the sector to expand the company’s foothold in Australia and other key growth markets in the region
Under Pete’s leadership, Nextracker holds the leading market position in Australia since entering the market, surpassing 8.5 GW and over 150 projects operational or under fulfilment this year.
Named by The Australian newspaper as a Top100 Green Power Player in 2023 and 2024, Pete is passionate about connecting people, creating opportunities and bringing the right people together to accelerate positive change in the renewables industry. Pete holds a BS degree in business administration and management from the University of San Francisco. "

"James is a seasoned engineering leader overseeing Nextracker's operations across the APAC region, where he leads engineering design, construction, and operational support for the company’s cutting-edge solar tracking systems and foundation solutions.
With over 15 years of experience in geotechnical and PV tracker engineering, James has been a key figure in Australia’s utility-scale solar sector since 2010. His early work on landmark projects such as the Nyngan, Broken Hill, and Moree solar farms marked the beginning of a career that has since included the successful delivery of nearly 200 utility-scale solar farms across the country—contributing significantly to Australia's renewable energy transformation.
At Nextracker, James continues to champion innovation, quality, and sustainability, driving the development of high-performance solar tracking systems from concept through execution."

Will Wilson is a fourth-generation grazier based at Calliope Station in Central Queensland. Raised on the land, Will has continued his family’s deep connection to the region, combining traditional cattle grazing with a forward-thinking approach to sustainability and land management. Passionate about the future of rural Australia, Will is also a strong advocate for energy transition and regional innovation, helping position Calliope Valley as a hub for clean energy partnerships and community development.

Katrina Grange is a unique player in the renewable energy space combining global leading social performance management with intrinsic local knowledge and lived experience in one of Australia’s most unique local contexts. Her hometown is Biloela, based in the Banana Shire in Central Queensland, and it is bracing itself for a $40B renewable energy project pipeline while also supporting traditional industries including agriculture, power generation, and coal mining. After more than 20 years working across journalism, public relations, stakeholder engagement and social performance, Katrina is committed to using this expertise to empower regional communities through the post-carbon transition by building local capability and shaping and delivering processes that promote collective knowledge sharing, problem solving and legacy community benefits.

To do this Katrina has pioneered a collaborative social performance framework aligned with global ESG standards and co-designed and endorsed by local communities to achieve shared value and positive sustainable outcomes. One of few consultants in Australia with end-to-end experience delivering global best practice social performance across the resource, energy and infrastructure sectors, Katrina saw an opportunity to improve outcomes for impacted communities and First Nations peoples by partnering with industry and all levels of Government to deliver the collaborative framework.