2026 Speakers

Tony Wood

Grattan Institute

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.

Senator Peter Whish-Wilson

Lutruwita/Tasmania

Peter made the transition from being a community leader in the campaign to stop the Tamar Valley pulp mill to Greens Senator for Tasmania in 2012 when he replaced Bob Brown in the Senate. He was re-elected at the 2013 election.
Peter's portfolios for the Greens are Agriculture, Healthy Oceans, Science, Industry & Innovation, Trade & Tourism, and Waste & Recycling.

He has campaigned to stop seismic testing and new oil and gas projects in the ocean as well as shark conservation and protection of the Great Southern Reef. As Agriculture spokesperson he has championed the hemp, medicinal cannabis and organic industries. He has also spent the past 20 years working towards building a circular economy, including recently seeking to legislate national producer responsibility schemes.

Peter chaired the Senate Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy from September 2025 until March 2026. The Committee received 243 submissions and held 11 public hearings. The final report provides a detailed picture of the challenges presented by mis- and disinformation as we transition to renewable energy.

James Purtill

Office of the Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner

James Purtill is the Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner. Prior to this James held numerous senior leadership roles in government including as Director-General of the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Queensland’s Environmental Protection Agency. His private sector experience includes roles as General Manager Sustainability for the Santos GLNG project and as Managing Director for an environmental rehabilitation company. James’ academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University of New South Wales, an MBA from the University of Queensland and is currently a PhD candidate at UQ. He is also a Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

Alex Hooper

Oxford Economics Australia

A macroeconomist with over 10 years of experience, Alex currently leads Oxford Economics' climate & energy economics practice in Australia. Her recent research has focused on balancing the investment and productivity opportunities of the data centre build out with the social risk of the commensurate energy and water demand.

Simon Currie

Energy Estate

Simon is the Co-founder and Chief Projects Officer of Energy Estate, bringing over three decades of professional experience to the energy sector. He possesses a global perspective and a proven track record.
A fervent advocate for sustainable energy solutions, Simon champions the cause of delivering enduring and sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders. His approach as a systems thinker involves designing clean energy ecosystems that accelerate decarbonisation and support the growth of new industries.

Karin Stark

Farm Renewables Consulting

Karin Stark is the Director of Farm Renewables Consulting and founder and convener of the annual National Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Exhibition. Co-managing a wheat and cotton farm in Narromine NSW has given Karin a first-hand perspective of the energy challenges farmers face both on-farm and in their communities. They live on the edge of the country's first Renewable Energy Zone and she is a member of the NSW Farmer's Energy Transition Taskforce. She has published two reports: 'Pursuing an Agrivoltaic Future in Australia' and 'Farm Powered' and has been recognised in the 2023 and 2024, Top 100 Green Energy Players List, in The Australian.

Lynnard Cucksey

Advanced Materials and Battery Council

Lynnard Cucksey is the Chief Executive Officer of the Advanced Materials and Battery Council (AMBC), Australia's peak industry body for the full battery value chain, from critical minerals processing through advanced materials and cell manufacturing, system assembly and deployment, to second life and end-of-life recovery. AMBC is the only Australian organisation that speaks across this entire chain, and is chaired by the former Premier of Queensland, the Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk AC.

Under Lynnard's leadership, AMBC has become one of the most influential voices on industrial policy in the energy transition, working with government, industry and capital to translate the Future Made in Australia agenda into projects, factories and jobs on the ground. AMBC is the leading institutional voice on the manufacturing and midstream segments of the battery value chain.

Lynnard also serves on the Steering Committee of the TAFE Queensland Battery Centre of Excellence, where he supports the development of the workforce that will build and operate Australia's battery industries, and is the founder of Vector Lane, a boutique strategic advisory practice working at the intersection of advanced technology, industrial scale-up, and public-private capital.

Before AMBC, Lynnard spent fifteen years in manufacturing and industrial policy, including a formative period at Holden during the last era of coordinated manufacturing industry policy in Australia. That experience shapes his conviction that this country has built world class manufacturing ecosystems before, and can do it again, this time around the advanced materials and battery industries that will define national competitiveness for the next thirty years.

Deborah Tull

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Deborah Tull is a proud Gangulu Traditional Owner and passionate advocate for her people and community. For many years, she has worked to support better outcomes for her people in the justice system and supporting community wellbeing and culturally respectful engagement. Deborah is a strong communicator who believes in the importance of two-way truth telling and respectful engagement- ensuring everyone has the opportunity to share, listen and build trust from this place. Just like her Ancestor’s before her, Deb leads engagement with a Message Stick crafted by her kin, used as a symbol to promote respect, shared understanding, shared stories, and shared commitment to respect when yarning. As a mother and grandmother and great grandmother, Deb is passionate about ensuring Gangulu leave things in a better way for the next generation while honouring the ways of her Ancestors and ensuring connection to Country.

Peter Blunt

Polaris Data Centre

Peter Blunt is Chief Commercial Officer at Polaris Data Centre, based in Queensland. He leads commercial strategy across large scale digital infrastructure projects, with a focus on hyperscale, AI workloads and regional growth. With a background spanning data centres, energy integration and commercial property, Peter works at the intersection of infrastructure delivery and market demand. His experience includes structuring high value transactions, driving capacity expansion and aligning projects with evolving regulatory and energy landscapes. He is particularly focused on unlocking regional opportunities through coordinated investment in power, land and connectivity, enabling sustainable growth in Australia’s next wave of digital infrastructure.

Katrina Grange

Ochre Social Performance

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.

Dr Tom Dixon

RE-Alliance

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.

Bella Zanesco

Ex Amazon

Bella is a sustainability, growth, and AI advisor with deep expertise in helping clients harness technology to meet climate, decarbonisation, and nature based goals. Formerly Head of Sustainability at AWS ANZ, she brings both strategic and technical credibility to the energy transition. Outside the boardroom, she is a World Champion sailor, proud Queenslander, and recent Australian Women in Business Awards finalist for creating change and sustainability.

Jarrod Irving

LMS Energy

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.

Tim Buckley

Climate Energy Finance

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.

Joanna Kay

The Superpower Institute

Joanna Kay is Director of the International Program at TSI, where she leads the Institute’s international engagement strategy to position Australia as a global clean export superpower in a post-carbon world. This includes shaping the international policy and institutional settings needed to support global decarbonisation, green industrialisation, and long-term economic resilience and security.
She works across government, industry, investors, and multilateral institutions to build strategic partnerships and policy frameworks that translate international engagement into practical pathways for industrial decarbonisation and the expansion of Australia's role in global clean energy supply chains.
Joanna brings extensive public and private sector experience across Australia, China, and India, spanning energy policy, sustainable development, trade, and international collaboration. Before joining TSI, she served as Executive General Manager at Zero Carbon Hydrogen Australia and led the Smart Energy Council's international program, advancing Australia's global engagement on renewable hydrogen and clean industry development. She previously served as Senior Advisor to the International Solar Alliance in New Delhi, where she worked to accelerate clean energy deployment and strengthen energy resilience across the Asia-Pacific region.
Joanna has contributed to major national and international initiatives, including Australia's National Hydrogen Strategy and the Scaling Green Hydrogen Cooperative Research Centre. She has been recognised in The Australian's Top 100 Energy Players, named a finalist for Business Leader of the Year at the IABCA Awards, and was a winner of the Global Impact Award at the 2025 SIM-PAC Live Sustainability Awards.
She currently serves as an advisor to the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in Trade and Environment at the University of Adelaide and mentors emerging leaders through the Paris Collaborative Global Fellowship. She has also served on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources at the University of Adelaide, supporting cross-sector collaboration on sustainability, energy, and industrial transformation.
Joanna is pursuing an MBA (Research) at the University of New England and has completed postgraduate study at Harvard University and executive programs at the Yale School of Management.

Emeritus Prof Roy Green AM MAICD

University of Technology Sydney

Roy is Special Innovation Advisor at the University of Technology Sydney and former Dean of the UTS Business School. He graduated from the University of Adelaide with first class honours and went on to complete a PhD in Economics at the University of Cambridge. Since then he has pursued a career in universities, government and industry and has published widely on innovation and industrial policy, including with the OECD and European Commission. He has chaired the Australian Government’s Innovative Regions Centre, CSIRO Manufacturing Sector Advisory Council, Queensland Competition Authority, NSW Manufacturing Council and most recently the Port of Newcastle. Currently, Roy chairs the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub and is a board director of CSIRO, Industry Capability Network (ICNL) and SmartSat CRC.

Catriona Rafael

Australian Pipeline and Gas Association

Catriona is APGA’s Head of Policy, playing a key role in leading the organisation’s policy and advocacy efforts to represent the needs of the energy sector and particularly the gas transmission pipeline industry. Her work involves close engagement with state and federal governments on policy and regulatory matters, with a close focus on developing a positive investment environment for gas infrastructure, emissions reduction and developing the renewable gas industry.

Scott Muller

Townsville City Council

Scott is a highly respected civil engineer and project manager, having worked in the Queensland public and private sectors. Since May 2023, Scott has been engaged by Townsville City Council as the Program Manager for the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct.

Matt McKee

Beyond Zero Emissions

Matt McKee is Chief Researcher for Beyond Zero Emissions. He brings over two decades of experience in energy, technology, and manufacturing, with a track record of turning bold ideas into impactful outcomes. He has led national and global teams across startups, scale-ups, and major corporations - driving innovation in cleantech and operational strategy. Matt was the COO and Chief Digital Officer for RedEarth Energy Storage and supported many early-stage companies in the energy sector. He holds an MBA from IMD and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

Lance Mc Callum MP

Queensland Parliment

Lance is the Queensland Shadow Minister for Energy.
He is a committed advocate for clean energy and secure jobs in the renewables industry.
He holds a Master of Sustainability and Climate Policy and is a McKinnon Scholar.

Ali Davenport

Coexistence Queensland

Ali is an experienced executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience across regional Queensland, specialising in strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement and organisational leadership. She is passionate about supporting sustainable growth in regional and rural communities and building strong relationships across industry, government and community sectors.
Throughout her career, Ali has led organisations across manufacturing, economic development, and regional media. Prior to joining Coexistence Queensland, she served as Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Manufacturing Institute (QMI), where she helped develop a new strategic vision for the organisation and strengthen industry and stakeholder engagement.
Before this, Ali spent five years as CEO of Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE), leading partnerships across energy, agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, education, and health to support regional economic growth and opportunity.
Ali also held senior leadership roles managing radio, television, and newspaper operations across regional Queensland, including Toowoomba, Dalby, Cairns and Mackay, giving her a strong understanding of regional communities and the issues that matter most to them.
At Coexistence Queensland, Ali oversees operations and strategic initiatives that support Queenslanders impacted by energy projects, helping landholders and communities navigate change while fostering productive and sustainable coexistence outcomes.

Paul Cooper

Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre

Paul Cooper is Chairman of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre Ltd (AMGC) and, Owner and Executive Chair of Rinstrum Pty Ltd. Paul was appointed to the AMGC Board in 2015 and is tasked with overseeing the implementation of AMGC’s strategy and its alignment with the overall Federal Government’s Growth Centre Initiative. AMGC now works with State, Territory and the Federal governments in delivering co-investment programs across Australia.
Paul has over 30 years’ manufacturing industry experience as owner and Executive Chair of Rinstrum, an industrial electronics manufacturing company. Rinstrum is based in Brisbane and actively exports to global markets with subsidiaries in the United States, Germany, India and Sri Lanka.

Paul is chair and director of a number of companies directly involved in manufacturing.

Lyn Blucher

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Lyn Blucher is a proud Gangulu Traditional Owner who has spent more than 30 years leading Native Title and Cultural Heritage outcomes for her people. With deep knowledge of Country and strong community leadership, Lyn has worked with global resource, energy, manufacturing and agricultural industries operating on Gangulu lands that supply energy, resources and products to the nation and for export. Throughout her journey, she has been a passionate advocate for protecting cultural heritage, upholding the rights of her people, and ensuring Traditional Owner voices are heard in decisions that impact Country, community and future generations. In her lifetime, she has a goal to establish a cultural hub on Country that acknowledges and celebrates her people’s culture, is a safe place for them to connect, heal and learn on Country, and a place for all people living on Gangulu Country or passing through to learn about the Gangulu Way and have a museum-like experience viewing thousands of artefacts that have been protected during the last 30 years. A matriarch for her people, Lyn is leading an innovative project in collaboration with industry and community on her Traditional Lands to support better outcomes for future generations.

Patrice Brown

CQG Consulting

A strong advocate for regional Queensland and sustainable development, Patrice brings a unique mix of skills to our panel.
Growing up on a cattle property in Central Queensland and living and working in the Rockhampton/ Gladstone region Patrice has first-hand knowledge of the challenges in balancing infrastructure builds while maintaining social and cultural values.
Patrice has over three decades of experience as an environmental advisor and business owner as well as a board director in the private and public sectors.
Her passion is working with First Nations people and proponents to deliver shared benefit outcomes and to assist proponents through the approval process

Dr Oliver Hartley

Bright Dimension

Oliver has over 25 years’ experience in the renewable energy industry and is the managing director of Bright Dimension, a consultancy company supporting the transition to the clean energy future. In 2021, his company Epho Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s largest commercial and industrial solar companies, was acquired by AGL. Prior to Epho, Oliver worked in management roles across solar cell research and manufacturing, as well as M&A in the solar industry. Recently Oliver was the lead author of the Silicon to Solar Study and is currently managing the feasibility study for a polycrystalline silicon plant at the Hunter Energy Hub.