PRESENTATIONS

Keynote Speaker - Dr Gabrielle Kuiper

Dr Gabrielle Kuiper
DER Specialist - Integrate to Zero

The Importance of Distributed (or ‘Consumer’) Energy Resources (DER/CER) to the Energy Transition

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. Dr Kuiper has held senior executive or senior advisory energy-related positions at the Energy Security Board, in the Office of the Prime Minister, at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and in the NSW Government. Dr Kuiper currently works internationally and in Australia on policy and regulation to support Distributed Energy Resources (DER), including with Integrate to Zero (I2Z) and as a guest contributor with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). She is a Director of the Superpower Institute and sits on four government, industry and research advisory bodies.

Dan Wigmore
Engagement Officer - Net Zero Transport, Dept of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water - NSW Government

NSW Government Electric Vehicle Programs Update

Dan is the Engagement Officer for the Net Zero Transport team which looks after Electric Vehicle programs for NSW Government. His role is ensuring that audiences are aware of, and have access to, the programs, grants and resources NSW Government is developing to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles. For the past two decades Dan has been working in the media space but a passion for EVs lead to a change in career. He is delighted to be playing a part in striving towards a net zero future.

Neil Smith & Keith Griffin
Committee Members - Junee Community Power

Case Study - Helping a Community to be More Energy Efficient

Neil Smith is the director of Building & Environmental Services Today, a consultancy providing professional services to government bodies in the areas of environmental health, town planning, building certification and approval. Neil is also a councillor on Junee Shire Council. Neil is a founding member and the current Chairperson of Junee Community Power.

Keith Griffin is a professional musician who, since moving to Junee in late 2012, has been active in the region as performer and teacher. He and his wife noticed that power prices here are very much higher than in Sydney and set out on a journey to minimise their recurrent expenses related to household power. Late in 2023 a member of Junee Community Power noticed the solar array and battery on Keith's house. Keith has since become a member of the committee.

Paul Moonie
CEO - Halocell

Manufacturing the Next Generation of Solar in the Riverina

Paul Moonie is the founder and CEO of Halocell Energy here in Wagga. He has 24 years’ experience in solar research and development in industry and academia and is the author of several patents and research papers.

Chris Warris
Key Accounts Specialist, Electrification - Essential Energy

Essential Energy's Electrification Support Program

Chris has over 20 years’ experience working with large energy users to reduce their energy costs and to decarbonise. He has been involved with energy efficiency, renewable energy and electrification projects for organisations across a range of sectors including heavy industry, food & beverage manufacturing, commercial buildings, health & aged care, and aquatic centres.

Chris's role in Essential Energy is to assist organisations in our network area to electrify their fossil fuel equipment & processes.

Russell Burnett
Product development for Rainbow Bee Eater - ANZBIG

Biochar. "A win, win for energy and soil"

Russell, a third generation Gippsland dairy farmer, in 2007 committed himself passionately to helping what was then the fledgling global biochar industry. Russell supplies biochar systems and expertise internationally and has been involved with ANZBIG since its inception.

Currently he is leading the development of solid and liquid pyrolysis products produced from the Rainbow Bee Eater Companies ""ECHO2"" technology.

Kate Barker
Director Regional Programs - Central NSW Joint Organisation

The Nexus between Energy Security and Emissions Reduction in Central NSW

Kate is the Director of Regional Programs for the Central NSW Joint Organisation, delivering value to its 11 member councils through various programs. With almost 15 years’ experience in local government, Kate has a background in procurement and leads the net zero program for the Joint Organisation.

Through the JO's net zero program, Kate has led the development of a Business Case on the Nexus Between Energy Security and Emissions Reduction in Central NSW, providing a strategic framework that highlights the interconnectedness of these areas.

Jay Gordon
Energy Finance Analyst - Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)

Opportunities in the Electrification Transition: What it means for Consumers

Jay Gordon is an Energy Finance Analyst at IEEFA, focusing on the Australian electricity sector. His work focuses on demand-side opportunities, including energy efficiency and electrification, and interactions with other parts of the energy system including the gas network.

Jay has experience in modelling Australia’s energy system transition, including investigating the role of the electricity sector in helping the broader economy transition towards a net-zero future.

Jay previously worked at Climateworks Centre, where he led the organisation’s energy system modelling capabilities. This included the development of Australian decarbonisation scenarios to inform the Australian Energy Market Operator's Integrated System Plan.

David Doral
CEO – Dovetail Electric Aviation

Dovetail Electric Aviation - Pioneering Battery and Hydrogen Electric Aviation in Australia

CEO and co-founder of Dovetail Electric Aviation, David graduated from Madrid Polytechnic University with BEng and MSc degrees in Aerospace Engineering and has an MBA from INSEAD. He started his career in the late 1990’s as an aircraft development engineer for Boeing and Airbus, moving into C-executive positions at different aerospace companies in the last decade, in Europe and Australia. David is a true believer in the disruptive power of electrification as the best option to bring zero emissions to aviation. He is applying his more than 25 years of international experience to make electric aviation a reality, retrofitting existing aircraft first (the initial focus of Dovetail), and with new designs in the future.

Andrea Challender
Currently Co- Owner/Manager, Lansdale Pastoral Co

Off Grid - On Farm - A consumer perspective

Andrea Challender holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agriculture and a Bachelor of Laws with Honors. She is currently the co-owner and manager of a farm partnership with her husband, Peter Challender. Andrea has extensive experience in residential projects as an owner-builder and in farm development. Her diverse career includes roles as a solicitor, rural financial counsellor, State Manager for Farmplan Services, livestock officer for NSW Department of Agriculture, and bank officer for State Bank NSW.

Simon Wallace-Pannell
Manager Sustainable Councils Program

Update from the Joint Organisation Net Zero Acceleration (JONZA) program

Simon Wallace-Pannell is the Manager for the Sustainable Councils program, within the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. He has nearly 20 years experience of working in sustainability, across all three levels of government. He was involved in the Australian Greenhouse office’s Cities for Climate Protection program in 2006-2007, led the award winning Business Treading Lightly program - a $2m grant funded initiative for small to medium business in the Illawarra and South Coast from 2008-to 2010. And has since worked in the NSW government – still designing and delivering programs and support to business, local government and the community.

Simon is passionate about designing and delivering government programs are fit for purpose, customer-centric and place based. He holds an abiding interest in behavioural economics, rapid prototyping, and design thinking. His current passion is working with smaller regional councils, and seeing those moments when a tentative first step, generates success, which in turn catalyses a step change in ambition and thinking.

Alex Manley & Bob Hitchens
Managing Director – Solar Wise Wagga

Improving the Business case for Solar Plus Batteries through Innovative Retailers

Alex Manley is a Wagga Wagga / Coolamon local who has transitioned working as a Horticulturalist and Irrigation Technician to working in the renewable energy industry, specialising in the design, installation, and maintenance of solar-battery systems. He is the founder and managing director of Solar Wise Wagga, who celebrated 15 years in business earlier this year.

Solar Wise Wagga’s mission statement is - We envision a world of thriving communities, business and individuals powered by renewable energy. Alex will be presenting with Bob Hichens. Bob has been with Solar Wise Wagga for the past 6 years helping with system design and maximising energy savings through after sales system monitoring and energy management for clients.

Catherine Brasier & Will Triggs
Sales & Business Development & General Manager Construction

Modular Net Zero Project

Catherine Brasier, the Sales Manager at Prefabulous. With her background in Hotel Management, Wine Industry, and Property, she possesses a unique blend of skills and experiences that contribute to her success. One of Catherine's key strengths is her expertise in property development and sales for new projects in the retirement living and real estate sector. Over the past 15 years, she has honed her knowledge and understanding of the industry, allowing her to navigate the intricacies of the market and effectively connect with potential clients. Catherine's passion for modular homes also sets her apart. She is a self-professed "modular home" nerd, meaning she possesses a deep interest and knowledge in this specific area.

Will Triggs, our exceptional Construction Manager at Prefabulous. At first glance, it may seem unusual to find a pearl diver knee-deep in sawdust, far away from the ocean. However, Will's unique background and remarkable strengths make him an invaluable member of our team. In his past life, amidst his ocean adventures, Will managed to acquire qualifications in carpentry, design, and furniture making. This diverse skill set sets him apart in the field.

Mr Chris Dahlitz
Principal – Totally Relaxed

Electric Vehicle (EV) Trends to 2030

Mr Chris Dahlitz is the Principal of Totally Relaxed – an Engineering Consultancy practice. Chris has a lifelong interest in Electric Vehicles, having completed his undergraduate thesis on a DC Chopper for an electric car at UNSW in 1981. He has driven and ridden in many EV’s over the decades. Chris purchased his first personal EV, a Mitsubishi i-MiEV in April 2013, in February 2019 changed to a Tesla Model S, and in March 2023 a Tesla Model Y. Chris is a current active member of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA), the Tesla Owners Club of Australia (TOCA), and founder of the Dubbo Electric Vehicle Interest Owners Users and Supporters (DEVIOUS) and the Riverina Electric Vehicle Owners Likers Testers (REVOLT).

Chris is a member of several Standards Australia committees (representing Engineers Australia)
EM001 – Electric Mobility where he was the drafting lead of the recent review of AS-5732 Electric Vehicle Operations – Maintenance and Repair AND committee IT-269 Smart Cities Electro-Tech Systems AND
EL-068 - Live Working.

Brad Trethewey
Manager of Innovation – Essential Energy

Australia's First Fully Integrated EV Charger in a Streetlight Column

Brad Trethewey is senior manager at Essential Energy and an experienced electrical and computer systems engineer. He currently leads Essential Energy’s Innovation team. He has decades of experience in network asset management, standards and innovation within the industry in NSW and QLD. Brad established Essential Energy's renowned Quality Assurance lab which has led the transition to composite products within Essential Energy and more broadly across electrical distribution networks.

John Cole
CEO and Founder - Edify Energy

Darlington Point Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with Grid-forming Inverter

John founded Edify Energy in 2015. John brings 10 years of experience in the European and UK renewable energy development and investment sector to the Australian market. Before returning to Australia in late 2015, he was co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of UK based Low Carbon that developed, structured, financed and brought into operation 273 MW of solar PV projects in the UK between 2011 and 2015. John led the development, investment, financing and asset management teams of Low Carbon to realise this success.