DAY TWO
Innovation in Energy, Waste & the Circular Economy Conference Speakers & Presentations
Will Rayward-Smith, Executive Director at Net Zero Commission
The Net Zero Commission recently delivered its 2026 Annual Progress Report. This presentation introduces the Commission and its role before outlining the key recommendations from the report. It explores the need to accelerate the electricity sector transition, pursue electrification and enable communities to drive climate action. Regional and rural communities play a crucial role in the state's transition and also stand to be significantly affected by climate change. The presentation reflects on some key points of intervention and invites attendees to share their perspectives, including at a roundtable the Commission will host following the conference.
ENERGY STREAM
Jessie Parish, Project Officer - Water at Central NSW Joint Organisation and Josh Barnes, Works Engineer at Orange City Council
Optimising Regional Water and Energy Efficiency.
Every litre of water lost from distribution networks has been extracted, treated and pumped, all processes which require significant energy consumption.
Co-designed by the Central NSW Joint Organisation (CNSWJO), member councils and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the Water Loss Management and Efficiency Hub is a regional initiative to reduce water losses, improve network efficiency and lower energy use through practical actions like leak detection, better data, pressure management and staff capability building.
By embedding water loss management into everyday operations, the project supports lower operating costs, reduced emissions and more sustainable water services across regional NSW.
WASTE & CIRCULAR ECONOMY STREAM
Peter Windley, Senior Waste Consultant at Talis Consultants
The presentation compares sawtooth layouts with controlled flat-floor receival, sorting and loading systems. It examines public and operator safety, mobile plant selection, lithium-ion battery interception, hook lift bin loading, transport efficiency, operational flexibility, resource recovery, landfill diversion and whole-of-life cost. In addition, the presentation considers the respective roles of materials handlers and conventional front-end loaders. Rather than assuming that one machine or facility configuration is always preferable, it proposes a decision framework based on risk appetite, throughput, waste composition, customer behaviour, site constraints, recovery markets, and levy exposure.
ENERGY STREAM
Tim Eden, EV and Renewable Energy Journalist at The Ideas Man
Electric Vehicle Trends and Predictions.
I will explore electric vehicle trends in Australia and share my predictions for the near future. We will look into EV model availability, the latest EV sales data and talk about some of the exciting new features coming soon.
WASTE & CIRCULAR ECONOMY STREAM
Emma Avery, Regional Resource Recovery Project Manager at Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation (RAMJO)
Circular Connect: Unlocking Regional Circular Economy Opportunities through Industrial Symbiosis.
Discover how Circular Connect is helping businesses across the Riverina and Murray region turn waste into opportunity. This presentation introduces Circular Connect: a new regional circular economy network and materials mapping platform designed to connect businesses, identify valuable resource streams, and facilitate industrial symbiosis.
Featuring innovative data mapping technology and practical pathways for engagement, this session demonstrates how Circular Connect is accelerating the transition to a more connected, resilient, and circular regional economy.
ENERGY STREAM
Emma Van Biljon, Acting General Manager Community and Social License at Transgrid
As Australia’s renewable energy transition accelerates, major transmission projects such as HumeLink, VNI West and EnergyConnect are demonstrating that successful infrastructure delivery depends as much on people as it does on engineering. This presentation explores how early, meaningful and ongoing engagement can build trust, maintain social licence and strengthen project outcomes. Drawing on practical examples from some of Australia's largest transmission projects, attendees will gain insights into how community benefit initiatives, local investment and shared value can support resilient regional communities while enabling a successful energy transition.
WASTE & CIRCULAR ECONOMY STREAM
Bernie Turner, Program Lead, Product Stewardship and Kyle O’Brien, Senior Program Officer, Product Stewardship at NSW EPA
After a two-year trial to collect waste items containing built-in batteries at 34 Community Recycling Centres across NSW, the embedded batteries collection trial is coming to an end. Join us to hear about how the trial was established, the findings of audits, recommendations from the independent evaluation of the trial and next steps for embedded battery collection in NSW.
ENERGY STREAM
Michael Oppermann, Project Director South West REZ at Energy Co
The South West REZ: Overview and Opportunities.
The South West REZ is helping drive NSW's clean energy future while creating opportunities for regional communities. In this presentation, Michael Oppermann will provide a project update and discuss how renewable energy and transmission projects and other initiatives are supporting local jobs, investment and long-term community outcomes. Michael will also explore the role of circular economy thinking and collaboration across sectors in maximising the benefits of the energy transition.
WASTE & CIRCULAR ECONOMY STREAM
Shirani Glover, Executive Director at Exchange for Change, Return and Earn
Return and Earn Bin Baskets for Councils Program.
Return and Earn Bin Baskets for Councils program Local councils are valued partners in the delivery and success of the NSW Container Deposit Scheme, Return and Earn, which has seen over 16 billion bottles, cans and cartons returned for recycling through its statewide network of 660 return points since 2017.
This presentation will share the positive outcomes from the first round of the program in which 31 councils participated and secured free bin baskets and cradles for their communities. The presentation will also showcase a local council case study, highlighting how Return and Earn bin baskets are helping to support recycling and community participation.
ENERGY STREAM
Lisa Miller, Senior Project Officer at NSW Sustainable Councils (DCCEEW)
Regional Council Energy Transition Role – Whipping Boy or Unsung Hero?
There are many players in the energy transition that play different as well as intersecting roles. Yet most strategic work on what how and why has been done at the exclusion of Councils in regional NSW. This presentation attempts to unpack the transition players and their roles and clearly sets a pathway for collaboration to ensure the energy transition is inclusive, at least cost and incorporates all knowledge around future requirements.
WASTE & CIRCULAR ECONOMY STREAM
Lacey Webb, CEO & Principal Consultant at Resource Hub
Hidden Insights, Greater Impact: The Opportunity of Audits.
So often when we start a new role as a waste manager, or when we've been in the role for five to seven years, we lose track of all of the things that aren't business as usual. That's why having a second set of eyes to come in to audit our everyday processes can be essentially helpful. In this presentation, we'll look at real case studies across regional New South Wales of third party audits and assessments of transportation processes, gatehouse routines and data and look at the significant savings, revenue gaps, process improvements and time efficiencies that can be identified by giving someone access for a quick visit and Hunt through what we do, so then for the abstract overview.
Gregory Ley, CEO and Managing Director at LECROMA: Shaping a Resilient Future
Chief enablers: How councils can turn major investment into lasting regional benefits.
The transition is coming to the Riverina whether we plan for it or not. Gregory Ley, CEO of Lecroma, closes the conference with a practical case for councils as chief enablers: the parties that make good projects easier to deliver end up with the most to show for it. Drawing on more than 25 major projects across the REROC footprint, and live examples from Hay and Wellington, he sets out a shared standard every proponent can expect, a one-page cumulative picture per council, and three things to do on Monday. Aspirational, grounded, and built for the room.
