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First Nations & The Energy Transition Forum

Partnering and collaborating with First Nations to achieve Australia’s Net Zero targets

12-13 June 2025 | Stamford Plaza Brisbane

BUY A PASS Register Your Interest

overview

First Nations & The Energy Transition Forum is a key gathering addressing energy security and exploring the role First Nations communities have in Australia’s transition to clean energy. This event brings together industry and community leaders to discuss challenges and opportunities that will drive the path towards net zero while providing a valuable opportunity for attendees to learn about the latest insights and best practices to engage and benefit First Nations communities through partnerships to achieve project success.

Key topics that will be covered include:

  • Government role and initiatives
  • Economic return, investments, incentives and opportunities
  • Best practices for effective collaboration, including building trust, transparency, and communication
  • International and national case studies of successful partnership initiatives for new energy infrastructure projects, highlighting the challenges and opportunities involved
  • Community-led renewable energy projects in First Nations communities
  • Partnerships between First Nations communities and clean energy organisations
  • Sustaining energy security and addressing challenges faced by First Nations communities
  • Mitigating impacts on culturally significant areas and ensuring Traditional Owners’ engagement in energy projects
  • Transitioning from diesel reliance to solar panels and microgrids in remote First Nations communities
  • Exploring benefit-sharing opportunities such as job creation and project equity

Speakers

Matt Moncrieff

First Nations Engagement Manager, ACCIONA Energia

Dominic Luddy

Community & Stakeholder Engagement Manager, ACCIONA Energia

Eddie Mallan

General Manager Commercial, Finance & Business Services, PowerWater

Cassie Farrell

Social Legacy Manager, Transgrid

Bianca Graham

First Nations Manager, Windlab

Kath Hawkins

Stakeholder and Permitting Manager, Hydrostor

Nicole Courtman

Special Counsel, Marrawah Law

William Smiley Johnstone

Aboriginal Engagement Advisor

Emma Garlett

Director, Garlett Group

David Parker AM

Chair, Clean Energy Regulator

Catherine Russell

Managing Director, EngageWell

Dane Thomas

Manager of Isolated Networks, Energy Queensland

Dr Attilio Pigneri

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Hydrogen Utility (H2U)

Louie Trajkoski

Senior Director, Investment Senior representative, NAIF

Dana Boxall

Community and Delivery Services, Powerlink

Tommy Hicks

Head of Culture and Community, Indigenous Energy Australia

Hanna Gustavson

Director of Tenders, Stride Renewables

Kayla Cartledge

Director | First Peoples’ Energy Transition, Energy Group, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

John Allison

First Nations Engagement Lead, Corporate Relations & Community, Squadron Energy

Rosie King

Director, Partnerships & Engagement, Energy Estate

Lily Mitchell

Legal Director, AEMC

Rachelle Cooper Kulkarni

Head of Impact and Innovation, Indigenous Energy Australia

Agenda

8:15 am

Registration & Coffee

9:00 am

OPENING | Opening remarks from the Chair

Rachelle Cooper Kulkarni, Head of Impact and Innovation, Indigenous Energy Australia

9:15 am

OPENING KEYNOTE |

9:40 am

  • How NAIF develops Indigenous Engagement Strategies with all proponents
  • Potential structures for renewable energy generation projects on Traditional Owner lands.

10:05 am

  • Current Barriers and Challenges​
  • Decarbonisation Strategy​
  • Current Projects Update​
  • Upcoming Challenges​

10:25 am

Opportunities for First Nation's community through the Federal Capacity Investment Scheme

Hanna Gustavson, Director of Tenders, Stride Renewables

10:45 am

Networking and refreshment break

11:15 am

ACCIONA Energia has had a dedicated First Nations Engagement team for over two years, and was one of the first developers to take a lead in this space. Matt and Dominic will share learnings from this experience, and offer some pointers to successful engagement with First Nations community members and Traditional Owners. The presentation will focus on:

  • The broader community engagement team (and other departments) acting as allies
  • Integration of First Nations benefits within broader social investment programs
  • The importance of internal cultural awareness of First Nations groups
  • The value of partnering and the distinct role of Traditional Owners in a project area

11:40 am

Key initiatives, learning and best practices for engaging and working with First Nations Communities for key energy projects

Cassie Farrell, Social Legacy Manager, Transgrid

12:00 pm

Indigenous Essential Services 2.0 – A different approach

Eddie Mallan, General Manager Commercial, Finance & Business Services, PowerWater

12:20 pm

12:50 pm

Lunch and networking break

1:50 pm

Squadron Energy Approach to First Nations Engagement

John Allison, First Nations Engagement Lead, Corporate Relations & Community, Squadron Energy

2:10 pm

  • Windlab will share its experience of transitioning from agreement-making with Traditional Owners to now its implementation.
  • The hiccups along the way along and the learnings they have taken from it.
  • The importance of healthy relationships versus partnership

2:30 pm

Challenges around current regulatory changes in Queensland

Tommy Hicks, Head of Culture and Community, Indigenous Energy Australia

2:50 pm

Networking and refreshment break

3:30 pm

Session to be advised

3:50 pm

  • Learn how to find the Traditional Owners in the project area
  • Understand the appetite for Traditional Owner involvement and in what capacity
  • The dos and don’t of engagement

4:10 pm

  • Fostering meaningful engagement between Indigenous communities and energy stakeholders.
  • Frameworks for collaboration that prioritise Indigenous sovereignty.
  • Success stories of joint governance models in energy projects.

4:55 pm

Closing remarks from the Chair

5:00 pm

Networking Function

9:00 am

OPENING | Opening remarks from the Chair

Hanna Gustavson, Director of Tenders, Stride Renewables

9:10 am

Plans for the H2-Hub Gladstone Project – Working with First Nations communities, key initiatives and learnings

Dr Attilio Pigneri, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Hydrogen Utility (H2U)

9:30 am

Session to be advised

9:50 am

  • Overview of Powerlink – who we are and role in energy transition
  • Building cultural capacity and capability across our organisation
  • Innovating our approaches for First Nations empowerment

10:10 am

  • Discussion on the importance of job creation through renewable energy projects.
  • Strategies for ensuring equity in project benefits, including profit-sharing models.
  • Evaluating the long-term economic impacts of energy transitions on First Nations.

10:50 am

Networking and refreshment break

11:20 am

Regulatory Perspectives on First Nations and Clean Energy

David Parker AM, Chair, Clean Energy Regulator

11:40 am

Getting social licence and benefit sharing right for First Nations

Catherine Russell, Managing Director, EngageWell

12:00 pm

Engaging with First Nations Communities – Best practices

Rosie King, Director, Partnerships & Engagement, Energy Estate

12:20 pm

Creating Sustainable Engagement: Enhancing Long-Term Cultural Capability and Benefit Sharing with First Nations Communities

Rachelle Cooper Kulkarni, Head of Impact and Innovation, Indigenous Energy Australia

12:40 pm

  • Strategies for fostering transparency and effective communication.
  • Best practices for establishing equitable partnerships between First Nations and energy companies.
  • Case studies of successful collaborations and the role of Indigenous knowledge in energy projects.

1:20 pm

Closing remarks from the Chair & Lunch

2:20 pm

END OF CONFERENCE

Pricing

Packages Price
Package(Two Days)$2595+GST

There is a limited number of discounted conference passes available for eligible First Nations-owned small businesses (less than 10 employees). For more information, please email [email protected]

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities

Reconnect and re-engage with your industry peers at the First Nations & The Energy Transition Forum.

There are many opportunities for networking including social events such as networking drinks, refreshment breaks and lunches, making this not just a conference… but an all encompassing industry “experience”.

Event sponsorship or exhibiting will allow your organisation to:

  • Build relationships with potential and existing clients
  • Generate leads from a high-level, targeted audience
  • Close sales in a more personal manner than via phone
  • Demonstrate your product in person
  • Network with the industry
  • Build brand awareness

To see what is on offer please contact:
Megan Rogulski
+61 (2) 9080 4334
[email protected]

Event Code Of Conduct

We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.

Sustainability

Our Commitment to Sustainability

In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in.

We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve.

To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.

when & where

12 - 13 Jun 2025

Stamford Plaza Brisbane
39 Edward St
Brisbane City QLD 4000
+61 (07) 3221 1999

Book accommodation with HotelMaps
To access the best available rate, book here.

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contact

Still have a question?

General Information & Registration
Customer Service
+61 (0) 2 9080 4307
[email protected]

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Megan Rogulski
+61 (2) 9080 4334
[email protected]

Speaking Enquiries
Aya Mersal
+61 (2) 9080 4338
[email protected]

Marketing & Media Enquiries
Libbie Sinclair
[email protected]

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