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6th Annual Australian Renewable Energy Zones Conference

Your A-Z guide to the latest developments with the roll-out of REZ’s in the NEM

20 – 21 May 2026 | Swissotel, Sydney

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overview

Informa Australia is delighted to announce the 6th Annual Australian Renewable Energy Zones Conference, which will be held on the 20-21 May 2026 at the Swissotel Sydney.

The transformation of Australia’s electricity system & the accelerating growth of renewable energy across Australia is unprecedented. With significant investments and development of renewable energy generation and technologies we have the potential to become a renewable energy superpower.

Building on the past 5 events this year’s event is perfectly timed to bring together and engage key stakeholders to discuss the latest developments and initiatives in the Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) across Australia.

Our key topics Include:

  • Transforming Australia’s electricity system
  • Policy, regulation, state & local initiative
  • Update on the REZ roll out
  • Financing & investment – considerations, opportunities & risks
  • Transmission – The bottleneck and missing link to achieve success
  • Storage –Improving supply and price security
  • Community push back against renewables – What can be done?
  • Empowering communities: Navigating the path to renewable energy zones
  • Overcoming hurdles – The role of transparency, collaboration & alliances
  • REZ: Opportunities and challenges for Traditional Owners
  • Renewable technology showcase & outlook
  • Case Studies – Updates from developers on operational assets and proposed projects

2025 Speakers

Hannah McCaughey

Chief Executive Officer, EnergyCo

Tim Edwards

Managing Director, CutlerMerz

Tony Mahar

Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC)

Paul Peters

CEO, Energy Security Corporation

Alistair Parker

Chief Executive Officer, VicGrid

Glenn Dahlenburg

GM Energy Storage, Energy Queensland

Victoria Mollard

Executive General Manager, Economics and System Security, Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC)

Janine Young

Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW

Jackie McKeon

Program Director, Business Renewables Centre Australia

Niall Brady

Head of Solar and Battery Storage, CEFC

Serai Kabu

Associate Director – Renewable Energy – Pacific, WTW

Michael Katz

CEO, RELA

Melanie Koerner

General Manager, System Planning & REZ, AEMO Services

Aydin Kizilirmak

Head of Grid Connection and Approvals, Potentia Energy

Michael Drowley

Environmental Specialist, Aurecon

Simon Tweed

Natural Capital Strategy Manager, Niche

Dean Davis

Director of Technology, SATEC (Australia) Pty Ltd

Jason Krstanoski

General Manager of Operations & Maintenance, Transgrid

Andrew Bray

National Director, RE-Alliance

John Carr

Project CEO - Capricornia Energy Hub, Blue Power Partners

Kim Mallee

Director, Community Power Agency

Kelly Wood

Group Executive, Transmission Development & Growth, Ausgrid

Christiaan Zuur

Director, Energy Infrastructure, KPMG

Lisa Honan

Managing Director, Briar Consulting

Rohan Tayler

Service Line Leader - Policy & Strategy, CutlerMerz

Dennis Stanley

Executive Advisor – Power Network, Regulation and Access, GHD

Margaret Harvie

PlanCom Consulting, Chairperson for CRGs for New England REZ

Dani Alexander

CEO, UNSW Energy Institute

Mark Twidell

Professor of Practice, UNSW Energy Institute

Romina Cavallo

Business Group Leader - Engagement, Communication & Communities, GHD

Renene Windsor

Industry Director, Transmission & Distribution, Aurecon

Mark Westbrook

Chief Project Officer, EnergyCo

Ned Wynen

Senior Project Coordinator, Environment & Planning, ACCIONA Energía

Amy Kean

Partner, Stride Renewables

Hanna Gustavson

Director of Tenders, Stride Renewables

2025 Agenda

8:30 am

Registration and Morning Coffee

9:00 am

EVENT OPENING

Alexandra Bennet, Conference Director, Informa Connect

9:05 am

Opening remarks from the Chair

Dani Alexander, CEO, UNSW Energy Institute

9:10 am

Facilitating leading practice in the renewable infrastructure transition

Tony Mahar, Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC)

9:35 am

Update from EnergyCo

Hannah McCaughey, Chief Executive Officer, EnergyCo

9:55 am

The latest developments, opportunities, challenges and hurdles to implement REZ across Australia

Alistair Parker, Chief Executive Officer, VicGrid

10:15 am

Local Renewable Energy Zones opportunities

Glenn Dahlenburg, GM Energy Storage, Energy Queensland

10:35 am

Q&A

11:05 am

Networking and refreshment break

11:40 am

NSW Transmission Planning Review - Implications for the NEM

Tim Edwards, Managing Director, CutlerMerz

12:10 pm

Providing a practical pathway for managing the significant transformation

Victoria Mollard, Executive General Manager, Economics and System Security, Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC)

12:35 pm

1:10 pm

Networking and lunch break

2:10 pm

  • Transmission access reform
  • Proposed solutions to congestion?
  • How to provide developers with certainty?
  • How can we speed up the connection process without compromising system security?

2:45 pm

FCAS - evolution of metering for MASS compliance

Dean Davis, Director of Technology, SATEC (Australia) Pty Ltd

3:00 pm

Strategic biodiversity: saving millions, reducing risks and driving positive impacts for nature

Simon Tweed, Natural Capital Strategy Manager, Niche

3:15 pm

How can we accelerate the proposed developments?

Melanie Koerner, General Manager, System Planning & REZ, AEMO Services

3:40 pm

Networking and refreshment break

4:15 pm

PANEL DISCUSSION | Finance and insurance – Thinking long term and overcoming the challenges

Paul Peters, CEO, Energy Security Corporation

Niall Brady, Head of Solar and Battery Storage, CEFC

Serai Kabu, Associate Director – Renewable Energy – Pacific, WTW

4:40 pm

  • REZ discussions tend to focus on high voltage transmission. Ausgrid’s successful bid for the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone proves DNSP’s can offer innovative lower voltage solutions with bigger impacts that include delivering faster, cheaper and with less impact on the communities they serve.

5:05 pm

New England Renewable Energy Zone: A Blueprint for Future Renewable Energy Zones in Australia

Renene Windsor, Industry Director, Transmission & Distribution, Aurecon

Mark Westbrook, Chief Project Officer, EnergyCo

5:30 pm

CLOSING | Closing remarks & Networking drinks

8:30 am

Registration and Morning Coffee

9:10 am

OPENING | Opening remarks from the Chair

Amy Kean, Partner, Stride Renewables

Hanna Gustavson, Director of Tenders, Stride Renewables

9:20 am

Early Insights from engagement with communities in the REZ locations

Janine Young, Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW

9:40 am

  • Are Local Energy Hubs they the key to solving …“we like renewables, but…”?
  • Giving communities the power to set expectations about how they’d like to be engaged, and how projects can contribute to their region’s future (jobs, skills, housing, energy bill relief, upgrading telecoms, fixing local amenities etc) — Addressing multiple projects concerns the right way
  • Benefits of Hubs to support communities with all aspects of renewable energy
  • Tackling the increasing levels of misinformation in local communities

10:10 am

Partners, not problems: The hidden strength of community involvement

Romina Cavallo, Business Group Leader - Engagement, Communication & Communities, GHD

10:35 am

Sources of community outrage in the REZ’s and what we can do to reduce emotion and outrage

Margaret Harvie, PlanCom Consulting, Chairperson for CRGs for New England REZ

11:00 am

Networking and refreshment break

11:35 am

  • How can local Councils and businesses negotiate contracts in renewable zones?
  • What role can PPA’s play in smoothing the way for new projects to be built?
  • Benefits – price stability for bigger energy users, support renewables projects that provide strong community and environmental benefits
  • Types of PPA’s

12:00 pm

Do we have the infrastructure required to support the growing renewable energy project requirements?

Lisa Honan, Managing Director, Briar Consulting

12:25 pm

  • Political, technical and wider strategic barriers and opportunities associated with PHES in Australia

12:50 pm

Networking and Lunch break

1:50 pm

How Digital Twins and Real Time simulation can de-risk Renewable Energy Zone development and delivery

Mark Twidell, Professor of Practice, UNSW Energy Institute

2:15 pm

Energy infrastructure projects are increasingly complex. The multi award-winning Aurecon air® was developed to assess economic, environmental and social impacts of infrastructure projects, such as Transgrid’s HumeLink project to simplify understanding for Transgrid, government and community. With HumeLink spanning 365 km across five local government areas, this innovative digital tool enhanced stakeholder engagement, compliance, and understanding by transforming complex data into accessible formats.

This just one of a suite of cutting-edge geospatial and digital tools and reports available to integrate into the site selection, project development, consultation and assessment of major energy projects to minimise environmental impacts, streamline the approvals process, and achieve challenging program timelines. Developers such as Acciona Energia have also adopted digital tools to deliver at scale digital solutions to promote increased transparency and interaction, using elements such as maps, digital ecology reporting, charts, videos, and 3D scenes. Digital reporting sets new standards, democratising access to information and addressing the growing demand for transparency, resulting in increased community and regulator involvement and ultimately streamlines approvals processes. This is critical for the successful execution of major energy infrastructure projects across the Asia-Pacific region, facilitating the energy transition.

2:45 pm

Transparency and Collaboration: Building a balanced and equitable renewable energy land marketplace

Michael Katz, CEO, RELA

3:10 pm

CLOSING | Closing remarks from the Chair

3:15 pm

Close of Conference

2025 Sponsors

Lead Knowledge Partner Event Partner Technology Showcase Sponsor Natural Capital Showcase Sponsor Showcase Sponsor

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities

This well-established industry conference, with a great line up of industry experts, is the key meeting place for your industry. Where policymakers, energy leaders, and developers will gather to shape Australia’s renewable energy future. This event is a great occasion to get together as an industry and share essential learnings and provides an opportunity to arrange meetings, and network with your industry colleagues both current and new.

Be at the forefront of your industry. Showcase your thought leadership, demonstrate your technology or show this industry your company’s services on offer.

To see what opportunities are available please contact:
Megan Rogulski
Sponsorship Manager
E: [email protected]
T: +61 (0)2 9080 4334

Event Highlights

Attendee testimonials

Good overview of the state of play, with good range of speakers / relevant issues from policy level through to implementation experience. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The conference was excellent and covered a great range of topics. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I found it incredibly informative around where business, government and communities are at around all aspects to do with renewable energy. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The conference was highly informative for the state of all REZs in the NEM and having all states presenting in one place gave a good indication of the different approaches and reliance that was quite insightful. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Very topical and relevant to my colleagues and clients. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

20 - 21 May 2026

Swissotel Sydney
68 Market St,
Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 9238 8888

Get Directions
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contact

Still have a question?

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

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

Speaking Enquiries
Alexandra Bennet
Conference Manager
+61 2 9080 4315
[email protected]

Marketing & Media Enquiries
Libbie Sinclair
Marketing Manager
[email protected]

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