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4th Annual Australian Renewable Energy Zones Conference

29-30 May 2024 | Swissotel, Sydney

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overview

Informa Australia is delighted to announce the 4th Annual Australian Renewable Energy Zones Conference, which will be held on the 29-30 May 2023 at the Swissotel Sydney

The transformation of Australia’s electricity system & the accelerating growth of renewable energy across Australia is unprecedented. We are in the midst of a renewable revolution as we unlock the potential to become a renewable energy superpower with significant investments and development of renewable energy generation and technologies.

The 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.

By coordinating development in a strategic way, REZ will help secure future energy needs, deliver minimum cost energy, strengthen our economy through new investment and jobs, while maintaining net zero emissions.

Our key topics Include:

  • The transformation of Australia’s electricity system
  • A look at state & local initiatives, policy, and future plans for new zones
  • The opportunity for regional Australia to foster long term prosperity & job creation
  • Development & investment – opportunities, considerations & risks.
  • Transmission – The missing link and bottleneck to achieve success
  • Storage – The key to improving supply and price security
  • What more can be done to increase community consultation, improve local acceptance for projects and avoid misinformation?
  • Overcoming hurdles – The role of transparency, collaboration & alliances
  • Case Studies – Updates from developers on operational assets and proposed projects
  • Renewable technology showcase & outlook

Register your interest to stay up to date with speaker announcements, early bird discounts and official agenda releases!

Speakers

James Hay

Chief Executive, Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo)

Alistair Parker

Chief Executive Officer, VicGrid, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Leanne Caelers

Executive Director REZ and Transformation, Queensland Department of Energy and Climate

Renene Windsor

Energy Leader NSW & ACT, Aurecon

Adriana Loreto

Principal - Power, Beca

Sharon Gray

Group Manager, Diversity, Indigenous and Social Inclusion, CPB Contractors

Crystal Serblan

Director - Communications and Engagement, RPS

Kala Saban

Associate Director, Rewiring the Nation, Clean Energy Finance Corporation

Brad Cam

General Manager, Mid-Western Regional Council

Lorna Bishop

Director, Engagement and Change Advisory, Aurecon

Dominic Luddy

Community and Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Acciona Energía

Louise Johnson

Community & Stakeholder Engagement Lead (NSW), Acciona Energía

Michael Frangos

Chief Executive Officer, Indigenous Energy Australia

Simon Currie

Co-Founder and Chief Projects Officer, Energy Estate

Dr Nicholas Aberle

Director – Energy Generation & Storage, Clean Energy Council

Carla Martinez

Principal, Communities and Social Performance, WSP Australia

Dr Jarra Hicks

Co-founder and Director, Community Power Agency

Sally Torgoman

Partner, KPMG Australia

Karrina Nolan

Executive Director, Original Power

Nigel Buchanan

General Manager, Commercial Electricity Infrastructure, APA Group

Dr John Gardner

Empowerment Lead, Smart Energy Mission, CSIRO

Kellie O’Callaghan

Chair, Regional Development Australia | Gippsland

Claire Morgan

Senior Project Officer, EnergyCo

Agenda

8:00 am

Registration & Morning Coffee

9:00 am

EVENT OPENING

Alexandra Bennet, Conference Director, Informa

9:05 am

Opening remarks from the Chair

9:10 am

  • Cop 28 & Australia’s targets – Achievable or not?
  • Renewable energy transition – do we need to speed it up?
  • REZ design & government intervention: risks & opportunities
  • Does rate of rollout risk disenfranchise local communities?
  • Are we on track to have enough renewables online before coal fire power stations retire?
  • Why are projects costing more & taking longer than planned?

9:40 am

An update of the Renewable Energy Zones in NSW

James Hay, Chief Executive, Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo)

10:00 am

Development of Renewable Energy Zones in Victoria

Alistair Parker, Chief Executive Officer, VicGrid, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

10:20 am

Approach to Renewable Energy Zones in Queensland

Leanne Caelers, Executive Director REZ and Transformation, Queensland Department of Energy and Climate

10:40 am

Q&A

James Hay, Chief Executive, Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo)

Alistair Parker, Chief Executive Officer, VicGrid, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Leanne Caelers, Executive Director REZ and Transformation, Queensland Department of Energy and Climate

10:55 am

Networking & Refreshment Break

11:30 am

Spurring on the renewable energy roll out & progressing REZ to reality

Trish Doyle MP, Member for Blue Mountains, Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, Heritage, Climate Change and Energy

11:40 am

  • Update on REZ legislation and legislative plans in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania
  • Stocktake of developments in NSW: REZ declarations, access scheme declarations and regulation
  • Comparison of the features of the different regulatory frameworks across the states and what this means for investors

12:00 pm

Hunter Transmission Project

Adriana Loreto, Principal - Power, Beca

Claire Morgan, Senior Project Officer, EnergyCo

12:25 pm

Major infrastructure engagement: What can go wrong? What will go wrong and how to fix it

Crystal Serblan, Director - Communications and Engagement, RPS

12:50 pm

Session to be advised

1:00 pm

Networking & Lunch Break

2:00 pm

  • Building for the future
  • I s enough consideration given to firming solutions across a wide time duration
  • Key factors that drive social licence in communities
  • Key learnings – building engagement & working with communities
  • How transmission companies can build trust within communities– learnings from current developments
  • A different approach to community investment

2:30 pm

  • What has worked well & what is now challenging the industry?
  • How can the next wave of project developments successfully navigate a changing landscape, manage the expectations of local communities and deliver nature positive outcomes and enduring regional economic benefits?

3:00 pm

Planning for our energy future – Ensuring development pathways meet the emerging changes in the market

3:20 pm

Networking & Refreshment Break

3:50 pm

  • Is it just consultation failure or is it time for a new approach and policy solutions?
  • What can be done to increase community consultation, improve local acceptance and avoid misinformation?
  • I s this an opportunity for regional Australia to foster long term prosperity & job creation?
  • How is a town’s scenery and a resident’s sense of place factored into developments?
  • What’s the role of proposed community benefit sharing fees?

4:20 pm

  • Sharing experience in engaging with communities on wind and solar farm developments
  • Bringing a focus on person-to-person engagement – showing how different skillsets, backgrounds and experience within
  • the team can create stronger connections with communities and stakeholders
  • Illustrating the critical importance of locally-led engagement and support for communities in Renewable Energy Zones, and how this needs to come from a place of listening first and a willingness to learn.

4:45 pm

  • Best practices for consultation and engagement with First Nations and Traditional Owners
  • Examples of successful and respectful partnerships
  • Strategies for incorporating Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into development plans
  • Opportunities for economic development and job creation

5:15 pm

Community members share their stories

Karrina Nolan, Executive Director, Original Power

5:45 pm

CLOSING | End of Day One

Networking Drinks

8:30 am

Registration & Morning Coffee

9:00 am

Opening remarks from the Chair

9:10 am

Investing in Australia’s transmission and renewable energy zones

Kala Saban, Associate Director, Rewiring the Nation, Clean Energy Finance Corporation

9:35 am

  • Financing the transition to renewable energy
  • The role of government policies and incentives
  • The importance of collaboration between industry, government, communities, and investors – building on capabilities, expertise & experience
  • The potential for investment in REZ to drive innovation and job creation

10:00 am

Session to be advised

10:25 am

Innovations developed to finance Australia’s critical projects

10:50 am

Networking & Refreshment Break

11:30 am

  • What’s being done to addressing the strategic and cumulative Impacts? Housing and accommodation to host project workforces
  • Availability of human capital and supply chains
  • Pressure over social infrastructure
  • Road upgrades and maintenance
  • Telecommunications
  • Water, waste and circular economy
  • Bushfire and biosecurity risks
  • Visual amenity and aesthetic values
  • The importance of collaboration & multi-party stakeholder engagement
  • Is it time for a mindset change? Social and environmental performance

11:50 am

Providing jobs, stability, and low-cost efficient green energy to the grid

12:15 pm

Fast tracking plans to deliver solar, wind, battery storage and pumped hydro projects

12:45 pm

Networking and Lunch break

1:30 pm

What does it take to deliver Australia’s energy transition – The importance of innovation and collaboration to deliver first-of-its-kind renewable energy infrastructure

Renene Windsor, Energy Leader NSW & ACT, Aurecon

1:55 pm

Project updates

2:20 pm

  • Insights from CSIRO’s national survey about renewable energy infrastructure and the energy transition
  • A sneak peek at the National Energy Analysis Centre, a tool to de-risk decision making and better support innovation, energy equity, and decarbonisation goals

2:45 pm

Session to be advised

3:10 pm

CLOSING | Closing remarks from the Chair & Close of Conference

Sponsors

Partners

Pricing

Packages Price
Package(Two Days)$3950$3550+GST Early Bird Rate Early Bird Rate
Virtual Pass$2500+GST
Extras Price
Streamly Access Pass $495+GST

EVENT PRICING

  • Early bird rate – $3,550 + GST (book by 5 April 2024)
  • Standard rate – $3,950 + GST (book from 6 April 2024)
  • Virtual pass – 2,500 + GST

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities

Connect with your industry peers at the Australia Renewable Energy Zones Conference 2024.

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
Sponsorship Manager
E: Megan.Rogulski@informa.com.au
T: +61 (0)2 9080 4334

Event Photos

Australian Renewable Energy Zones 2023

ConnectMe + Streamly

ConnectMe • Networking enhanced

All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.

 

Streamly • On-Demand video vault

Streamly is a new video platform from Informa Connect – hosting hours of session recordings from our events and more. Select the Streamly add-on at the checkout to receive year round access to exclusive On-Demand session recordings from all of our related energy events*. Login information will be sent post event. For more information visit our Streamly page.

* Note: In a minority of cases, speakers may request their sessions to be excluded from Streamly access.

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

29 - 30 May 2024

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

contact

Still have a question?

General Information & Registration
Customer Service
+61 2 9080 4307
info@informa.com.au

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Megan Rogulski
Sponsorship Manager
+61 2 9080 4334
Megan.Rogulski@informa.com.au

Speaking Enquiries
Alexandra Bennet
Conference Manager
+61 2 9080 4315
Alex.Bennet@informa.com

Marketing & Media Enquiries
Libbie Sinclair
Marketing Manager
Libbie.Sinclair@informa.com

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