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AGENDA AT A GLANCE
Date | Strategic Summit | Exhibition | Unlocking Wind Capital | Happy Hour in the Exhibition | Sustainability & Diversity Gala Dinner | Regional Development Forum | Offshore WindTECH | Student’s Day | Women in Net-zero Future |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 July, 2025 | 09:00-18:00 | 09:00-17:30 | 10:00-16:30 | 17:30-19:00 | 19:00-21:00 | - | 10:00-15:20 | 10:00-12:00 | 16:00-17:30 |
18 July, 2025 | 09:00-17:40 | 09:00-16:30 | - | - | - | 09:30-16:30 | 09:25-15:00 | - | - |
2025 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FORUM
The Regional Development Forum stands as a collaborative initiative ingrained within the Connecting Hydrogen APAC, the Australia Wind Energy and the Carbon Capture APAC Summit. It is designed to focus on the major regions of Australia's clean energy industry, and to energize regional development by providing the audience with an in-depth understanding of the context of the region. The forum will bring an exchange with local representatives from the perspectives of regional planning, project sharing, local workforce, environment and culture, exploring more possibilities of regional development, and creating the prosperity of Australia's economic development.
Regional Development Forum is exclusively open to sponsors, speakers, and delegates.
Forum Partners:
Morning - 18 July Friday
09:30 - 16:30
(480 mins)
Call for 2025 Regional Development Forum Partners
please send your interest to au@leader-associates.com
09:30 - 09:50
(20 mins)
[Regional Remarks]
09:50 - 10:30
(40 mins)
[Panel] Exploring Pathways into a Net-Zero Economy for Regions
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Renewables' expansion to replace coal plants
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Coal to Hydrogen and carbon capture
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Adapting to regional energy demands
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Energising the regional economy
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Considerations for mining, agriculture, tourism, and fishing
Clare Larkin-Sykes
Co-lead
NewH2
Michael Johnston
CEO
Committee for Geelong
Nils Hay
Chief Executive Officer
Mid West Development Commission
10:30 - 10:55
(25 mins)
[Keynote] Reserved for CPB Contractors
Break
11:35 - 11:50
(15 mins)
[Case Study] Local Clean Energy Leadership – Case Studies from Gladstone and Port Augusta
11:50 - 12:30
(40 mins)
[Panel] Cultivating the Future Workforce: Preparing for Clean Energy Jobs
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The importance of upskilling, training programs
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Creating pathways for local communities
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Nurture talent and build a skilled workforce for Australia’s clean energy future
Jan Rieche
Executive Manager Policy Culture & People
H2U - the Hydrogen Utility
Anna Stephenson
Regional Impact and Education Director
Regional Australia Institute
Laura Macpherson
Chief Executive Officer
TAFE Gippsland
Katrina Langdon
Procurement Manager
Southerly Ten
Grahame Irwin
Regional Workforce Transition Officer
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
Leigh Kennedy
Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Engagement
Federation University Australia
Break
14:00 - 14:40
(40 mins)
[Panel] Sustaining Growth: Balancing Environmental Protection with Economic Development
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Identify potential environmental and economic risks
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Minimize the environmental impact of renewable energy projects
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Integrate sustainability into economic planning
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Ensure long-term benefits
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Dr Andrew Gill
Senior Research Scientist Renewable Energy
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
14:40 - 14:55
(15 mins)
[Case Study] Renewable Energy and Regional Communities – Bunbury as a Model
Brant Edwards
Chief Executive Officer
Bunbury Geographe Economic Alliance
14:55 - 15:10
(15 mins)
[Case Study] Repositioning a Traditional Coal Region for Clean Energy - Hunter
Break
15:40 - 15:55
(15 mins)
[Case Study] Achieving 100% Renewables - Tasmanian REZ
15:55 - 16:35
(40 mins)
[Panel] Reviving Australia's Manufacturing Industry towards a Net-Zero Future
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New industry models and mechanisms
Shannon O'Rourke
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Powering Australia
Stream A
Morning - 11 July Thursday
09:00 - 12:15
(150 mins)
Leading case Study: Hunter
Alice Thompson
Chief Executive Officer
Committee for the Hunter
Chairpersons:
09:00 - 09:25
(25 mins)
Welcome Address and Understanding the Hunter’s Cultural and Industrial Context
Alice Thompson
Chief Executive Officer
Committee for the Hunter
09:25 - 09:45
(20 mins)
[Keynote] Role of the Hunter in NSW’s Energy Transition
Andrew Kingsmill
Executive Director, Network Planning & Technical Advisory
EnergyCo NSW
09:45 - 10:10
(25 mins)
[Keynote] Industry Cultivation: Developing Local Skilled Workforces
Grahame Irwin
Australian Government Employment Facilitator, Hunter and Surrounds
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
10:10 - 10:50
(40 mins)
[Panel] Clean Energy Shared Infrastructure: Hunter Hydrogen Infrastructure Masterplan
Moderator:
Alex Dronoff
Chief Executive Officer
Fichtner Australia and New Zealand
Panelist:
Joshua Moran
Chief Commercial Officer
CONEXA Infrastructure Partners
Boris Novak
Industry Advisor
HunterNet Co‑Operative
Tim Stock
Director, Hydrogen and Clean Energy
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Dr Joss Kesby
Business Development Manager
The University of Newcastle
Morning Coffee Break
11:20 - 11:45
(25 mins)
[Star Project Roadshow] Renewable Hydrogen Case
Ryan Willemsen-Bell
General Manager, Future Fuels
Origin Energy
11:45 - 12:10
(25 mins)
[Keynote] Floating Technology and Design Solutions for the Hunter
Liping Yu
Technical Director
Equinor
12:10 - 12:15
(05 mins)
Closing Address by Committee for the Hunter
Afternoon - 11 July
14:00 -16:30
(150 mins)
Leading case Study: Pilbara
Kyle Olinga
Renewable Technical Energy Advisor
The Australia Gas Association
Chairpersons:
14:00 - 14:20
(20 mins)
[Keynote] Strategic Industry in Western Australia’s Pilbara
Chris Schooling
Director Pilbara
Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, WA
14:20 - 14:40
(20 mins)
[Keynotes] Commercial Viability of Clean Energy in Regional Mining and Resource Extraction Industries
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From the perspective of industry and community
Rebecca Tomkinson
Chief Executive Officer
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia
14:40 - 15:20
(40 mins)
[Keynote] Intra- and Inter-regional Connectivity through Green Energy
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Green Power Networks and Community Relations
Darren Hill
EGM Business Development & Strategy
Horizon Power
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Port Infrastructure Considerations to Make Industry and Clean Energy Export/Import Prosperous
