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Day 1 – Strategic Summit

AGENDA AT A GLANCE

Session
Room
2026/7/8 morning
2026/7/8 afternoon
2026/7/9 morning
2026/7/9 afternoon
Strategic Summit
Goldfields Theatre
09:10-12:15
14:00-18;05
09:10-12:25
14:00-16:55
Unlocking Wind Capital Forum
Eureka 3
09:40-12:50
-
-
-
Regional Development Forum
Eureka 3
-
14:30-17:40
-
-
WindGrid Transmission Forum
Eureka 3
-
-
09:00-12:05
14:00-17:05
Offshore WindTECH Summit
Exhibition Bays via door 8
10:00-12:25
14:05-18:05
-
-
Onshore WindNEXT Summit
Exhibition Bays via door 8
-
-
09:30-12:40
-

2026 STRATEGIC SUMMIT AGENDA

DAY 1 Morning

09:00 - 09:10

10 mins

Welcome to Country

09:10 - 09:15

05 mins

Summit Opening

09:15 - 09:25

05 mins

[Keynote] Australia’s Wind Power Future: Driving National Energy Security and Delivering Net-Zero Commitments

09:25 - 09:35

10 mins

[Keynote] Policy Powering Progress: How Victoria’s Energy Reforms are Accelerating Australia’s Wind Future

09:35 - 09:55

20 mins

[Keynote] Laying the Regulatory Groundwork for Offshore Wind Projects

09:55 - 10:45

50 mins

[High-Level Panel] From APAC Trends to Global Impact — How Australia Can Lead the Next Energy Chapter
  • Turning Regional Strength into Global Influence — positioning Australia as a clean energy exporter and technology leader.

  • Investment Pathways and Capital Flows — attracting global funding to scale wind and hybrid projects.

  • Policy, Partnerships, and Market Design — aligning regulation with industry innovation for faster deployment.

  • Technology and Supply Chain Resilience — securing capabilities to compete on a global stage.

  • From Communities to Boardrooms — ensuring local benefits while delivering global impact. 

Morning Break 

11:25 - 12:15 

50mins 

[Executive Panel] Unlocking Bankable, Scalable & Future-Proof Renewable Energy Portfolio - Lessons from Decades of Success
  • Scaling with Confidence – Expanding renewable portfolios while managing risks.

  • Bankability First – What investors look for in long-term financing.

  • Storage as the Game-Changer – Turning renewables into reliable, future-proof assets.

  • Proven Success – Lessons from decades of real-world project delivery.

Moderator:

Taraz Saba
Wind Sector Lead, APAC
GHD

Panelists:

Laura Caspari
Chief Renewables Officer
ENGIE AU

Chad Hymas
Chief Executive Officer
Aula Energy

David Pollington
Managing Director
ACEN Australia

Iain Pople
Project CEO, Flagship Funds APAC
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners

Lunch & networking break

DAY 1 Afternoon

14:00 - 14:20

20 mins

[Keynote] Strategies towards Breeding the Offshore Wind Industry - From Policy Makers' Perspective

14:20 - 14:40

20 mins

[Keynote] The Lessons Learnt in Onshore/Offshore Wind Policy Making

14:40 - 15:30

50 mins

[Panel] Preparing for the First Offshore Wind Farm - Is Australia on the Right Track? 
  • Global Benchmarks, Local Realities – What Australia can (and can’t) copy from leading offshore wind markets.

  • Policy, Permitting & Planning – Lessons from mature markets on reducing bottlenecks and de-risking projects.

  • Construction & Supply Chain – Adapting international know-how to Australia’s capabilities and infrastructure gaps.

  • Grid Connection & Energy Integration – Ensuring reliability and scalability from day one.

  • Workforce & Skills Transfer – Combining global expertise with local talent to build a sustainable industry.

Anil Chanana
Country Manager Australia
JERA Nex bp

Tamara Al-Hashimi
Technical Director, Offshore Wind Approvals Lead
RPS

Afternoon Break

16:00 - 16:20

20 mins

[Keynote] Leading Expertise Sharing and How They Are Applied in the Australian Context

16:20 - 17:10

50 mins

[Panel] Port at a Core for a Sustainable Offshore Wind Future: Needs, Gaps, and Upgrades
  • Current capacity of Australian ports for offshore wind components

  • Gaps in heavy-lift, storage, vessel access, and transport links

  • Environmental and community impacts on port development

  • Collaboration to streamline supply chains and reduce delays

  • Funding models for long-term port upgrades

  • Lessons from global offshore wind ports and local adaptation

Daniel Heley
Director Commercial and Local Ports
Department of Transport and Planning

17:10 - 18:00

50 mins

[Panel] Ensuring Grid Modernisation and Energy Security towards a Net-Zero Future
  • Accelerating Transmission Investments through Global Best Practices

  • Maintaining System Security in a Rapid Transition

  • Enhancing Grid Resilience through Innovation and Digitalisation

  • Towards a Unified, Decarbonised Energy System

Jacqui Bridge
Executive GM, Network Investment
Powerlink Queensland

18:00 - 18:05

05 mins

Summit Closing

18:00 - 19:00

60 mins

Happy Hour

19:00 - 21:00

120mins

Gala Dinner (Sustainability & Diversity Night)
8 - 9 JULY 2026
Melbourne Convention and
Exhibition Center (MCEC)
Melbourne, Australia

#AuWE2026
  • LinkedIn
Contact Us

Programme & Speaking
Mabel Gu
mabel@leader-associates.com

Exhibition & Sponsorship
auwe@leader-associates.com

Pavilion & Delegation Partnership
Kayla Shi
Kayla.shi@leader-associates.com

Media & Marketing
Eloise Hao
eloise@leader-associates.com

Co-located Events
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