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AGENDA AT A GLANCE
Session | Room | 2026/7/8 morning | 2026/7/8 afternoon | 2026/7/8 evening | 2026/7/9 morning | 2026/7/9 afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Industry High-level Breakfast (Invited only) | TBC | 07:30-08:30 | - | - | - | - |
Strategic Summit | Goldfields Theatre Ground Floor, Exhibition Centre | 09:10-12:15 | 14:00-18:05 | - | 09:10-12:25 | 14:00-16:55 |
Unlocking Wind Capital Forum | Eureka 3 Ground Floor, Exhibition Centre | 09:20-12:50 | - | - | - | - |
Regional Development Forum | Eureka 3 Ground Floor, Exhibition Centre | - | 14:30-17:40 | - | - | - |
Happy Hour | Exhibition Bays via Door 9/10 Ground Floor, Exhibition Centre | - | - | 18:00-19:00 | - | - |
Gala Dinner | Melbourne Room 1 Level 2, Convention Centre | - | - | 19:00-21:30 | - | - |
WindGrid Transmission Forum | Eureka 3 Ground Floor, Exhibition Centre | - | - | - | 09:00-12:53 | - |
Offshore WindTECH Summit | Exhibition Bays via Door 9/10 Ground Floor, Exhibition Centre | 10:00-12:25 | 14:05-17:05 | - | - | - |
Onshore WindNEXT Summit | Exhibition Bays via Door 9/10 Ground Floor, Exhibition Centre | - | - | - | 09:30-12:40 | - |
Women in Net-Zero Future | Exhibition Bays via Door 9/10 Ground Floor, Exhibition Centre | - | - | - | 10:00 – 12:00 | - |
Start-up Innovation Challenge | Exhibition Bays via Door 9/10 Ground Floor, Exhibition Centre | 10:30-12:00 | - | - | - | - |
WINDGRID TRANSMISSION AGENDA
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WindGrid Transmission Forum Co-Host
Connecting Renewables, Empowering Grids
The WindGrid Transmission Forum unites industry leaders and experts to tackle Australia’s renewable energy transmission challenges—from strategic planning and investment to advanced technologies, offshore wind integration, and grid flexibility—delivering practical solutions for a reliable, high-capacity, and future-ready energy network.
DAY 2 Morning
09:00 - 09:05
05 mins
Forum Opening
Matt Baumgurtel
Partner, New Energy Lead
Hamilton Locke
09:05 - 09:08
03 mins
Welcome from Co-host
09:08 - 09:28
20 mins
[Keynote] Shaping Victoria’s Transmission Future: Building the Backbone for Renewable Energy Zones
Adele McCarthy
Executive Director, Strategy & Planning
VicGrid
09:28 - 10:08
40 mins
[Panel] From Corridors to Connection Points – Strategic Transmission Planning for Renewable Energy Zones (REZs)
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Designing Efficient Transmission Corridors – Planning routes that minimize environmental impact and maximize reliability.
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Grid Integration of REZs – Strategies to connect renewable energy zones to the main grid effectively.
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Technology and Innovation in Transmission – Role of smart grids, HVDC lines, and digital tools for optimized network management.
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Policy, Regulation & Investment – Aligning government frameworks and financing mechanisms to accelerate REZ development.
Moderator:
Craig Bearsley
General Manager Energy and Market Director Transmission & Distribution
Fyfe
Panelists:
Stephanie McDougall
Head of Policy and Regulation
Tilt Renewables
Claire Cass
Executive Director, Access and Connections
VicGrid
Rachel Hayden
Director, Network Access
EnergyCo
Scott Partlin
Head of Grid Connection
Neoen Australia
10:08 - 10:28
20 mins
[Keynote] Planning the Future Transmission Network: Enabling Renewable Integration and Reliable Connections in the SWIS
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How does one of the world’s largest isolated grids manage grid planning in a rapidly changing energy environment
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The importance of creating an agile system architecture
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From the Whole of System Plan to the Transmission System Plan – how they build on each other, and how wind generation modelling has evolved
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Planning to reality – progressing delivery of the Clean Energy Link program
Ben Bristow
Acting Executive – Asset Management
Western Power
10:28 - 10:48
20 mins
[Keynote] Powering the Future: Social Procurement as the Foundation of Social Licence in the Energy Transition
John Deppe
Director Business Engagement
The Fair Co.
Morning Break
11:18 - 11:28
10 mins
[Spotlight] Getting More Out of Transmission with Better Weather Information
David McQueen
Energy Sector Lead
Bureau of Meteorology
11:28 - 12:08
40 mins
[Panel] Optimising Grid Capacity & System Operability through Advanced Power System Modelling, Transmission Solutions, and Grid-Scale Storage
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Bridging the gap between system modelling and real-world grid operability
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Transmission build-out vs. system flexibility: what should come first?
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The role of advanced technologies in unlocking constrained grids
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Asset performance, diagnostics, and grid reliability under high renewable penetration
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From planning to execution: aligning modelling, regulation, and investment signals
Moderator:
Lara Kruk
Regional Solutions Director, Energy & Power – Asia Pacific
Jacobs
Panelists:
Luke Robinson
Group Manager, System Modelling
Australian Energy Market Operator
Ahmed El-Rasheed
Industry Director, Renewables
Megger
Bernard Norton
Country Managing Director, Australia
Hitachi Energy
Edoardo Viel
General Manager, Grid Connections
GreenPoint Energy
12:08 - 12:48
40 mins
[Panel] Unlocking Transmission Business Models & Investment Opportunities – Powering the Next Generation Grid
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Rethinking transmission business models: who pays, who builds, who takes risk?
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Making transmission "investable": aligning risk, return, and regulatory certainty
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Coordinating generation and transmission: solving the "chicken-and-egg" problem
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From REZs to interconnectors: prioritising the next wave of grid infrastructure
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Speed vs. scrutiny: accelerating delivery without compromising outcomes
Moderator:
Phillip Vrettakis
Executive Director
Rennie Advisory
Panelists:
Richard Pawlik
General Manager, Contestable Connections
AusNet
Richie Merzian
Chief Executive Officer
Clean Energy Investor Group
Darren Brown
Co‑Managing Director, Renewables Australia
Octopus Australia
Eric Lalauze
General Manager Corporate Finance and Strategy
Transgrid
12:48 - 12:53
05 mins