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2025 Regional Development Forum

Regional Development Forum

AGENDA AT A GLANCE

Date
Strategic Summit
H2Innovate Next
Regional Development Forum
Happy Hour in the Exhibition
Exhibition
Youth Progam
Women in Net-Zero Future Program
Sustainability & Diversity Night 2025
17 July, Thursday
9:00-18:15
14:00-16:30
-
17:30-19:00
09:00-17:30
10:00-12:00
16:00-17:30
19:00-21:00
18 July, Friday
9:00-17:00
10:00-16:10
9:00–16:00
-
09:00-16:30
-
-
-

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.

Morning - 18 July Friday

09:30 - 16:30
(480 mins)

Call for 2025 Regional Development Forum Co-host
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
  • Renewables' expansion to replace coal plants

  • Coal to Hydrogen and carbon capture

  • Adapting to regional energy demands

  • Energising the regional economy 

  • 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 - 10:45

(15 mins)

[Case Study] Offshore Wind in Regional Australia – Gippsland and Beyond

Break

11:25 - 11:40

(15 mins)

[Case Study] Local Clean Energy Leadership – Case Studies from Gladstone and Port Augusta

11:40 - 12:20

(40 mins)

[Panel] Cultivating the Future Workforce: Preparing for Clean Energy Jobs
  • The importance of upskilling, training programs

  • Creating pathways for local communities

  • Nurture talent and build a skilled workforce for Australia’s clean energy future

Jan Rieche
Executive Manager Policy Culture & People
H2U - the Hydrogen Utility

Katrina Langdon
Procurement Manager
Southerly Ten

Anna Stephenson
Regional Impact and Education Director
Regional Australia Institute

Grahame Irwin
Regional Workforce Transition Officer
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Laura Macpherson
Chief Executive Officer
TAFE Gippsland

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
  • Identify potential environmental and economic risks

  • Minimize the environmental impact of renewable energy projects

  • Integrate sustainability into economic planning

  • Ensure long-term benefits

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
  • New industry models and mechanisms

Stream A

Morning - 11 July Thursday

09:00 - 12:15
(150 mins)

Leading case Study: Hunter

Chairpersons:

Alice Thompson
Chief Executive Officer
Committee for the Hunter

09:00 - 09:25

(25 mins)

Welcome Address and Understanding the Hunter’s Cultural and Industrial Contex

Alice Thompson
Chief Executive Officer
Committee for the Hunter

09:25 - 09:45

(25 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

Tim Stock
Director, Hydrogen and Clean Energy
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Boris Novak
Industry Advisor
HunterNet Co‑Operative

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)

[Keynote] Commercial Viability of Clean Energy in Regional Mining and Resource Extraction Industries
  • 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)

[Keynotes] Intra- and Inter-regional Connectivity through Green Energy
  • Green Power Networks and Community Relations

Darren Hill
EGM Business Development & Strategy
Horizon Power 

  • Port Infrastructure Considerations to Make Industry and Clean Energy Export/Import Prosperous

Ash Puri
Customer Manager, Energy & Chemicals
Pilbara Ports Authority

錨點 2

Stream B

Morning - 11 July

08:55 - 12:45

Leading case Study: Gippsland

Chairpersons:

Bodye Darvill
Director Emerging Industries
Latrobe Valley Authority

Chris Buckingham
Chief Executive Officer
Latrobe Valley Authority

08:55 - 09:00

(05 mins)

Host State Welcome Address

Hon. Gayle Tierney MP
Minister for Skills & TAFE, Minister for Regional Development
Victorian Government

09:00 - 09:25

(25 mins)

Welcome Address by Co-host

Chris Buckingham
Chief Executive Officer
Latrobe Valley Authority