DAY 1, WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2024

8:00AM Registration and exhibition opens

8:45AM Welcome to Country

Aunty Maxine Ryan, Elder, La Perouse Aboriginal Community

Welcome

Luke Menzel, CEO, Energy Efficiency Council

9:00AM Opening address

The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC, Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage, ​NSW Government

9:30AM International keynote

Peak performance: Harnessing efficiency, electrification and energy flexibility for deep decarbonisation

Amory Lovins, Co-Founder, RMI (formerly Rocky Mountain Institute)

10:10AM National keynote

Electrifying Esperance: Lessons from the west

Stephanie Unwin, CEO, Horizon Power

10:20AM Electrification nation: Australia’s role in a global transformation

Energy systems are in the midst of an unprecedented transformation right around the world, and ​Australia has the chance to lead the charge, decarbonising our economy while delivering huge benefits ​to consumers. Local and global leaders will discuss the critical role of energy management and ​electrification in realising this opportunity.

Amory Lovins, Co-Founder, RMI (formerly Rocky Mountain Institute)

Stephanie Unwin, CEO, Horizon Power

Audrey Zibelman, International power industry Executive and Board member

Bill Lilley, Chief Research Officer, RACE for 2030

Chair: Luke Menzel, CEO, EEC

11:00AM Morning tea

11.30AM Edge of tomorrow: practical pathways for phasing out fossil gas

There is a growing consensus that electrification paired with energy management is the least cost pathway for decarbonising gas use in homes and many businesses. But what will ‘getting off gas’ actually mean from a network, business and household perspective – and how do we prepare?

Katie Brown Executive Director - Electrification, Efficiency and Safety DEECA, Victorian Government

Jane Butler, Acting General Manager Electrification and Innovation, AGL

Andrew Richards, CEO, Energy Users Association of Australia

Tennant Reed, Director - Climate Change and Energy, Ai Group

Chair: Jeremy Sung, Head of Policy, EEC

1:00PM Networking lunch

2:00PM

Shaping schemes: taking Australia’s energy efficiency schemes into the future

2023 saw big decisions about improving residential energy performance and embracing electrification. ​Energy efficiency schemes are slated to do a lot of the heavy lifting, so how do we ensure they are set ​up for success? And what is their role in an equitable transition?

Stuart Edgley, Managing Director and Founder, Emerald Group

Chris Iape, Senior Policy Officer, DEECA, Victorian Government

Ric Brazzale, Board member, Energy Savings Industry Association

Dr Waven Pyke, MV Programs Manager, Northmore Gordon

Chair: Alex St John, Senior Advisor, Policy and Research, EEC

Weathering change: building resilience in a warming world

The importance of energy efficient buildings for cutting Australia's GHG emissions is well known. But ​what about their role in helping Australians adapt to a changing climate? This session will focus on the ​less-discussed but critical role energy efficient buildings play in supporting Australia's energy system - ​and Australians themselves – to adapt to the more extreme climate conditions coming our way.

Emma Bacon, Executive Director, Sweltering Cities

Helen Oakey, CEO, renew

Mickel Maalouf, Senior Representative – Sustainable Building Science, Huntsman Building Solutions

Kat Miller, Senior Director, Climate Adaption Policy, DCCEEW, Australian Government

Chair: Jeremy Sung, Head of Policy, EEC

Boots, brogues and heels: building the energy management workforce

Industry and government agree that rapidly expanding workforce capacity and capability is the critical ​ingredient for the energy transition. The challenge is huge, and success will require an 'all of the above' ​approach. This session looks at how we can both harness traditional pathways and embrace creative ​approaches to building our future workforce.

Chris Miller, Interim CEO, SEC

Dani Alexander, CEO, UNSW Energy Institute

Emma Cannen, Director, Workforce Futures Branch, Jobs and Skills Australia

Louise Ellis, Inclusion Australia Lead, ANZ

Chair: Karla Paeglis, Head of Workforce Development, EEC

3:30PM Afternoon tea

4.00PM Energising women: harnessing diversity to deliver net zero

Back for another year, join us to explore the skills, perspectives and opportunities women offer the energy management sector.

Caroline Bennett, CEO, Green Energy & Carbon Management

Davina Rooney, CEO, Green Building Council of Australia

Liz Fletcher, Board member, EEC

Dr Madeline Taylor, Director of Research Training and Senior Lecturer, Macquarie Law School

Chair: Rachael Wilkinson, Senior Advisor, Policy and Partnerships, EEC

5:00PM Networking drinks

7:00PM – 10:30PM Gala dinner

featuring the 2024 EEC Awards

DAY 2, THURSDAY 16 MAY 2024

9:00AM Mission critical: the national policies driving market opportunity

Cross cutting policies like climate disclosure, sectoral decarbonisation plans and green finance are set to supercharge efforts on efficiency, electrification and decarbonisation over the next couple of years. Get across the detail on what it all means for the energy management market.

Peter Halliday, CEO, Siemens Australia and New Zealand

Brad Archer, CEO, Climate Change Authority

Merrily Hunter, CEO, MAC Trade Services

Rebecca Mikula-Wright, CEO, Investor Group on Climate Change

Chair: Luke Menzel, CEO, EEC

10:00AM Armchair conversation: Global trends in thermal performance technology

Mickel Maalouf, Senior Representative – Sustainable Building Science Manager

Huntsman Building Solutions

Rachael Wilkinson, Senior Advisor, Policy and Partnerships, EEC

Chair: Luke Menzel, CEO, EEC

10:30AM Flagship report launch: Putting energy efficiency to work for business

Armchair conversation with ANZ’s Managing Director – Corporate Finance, Christina Tonkin and Head of Strategy ​and Performance Cindy Arthur to discuss how small and medium Australian businesses can seize the ​opportunities of energy efficiency and electrification.

Christina Tonkin, Managing Director, Corporate Finance Institutional, ANZ

Cindy Arthur, Head of Strategy and Performance, ANZ

Chair: Luke Menzel, CEO, EEC

11:00AM Morning tea

11:30AM

Residential Stream

Resi, set go: ensuring quality in rapid residential retrofit

To make our housing stock net zero compatible, we’ll need undertake millions of residential retrofits in the coming years. Elements like standards and regulation, program design, delivery models, and consumer protection will all play a role in ensuring quality in the roll out of retrofits on a scale we’ve never seen before. With a clear focus on quality outcomes for households, this session asks, how do we get this done (right)?

Ros Malouf, Executive Branch Manager, EPSD, ACT Government

Glenn Day, Head of Public Affairs & Engagement, Stiebel Eltron

Nigel Freitas, Head of Enterprise and Corporate Affairs, Brighte

Kerry Connors, Director, Policy (Energy Inclusion), Energy Consumers Australia

Douglas McCloskey, Program Director, Energy and Water, Public Interest Advocacy Centre

Chair: Rachael Wilkinson, Senior Advisor, Policy and Partnerships, EEC

ENERGY MARKETS STREAM

NEM, again: (re)-designing the market for 82% renewables

As the race to 82% by 2030 hits hurdle after hurdle, we’re left wondering whether our energy markets are up to the job of doing everything, everywhere, all at once. What will energy markets look like in a decade? Are they up to the challenge? And how can we get the demand side seated at the NEM’s top table?

Penelope Crossley, Professor of Law, University of Sydney Law School

Con Hristodoulidis, Director, Distributed Energy, Clean Energy Council

Liam Ryan, Advising Executive Director, DCCEEW, NSW Government

Kellie Caught, Program Director - Climate and Energy, Australian Council of Social Service

Chair: Alex St John, Senior Advisor, Policy and Research, EEC

Business Stream (C&I)

Beyond the boiler: heat pumps for business decarbonisation

Modern heat pump technologies are more than equal to the task of delivering low temperature process heat in industry and heating services in commercial buildings. This session will focus on the current state of the market, how we support businesses to make the shift, and the potential for electrification to play a role in higher temperature applications.

Francesca Muskovic, National Policy Director, Property Council of Australia

Glenn Schultz, Head of Business Development, Australia, Deta

Jasmine Stewart, Senior Environmental Engineer, Astra Zeneca

Atta Ullah Sanai, Senior Project Officer, Energy Division, DCCEEW, NSW Government

Chair: Jarrod Leak, CEO, Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity

1:00PM Networking lunch

1:30PM Lunchtime briefing: Looking ahead to the 2025 National Construction Code

Mike Dodd, A/Manager Energy Efficiency, Australian Building Codes Board

Chair: Francesca Muskovic, National Policy Director, Property Council of Australia

2:00PM

Heavy hitters: heat pumps and residential decarbonisation

Worldwide, heat pumps are emerging as a dominant technology to reduce carbon footprints, increase ​energy efficiency, and save households money. This session will explore the current role of heat pumps ​in Australian residential settings, and their future role in our net zero transition

Deepthi Worthing, A/Director, Circular Economy Division, DCCEEW, Australian Government

Sami Zheng, CEO, Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating

Alan Pears AM, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT and Fellow, Melbourne University

Chair: Rachael Wilkinson, Senior Advisor, Policy and Partnerships, EEC

Kid genius: Can smart energy demand save the grid?

The build-out of renewable energy is urgent, but rapidly rolling out the generation and transmission we ​need is becoming ever more challenging. Can flexible, responsive demand help see is through the ​transition, and deliver the affordable high penetration renewable energy system we need?

Claire Richards, Head of Reliability Demand Response, Enel X

Terry Niemeier, Director Program and Market Development, Energy Division, DCCEEW, NSW Government

Stephanie Bashir, CEO, Nexa Advisory

Craig Memery, Senior Advisor, Energy, Public Interest Advocacy Centre

Chair: Alex St John, Senior Advisor, Policy and Research, EEC

Full disclosure: Will accounting standards and transition planning drive ambitious emission ​reductions?

Stakeholders including investors, regulators and customers are calling for transparency in the way ​businesses are managing climate-related risks and opportunities, and whether they have a credible plan ​to reach net zero. This session will discuss the mandatory upcoming climate-related financial disclosure ​regulations, their relationship with transition planning, and the role of energy and climate advisory firms ​in supporting business decarbonisation.

Rebecca McCallum, Director, Climate Disclosure Unit, Australian Treasury

Tennant Reed, Director – Climate Change and Energy, Ai Group

Dr Mary Stewart, CEO, Energetics

Mark Jones, Executive Manager Sustainability, nbn

Chair: Jeremy Sung, Head of Policy, EEC

3:30PM Afternoon tea

4:00PM Rubber, meet road: Hitting the accelerator on energy performance

A rapid ramp up of effort on efficiency, electrification and demand management is crucial to delivering an equitable energy transition and hitting our emissions targets. We reflect on the year ahead, and what we need to do to accelerate the transformation.

Clare McLaughlin, Head of Energy Performance and Security Division, DCCEEW, Australian Government

Anthony Lean, Secretary, DCCEEW, NSW Government

Tony Wood, Energy Program Director, Grattan Institute

Cassandra Goldie, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service

Chair: Luke Menzel, CEO, EEC

4:50PM Closing address

Dr Mary Stewart, President, EEC

5:00PM Networking drinks

6:00PM Conference Close

With thanks to the EEC Conference partners

Major Partner

Diamond partners

Research Partner

Event partners