Australian Energy Council - Data Centres and the Grid Luncheon
About the Luncheon
Hear from Mark Collette, Managing Director of EnergyAustralia, on one of the biggest emerging demand questions facing the electricity sector: how data centre growth will reshape planning, investment and grid operations.
The upcoming AEC Policy Lunch, sponsored by Fluence, Ashurst Perkins Coie and Aurecon, will bring together senior leaders from across energy, infrastructure, policy and large-load customers for a practical discussion on who pays, who builds, and how flexible large load can support the grid.
Wednesday 9 September | 12.00pm – 2.30pm
Sheraton Melbourne Hotel | 27 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Why attend?
As data centre growth accelerates, energy professionals are being asked to solve one of the sector’s most urgent practical challenges: how to connect major new loads without compromising affordability, reliability or the pace of the transition. This policy lunch brings together the people shaping that answer, opening with a keynote from Mark Collette, Managing Director of EnergyAustralia, to set the scene for a timely discussion on what this growth means for the grid, investment and future demand.
Guests will then hear from a cross-industry panel facilitated by Kate Muller, Partner, Ashurst Perkins Coie, featuring Paul Gleeson, Managing Director - Energy, Aurecon; Elizabeth Molyneux, Deputy Secretary, Energy, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action; Laura Caspari, CEO and Managing Director, Renewables and Batteries, ENGIE; and Paul Grzinic, General Manager, Energy, Firmus. Together, they will unpack the commercial, policy and operational questions now confronting the sector, including who pays, who builds and how flexible large load can support system resilience as new demand comes online.
For energy professionals, this policy lunch is an opportunity to hear directly from senior industry, government and project leaders on large load connections, infrastructure funding, flexible demand, system reliability and the role the energy sector can play in enabling new economic development. The discussion will provide the strategic context and practical insight needed to understand where the next wave of demand is coming from and how the sector can respond.
Meet the speakers
Host | Louisa Kinnear | Chief Executive Officer, Australian Energy Council
Louisa Kinnear assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Energy Council in September 2024. Prior to this, Louisa was the Chief Executive Officer at Jacana Energy, the largest energy retailer in the Northern Territory. She has also held senior roles at Synergy, Western Power and Water Corporation and previously worked for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in Western Australia. For the past 15 years, Louisa has helped governments, businesses, and customers across various jurisdictions navigate and benefit from the renewable energy transition. She is a strong advocate for fostering collaboration across the energy sector to ensure a successful transition.
Keynote Speaker | Mark Collette | Managing Director, EnergyAustralia
Mark joined EnergyAustralia (previously known as TRUenergy) in 2003. Prior to being appointed as Managing Director of EnergyAustralia on 1 July 2021, Mark led EnergyAustralia’s retail business as Chief Customer Officer and led EnergyAustralia’s generation and energy trading business as Executive Energy from July 2015 until May 2019. He has over two decades of energy and related experience with more than a decade in executive roles covering trading, generation, retail, policy, strategy and mergers & acquisitions. Prior to joining EnergyAustralia, Mark worked in management consulting in Australia, Thailand, and the UK, while also completing an aid project in Mongolia. Mark was a Director of the Australian Financial Markets Association and is a former member of the Reliability Panel. Mark holds degrees in Engineering (Aerospace), Business and Economics and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Panel Facilitator | Kate Muller | Partner, Ashurst Perkins Coie
Kate brings a pragmatic, deal-focused approach to the structuring and financing of energy and infrastructure projects. Kate Muller is a partner in our projects and energy transition practice. Kate advises across the full lifecycle of energy and infrastructure projects – with particular expertise in structuring, revenue contracting and debt financing. She acts for sponsors, developers, funders and financiers on greenfield and brownfield assets. Her energy work spans a wide range of technologies, including solar, wind, battery storage, pumped hydro storage, hydrogen, efuels and energy-from-waste. In infrastructure, Kate’s experience covers data centers, social and student accommodation, water and transportation projects. She understands the commercial drivers behind each asset class and brings a pragmatic, deal-focused approach to delivery. She helps clients ensure bankable structures and contracts, manage risk allocation and close transactions efficiently, drawing on deep industry knowledge and a clear focus on project outcomes. Kate is recognised as a "Leading Partner" for Energy (Transactions and Regulatory) by Legal 500.
Panellist | Paul Gleeson | Managing Director - Energy, Aurecon
Paul Gleeson is Aurecon’s Managing Director, Energy. He has over 27 years’ experience working across all aspects of the energy sector with substantial technical and commercial experience across project development, delivery, acquisition phases as well as strategy development and governance roles on some of the most significant power generation, transmission and storage projects in the Australian energy market. Paul was awarded Chief Sustainability Officer of the year in the World Sustainability Awards 2022, recognising his efforts to lead the charge for sustainability and energy transition within Aurecon and support some of the world’s largest carbon emitters with decarbonisation and climate action. A fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, Paul is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Certificate in Design Led Innovation from Stanford University. Paul is also on the Advisory Boards for The University of Queensland’s Master of Sustainable Energy Program and the Curtin University institute for Energy Transition.
Panellist | Elizabeth Molyneux | Deputy Secretary, Energy, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)
Elizabeth Molyneux is the Deputy Secretary, Energy and commenced in the role in October 2022. With 25 years of experience in energy markets and policy reform, including as a senior executive at AGL Energy, Elizabeth has demonstrated significant expertise in energy wholesale and retail markets, network regulation, new energy technologies and consumer protection frameworks. Elizabeth brings a strong focus on consumer outcomes in a dynamic period of change and transition in Victorian and national energy systems. With her background, Elizabeth is well placed to support the Victorian Government’s leadership in energy policy and programs, new energy supply chain investments, regional economic development opportunities and the decarbonisation of gas, transport and industrial systems in Victoria. Elizabeth also holds a Bachelor of Science and post graduate qualifications in Economics and Applied Finance and Investment.
Panellist | Laura Caspari | CEO & Managing Director, Renewables & Batteries, ENGIE
Laura Caspari is ENGIE in Australia’s CEO & Managing Director, Renewables & Batteries. In this dual role, she leads the company’s renewables business and overall operations in Australia, ensuring alignment across the Group, driving strategic execution locally, and representing ENGIE externally with key stakeholders. Previously Laura was Senior Vice President of Power Marketing and Commercial Strategy, in ENGIE North America, leading ENGIE’s commercial teams in the U.S. and Canada. Laura’s team signed an industry leading 1.2GW of renewables PPAs in 2023. In 2022-2023 she was responsible for acquisitions of more than 10GW of renewables. Laura was featured in both the 2021 and 2022 “Top 100 North American Power List” by A Word About Wind. Laura joined ENGIE through the acquisition of SoCore Energy in 2015. While there Laura was honoured with several awards, including Midwest Energy’s “40 Under 40”. Prior to ENGIE, Laura has held various roles in the U.S. including at Nordex USA. She began her career in her native Australia where she spent three years developing wind in western Victoria from 2006 – 2009.
Panellist | Paul Grzinic | General Manager, Energy, Firmus
Paul Grzinic is General Manager, Energy at Firmus, responsible for developing and delivering the energy strategy that supports Firmus' AI factory operations. He brings over 22 years' experience across the wholesale, retail and generation markets in both electricity and gas, with particular depth in wholesale financial contract structuring, regulatory frameworks and policy design. Paul is also a member of the industry-led Electricity Contract Co-Design Working Group, convened by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and AusEnergy Services Limited (ASL), which is tasked with co-designing the initial set of standardised electricity contracts that will underpin the Electricity Services Entry Mechanism (ESEM).
Registration information
Registrations for this event have closed!
You can register your interest to attend via the waitlist.
Registrations Includes:
✔ Lunch and refreshments
✔ Access to keynote and panel sessions
✔ Networking opportunities with industry leaders
Who attends?
AEC Policy Lunches attract the people shaping Australia’s energy market: senior executives, board-level leaders, regulators, policymakers, government advisers, and professional services partners working across policy, markets, investment and reform.
The audience typically includes CEOs, chairs, commissioners, executive general managers, senior regulatory representatives, heads of policy and government relations, and partners from leading advisory and legal firms. For organisations wanting to be visible in the policy conversation, this is a high-value room.
Being present gives your organisation the opportunity to connect directly with decision-makers, understand the issues shaping the sector, and be part of the conversations influencing how Australia responds to new demand, infrastructure pressure and the next phase of the energy transition.
FAQs
- Does this event have Early Bird registrations
Early bird has closed
- How do I know I'm eligible for Member prices?
If you're unsure of your membership status, our current members are:
Full Members
· AGL
· Alinta Energy
· Aurora Energy
· CleanCo Queensland
· Collgar Renewables
· CS Energy
· Delta Electricity
· EDL
· EnergyAustralia
· ENGIE ANZ
· GloBird Energy
· Hydro Tasmania
· Kleenheat
· Lumo Energy
· Momentum Energy
· Origin
· Pacific Blue
· Powershop
· Red Energy
· Shell Energy
· Snowy Hydro
· Stanwell
· Tango
· Tesla
Associate Members
· ACIL Allen Consulting· Allens
· Arrow Energy
· Ashurst
· Aurecon
· Department for Energy and Mining
· Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water
· Department of Parliamentary Services
· GB Energy
· General Electric
· GHD
· Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
· Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)
· KPMG
· Lochard Energy
· Maddocks
· PwC
· QIC Private Capital Pty Ltd
· Queensland Treasury
· Rio Tinto Iron Ore
· Rothschild & Co
- Are non-members of the AEC able to register?
Yes. All energy industry professionals are welcome.
- Are refunds available
Refunds are available up to 7 days before the date of the lunch
- Is there a dress code?
Smart casual attire is recommended.
- Will this event be available online?
This luncheon is in person only and will not be recorded
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