Please note that this event will now be held on 7th May 2025.

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About the event:

At this critical moment in Australia’s history, there’s never been a more important time to reflect on how the energy transition is playing out across Australia’s regions.

While the transition from fossil fuel electricity generation to renewable energy is well underway and investment is flowing to develop new clean energy industries, many challenges remain, including growing community concerns, and political uncertainty.

This event will explore the experience of the transition in five of Australia’s key coal regions (Latrobe Valley, Port Augusta, Collie, Hunter Valley and Central Queensland), as captured in the recently released book, Regional Energy Transitions: From impossible to possible. Speakers will explore how regional leaders across Australia continue to navigate complex energy politics, highlighting key lessons from the last decade of rapid change.

Come and be part of an honest and grounded conversation about where the energy transition is at, the challenges that remain, and what regions need to better manage the impacts and capture the benefits for the long term.

Order a copy of the book via Routledge. Use the code: 25AFLY1 for a 20% discount on hard copies. You can also order the book on Amazon. Paperback copies will be available for sale at the event.

Light refreshments will be available at the event.

About the speakers:

Dr Amanda Cahill

Amanda is the CEO of The Next Economy. Over the last decade, Amanda has supported government, industry, workers and community groups to understand and manage the energy transition across Queensland, the Hunter Valley, the Latrobe Valley and the Northern Territory. This has included designing and delivering the Gladstone Economic Transition Roadmap; contributing to the design of the Net Zero Economy Authority; authoring various reports including What Regions Need on the Path to Net Zero (2022); and hosting an International Just Transitions Network. This work has shaped her contribution as a co-editor and author of Regional Energy Transitions in Australia: From Impossible to Possible.

Mayor Matt Burnett

Mayor Matt Burnett, a lifelong resident of the Gladstone Region with six generations of family ties, is a former small business owner and a qualified journalist. Serving in Local Government since 2000, Matt spent five years as Deputy Mayor before assuming his current role as Mayor the Gladstone Regional Council. Beyond his mayoral duties, Mayor Burnett represents Central Queensland on the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Policy Executive, serves as President of the LGAQ Board, and holds the position of President of the Australian Local Government Association.

Dr Cal Devney

Dr. Cal Devney is a Senior Research Officer in CQUniversity’s Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energy and Project Manager of the Hydrogen Community Hub. With a background in biological and chemical sciences, she collaborates with industry, community groups, government bodies, and schools to foster social licence for renewable energy technologies across regional Queensland. Dr. Devney’s work focuses on advancing community engagement and education, promoting energy justice, building public trust and creating workforce pathways into the renewables industry.