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

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About the event:

The 2025 Federal Election marks a critical juncture for the Gladstone Region, with the range of economic opportunities associated with the energy transition differing greatly depending on who forms government.

While the transition from fossil fuel electricity generation to renewable energy is well underway, many challenges remain, and opinions differ as to how best manage change.

This event will explore how regional leaders across Australia’s coal regions continue to navigate complex energy politics, highlighting key lessons from the last decade of rapid change. Speakers will draw on their experiences and the insights captured in the recently released book: Regional Energy Transitions: From impossible to possible.

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.

Kristy Marks
Kristy Marks is the Economic Development Manager for Gladstone Regional Council. Prior to joining Gladstone Regional Council, Kristy served for numerous years within Local Government with a core focus on advanced manufacturing and technology as well as overseeing key initiatives in local procurement, sustainability, and the circular economy. Her tenure also included pivotal roles at BHP for over a decade, spanning Corporate Affairs, Supply Chain/Commercial, and Technology Projects across BHP’s East Coast operations of Australia.

Craig Jones
Craig is the Chief Financial Officer at Alpha HPA. Craig has 25 years of experience in a wide variety of banking, corporate and financial advisory roles. He spent 18 years in various structured lending teams within leading commercial banks, including ANZ Bank where he worked for 12 years in Sydney, Singapore, Brisbane and London. Prior to joining Alpha HPA, Craig was a Director in KPMG’s Corporate Finance team and responsible for arranging and structuring finance for projects in the energy and natural resources sectors, with a particular focus on critical minerals – which included supporting Alpha HPA with financing the HPA First Project.