Energy in the Pub! - PLEASE NOTE, THIS EVENT IS NOW BOOKED OUT

Thank you for registering for Energy in the Pub an informal community gathering to keep the conversation going on renewable energy, regional development, and what it all means for the New England.

Sustainable Living Armidale, UNE SMART Region Incubator, Electrify Armidale and Community Power Agency invite you to be part of Armidale's clean and engaged energy future.

🗓️ Date: 11 August 2026 (NOTE: there was as change of date from the original date of July 28th)

🕗 Time: 5.30 pm for 6 pm start and for 8.30pm finish

📍 In-person Event Location: The (Big) Welder's Dog Brewery: 101 Beardy St, Armidale, NSW 2350

🍕 Includes: Free nibbles and pizza

💬 Format: Snapshot presentations and informed panel discussion.

💪🏼 🎉 A combination of hard work and social fun including pop-up energy trivia.

Join us for a free community event for those already engaged and new learners alike:

✅ Connect with locals, researchers, government representatives

✅ Connect with community members passionate about shaping the future of our region

✅ Learn about actions and updates that have been happening in the realms of strategic planning, biodiversity advocacy, First Nations, UNE, Council and Regional Energy Accord projects

✅ Encourage informed discussion about how communities such as Armidale can benefit from the renewable transition while also planning responsibly for our future

Speakers and Panels

Professor Melanie Fillios: Director Place Based Education and Research, UNE
Melanie is the MC for the event!
Sam Coupland: Mayor, Armidale Regional Council
Dr Sanaz Alian: Lecturer in Urban & Regional Planning, UNE
Sanaz will talk about some governance matters relating to planning for renewables.

Dr Stephen Wood: Senior Strategic Planner, Armidale Regional Council
Stephen will be talking about the findings of EnergyCo’s REZ-wide cumulative impact studies for the New England Renewable Energy Zone (NEREZ) and the implications for Armidale Regional Council (ARC).
Alex Manners: Chief Officer, Regional Growth and Infrastructure, Armidale Regional Council
& Vicky Sisson: Senior Governance Advisor, Armidale Regional Council
Alex and Vicky will provide updates on the state of play around water and the REZ from ARC and a governance perspective.

Dr Lou Conway: CEO of Country Universities Centre
Lou will provide updates from the Regional Energy Accord project and NE Roundtable held in February.

Professor Chris Armstrong: Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, UNE
Chris will present some key outcomes from the UNE REZ Forum held in May with focus on the 5 recent Major Infrastructure and Cumulative Impact Studies

-- Energy Trivia and Pizza --

Dave Carr: Senior Consultant, Stringybark Ecological
Dave will talk about the New England Biodiversity Reference Group and their work with the Conservation Planning and Offsets team of DCCEW. In particular the upcoming NE Conservation Investment Strategy and having local knowledge embedded in the offsets, restoration and rehabilitation strategies and mapping.

Emeritus Professor Trevor Brown: UNE, Convenor Electrify Armidale of SLA
Trevor has been working with a range of organisations and government partners to develop programs and secure funding for equitable household energy upgrades. He will provide an update on the Energy Advice and Support for Everyone (EASE) Armidale program.

Annette Kilarr: Convenor, Climate Action of SLA , Community Member NE North REZ Community Reference Group (CRG).
Annette will talk about community engagement, involvement and connection in the renewable energy space.

Julian Watson: Deputy Project Director for the New England REZ, EnergyCo.
Julian will provide updates about: the engagement process for the NE REZ Community Employment and Benefit Program, the recently published First Nations Guidelines, and the current proposed timeline for the REZ transmission line project and developer access scheme (2026 – 2032).
Emily Sims: Strategic Planner, Uralla Shire Council.
Emily will talk about the Uralla Shire Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan, which was developed by Uralla Shire Council in partnership with The Next Economy. Over about a year we engaged residents through interviews, workshops, school sessions, and surveys, asking: what does good development look like for Uralla Shire? Those conversations shaped the outcomes, strategies and actions set out in the Plan which will help guide Council decision making and advocacy as the New England REZ arrives.

This event is part of the "Armidale Community-Driven Shift to Renewable Energy and Sustainability", a Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)-funded program aimed at fostering education, engagement, and leadership in climate solutions specifically tailored for rural and regional communities.

Come along and let's talk about what a just and community-led energy transition looks like for New England.

This program is made possible thanks to grant funding provided by the Paul Ramsay Foundation through the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal's Community Led Climate Solutions grant program.

Contact the host of Energy in the Pub - BOOKED OUT