What is green finance and how might going green be the best way to fire up Australia's economy? There were indications pre-pandemic of a shift towards this new economy. As the economy restarts, clean energy transition will be more vital than ever.

Holly Ransom speaks with Danny Kennedy, CEO, New Energy Nexus, and a panel of local experts on Australia’s green economic potential and how Sydney can leverage its strengths to lead this space.

Panelists

Danny Kennedy, CEO, New Energy Nexus
Katerina Kimmorley – Climate Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, Futurist
Bev Thomas, Director, Innovation Fund at Clean Energy Finance Corporation

Moderator

Holly Ransom, CEO, Emergent

This event is part of the Visiting Entrepreneur Program, produced by the City of Sydney. The June 2020 program focus on the intersection of technology, environmental sustainability and the green economy featuring three high-profile international entrepreneurs Robyn Denholm, Board Chair, Tesla; Danny Kennedy, CEO, New Energy Nexus; and Shama Sukul Lee, Founder & CEO, Sunfed. For details on other events visit city.sydney/vep #vepsyd

Speaker

About Danny Kennedy – CEO, New Energy Nexus
Danny Kennedy is the CEO of New Energy Nexus, connecting entrepreneurs everywhere to capital to build an abundant clean energy economy that benefits all. New Energy Nexus is a global platform organization for funds and incubators, with chapters in the USA, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Uganda, and India. He acts as Managing Director of the California Clean Energy Fund, overseeing the CalSEED.fund of $25m for very early-stage companies driving innovation and building equity in the California economy and the $12m CalTestBed initiative with UCOP.

Panelists

Katerina Kimmorley – Climate Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, Futurist
As a young climate entrepreneur, Katerina founded and grew Pollinate Group to become the largest provider of solar lighting to slums across India and Nepal. Realising that to create the global change you need to fund the most impactful businesses, Katerina went on to be part of the founding team of the world’s largest Venture Capital Fund for Cleantech, the Innovation Fund. She has been recognised by the Financial Review as one of Australia's 100 Women of Influence, was awarded the Prince Charles Young Sustainability Entrepreneur Prize and was London School of Economics Entrepreneur of the Year.

Bev Thomas - Director, Innovation Fund at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation

Bev is responsible for pioneering new investment programs to support clean energy innovation; investing directly in early-stage clean energy companies, and advising these companies on their growth strategies. Bev brings considerable operational experience in both CEO and General Manager roles at organisations in the turnaround, growth and acquisition stages. She has held a number of directorships in early-stage innovation companies, commercialised technology from the University of Melbourne and the Baker Institute, and worked in venture capital investment management with Brandon Capital.

Moderator

About Holly Ransom
Holly Ransom is the CEO of Emergent, a company specialising in disruptive strategy and building the capacity of leaders to execute change. Holly is an accomplished global speaker, was the youngest person to be named in Australia's '100 Most Influential Women', has interviewed Barack Obama and was listed by Sir Richard Branson as one of his dream dinner guests.

Event Partners

New Energy Nexus is an international non-profit that supports clean energy entrepreneurs with funds, accelerators, and networks. We started in California and also operate programs in China, India, Southeast Asia, and East Africa.

The CEFC has a unique role to increase investment in Australia’s transition to lower emissions. We invest to lead the market, operating with commercial rigour to address some of Australia’s toughest emissions challenges - in agriculture, energy generation and storage, infrastructure, property, transport and waste. We’re also proud to back Australia’s cleantech entrepreneurs through the Clean Energy Innovation Fund. In investing $10 billion on behalf of the Australian Government, we work to deliver a positive return for taxpayers across our portfolio.

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