Regional Energy Transitions in Australia: From Impossible to Possible

Regional Energy Transitions in Australia: From impossible to possible

At this critical time in Australia’s history, there’s never been a more important time to learn from the regions and leaders driving the transition to net zero.

While the transition from fossil fuel electricity generation to renewable energy is well underway, many challenges remain, including growing community opposition, misinformation campaigns, and political and investor 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, to be launched by Professor Susan Park. 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 and electronic copies will be available soon.

This event is co-presented by Next Economy and the Sydney Environment Institute.

Panel chair

Susan Park is Professor of Global Governance in International Relations at the University of Sydney. Her work focuses on how international organisations and global governance can become greener and more accountable, particularly in the transition to renewable energy.  She has been a visiting scholar at the London School of Economics, Oxford University, the Technical University of Munich, American University, and the Centennial Centre in Washington DC. Her work has been funded by the Australian, Canadian, British and German governments. Susan is a lead editor of the journal Global Environmental Politics.

Panel speakers 

Dr Gareth Edwards is a Visiting Associate Professor in the School of Global Development, University of East Anglia and a Visiting Fellow at the Sydney Environment Institute, University of Sydney. Following a PhD, which examined the social construction of water scarcity and neoliberalisation of water governance in Australia, his research has focussed predominantly on climate change, particularly urban climate governance, environmental justice and climate justice. In 2021-23 Gareth held a Leverhulme International Fellowship to explore justifications for ongoing coal extraction in Australia and India. He also led a British Academy-funded project ‘A just transition away from coal in Australia’ which examined what ‘just transition’ means and the challenges to achieving a just transition away from coal in Australia. The project developed insights on how to stimulate productive discussions between different stakeholders and communities to promote a just transition.

Kimberley Crofts is a researcher and service designer with over 25 years experience in Australia, Asia, and the UK. Her PhD (submitted 2024) investigated community roles in knowledge co-production for sustainability transitions in the Hunter Valley. Kimberley was formerly a principal at Meld Studios, one of Australia’s leading service design agencies, and holds a Master of Information Design, a Graduate Certificate in City Planning, an IAP2 Certificate in Engagement; Public Training, and a Bachelor of Visual Communication. 

Dr Elianor Gerrard is a social researcher and community development practitioner. She has a PhD in Environmental Studies from the University of Tasmania, where her thesis explored the community experience of (un)just transitions in Port Augusta, South Australia and the Latrobe Valley, Victoria. Elianor currently works as a Senior Research Consultant in the Energy Futures team at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, at University of Technology Sydney. Her research focuses on community participation, ownership and social justice in the energy transition. Prior to becoming an energy researcher, Elianor worked in education, communications, and community development across Australia and in Spain and Indonesia.