Thursday 20 - Friday 21, April 2023
Adelaide Convention Centre

Hosted By

South-Australia-GOSA-white.png
Register Here
Towards net-zero in SA business

Speakers, Panellists and Interviewers

We are excited to announce the following speakers, panellists and interviewers for the Industry Climate Change Conference,
check back here regularly to see all the updates!

The Hon Peter Malinauskas MP

Premier of
South Australia

Read More

The Hon Chris
Bowen MP

Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Australian Government

Read More

The Hon Susan Close MP

Deputy Premier of
South Australia

Read More

The Hon Nick Champion MP

Minister for Trade and Investment
Minister for Housing and Urban Development
Minister for Planning
Government of South Australia

Read More

The Hon Andrea Michaels MP

Minister for Small and Family Business
Government of South Australia


Read More

Martin
Haese

Chair
Premier’s Climate Change Council


Read More

Jon
Dee

Entrepreneur, Author, Broadcaster and Sustainability Expert

Read More
Nicola Spurrier


Chief Public Health Officer
SA Health

Read More

Tim Jarvis AM

Environmental Scientist, Adventurer,
Author and Film Maker

Read More

Jenny Paradiso

Co-Founder and Managing Director
Suntrix

Read More
Rebecca Mikula-Wright


CEO
Investor Group on Climate Change

Read More

Dr Penny Schulz

Livestock Consultant, Farmer, Adoption Specialist, Educator
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Nick Palousis

Managing Director 2XE and
Founder of Accelerate Zero

Read More

Daniel Bennett

Landscape Architect and Urban Designer
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Daniel Conley

Sustainable Cities and Transport Planner
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Nick Reade

Chief Executive Officer
RAA

Read More

Neil McFarlane

Director of Climate Change and Hazard Risks
Department for Environment and Water Government of South Australia

Read More

Allys Todd

Founder, Director
Chief Executive Officer
Val.Ai

Read More

Richard Turner

Serial Entrepreneur
Deputy Chair, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Richard Eckard

Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre
University of Melbourne

Read More
Kathryn Bellette

Director
Policy, Assessment and Finance
South Australian Environment Protection Authority

Read More

Ariadne Gorring

Co-CEO
Pollination Foundation

Read More

Craig Holden

Director, Forme Projex and Chair State Planning Commission of South Australia

Read More

Susan Jeanes

Partner, Jeanes Holland and Associates Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council Government of South Australia

Read More
Andrew Kay

CEO
Business SA

Read More
Matthew Shorten

Co-founder & Director
Trellis Technologies

Read More
Sandy Verschoor

Former Lord Mayor of Adelaide Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More
James Bartholomew

Vice President
APAC - Strategic Solutions
Salesforce

Read More
Felicity Lloyd

Chief Executive Officer
Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC).

Read More
Craig Wilkins

Chief Executive
Conservation Council of South Australia
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More
Jodie van Deventer

South Australian Director
Australian Industry Group

Read More
Alex Toone

Executive General Manager,
Commodities, Trade and Carbon, Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Read More
John Connor

CEO
Carbon Market Institute

Read More
Fiona Hancock

Director, Climate Change and Sustainability Services
Ernst & Young

Read More
Peter Nattrass

Manager, Future Industries
Department for Energy and Mining
Government of South Australia

Read More
Dr Sharon Harvey

Research & Innovation Program Manager
Wine Australia

Read More
Samantha McCulloch

Chief Executive
Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA)

Read More
Phoebe Roberts

Senior Associate
MinterEllison

Read More
Rod Sims AO

Chair of the Superpower Institute


Read More
Mark Siebentritt

Director
Edge Environment


Read More
Ken Long

Sustainability Manager, Project Delivery, Lendlease
SA & VIC; Chairperson, Adelaide Sustainable Building Network

Read More
Frankie Muskovic

National Policy Director
Property Council of Australia


Read More
Jack Buckskin

Founder and Managing Director
Kuma Kaaru Cultural Services Pty Ltd

Read More
Jacob Potter

Associate
dsquared Consulting

Read More
Fabien Claudon

Risk and Compliance Manager
REDARC

Read More
Darrell Jacobs

CEO
Motor Trade Association

Read More
Naomi Downer

Director
Kantar Public Australia

Read More
Katrina Power

Welcome to Country Presentation
Day 2

Dan Spencer

Organising Lead and Energy Organiser
Australian Services Union SA+NT Branch

Read More
Franklin dos Santos

Chief Executive Officer
Foodland Supermarkets Australia

Read More
Mark Inglis

Farm Assurance and Supply Chain Manager
Thomas Foods International

Read More
Dr Stephen Wiedemann

Founder
Integrity Ag & Environment

Read More
Aron Hausler

Innovation Districts Manager,
Department for Industry, Innovation and Science

Read More
Ali Lockwood

Executive Officer
South Australian Spirit Producers Association

Read More
Ian Overton

Chief Executive
Green Industries SA

Read More
Richard Leask

Viticulturist
Leask Agri

Read More
Sky Allen

Founder
Arcadia Aquatic

Read More

Keynote and Plenary Speakers

We are excited to announce the following speakers, panellists and interviewers for the Industry Climate Change Conference,
check back here regularly to see all the updates!

The Hon Peter Malinauskas MP

Premier of
South Australia

Read More

The Hon Chris
Bowen MP

Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Australian Government

Read More

The Hon Susan Close MP

Deputy Premier of
South Australia

Read More

Jon
Dee

Entrepreneur, Author, Broadcaster and Sustainability Expert

Read More

Martin
Haese

Chair
Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Tim Jarvis AM

Environmental Scientist, Adventurer,
Author and Film Maker

Read More
Rebecca Mikula-Wright


CEO
Investor Group on Climate Change

Read More

Industry and Workshop Experts

NOT COMPLETED

The Hon Andrea Michaels MP

Minister for Small and Family Business
Government of South Australia

Read More
Nicola Spurrier


Chief Public Health Officer
SA Health

Read More

Jon
Dee

Entrepreneur, Author, Broadcaster and Sustainability Expert

Read More

Tim Jarvis AM

Environmental Scientist, Adventurer,
Author and Film Maker

Read More
Rebecca Mikula-Wright


CEO
Investor Group on Climate Change

Read More

Jenny Paradiso

Co-Founder and Managing Director
Suntrix

Read More

John O'Brien

Partner, Energy, Climate & Sustainability Deloitte Asia Pacific

Read More

Penny Schulz

Livestock Consultant, Farmer, Adoption Specialist, Educator
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Nick Palousis

Managing Director 2XE and
Co-Founder of Accelerate Zero

Read More

Daniel Bennett

Landscape Architect and Urban Designer
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Daniel Conley

Sustainable Cities and Transport Planner
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Nick Reade

Chief Executive Officer
RAA

Read More

Neil McFarlane

Director of Climate Change and Hazard Risks
Department for Environment and Water Government of South Australia

Read More

Allys Todd

Cofounder and Chief Executive
Val.Ai

Read More

Martijn Wilder

Founder and CEO
Pollination

Read More

Craig Holden

Director, Forme Projex and Chair State Planning Commission of South Australia

Read More

Susan Jeanes

Partner, Jeanes Holland and Associates Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council Government of South Australia

Read More

Richard Turner

Serial Entrepreneur
Deputy Chair, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Richard Eckard

Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre,
University of Melbourne

Read More
Kathryn Bellette


Director
SA EPA

Read More
Andrew Kay

CEO
Business SA

Read More
Matthew Shorten

Co-founder & Director
Trellis Technologies

Read More
Sandy Verschoor

Former Lord Mayor of Adelaide Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More
James Bartholomew

Vice President
APAC - Strategic Solutions
Salesforce

Read More
Felicity Lloyd

Chief Executive Officer
Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC).

Read More
Craig Wilkins

Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council
Chief Executive
Conservation Council of South Australia

Read More
Jodie van Deventer

South Australian Director
Australian Industry Group

Read More
Alex Toone

Executive General Manager,
Commodities, Trade and Carbon, Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Read More
John Connor

CEO
Carbon Market Institute

Read More
Fiona Hancock

Director Climate Change and Sustainability Services
Ernst & Young

Read More
Peter Nattrass

Manager, Future Industries
Department for Energy and Mining
Government of South Australia

Read More
Dr Sharon Harvey

Research & Innovation Program Manager
Wine Australia

Read More

Panellists

The Hon Andrea Michaels MP

Minister for Small and Family Business
Government of South Australia

Read More

Jenny Paradiso

Co-Founder and Managing Director
Suntrix

Read More
Read More
Andrew Kay

CEO
Business SA

Nick Palousis

Managing Director 2XE and
Co-Founder of Accelerate Zero

Read More

Richard Turner

Serial Entrepreneur
Deputy Chair, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Craig Holden

Director, Forme Projex and Chair State Planning Commission of South Australia

Read More
Felicity Lloyd

Chief Executive Officer
Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC).

Read More

John O'Brien

Partner, Energy, Climate & Sustainability Deloitte Asia Pacific

Read More

Richard Eckard

Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre,
University of Melbourne

Read More

Allys Todd

Cofounder and Chief Executive
Val.Ai

Read More

Nick Reade

Chief Executive Officer
RAA

Read More

Martijn Wilder

Founder and CEO
Pollination

Read More

Interviewers and Facilitators

Penny Schulz

Livestock Consultant, Farmer, Adoption Specialist, Educator
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Daniel Bennett

Landscape Architect and Urban Designer
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Susan Jeanes

Partner, Jeanes Holland and Associates Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council Government of South Australia

Read More
Sandy Verschoor

Former Lord Mayor of Adelaide Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More
Craig Wilkins

Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council
Chief Executive
Conservation Council of South Australia

Read More

Daniel Conley

Sustainable Cities and Transport Planner
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Read More

Neil McFarlane

Director of Climate Change and Hazard Risks
Department for Environment and Water Government of South Australia

Read More
Facebook Linkedin Twitter

MEETING
INFORMATION

South Australia’s
Industry Climate Change Conference

20 – 21 April 2023
Adelaide Convention Centre

MEETING
ORGANISERS

All Occasions Group
12 Stirling Street
Thebarton SA 5031

Contact Information
conference@aomevents.com
(08) 8125 2200

The Hon Peter Malinauskas MP

Premier of South Australia

Peter led the South Australian Labor Party to victory at the March 2022 state election becoming the 47th Premier of South Australia. 

With a focus on health, education, jobs, skills and the environment, Peter was elected with a plan not just for the next four years but for the next generation. 

Prior to being elected Premier of South Australia, Peter was the Leader of the Opposition between 2018-22. During the Weatherill Labor Government Peter held the portfolios of Minister for Police, Correctional Services, Emergency Services and Road Safety (2016-2017) and Minister for Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse (2017-2018). 

He first entered state parliament as a member of the Legislative Council in 2015 before being elected as the member for Croydon in 2018.

In Peter’s spare time, he can often be found at a Port Adelaide game or out on the footy field playing with his beloved Adelaide Uni Blacks. 

Peter’s great love though is his family. Peter and his wife Annabel have three young children Sophie, Jack, and Eliza.

Hon Chris Bowen MP

Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Australian Government

Chris grew up in Smithfield in Western Sydney, attending Smithfield Public School and St Johns Park High School. He graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics. He has also a Master’s Degree in International Relations and a Diploma in Modern Languages (Bahasa Indonesia). 

He joined the Labor Party in 1988 and was elected to Fairfield Council in 1995, serving as Mayor of Fairfield for 1998 and 1999. He also served as President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils from 2000 to 2002.

Chris entered Parliament in 2004 and has held a wide range of portfolios including serving as Treasurer, Minister for Human Services, Minister for Immigration, and Minister for Small Business.

He is currently the Minister for Climate Change and Energy.

The Hon Susan Close MP

Deputy Premier of South Australia and
Minister for Climate, Environment and Water

Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science and
Minister for Defence and Space Industries
South Australia

Dr Close has been the Member for Port Adelaide since 2012. Before entering Parliament, she was an executive in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and played a key role in the establishment of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary as a community advocate. She previously worked at the University of Adelaide managing student services and holds a PhD from Flinders University.

As Minister for Climate Change, Dr Close is committed to delivering a strong climate change response and low-emission future for South Australia so that everyone can benefit from a prosperous future for our state

The Hon Nick Champion MP

Minister for Trade and Investment
Minister for Housing and Urban Development
Minister for Planning
Member for Taylor
Government of South Australia

Nick Champion, born in Elizabeth, South Australia, has spent much of his working life advocating for workers’ rights and representing his local community.

First elected to Federal Parliament in 2007, Mr Champion served as Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Science, and was Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

Mr Champion resigned from Federal Parliament in 2022 to contest the State seat of Taylor.

Upon his election to State Parliament, Mr Champion joined the Malinauskas Labor Government’s Cabinet holding the economic development portfolios of Trade and Investment, Housing and Urban Development, and Planning, as he strives to deliver economic growth and plan for the future of South Australia.

Previously, Mr Champion studied a Bachelor of Arts at UniSA and a Graduate Diploma in Communication. While completing his studies Mr Champion became a union official at the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association.

Mr Champion is married to Fiona, with the pair now raising their seven-year-old daughter Louise.

Hon Andrea Michaels MP

Minister for Small and Family Business
Government of South Australia

Andrea Michaels is the South Australian Minister for Small and Family Business, Consumer and Business Affairs, and Arts. She is also the State Member for Enfield, representing the community in Adelaide’s inner North and North-Eastern suburbs.

Andrea’s family fled war-torn Cyprus in 1974, landing in South Australia in 1976 when she was just 11 months old with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Through her parents’ hard work, commitment to family and dedication to their community, Andrea was instilled with a passion for community service. She is now the proud mother of two boys, Sebastian and Charlie, and is keen to ensure that they and their peers are also provided with ample opportunities in a strong, diverse and thriving community.

Prior to becoming a Minister, Andrea was running her own small business – a legal practice specialising in commercial law and supporting small and family businesses. She has also been Treasurer of the Law Society of SA, a company director, and a partner at industry leading law firms, as well as a chartered tax advisor and accredited family business advisor.

Andrea is passionate about promoting diversity, supporting more women to launch and grow businesses, and building safe, fair and friendly communities.

She is focused on ensuring the Government is easy to do business with, that small businesses are supported to succeed, and that the whole community has access to a thriving cultural and creative sector.

Andrea is also committed to being a strong voice for the people of Enfield.

Martin Haese

Chair
Premier’s Climate Change Council

Martin Haese is an entrepreneur, educator, public figure, and strong advocate for Adelaide’s standing as one of the world’s most liveable cities. Martin is the former Chief Executive Officer of Business SA, Chamber of Commerce and Industry South Australia, is active on several Boards and works as a private investor.

In 2014, Martin was elected as the 78th Lord Mayor of Adelaide and held that position until November 2018. As Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Martin drove strong sustainability and technology agendas culminating in Carbon Neutral Adelaide 2025, Ten Gigabit Adelaide (one of the world’s fastest fibre optic data networks) and many Smart City initiatives.

He was a guest speaker at the Paris COP21 in December 2015 and continues to advocate that addressing climate change is both an environmental necessity and an economic opportunity. As a former retail entrepreneur, Martin built and sold a national retail chain prior to becoming the General Manager of the Rundle Mall Management Authority. He holds an MBA and was a guest lecturer for universities and colleges across Australia for several years.

Jon Dee

Entrepreneur, Author,
Broadcaster and Sustainability Expert

Jon Dee is an award-winning social entrepreneur, broadcaster and campaigner. With 36 years of industry experience, Jon is a high-profile expert in the field of business sustainability.

Within Australia and overseas, Jon has given hundreds of keynote speeches and consults to companies on efficiency, sustainability and change management. Jon also runs the ‘Smarter Futures’ business sustainability channel on Twitter. As a philanthropist, Jon was the main founder of the Planet Ark, DoSomething and Rock Aid Armenia charities. Jon co-founded Planet Ark in 1991 and ran the organisation for its first 15 years where as Managing Director he initiated and oversaw the organisation’s highly successful initiatives and prime time TV advertising campaigns.

In 2020, Jon was named “the leading Australian figure in sustainability and the environment” by Michael Liebreich, the founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance. In total, Jon has written and presented 700 different business sustainability news stories and interviews. His business guidebooks ‘Sustainable Growth’, ‘EnergyCut’ and ‘EnergySmart’ have moved over 140,000 copies.

Professor Nicola Spurrier

Chief Public Health Officer
SA Health

Professor Nicola Spurrier is the Chief Public Health Officer for the Department for Health and Wellbeing, being appointed in 2019. The Chief Public Health Officer is responsible for statewide preventative health activities including the identification and management of communicable diseases. Professor Spurrier’s role includes advising the Minister and the Chief Executive of SA Health about proposed legislative or administrative changes in relation to population health. Professor Spurrier specialises in developing and implementing policies and programs across child health, obesity prevention and Aboriginal health. She also has extensive experience in health protection and promotion, public health partnership and health diplomacy activities.

Professor Spurrier is a dual qualified medical specialist, public health physician and paediatrician, with 32 years’ experience within SA Health including 13 years in the Department for Health and Wellbeing.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Spurrier has been instrumental in South Australia’s effective virus response and continues to take a personal focus on the health and wellbeing of every South Australian.

Tim Jarvis AM

Environmental Scientist, Adventurer,
Author and Film Maker

Tim Jarvis AM is an environmental scientist, author, adventurer and public speaker with Masters degrees in environmental science and environmental law.

He is committed to finding pragmatic solutions to major environmental issues related to climate change and biodiversity loss. He uses his public speaking engagements, films and books about his expeditions/work to progress thinking in these areas.

Tim is also lead for the 25zero mountaineering project, tracking equatorial glacial melt and raising awareness of the impacts of climate change. He has worked across the corporate sector in Sustainability and also has numerous honorary roles including:

Vice-President of Fauna & Flora International (Sir David Attenborough’s charity);
Global Ambassador and Governor of WWF,
Ambassador to Koala Life.

He is also head of the adventure advisory panel of the Australian Geographic Society and the current explorer in residence at the Australian Museum.

Jenny Paradiso

Co-Founder and Managing Director
Suntrix

AFR 100 Women of Influence, Business Woman of the Year

Named one of AFR’s 100 Women of Influence and Australian Telstra Business Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Jenny Paradiso is co-founder and Managing Director of the solar and battery storage company, Suntrix.

Over the last 13+ years, the business has evolved from a residential solar company to include commercial solar, battery storage, EV charging and energy consulting.  With its head office in Stepney, Suntrix service homes, businesses and all levels of Government in South Australia, Victoria and NSW. 

As the owner of an SME since 2019, Jenny understands the challenges faced by small business and is passionate about helping companies navigate their path to net zero, with the benefits of saving money and having a positive impact on the environment.

Rebecca Mikula-Wright

CEO
Investor Group on Climate Change

Rebecca is the CEO of IGCC and AIGCC, based in Sydney, bringing over 20 years’ experience in climate change, sustainability and investment banking to the role.

Rebecca is responsible for developing and delivering the strategy and implementation across AIGCC and IGCC, covering investor practice and policy advocacy. She is a member of the global Steering Committee for the Climate Action 100+ and the Investor Agenda. She joined IGCC in 2012 as Director of Investor Initiatives, before moving to Executive Director of AIGCC in 2016. Rebecca became CEO of both organisations in June 2021.

Rebecca has worked in Hong Kong, Europe and Australia in investment banking, working in equity research, credit analysis, commodities and derivatives for groups such as Nomura Securities, BlackRock, Exxon Mobil and JPMorgan. Involvement in early corporate sustainability programs in many of her roles was the catalyst to move into the nascent sustainable finance and investment field in Asia where she led ASrIA (Assoc. for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia) in Hong Kong.

She is a Board member of Wildlife Conservation International –  the umbrella organisation of The Orangutan Project, International Elephant Project and the International Tiger Project, focused on animal and environmental conversation in Indonesia.

Dr Penny Schulz

Member
Premier’s Climate Change Council

Penny and her husband Jason manage a family sheep and cattle operation at Field in South Australia’s Limestone Coast region. With expertise in the fields of agtech adoption, livestock genetics and farm business management, Penny also delivers off-farm projects for the livestock industry and teaches University students.

With a strong focus on farmer adoption, Penny has recently been appointed as a Livestock Production Specialist with the SA Drought Resilience, Adoption and Innovation Hub, an area of great passion for Penny. Penny also holds board and advisory group roles including Chair of the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, member of the Premier’s Climate Change Council and member of the Minister for Primary Industries & Regions Agtech Advisory Group. Penny has recently completed her PhD studies investigating the adoption of app technology by farmers.

Nick Palousis

Managing Director 2XE
and Founder of Accelerate Zero

Nick Palousis is a serial entrepreneur. As the Founder and CEO for 2XE, Nick has spent 20 years working with over 1,000 businesses and governments to help them pursue ESG and net zero emissions with the best possible holistic return on investment.

Nick has worked with clients across almost every major industry and government sector, and currently works with some of Australia’s most recognised brands. Nick has spearheaded 2XE’s rapid growth as a highly regarded Australian ESG and net zero consulting firm, with an expanding footprint in New Zealand, Canada, US and Switzerland. 

Nick is a recipient of a national British Council Eureka Prize, and under Nick’s leadership, 2XE received a Climate Change Leadership Award from the Premier of South Australia. He has degrees in Mechatronics Engineering (First Class Honours) and Mathematical & Computer Science from the University of Adelaide.

Daniel Bennett

Landscape Architect and Urban Designer
Premier’s Climate Change Council

Daniel is a registered Landscape Architect and Urban Designer with award-winning strategy, design and master plan experience spanning over 20 years shaping greener, healthier, and better places. He is a Principal in the global Integrated Design team at design and engineering firm Aurecon, working across Australia and New Zealand.

Daniel is active in industry and advocacy, on a range of national and local issues including improving and greening our cities, representing the design sector, and planning and strategy matters. 

He is the current State President of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, and a Board Member of Walking SA and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects and a past National President of AILA.

Daniel Conley

Sustainable Cities and Transport Planner Member
Premier’s Climate Change Council

Daniel Conley is a transport planner at Arup specialising in sustainable and low carbon transportation. Daniel has worked with governments, the private sector and international financial institutions across Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom to solve complex challenges relating to decarbonisation of cities and the transport sector.

Daniel is a member of the Premier’s Climate Change Council in South Australia, and a member of the Roads Australia Expert Policy Panels on Transport Reform and Sustainability. Daniel was a Westpac Future Leaders PhD Scholar at the University of Adelaide focused on urban governance for sustainability transitions, and is an advocate for the potential of public, private and community partnerships to accelerate the transition to net zero. He has been particularly active in empowering young people to make a positive contribution to this transition as the Founding President of the Adelaide Sustainability Association and the Founding Curator of the Adelaide Global Shapers Hub, an initiative of the World Economic Forum.  

Nick Reade

CEO
RAA

Nick joined RAA in August 2022 as just the sixth leader in the organisation’s nearly 120-year history. 
 
With a wealth of experience in business, government and financial services, Nick most recently led the State’s public sector as Chief Executive of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Prior to that he was CEO of BankSA and former General Manager of Westpac SA/NT/WA.
 
Joining RAA at a time of significant growth, Nick brings a focus on strategy, community, digital and innovation to navigate the organisation well into the future.
 
Proudly South Australian, Nick has a fundamental belief in the important role RAA can play in improving the lives of members and the future of our State.

Neil McFarlane

Director of Climate Change and Hazard Risks
Department for Environment and Water
Government of South Australia

Dr Neil McFarlane is the Director of Climate Change and Hazard Risks in the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) based in Adelaide, South Australia. His knowledge and expertise in climate change, renewable energy and disaster risk management culminates into the core work of climate mitigation and adaptation for the Government of South Australia.

Previously he worked for the Green Climate Fund in Incheon, Republic of Korea as the Deputy Director and Adaptation Coordinator. He spent several years in the United Nations Office for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) where he coordinated two the agreement on the 2015-2030 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Dr McFarlane was also Counsellor at the Australian Permanent Mission in Geneva responsible for the Australian aid program interests with Geneva-based international organisations. He spent a number of years working for the Australian Agency for International (AusAID) in Canberra, Australia.

He is an experienced manager of policy and projects related to climate, emissions reduction and disaster risk management at local, national and international level. Dr McFarlane holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University (1987), a Masters in Development Studies from Deakin University, Melbourne (1994); and a Doctor of Philosophy (Development Economics) from Deakin University (2005).

Allys Todd

Founder, Director, Chief Executive Officer
Val.Ai

Allys Todd is the Founder, Director and Chief Executive of Val.Ai. Allys has a Bachelor of Technology, Flinders University. She has had a career in climate impact, carbon conservation and community collaboration.

Allys is a shared value partnership specialist with a Prime Minister’s Award for Community and Business Partnership. Allys has also led the Conservation Council of South Australia, as General Manager and facilitated the South Australian Nature Alliance.


As a brain tumour survivor, Allys acts as an ambassador for the Neurosurgical Research Foundation of Australia.


Allys is a strong supporter of reducing the gender investment gap and an active member of UBS Global Female Founder Collective, Coralus, and the Hen House Cooperative.


Most recent recognition includes:

— Global CivTech Alliance representative COP27 Egypt 2022

— UBS Global Female Founder Collective 2022

— Finalist PropTech Awards ‘Tech for Good Category’ 2022

— Winner – Global Open Finance Challenge 2021

— Silver Finalist – Sustainable banking UBS Future of Finance Global Challenge 2021

— South Australian Winnovation Awards – Emerging Innovator 2020

Richard Turner

Serial Entrepreneur
Deputy Chair, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Richard is a renowned Australian entrepreneur, leader and innovator. He has founded four successful companies/organisations across four different industry sectors, was Australian Entrepreneur of the Year for the Cleantech sector in 2010, South Australian Entrepreneur of the Year for two of those companies 14 years apart (1996 & 2010) and his most recent venture, ZEN Energy was recognised as the fastest growing company in South Australia for 2010 & 2011 and the 4th fastest growing company in Australia in 2012 (BRW magazine).

 

Richard is a specialist in re-invention and industry disruption, he is passionate about sustainability and wants to ideally assist companies that are driving change for the better, believe in their purpose and add value to future generations. Richard founded the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO) in South Australia (1998) and was Entrepreneur in Residence for the University of South Australia (2019-2021) mentoring hundreds of early stage and scaling businesses. He is currently Deputy Chair of the Premier’s Climate Change Council.

Richard has now put a lifetime of learnings in starting and scaling successful businesses into his book “The Essential Entrepreneur” released by Wiley Publishing globally in November 2022.

Richard Eckard

Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre,
University of Melbourne

Richard is Professor and Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre, University of Melbourne.

His research focuses on carbon farming and accounting towards carbon neutral agriculture, managing extreme climate events and options for agriculture to respond to a changing climate.

In 2021, Richard was named on the Reuters list of the world’s 1,000 most influential climate scientists and appointed as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. 

Richard is a science advisor to the Victorian, Australian, New Zealand, UK and EU governments, the International Livestock Research Institute and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization on climate change adaptation, mitigation and policy development in agriculture.

Richard is a member of the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change (ministerial advisory) Council.

Kathryn Bellette

Director, Policy, Assessment and Finance
South Australian Environment Protection Authority

Kathryn is a Director, Policy, Assessment and Finance, South Australian Environment Protection Authority, responsible for legislation and policy, development assessment, site contamination and finance and business services.  She has a background in science and policy and has spent 35 years working at the interface of environment and development both inside and outside of the public sector.  Kathryn has held membership of government boards, ministerial advisory committees, university course advisory committees and development assessment panels for over 25 years.

Ariadne Gorring

Co-CEO
Pollination Foundation

Ariadne Gorring is Co-CEO of the Pollination Foundation. With a mission to put humanity at the heart of nature and climate solutions, her work centres on bridging local knowledge with global expertise.

Ariadne is passionate about community led solutions, with 25 years of experience in Indigenous led conservation and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Most recently she co-designed ‘Ampliseed’ – a global learning and leadership network, and previously, a regional cultural economy model to increase the flow of finance to Indigenous ranger programs with the Kimberley Land Council. She participated in the development of Northern Australia’s savanna carbon industry and engages with national and international networks to promote best practice models of Indigenous Peoples & Local Community led nature and climate solutions.

She was a committee member on the Expert Panel to Review Australia’s Carbon Credit Framework, a committee member of the World Indigenous Network Conference in Darwin, a Presenter at the World Parks Congress (Sydney), and the United Nations Climate Change Conference (Paris). She’s an Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity at Melbourne University, a recipient of The Nature Conservancy’s Barbara Thomas Fellowship in Conservation Financing, has a BA in Sustainable Development and

Craig Holden

Director, Forme Projex
and Chair State Planning Commission of South Australia

Craig’s career encompasses architecture, project management, construction, real estate and development.

Craig has been a member of the State Planning Commission since November 2018, and Chair since November 2021.

Craig has also been a board member of Common Ground, Renewal SA and the South Australian Housing Trust and is currently a board member of the ACH Group and the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA).

In his role as Chair of the State Planning Commission, Craig is committed to ensuring that all South Australians benefit from land use planning policy that is equitable, informed and contemporary.

Susan Jeanes

Member
Premier’s Climate Change Council

Susan Jeanes is a Partner at Jeanes Holland and Associates (JHA) and the Independent Chair of the Heavy Industry Low-emissions Transition (HILT) CRC. 

Susan has worked in the Australian renewable energy and sustainability sectors for more than two decades. She held the roles of Chief Executive of the Australian Geothermal Energy Association and of the Renewable Energy Generators of Australia Ltd.

Susan has worked as Adviser to former Federal Environment Minister, The Hon Robert Hill, on climate change and renewable energy policy and she served in the Federal Parliament as the Member for Kingston. 

Susan previously chaired the Advisory Boards for the University of Adelaide’s South Australian Centre for Geothermal Energy Research (SACGER) and the Centre for Energy Technologies (CET).  She was also a Director at The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) from 2016-20, a member of CSIRO’s Energy and Transport Sector Advisory Council, a Director of the Climate Institute and a Director of the Institute of Minerals and Energy Resources at the University of Adelaide. 

Andrew Kay

CEO
Business SA

Andrew Kay joined Business SA in July 2022 as CEO after many years’ experience working across the financial services, FMCG and wine sectors. He has a Bachelor of Business degree, an MBA in International Business and in 2014 spent time at Harvard Business School on a scholarship proved by the South Australian Industry Leaders Fund.

Andrew sits on the Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium where he is also Chair of the Botanic Gardens Foundation, as well as the Board of Centennial Park.

Matt Shorten

Co-Founder & Director
Trellis Technologies

As a seasoned sustainability professional with over two decades of experience in sustainability audit and advisory services including many years as a registered Greenhouse & Energy Auditor with the Clean Energy Regulator (CER), Matt identified the automation of data capture and reporting as the most pressing challenge and opportunity in accelerating sustainability efforts for both customers and the planet.

In 2017 he swapped his spreadsheets for a team of data and software engineers, co-founding Trellis Technologies to deliver a highly efficient and automated data and software solution that addresses the sustainability data management need. Having led Trellis through its start-up phase to now, with over 13,000 facilities under management, he now focuses on continually refining and improving the Trellis team and customer UX.

Additionally, Matt is a registered Technical Consultant under the Climate Active Carbon Neutral Program.

Sandy Verschoor

Former Lord Mayor of Adelaide
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Sandy is passionate about Adelaide’s ongoing journey to become an environmentally sustainable city. She has a keen interest and passion for sustainable practices which address climate change issues. As Lord Mayor of Adelaide 2018-2022, Sandy ensured that environmental leadership continued to be one of four key pillars of the 2020-24 Strategic Plan for the City of Adelaide and was proud to lead the first Council in South Australia to use 100% renewable energy for all operations, halving emissions while saving costs and creating jobs.

Having worked in the city for more than 25 years in senior local government and cultural leadership roles, Sandy is a successful activation and cultural strategist and has fostered and developed some of Adelaide’s rich cultural experiences including the Adelaide Festival, WOMADelaide and the Adelaide Fringe. In each workplace she has introduced and championed policy and programs for control of waste streams, water and energy consumption and the use of alternate energies. It was no coincidence that she introduced Australian first Sustainable Events guidelines within one month of taking office in 2018.

Sandy believes we need to be ready and willing to trial and test, monitor and share learnings with others and that there has never been a greater need or greater opportunities – socially, culturally and economically – for governments at all levels to collaborate through peak bodies and with industry.

James Bartholomew

Vice President, Strategic Solutions
Salesforce

James is a technology sales leader with 18 years experience across APAC and EMEA. He currently leads the Strategic Solutions portfolio for Salesforce across ANZ and ASEAN. This includes the business units Salesforce Industries, which is focused on deep technical use cases in select industries, and our sustainability management solution Net Zero Cloud which helps organisations manage their transition to net zero.

James has been with Salesforce since June 2020 when Vlocity, a business he launched in APAC in late 2017, was acquired by Salesforce. Prior to this, James held senior sales leadership roles in Australia and Asia at NetSuite Oracle and led the go-to-market transformation of that business across APAC and EMEA to an industry focused one.

James holds a Bachelor of Industrial Design from the University of Technology Sydney and a Masters of Commerce from Sydney University. He was the recipient of the Australian Student Design award in 2001.

Felicity Lloyd

Chief Executive Officer
Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC).

Felicity is the Chief Executive Officer of the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC).  She has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Adelaide (South Australia).  Felicity is a technical, operational and sustainability leader with more than 17 years’ of heavy industry experience at Adbri. As the National Business Improvement and Sustainability Manager she delivered a leading low carbon fuel strategic planning and implementation project utilising refuse derived fuels. Earlier roles included operational management and project engineering. She was previously a member of the Centre for Energy Technology (CET) Advisory Board, the Faculty of Engineering, Maths and Computer Science Advisory Board at the Univeristy of Adelaide and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Craig Wilkins

Chief Executive, Conservation Council of South Australia
Member, Premier’s Climate Change Council

Craig has worked in the areas of public health, social services, environmental change and politics for over 30 years in for-purpose organisations, the public service and Parliament House. For the last 9 years he has been the Chief Executive of the state’s peak environment body, the Conservation Council of SA.

He straddles the insider/outsider divide as an appointed member of the Premier’s Climate Change Council, the Adelaide Parklands Authority and a range of working groups and committees, including the Grote Street Business Precinct, while also leading and assisting community campaigns and movements for change. Craig is a passionate believer in collective altruism – the act of people generously working together on behalf of others and the planet we call home.

Jodie van Deventer

South Australian Director
Australian Industry Group

Jodie van Deventer was appointed the South Australian Director of Australian Industry Group, a peak national employer organisation representing traditional, innovative and emerging industry sectors, in November 2021.

Prior to that she was the CEO of the Committee for Adelaide, ran a successful branding and communications business, held senior executive roles in Government and private industry and was a journalist for the BBC in the UK.

Jodie serves on a number of Boards, is an ambassador for Crime Stoppers SA and has a keen interest in helping South Australian organisations factor climate risk into their business and investment strategy to ensure business success.

Alex Toone

Executive General Manager - Commodities, Trade & Carbon
Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Alex is the Executive General Manager of Commodities, Trade and Carbon at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He has more than 20 years experience across global carbon and commodity derivatives markets.

Prior to joining CBA in 2012, Alex had global leadership roles in Commodities at Credit Suisse and Barclays Capital, based in London, Zurich, Singapore and Sydney. Alex has a degree in History from Trinity College, Dublin.

John Connor

CEO
Carbon Market Institute

John Connor has over 30 years in public and private policy with a focus on building the evidence and strategic partnerships to drive change. John has worked across the business, community and political spectrum with those prepared to take the steps necessary for genuine change.

Since 2019 John has been CEO of the Carbon Market Institute (CMI), an independent member-based institute for business leading the transition to net-zero emissions. CMI has around 150 member companies spanning the carbon value chain from primary producers, carbon service providers and emission intensive companies.

John’s CMI role followed over two years based in Suva directing the Secretariat supporting the Fijian Government’s Presidency on international climate negotiations (COP23 Presidency).

Prior to that John led The Climate Institute which pioneered approaches putting focus on financial institutions, as well as being a lead analyst, commentator and participant in Australian climate policy. 

Fiona Hancock

Director, Climate Change and Sustainability Services
Ernst and Young

Fiona is a Partner with EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services practice and leads the climate change team across Oceania. She has almost 20 years’ experience in climate change and sustainability, with extensive knowledge of carbon and energy policy, climate risk and decarbonisation.

Fiona is passionate about understanding the risks and opportunities of climate change, including the physical impacts resulting from the changing climate, and the transition risks and opportunities presented by the global shift to net zero emissions. She has contributed to the development of EY’s global decarbonisation framework, which encompasses climate risk and opportunity assessment, decarbonisation pathways, scenario analysis and strategy development.

Prior to joining EY in 2015, Fiona worked in the oil and gas sector in various carbon and sustainability roles, and the cement sector as a process engineer.

Peter Nattrass

Manager, Future Industries, Department for Energy and Mining,
Government of South Australia

Peter Nattrass is the Manager, Future Industries with the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) and oversees implementation of electric vehicle integration projects.

As a Town Planner, Peter’s passion and advocacy for sustainability grew out of his experiences as a development assessment officer in South Australia and England. Prior to joining the Department, Peter was a leading contributor to sustainability programs at the City of Adelaide Council, who in February 2021 achieved carbon neutral operations after more than a decade of transformative energy efficiency, waste management, renewable energy, and electric vehicle projects.

Currently, Peter is overseeing design and delivery of South Australia’s first state-wide Electric Vehicle Charging Network by the RAA, nine EV Smart Charging Trials that will integrate EV charging into a range of property settings and the EV Fleet Pledge program which is building and supporting a network of likeminded organisations who are working towards transitioning their fleets to electric vehicles. Peter is also leading work to plan for the integration of electric trucks into the state’s electricity system, to support a sustainable, reliable, resilient, safe and competitive energy supply for all South Australians.

Dr Sharon Harvey

Research & Innovation Program Manager
Wine Australia

Dr Harvey looks after research & innovation projects in the areas of climate adaptation, climate mitigation, and grapevine genetics, breeding and germplasm at Wine Australia. She is currently working closely with sector stakeholders and Edge Environment to develop an Emissions Reduction Roadmap for the Australian grape and wine sector.

Samantha McCulloch

Chief Executive
Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA)

Samantha McCulloch is the Chief Executive of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA). 

An internationally recognised carbon capture, utilisation and storage expert, Ms McCulloch has a highly informed view of the critical role the oil and gas industry continues to play in meeting global energy and climate goals.

Before joining APPEA, she spent 7 years at the Paris-based International Energy Agency, including as head of the CCUS Unit. 

Ms McCulloch has more than 20 years of policy, industry and technical expertise from previous roles within government, industry associations and the private sector in Australia and internationally. 

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Wollongong, as well as a Master of Public Policy from the Australian National University.

Phoebe Roberts

Senior Associate
MinterEllison

Phoebe is a Senior Associate in MinterEllison’s market leading Climate and Sustainability Risk Governance team. She is considered a leading expert on contractual climate risk exposures (and opportunities) and the implementation of decarbonisation strategies, particularly in the built environment. With a background in delivery of construction and infrastructure projects both in Australia and the UK, Phoebe brings a specialist understanding of the complex legal and commercial nature of procurement and supply chains to climate risk advisory. Phoebe is the Co-Lead of APAC and Director of Implementation at The Chancery Lane Project (TCLP), a global collaboration mobilising the legal profession to re wire contracts and laws to tackle climate change. Phoebe regularly convenes and delivers workshops across APAC, the UK and EU with lawyers and industry experts to address climate change related risks and embed climate solutions into commercial contracts. Phoebe leads TCLP’s Built Environment workstream.

Rod Sims AO

Chair of the Superpower Institute

Rod Sims AO is Chair of the Superpower Institute, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to develop the practical knowledge, tools and advocacy to enable Australia to realise the enormous economic benefits of the transition to a zero carbon economy, as has been frequently outlined by Ross Garnaut AC, who is Deputy Chair of the Superpower Institute.  Rod is also a Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University, Canberra; Chair of the Competition Research Policy Network at the Centre for Economic Policy Research, Paris; and Chair of Australia’s National Data Advisory Committee.  He is also Chair of Opera Australia, Australia’s largest performing arts company, based in Sydney.

From 2011-March 2022 he was Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Prior to that he had a range of senior corporate positions, including advising many major Australian companies on commercial corporate strategy issues.  He has also worked in the Australian Public Service including as the Deputy Secretary in charge of all domestic policy in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, one of three positions working to the Head of that Department.

From 1988-1990 he was the Principal Economic Adviser to Australia’s Prime Minister Bob Hawke.

Mark Siebentritt

Director
Edge Environment

Dr Mark Siebentritt’s career spans over 25 years in the sustainability services sector. He is a Director with Edge Impact where he leads Edge’s development of tools and products, and also works in the business on Climate Change Risk and Advisory.

Prior to Edge, he started and grew two consulting businesses. Mark has also worked across the water industry including time at the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. His focus is on bringing together rigorous technical information and engagement processes to support improved decision making.

Ken Long

Sustainability Manager, Project Delivery, Lendlease
SA & VIC; Chairperson, Adelaide Sustainable Building Network

Ken is motivated to help facilitate a positive quality of life for human and ecological communities through regenerative built environments.

Ken is the Sustainability Manager of Project Delivery across South Australia and Victoria for Lendlease, a Green Star Accredited Professional and an Ambassador of the Living Building Challenge. Ken’s experience encompasses multiple facets of sustainable design consultancy and advisory for projects of all scales. This includes design optimisation, building performance simulation, biophilic design integration, green building ratings and life cycle analysis. With qualifications in Architecture, Sustainable Design and Ecologically Regenerative Design, Ken facilitates a holistic systems thinking approach to design problems. Alongside his professional development, Ken is very active in promoting and advocating for sustainable built environments within the South Australian community and development industry.  As the Chairperson of the Adelaide Sustainable Building Network, Ken helps facilitate opportunities for people to engage with concepts of sustainable design and be inspired to implement them.

Francesca (Frankie) Muskovic

National Policy Director
Property Council of Australia

Frankie is a senior sustainability and public policy leader passionate about diversity, ethics in leadership, championing social justice issues and advocating ambitious public policy to support the transition to a zero emisssions economy.

Her experience includes a diverse range of roles from technical engineering consulting and international development work, to government and industry roles focused on energy and climate change policy.

Frankie is the National Policy Director at the Property Council of Australia and leads the national policy and advocacy agenda on sustainability, cities, and housing for the property industry and is also a co-host of the popular climate and energy podcast Let Me Sum Up.

Jack Buckskin

Founder and Managing Director
Kuma Kaaru Cultural Services Pty Ltd

Jack Buckskin is the Founder and Managing Director of Kuma Kaaru Cultural Services Pty Ltd. He is a proud Kaurna, Narungga and Wirangu man and has spent the best part of 2 decades teaching and showcasing his language and culture locally, nationally and internationally. Jack has been vital in the language revitalisation of Kaurna and has helped many other endangered languages with strategies to re connect to their language.

Jacob Potter

Associate
dsquared Consulting

Jacob is an Associate with dsquared consulting, with more than 10 years’ experience in energy, resource and carbon management in both the public and private sector.

Jacob specialises in strategic sustainability planning, focussed on decarbonising the built environment and driving the net zero emissions transition with real world solutions. This includes providing strategic advice on using design to drive emission reduction outcomes, embedding circular economy outcomes throughout design development and in operation, developing carbon neutral plans for organisations and buildings, and facilitating collaborative stakeholder engagement sessions with government, businesses, and the community.

Jacob is a passionate advocate for South Australia as leaders in the net zero emission transition.

Fabien Claudon

Risk and Compliance Manager
REDARC

Fabien Claudon has been a Senior Manager at REDARC since 2014. He is leading the business on Quality, Safety, Environmental and Product testing in a company proud to design and manufacture products in South Australia. REDARC have a key focus on innovation, quality, customer satisfaction, continuous improvement and sustainability.

Fabien along with his team have delivered key initiatives to reduce waste to landfill, improve energy use and increase the use of renewable energy with significant use of solar systems and battery storage on the REDARC Lonsdale site. He also helped to integrate sustainability considerations into new product design and improve and influence better packaging choices delivering both economic and environmental benefits.

REDARC’s focus is now on becoming a carbon neutral business and developing product life cycle to sustainability.

Prior to REDARC, Fabien spent 20 years in the European automotive industry in project and operational roles. Fabien was born in France and holds a Mechanical Engineering Degree and MBA which he completed in Lyon, France.

Darrell Jacobs

CEO
Motor Trade Association

With a diverse background from finance to FMCG and franchising, Darrell Jacobs possesses more than two decades of automotive industry experience. After serving as Mitsubishi Motors Australia’s Chief Marketing Officer, he was appointed to General Manager positions at the Motor Trade Association SA/NT in 2021 before transitioning to CEO at the start of 2023.

Automotive is amidst a revolutionary turning point representing some of the most significant innovations to mobility and transport seen in living memory. This transition to zero and low emission vehicles will ultimately affect every motorist, household and business.

The MTA is the leading trainer of Electric Vehicle and Hybrid Upskilling training to technicians in South Australia and the Northern Territory. The peak automotive body also provides training across a range of industries beyond automotive, including mining, where Darrell has expanded MTA partnerships to assist other sectors facilitate their emission reduction initiatives and safety requirements.

Upon his appointment as MTA CEO in January 2023, his first policy request to government was for co-contribution grants to support automotive businesses prepare their workshops, dealerships and staff to get ahead of the curve before the expected rise in electric vehicle uptake.

Naomi Downer

Director
Kantar Public Australia

Naomi is a Director at Kantar Public Australia, based in Adelaide. She has over 16 years’ experience in market and social research and operations management.

The focus of her role is twofold, firstly on the successful design, management and delivery of large-scale complex social studies across Australia, and secondly, supporting local SA and NT clients to provider powerful research insights. Naomi has partnered with government clients across Australia to help inform strategy development, including the shift towards more sustainable practices and greater use of renewable energy. Naomi plays an active role in contributing to the market and social research industry having presented at multiple conferences.

Dan Spencer

Organising Lead and Energy Organiser
Australian Services Union SA+NT Branch

Dan Spencer is the Organising Lead and Energy Organiser at the Australian Services Union SA+NT Branch. Prior to his work at the union, Dan worked for a number of years on climate change and transition for the Repower Port Augusta campaign and a number of NGOs.

 

Franklin dos Santos

Chief Executive Officer
Foodland Supermarkets Australia

Supermarket retailing has always been part of Franklin’s career, initially starting in a Foodland store at the age of 18, and then progressing through various FMCG Business within South Australia. Franklin’s passion for all things retail ultimately led to senior food manufacturing, strategy, marketing and sales roles across Australia with Goodman Fielder. Returning to Adelaide brought him back to his loved Foodland brand by the way of leading both the merchandise and retail operation business units for Metcash. Franklin also spent 10 years as Joint Managing Director for Santos Retail, owning Foodland and IGA stores with his brother Chris and has a clear understanding of what it takes to operate both flagship retail stores and a family run business.

Franklin has served on company boards as non executive director for the IGA National Retail Network, South Australian Independent Retailers Association (SAIR) and as the Deputy Chair, followed by Chair, for Foodland Supermarkets Australian across 10 years.

Currently as Chief Executive Officer Foodland Supermarkets Australia, Franklin leads and continues to grow the largest supermarket retailer in South Australia with 95 stores (employing over 7000 staff).

Mark Inglis

Farm Assurance and Supply Chain Manager
Thomas Foods International

Mark has a commercial background in animal husbandry and animal production, working on and managing a broad range of livestock orientated properties including cattle properties in Western Australia’s Kimberley, sheep properties both wool and meat in Victoria and establishing a 900 sow outdoor free range pig breeding operation.

Mark spent 7 years working for the Meat and Livestock Association with producers, stock agents, saleyards, feedlots and livestock buyers to gain a greater understanding of the pathways into both the cattle and sheep Meat Standards Australia programs.

He spent 12 years with a multinational protein producing company working on farm assurance, Research and Development both on farm and in plant, and Brand creation using MSA and EQ outcomes. He also created an on farm sustainability framework along with an index for benchmarking the framework, Producer education, and producer feedback systems benchmarking producer carcase production and creating a producer aligned value chain.

Mark’s current role with Thomas Foods sees him working across multiple pillars within the Thomas foods business, coordinating customer needs and expectations through sales, processing and livestock.

Mark’s passion is livestock – whether that be on farm production, marketing, animal welfare, sustainability, processing, industry issues, or consumer awareness with an end goal of creating value chains substantiating claims and guarantees to consumers.

Dr Stephen Wiedemann

Founder
Integrity Ag & Environment

Dr Stephen Wiedemann is the founder of Integrity Ag & Environment. He is an agricultural systems expert focusing on agricultural business and supply chain sustainability, carbon foot printing and emission reduction.

Integrity Ag & Environment work extensively with major agri-businesses in Australia and worldwide in sustainability assessment, strategic advice, and carbon reporting and are advisors to state and Federal Government in Australia in these areas.

Aron Hausler

Innovation Districts Manager
Department for Industry, Innovation and Science

Aron helps people with imagination and initiative to bring their ideas to life and build scalable businesses.

By day, he works at the intersection of strategy, innovation and technology within the Office of the SA Chief Entrepreneur.

By night, he is on a mission surface, scale and showcase South Australia’s early-stage ClimateTech sector to the world.

Ali Lockwood

Executive Officer
South Australian Spirit Producers Association

Ali Lockwood is the Executive Officer for the South Australian Spirit Producers Association, representing over 60 South Australia’s amazing craft distillers, and is also the Managing Director of How Sustainability, a newly created business which identifies a business and/or sectors current baseline sustainability status and supports and measures progress as participants embark on their sustainability journey. Ali has spent close to 30 years in the wine sector in roles with an export and trade focus most recently as the Manager, Market Development – Food, Wine and Agribusiness with the Department for Trade and Investment in the South Australian Government. She has also represented the Australian wine sector across emerging markets, establishing the first Wine Australia office in Shanghai. Through Ali’s international experience, she has recognised the importance of sustainability and recently completed a Certificate, Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies with Cambridge Judge Business School.

Ian Overton

Chief Executive
Green Industries South Australia

Ian is the Chief Executive of Green Industries SA, the State Government agency driving the transition to a circular economy. He is a strategic science, business and public sector leader with experience across academia, state and federal government, not-for-profit and start-up companies. He has a passion for sustainability, climate action and enhancing systems for environmental, social and economic benefits. Ian holds the title of Professor at the Adelaide University Business School, he is a Board member of Circular Australia and the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources and is the Chair of the Green Economy Transition CRC bid.

 

Richard Leask

Viticulturist
Leask Agri

Richard Leask is a second-generation winegrower based in McLaren Vale, South Australia, with 28 years’ experience in various Australian wine regions. Presently, he is Viticulturist at Leask Agri, a vineyard management company focusing on regenerative agriculture principles and is co-owner of carbon neutral wine label Hither and Yon which has a strong focus on climate adaptive varieties. In 2019, Richard was awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship to study Regenerative Agriculture systems across farming enterprises globally. In 2021 and 2022, he was a finalist in the ASVO Viticulturist of the Year Award and is a founding trustee of the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation.

Sky Allen

Founder
Arcadia Aquatic

Sky Allen’s business Arcadia aquatic, is a creative floral art service in Adelaide, where disruptive supply models and sustainability research and development are as central to her offering as beautiful flowers. Arcadia aquatic creates floral sculptures and installations that celebrate place and beauty without the hidden environmental impacts of mainstream floristry. Arcadia aquatic specialises in working with other creative businesses across hospitality, architecture, fashion and beyond.

Sky will candidly share her experiences as a relatively ‘early adopter’ of an Electric Vehicle as both a workhorse of her business, and a conversation starter with clients about Arcadia aquatic’s points of difference. Sky is passionate about how the next generation of lower carbon business models can also spark educational conversations with clients and suppliers, and be a fundamental part of the brand value of local small businesses.

John O’Brien

Member
Premier’s Climate Change Council

John has 30 years’ experience in the Australian and global clean energy and clean technology sectors and now leads Deloitte’s decarbonisation work in Australia. He works extensively with global clients on translating decarbonisation ambitions into practical financial and strategic actions.

John is also Deloitte’s Global Lead for decarbonisation in the Mining and Metals sector, is a member of the global SteerCo for Deloitte’s climate services, the co-founder of the Australian Climate Leaders Coalition and global lead for Deloitte’s work with the World Economic Forum on best practice climate governance for Boards.

John started his career in the oil & gas industry in Scotland and Syria, engineering roles in London and Australia and corporate development in the energy sector. In 2007, John established Australian CleanTech, a boutique advisory firm that led the development of the cleantech sector in Australia for a decade. During this time he held a wide variety of government and private sector board positions in Australia and China.

John is widely published with his most recent book, Stories from 2030, launched at COP26 in Glasgow and setting out practical steps of what is likely to happen locally and globally over the next decade.

Martijn Wilder

Founder and CEO
Pollination

Martijn is Founder and CEO of Pollination, a global climate change investment and advisory firm. He is recognised as a global leader in climate law and investment and has advised governments and companies on innovative climate finance investments including the World’s First REDD+ Green Bond. Martijn was Head of Baker & McKenzie’s global climate law and finance practice for twenty years and played a key role with Australia’s clean energy finance institutions. He was previously Chair of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), a former Founding Director of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), and he helped to establish and later Chair the Federal Government’s Low Carbon Australia finance body. He is currently Chair of the Governing Board of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) based in Vienna, President of WWF-Australia, Chair of the Victorian Government’s independent expert panel on Victoria’s 2035 Climate Change target, Adjunct Professor of International Climate Change Law at Australian National University, and a Senior Adviser to Serendipity Capital. He is also a Member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. Martijn was a Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholar and was awarded an Australian Honour (AM) for his contribution to climate change law and the environment. In 2018, Martijn was awarded the Financial Times Asia Pacific Legal Innovator of the Year.