Moderator - Craig Reucassel

Terry Niemeier

Director Program & Market Development, Energy Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)

Terry Niemeier is an electrical engineer, and executive leader with experience delivering large-scale programs across the Electricity supply, and Transport industries. He is the Director of Program and Market Development at the Office of Energy & Climate Change, with oversight of the NSW Government’s Electric Vehicle program portfolio, along with the Business Decarbonisation program and the Energy Security Safeguard programs which create competitive markets for the delivery of energy efficiency and peak demand reduction activities. Terry is passionate about energy efficiency and shifting the economy to low emissions technologies through electrification.

Professor Alistair Sproul

Head of School, School of Photovoltaic & Renewable Energy Engineering - UNSW

Alistair Sproul is a Professor within the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE) at UNSW  and was Program Leader (Integrated Building Systems) with the CRC for Low Carbon Living from 2011 – 2018.

Professor Sproul has worked in the area of photovoltaic and energy efficiency research and R&D since 1985 with various companies (BP Solar, Pacific Solar) and research institutions (UNSW, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Freiburg, Germany). Since 2001 he has been with the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering at UNSW. He has been strongly involved in the development of the UG and PG coursework offerings in the area of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering.

His current research is in the area of energy efficient buildings, Building Integrated and Building Applied PV/energy systems for low energy buildings and highly efficient fluid handling systems. His research has been recognized as world leading having been named in the World’s Top 2% of Scientists by a Stanford University ranking in 2021.

Yianni Mentis

Executive Manager Environment & Climate Change, Northern Beaches Council

David Stuart

Managing Director, Colormaker Industries Australia

David Stuart is the Managing Director of Colormaker Industries, with a long history on the Northern Beaches.

David holds an Honours degree in Chemistry, a Master of Business, International Marketing, an MBA and a Diploma in Export Management. David commenced his involvement with Colormaker first as a supplier, then as Sales Manager. His knowledge of coatings and commitment to Australian R&D, combined with his background and passion for lower impact sustainable paints and inks inspired him to acquire the business in 2003.

Since that time, under his stewardship, Colormaker has embarked on a mission of reducing its environmental impact through:

• Making environmentally responsible paints and inks + taking them to the world,
• Eliminating harmful chemicals from their products,
• Manufacturing using 100% renewable energy,
• And supporting art, local and underprivileged communities through social giving

Colormaker is aiming for Net Zero by 2025. David talks about how Colormaker has approached achieving that goal.

Angel Ambas-Scutts 

Youth Advisory Group - Northern Beaches Council

Hello! My name is Angel, it's 2024, I'm 17 years old, in my last year of school at Pittwater High and have been involved in sustainability activism since 2021. 

Moderator - Craig Reucassel

Brent Clark

CEO - Wattblock

Brent Clark is CEO and founder of strata energy consultancy, Wattblock. Wattblock has assisted apartment buildings housing over 80,000 residents with energy efficiency, solar and EV Charging over the past 9 years. Brent has worked with 9 local councils, 7 universities, and two state governments on futureproofing strata buildings and most recently worked on Electrify Strata project to track electrification of strata buildings across 50,000 strata buildings in 29 local council areas in Sydney. He has degrees in science, law an MBA and is an accredited NABERS for apartment buildings assessor.

Bryn Hernandez

Council & Community Resilience Manager – Customer Experience & Services,  Ausgrid

Bryn is a practitioner of human centred design and enjoys finding innovative solutions to challenging problems. Growing up as a country kid, Bryn developed a strong connection to land and wildlife and went on to study engineering. He has worked across heavy industry, local government and energy, focusing on how to best deliver the four pillars of sustainability, by finding solutions that not only make economic sense, but also improve the environment, are human centred and support positive social outcomes. He is a strong advocate for electrification and renewables, as these are the fastest, known solutions to solve climate change now.

Ellie Kallmier

Research Assistant, SPREE, CEEM and APVI

Ellie has been working as a Research Assistant for SPREE, CEEM and the APVI since 2022 and worked across various projects in the distributed energy resources (DER) space in that time.  She has been involved in the last two updates to the SunSPoT tool across development, testing and outreach.

Fred Hopley

Resident

Fred is a passionate advocate for the transition to a fully sustainable energy system.  Based on the Northern Beaches, Fred is well progressed towards his objective of having a net zero emission home and has installed rooftop solar, a battery and become a proud owner of a Tesla over the past 5 years.  He shares why he installed solar, how much money it’s saving his family, and 3 tips for those thinking of installing solar.

Ian Moxon

Watts Going Down

Ian is an expert in alternative energy technologies, his passion is sustainable buildings and solar passive design and he has a deep interest in electric vehicles, permaculture and the environment. As an energy consultant he has been supporting households and businesses for over 14 years with energy efficiency advice. He is renowned for his engaging and passionate presentations as he explains in simple terms how to be more energy efficient, the basics of solar and batteries, how to make changes today to save money and help the environment.   

Moderator - Ian Moxon

Watts Going Down

Ian is an expert in alternative energy technologies, his passion is sustainable buildings and solar passive design and he has a deep interest in electric vehicles, permaculture and the environment. As an energy consultant he has been supporting households and businesses for over 14 years with energy efficiency advice. He is renowned for his engaging and passionate presentations as he explains in simple terms how to be more energy efficient, the basics of solar and batteries, how to make changes today to save money and help the environment.   

Selena Griffith

Electrify Mackellar

Selena Griffith is a long term Northern Beaches resident. She is CEO of Enactus Australia, an incubator with a focus in developing youth led social and environmental enterprises. As an academic her research and teaching focussed on sustainability, entrepreneurship and collaboration for innovation. She is founder of Electrify Mackellar, an advocacy and information resource for electrification of local households and SME.

Terry Niemeier

Director Program & Market Development, Energy Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)

Terry Niemeier is an electrical engineer, and executive leader with experience delivering large-scale programs across the Electricity supply, and Transport industries. He is the Director of Program and Market Development at the Office of Energy & Climate Change, with oversight of the NSW Government’s Electric Vehicle program portfolio, along with the Business Decarbonisation program and the Energy Security Safeguard programs which create competitive markets for the delivery of energy efficiency and peak demand reduction activities. Terry is passionate about energy efficiency and shifting the economy to low emissions technologies through electrification.

Graham Hunt

Renew

Graham has been an architect for over 35 years and a NatHERS assessor for over 20 years. A member of ABSA since its foundation. He was doing QA audits for ABSA from 2013 till early this year.

Graham has represented the AIA on the following committees:

• ABCB Residential Energy Efficiency Working Group
• NatHERS Technical Advisory Committee
• NatHERS Stakeholders Consultative committee
• Your Home Consultative Committee

Graham is currently chair of the AIA National Residential Sustainability Advisory Group  and a longtime member and Board Secretary of Renew.

Bryn Hernandez

Council & Community Resilience Manager – Customer Experience & Services,  Ausgrid

Bryn is a practitioner of human centred design and enjoys finding innovative solutions to challenging problems. Growing up as a country kid, Bryn developed a strong connection to land and wildlife and went on to study engineering. He has worked across heavy industry, local government and energy, focusing on how to best deliver the four pillars of sustainability, by finding solutions that not only make economic sense, but also improve the environment, are human centred and support positive social outcomes. He is a strong advocate for electrification and renewables, as these are the fastest, known solutions to solve climate change now.

Jacqui Grove

Manager Environmental Resilience & Climate Change, Northern Beaches Council

Moderator - Phil Devon

Manager, Transport Network, Northern Beaches Council

Dan Wigmore

Engagement Officer, Net Zero Transport - Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW Government)

Dan is the Engagement Officer for the Net Zero Transport team which looks after Electric Vehicle programs for NSW Government. His role is ensuring that audiences are aware of, and have access to, the programs, grants and resources NSW Government is developing to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles. For the past two decades Dan has been working in the media space but a passion for EVs lead to a change in career. He is delighted to be playing a part in striving towards a net zero future.

Darren Fitzpatrick

Senior Development Manager, Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, Ausgrid

Darren brings 15 years of experience in electricity distribution to his role having started as a qualified accountant. Darren seamlessly merged his financial proficiency with a passion for sustainable innovation and ‘on the tools’ experience within the energy sector.

As an electric vehicle (EV) solutions expert, Darren has become a pivotal figure in facilitating the electrification aspirations of organisations. His pragmatic approach prioritizes practical solutions to embrace sustainable mobility with confidence.

He is deeply committed to fostering widespread adoption of EV technology. From leading initiatives to democratize access to charging infrastructure to designing kerbside charger installations.
Darren leads by example as an advocate for eco-friendly transportation. He proudly embraces electric mobility, including commuting on his electric road scooter, embodying his dedication to a greener future.
 

Michael Day

Chair, NSW branch, Australian EV Association (AEVA)

Michael Day is National Treasurer of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association, has an Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering and 15 years’ experience in the design and conversion of electric vehicles for himself and others.

Apart from having a compulsion for electric vehicle projects Michael has a passion for creating awareness, and dispelling myths about EV ownership.

AEVA is the oldest continuously active electric vehicle owner’s association in the world having formed in 1973. Its purpose is to create greater awareness of electric vehicles, encourage the rapid transition to electric transportation, and to be an official source of information on EVs in Australia.

Peter McLean

CEO - Bicycle NSW

Peter McLean is a not for profit specialist having led 6 Australian Charities in 4 sectors.  As the current CEO of Bicycle NSW, he is excited to be leading an organisation which unites his passions for bicycle riding, the environment and health and wellbeing.  Peter has also led the Can Too Foundation, Rule of Law Institute of Australia, the Australian Organics Recycling Association and Keep Australia Beautiful so sustainability is his middle name.  Peter originally worked in State Government with MPWS and Local Government at Warringah Council before moving into the not-for-profit sector. Peter holds a degree in Environmental Management and a Masters in Business Administration.  

Toby Hagan

Editor, EV Central

Toby Hagon is a writer, editor and author with decades of experience covering cars and the automotive industry. If it’s on four wheels, he has probably driven it. From the latest supercars to rock-hopping off-roaders (or anything in between!) he loves a road trip and works on the thinking that no road is too long or windy. He’s also an EV convert who loves the innovation and pace of change within the automotive space – and sees the enormous potential for cars powered by electrons.

Moderator - Andrew Ward-Harvey

Executive Manager, Waste Management & Cleansing - Northern Beaches Council

Andrew is the Executive Manager of Waste Management and Cleansing at Northern Beaches Council, leading the team responsible for managing waste, keeping the Northern Beaches environment clean and transitioning to a local circular economy. His team’s ground breaking Waste and Circular Economy Strategy was recently adopted by Northern Beaches Council, leading the way in the innovative delivery of waste programs and education to support a circular economy in line with NSW Government objectives.

With a Bachelor of Laws (UTS), a Masters of Administrative Law and Policy (USYD), and a postgraduate certificate in Environmental Management from Macquarie University, Andrew has held roles as a commercial and environmental planning lawyer and an Environmental Policy and Regulatory Advisor with the NSW Government, placing him in a unique position to provide insight into legal and policy drivers for stakeholders in the environmental fields.

Mark Winser

GM Operations - Kimbriki Environmental Enterprises

Mark Winser is General Manager – Operations at Kimbriki Environmental Enterprises. This role encompasses oversight of all operational, projects and planning aspects of a multi-functional resource recovery centre receiving and processing over 300,000 tonnes of waste/resources per annum with a recovery rate of 80%. Before commencing with Kimbriki, Mark was the Technical Manager at the Remondis Organic Resource Recovery Facility processing food waste, garden wastes and biosolids to manufacture high quality composts as well as processing domestic mixed solid waste for Port Macquarie Hastings Council. Prior to this Mark worked with NSW Agriculture, Sydney University and NorSearch, the Southern Cross University Environmental Science Business Arm. He holds a degree in Applied Science (Resource Management) from the University of New England.

Brett Buckingham

Director, Engagement & Technology - Battery Stewardship Council

Brett is the Director of Engagement and Technology with the Battery Stewardship Council (BSC). The BSC operates the B-cycle Stewardship Scheme for the collection and recycling of used handheld consumer batteries. Brett works with importers and manufacturers to drive circular economy initiatives for end-of-life batteries in the clean energy & consumer electronics sectors.

Along with his work with batteries, Brett is an avid local surfer. He seeks to combine his passion and purpose and hopes to achieve this as a recent member of the Advisory Team at WaveChanger, an organisation helping to create a carbon neutral, waste-free surf industry.

Guido Verbist

GM - Revolve ReCYCLING

Environmental and ethical principles have been guiding Guido’s private and professional life. His professional career has been dedicated to environmental activism through global organisations such as Greenpeace, as well as practical grass roots projects which have helped to shift the paradigm in the way we think about waste, repair, and reuse.

Guido brought the ‘Repair Café’ concept to Australia in 2014 when he headed the Bower Re-use and Repair Centre, and in 2020 launched the Right to Repair Campaign which helped trigger the Productivity Commission inquiry into consumers’ ability and ‘right’ to repair goods.  He is currently managing Revolve ReCYCLING, a start-up sustainability social enterprise that aims to give bike riders the opportunity to give new life to their old rides by recycling, repairing, and redeploying them.  In that capacity, he also launched “Green Wheels” a sustainability accreditation program for bike stores and a foundation to give away kids bikes to those who have no access to them.

Jude Furniss

Boomerang Bags

Jude is a facilitator for Surfrider Foundation Australia’s corporate social impact program and drives initiatives to inspire and engage our coastal communities to tackle local and national coastal environmental issues impacting the health and enjoyment of our oceans and coastline.

She has been awarded the Northern Beaches Council Eco Award and the KABNSW Sustainability Environmental Achievement Award

In 2016 she founded the Manly chapter of the Boomerang Bag Project, a community driven bag share initiative with a focus on connecting residential & business communities to reduce single use plastic bag pollution through the creative repurpose of fabric waste destined for landfill.
8 years on, dedicated local volunteers have produced 10,000+ reusable shopping bags for free for the community to use, hold free community ‘learn to sew’ lessons and continue to meet weekly to explore creative ways to recycle fabrics destined for landfill into products with purpose for our community in need.  This includes reusable items to encourage plastic free living, library bags for school kids in NSW remote areas, care bags for hospital patients, bushfire relief and flood affected communities and pouches for injured wildlife.