Australians are amongst the most urbanised people on Earth. Transforming the way we use and pay for energy to power and access our cities lies at the centre of a sustainable future. In this public forum, presenters from the Grattan Institute and Curtin University’s Sustainability Policy Institute discussed recent work on climate policy, electricity tariffs, solar storage and rail funding, all of which can and will play vital roles in this transformation. The forum provided key insights with plenty of time for discussion and questions.
Moderator
Josh Byrne is a Research Fellow with Curtin University’s Sustainability Policy Institute (CUSP) where his research activities span high performance housing, water sensitive biophilic design and low carbon residential precincts. Well known for his role as the WA presenter on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia program, Josh is also Director of Josh Byrne & Associates – a multi award winning Fremantle based consulting practice integrating the fields of landscape architecture, built environment sustainability, media and communications. He is Patron for the Conservation Council of WA and an Advocate for the national 202020 Vision urban greening initiative.
Panellists
Tony Wood has been Energy Program Director at Grattan since 2011 after 14 years working at Origin Energy in senior executive roles. From 2009 to 2014 he was also Program Director of Clean Energy Projects at the Clinton Foundation, advising governments in the Asia-Pacific region on effective deployment of large-scale, low-emission energy technologies. In 2008, he was seconded to provide an industry perspective to the first Garnaut climate change review.
Jemma Green works in the field of disruptive innovation at Curtin University. She is responsible for industry research relating to energy, carbon, sustainability and climate related business risks. She is also a doctoral candidate, her research is focused on battery storage and modular construction.
Peter Newman is the Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University. He has written 17 books but is best known in Perth as a media commentator and the person who saved the Fremantle Railway. In 2014 he was awarded an Order of Australia for his contributions to urban design and sustainable transport. Peter has worked in local government as an elected councillor, in state government as an advisor to three Premiers, in the Australian Government on the Board of Infrastructure Australia and in the UN on the IPCC as a Lead Author for Transport.
Evan Jones is a town planner and urban designer who runs his own planning consultancy, Responsive Environments. Evan was National Planning Director – Planning at Brookfield Multiplex. He has prepared metropolitan plans for Sydney and Brisbane and worked in regional planning in Victoria. In WA Evan was an Executive Director in the Department of Planning where he developed Liveable Neighbourhoods Code and led the Armadale and Midland redevelopment projects. Evan is a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and contributes to public policy as the Chair for the Centre for Built Environment and Health at the University of Western Australia and as a Director of the Australian Council for New Urbanism.
David Martin has 17 years’ experience in the Western Australian Electricity Industry. Having worked in two of the largest and most complex energy utilities in Western Australia, including more than five years as a senior executive of Horizon Power, David has a wealth of skill and experience in the areas of electricity utility management; regulatory engagement; energy sector marketing and branding; contentious issues and crisis management. David is currently bringing this experience to navigating the challenges of electricity network planning and operation in a changing consumer and technology environment. David is the Director of energy consulting firm, Future Effect.
