Conference Agenda Highlights | Day 1 Energy transition requires unprecedented capital investment at a time when government finances are under significant pressure. State debt levels remain high while infrastructure spending continues and federal budgets are in deficit. Despite these fiscal constraints, governments at all levels have set ambitious energy transition goals and clearly see a critical role for public sector involvement in driving the transformation to net zero emissions. This session will explore the strategic decisions governments face in deploying their balance sheets for energy transition. We'll examine where government intervention is most needed versus where market design and regulatory reforms could achieve better outcomes without direct fiscal exposure. The panel will discuss the range of policy tools available – from underwriting and subsidies to concessional finance and ownership stakes – and how governments evaluate which approach best addresses specific market failures. Chair: Peter Hawkes, Managing Director, Woods Street Moderator: Ben Coles, Head of Energy Transition, Jarden Panellists: The Hon Matt Kean, Chair, Climate Change Authority Chloe Hicks, Executive Director, Strategy & Policy, EnergyCo (NSW Government) Tim Nelson, Chair, Review of the National Energy Market (NEM) Australian Government PANEL DISCUSSION Moderator: Peter Hawkes, Managing Director, Woods Street Panellists: TBA Sponsor Welcome: Shao Xu, International events manager, Arctech Solar Chair: Russell French, Country Director, Ampt Enabling new opportunities and addressing complex challenges through the development and application of advanced photovoltaic module technologies Thomas Bywater, Country Director, Aiko Solar Reevaluating wind and hail mitigation strategies for maximised energy yield in utility-scale solar Evan Nichols, Director, Technical Sales, ARRAY Beyond modules: Integrated solar and BESS system solutions Thomas Koerner, Corporate Sr. Vice President, Global Sales, MSS Business Unit Canadian Solar Inc (Canada) PANEL DISCUSSION Prolonging performance and preventing waste: How best-practice maintenance can delay the next big solar crisis Andrew Barrington, Managing Director, Solar Shine Australia The power of vertical integration: Strengthening energy security through transparent, end-to-end storage Karolina Biernacka, AUS/NZ Sales Manager; UTILITY BESS, Trina Solar The race to the bottom: Why cheaper operations and maintenance is costing us more Roshan Dharmasen, Managing Director, Photon Renewable Services Pty Ltd BESS risk management; Development; distributed energy storage Mark Twidell, Professor of Industry Practice, UNSW TRANSITIONING IN TIGHT TIMES: HOW GOVERNMENTS ACCELERATE ENERGY TRANSITION UNDER BUDGET PRESSURE DEVELOPMENTS IN SOLAR STORAGE Wednesday 29th October 2025, 11:10am – 12:40pm | Plenary Hall 2 Wednesday 29th October 2025, 11:10am – 12:40pm | Plenary Hall 2 ▷▶▷ CLICK FOR THE FULL CONFERENCE AGENDA ▷▶▷ 42 ALL ENERGY AUSTRALIA
