BIOENERGY 2030 - UNLOCKING AUSTRALIAS
FUTURE RENEWABLE ENERGY GIANT
REGISTRATION: Purchase tickets HERE
AGENDA
9.00AM - 9.15 AM Welcome
Shahana McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, Bioenergy Australia
9.15AM – 10.00AM Australia’s political landscape driving the future Bioeconomy
James Harman, Chief Executive Officer, EDL
The Hon. Angus Taylor MP, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
The Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change
10.00AM - 11.00AM The Global Bioeconomy
Tiana Nairn, Group Manager – Policy, LMS Energy
Paul Bennett, Chair, International Energy Agency (IEA) - Bioenergy
Chris Tindal, Assistant Director, Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI)
Steven Bartholomeusz, Head of Public Affairs, APAC at Neste
Johannes D. Escudero, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
11.00PM - 12.00PM Delivering Australia's Bioeconomy
Matt Walden, Transactions and Business Development, ARENA
Olivier Lacroix, Partner, ENEA Consulting
John O’Brien, Partner, Energy Transition & Decarbonisation, Deloitte Financial Advisory Pty Ltd
12.00PM - 12.30PM Lunch
12.30PM - 2.00PM Unlocking the 2030 Targets
Facilitator, Gabby Sycamore, General Manager Renewable Gas, Jemena
Tej Gidda, Global Leader, Future Energy, GHD – Bioenergy in Australia’s Circular Economy
Michael Hallam, Consulting Engineer, EnergyLink Services - Bridging the price gap for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Mark Jonker, Director, Helmont Energy
Andrew Parker, Chief Sustainability Officer, Qantas
Melissa Perrow, General Manager Energy, Brickworks
Sam Donaldson, Hub Sustainability Leader, Laing O'Rourke
Mac Irvine, Director Investment, Clean Energy Finance Corporation
2.00PM Close
SPONSORS
With thanks to our Summit Supporting Partners:
OVERVIEW
With the recent release of Australia’s first Bioenergy Roadmap by Angus Taylor MP, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Bioenergy Australia will be hosting a half day online summit set to put Bioenergy on the map.
The roadmap showed by 2030 18% of Australia’s aviation fuel market, 23% of Australia’s total gas pipeline market and 33% of Australia’s total industrial heat market could be delivered by sustainable bioenergy solutions. Now let’s unlock the barriers and accelerate deployment to achieve these targets.
The event will cover global acceleration of bioenergy, an in-depth presentation on the Bioenergy Roadmap and showcase large Australian businesses driving the offtake market for bioenergy. We are delighted that Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor MP and Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen MP have confirmed their participation and given the proximity to the next Federal election the timing couldn’t be better.
The online summit will bring together domestic and international experts across aspects of bioenergy to drive forward the development of an Australian industry and support international knowledge and expertise being shared domestically.
With sustainable bioenergy seen as a vital contributor to achieving Australia’s decarbonisation targets this event presents an opportunity to drive forward the many outcomes as identified in the roadmap including an annual $10 billion GDP, 9% reduction in emissions and 27 days of additional fuel security by 2030.
Bioenergy 2030 is an initiative of Bioenergy Australia, the Renewable Gas Alliance, the Cleaner Fuels Alliance, the Circular Economy Network, the Renewable Heat Alliance and the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Alliance of Australia and New Zealand.
SPEAKERS
The Hon. Angus Taylor MP, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
Angus entered politics in 2013 when he was elected as the Liberal Federal Member for Hume in New South Wales.
Building on his background in economics, Angus was appointed to parliamentary committees on employment, trade and investment, and public accounts. He was also chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.
Angus was promoted to Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister with special responsibility for Cities and Digital Transformation in February 2016. He was reappointed to the frontbench after the 2016 Federal election and became Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security in December 2017.
Angus was promoted to Cabinet as the Minister for Energy in August 2018, and reappointed as the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction in May 2019.
With a passion for cutting edge technology and the benefits for citizens of the digital age, Angus authored an essay The Promise of Digital Government which was published by the Menzies Research Centre in 2016.
He has gained a reputation amongst his constituents as a keen problem solver, focusing in his electorate on growth opportunities for regional communities and improving telecommunications.
Prior to entering parliament in 2013 Angus was a Director at Port Jackson Partners where he was a strategy and business advisor on the resources, agriculture, energy and infrastructure sectors. Prior to this he was a partner at global consulting firm McKinsey & Co.
Angus has a Bachelor of Economics (First Class Honours and University Medal) and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Sydney. He also has a Master of Philosophy in Economics from Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. His thesis was in the field of competition policy.
In his private capacity Angus has founded or advised a number of small, fast growing start-up businesses, particularly in the agriculture sector.
He lives at Goulburn with his wife Louise and their four children.
The Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change
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 Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy.
Chris lives in Smithfield with his wife Rebecca, children Grace and Max and his Labradors Ollie and Toby and is a keen supporter of the GWS Giants.
James Harman, Chief Executive Officer, EDL
James has led EDL’s rapid global expansion since 2016, including investing in biomethane to transportation fuel projects and biomethane to electricity projects in North America; and delivering innovative large-scale hybrid renewable microgrid projects in remote areas of Australia, enabling the effective transition from fossil fuels.
He is keenly focused on safety, growth and diversification into new markets as EDL strives to be the leading global producer of sustainable distributed energy.
James is a Director of the Board of the Australian Energy Council, and he also sits on the Board of Bioenergy Australia.
A highly experienced global executive, James held senior executive positions with top tier natural resource companies in Europe and Australia for close to 20 years before joining EDL in 2016. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a Master’s degree in Laws.
Paul Bennett, Chair of International Energy Agency, Bioenergy
Paul started with BP in the UK as scientist in 1988 and held a series of roles in R&D, Product Management, Policy Development, Strategy and Business Development. In 2005, he was part of a small team that established BP Biofuels business unit and has been working on bioenergy and biofuels ever since. In 2009, he left BP and has worked in a variety of bioenergy roles from business development through to Government Strategy.
In 2014, he took the role of Science Leader of the Clean Technology Group at Scion in Rotorua. Amongst the key activities of this Group has been bioenergy, for the example the development of New Zealand’s Biofuels Roadmap, and a principle author of the Royal Society’s “Climate Change Mitigation Options for New Zealand” report. During this time, Paul has been an active member of the International Energy Agency Bioenergy Group and has recently been elected Chair from 1 January 2021 for a 2 year period. This raises our awareness of latest international developments on new conversion technologies, bioenergy deployment, policy development and key sustainability issues.
New Zealand Positions held;
2021-2022 Chair, International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Executive Committee
2017- 2020 Vice-Chair, IEA Bioenergy Executive Committee
2014- onwards IEA Bioenergy Executive Committee member
2017-onwards Alternate Board Member of Bioresource Processing Alliance
2017- onwards Board Member of Bioenergy Association NZ
2018- onwards Board Member of National Energy Research Institute. NZ
Chris Tindal, Assistant Director for the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI)
Chris Tindal received an appointment as the Strategic Biofutures Advisor to the State of Queensland. He provides a direct in-market connection between the Queensland Government and key industry stakeholders, both globally and domestically, but particularly within North America with a view to helping cement business relationships and projects for Queensland. The role was created to help identify and target strategic opportunities for North American-based biofutures organizations to establish operations in Queensland.
Chris is the Assistant Director for the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) whose goal is to promote the development and commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel options that offer equivalent levels of safety and compare favorably on cost with petroleum based jet fuel, while also offering environmental improvement and security of energy supply for aviation. He helps to manage the coalition of CAAFI stakeholders and provide leadership and strategic guidance to CAAFI's State and Regional programs, Federal government interagency initiatives, airport authorities, and International initiatives consistent with CAAFI priorities.
Chris is an Adjunct Professor on the faculty of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Queensland. In that role, Professor Tindal assists in exploring research and development opportunities for QUT, as well as investigating potential opportunities to establish commercial-scale biorefineries in the State of Queensland.
Chris retired as the Director for Operational Energy underneath the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Navy for Energy, where he was in charge of setting energy policy and direction for the Department of the Navy and promoting the adoption of alternative fuels and renewable energy resources. Additionally, he developed intergovernmental, international, and industry relationships throughout the energy field. He was the Navy leader of the pioneering U.S. Department of Agriculture/ U.S. Department of Energy/ U.S. Navy Alternative Fuels Initiative which developed programs to launch the advanced biofuels industry. In his role, Chris successfully led the Great Green Fleet effort, in which the U.S. Navy acquired and used 77 million gallons of F-76 alternative fuel blend for their ships in the Great Green Fleet deployment in 2016.
He has had the honor to be named in the peer-selected competition for the "Top 100 People in the Bioeconomy" Awards by the Biofuels Digest from 2013 through 2017.
Chris Tindal was a Navy man for over 40 years. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and served on Active Duty on two ships in Charleston, South Carolina. He retired as a Captain in the Navy Reserves in 2010. Originally from Alabama, Chris currently lives in South Carolina.
Steven Bartholomeusz, Head of Public Affairs, APAC at Neste
Steven is the Head of Public Affairs for Asia Pacific at Neste, and leads all public policy and advocacy efforts in the company’s engagement with governments, public sector organisations, think tanks and other key stakeholders.
He leads all public affairs efforts for Neste’s Renewable Road Transport, Renewable Aviation and Renewable Polymers and Chemicals businesses in APAC and supports the Feedstock Growth and Supply teams to ensure a wide feedstock base, including waste and residue is accepted for use as raw materials for renewable fuels.
Steven is an experienced public affairs professional with over 20 years international, regional and local experience managing issues, engaging stakeholders and delivering communications and public affairs strategy in oil and gas, hydropower and public utilities, and more recently the food and beverage industry. Prior to this, he spent three years as the news manager for a private radio station in Sri Lanka and a correspondent for the Voice of America covering the terrorist conflict in the island nation.
Steven has a Masters in Communication from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (with Honours) and a B.A in Mass Communication (Broadcasting) from Winona State University, Minnesota, USA.
Johannes D. Escudero, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
The RNG Coalition represents and provides public policy advocacy and education for the renewable natural gas industry in North America.
Through effective advocacy and education, the RNG Coalition has successfullyprotected and expanded existing markets and created new RNG market demand at the federal, state, provincial and local government levels in the United States and Canada.
The RNG Coalition’s membership is international and includes leading companies and organizations across the entire industry supply chain - including producers of more than 95% of the renewable natural gas in North America.
Mr. Escudero is a passionate advocate and entrepreneur with more than twenty years of organizational leadership and business development experience in consulting, association and non-profit management, higher education, state and federal politics, legislative and regulatory affairs.
Prior to founding the RNG Coalition, Mr. Escudero served as Legislative Director in California’s State Assembly, serving ranking legislative members of the Budget, Transportation, Utilities and Commerce, Natural Resources and Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials committees.
Tiana Nairn, Group Manager – Policy, LMS Energy
Tiana is the Group Manager of Policy at LMS Energy. LMS Energy has biogas facilities across Australia, New Zealand and the USA, operating across carbon, energy, waste and circular economy policy areas. She also lectures at the University of South Australia on Environmental Policy and Regulations.
Tiana holds positions on the Circular Economy Network and Renewable Gas Alliance of Bioenergy Australia. She is also the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association’s SA Branch Vice President, where she represents the interests of a broad mix of private and local government waste and resource recovery sector participants.
Tiana has extensive regulatory reform and stakeholder engagement experience. Prior to joining LMS Energy in late 2020, Tiana led a suite of legislative and policy reforms for improved waste management and resource recovery as the Waste Reform Policy Program Manager at the South Australian Environment Protection Authority, including overseeing the successful design and passage of laws to improve regulation of the waste sector, support resource recovery, improve reporting and tackle illegal dumping. Across her career, Tiana has worked on a range of inter jurisdictional policy projects, broader law and policy reforms, environmental assessment coordination and as an Associate at a specialist planning and environmental law firm. She has a Bachelor degree in Science (Jurisprudence), an Honours Law degree and Graduate Certificates in Legal Practice and Environmental Management. She is a 2019 fellow of the Governor’s Leadership Foundation.
Tiana is committed to increased wellbeing and prosperity through sound environmental policy
Olivier Lacroix, Chief Executive Officer, ENEA Consulting
John O’Brien, Partner, Energy Transition & Decarbonisation, Deloitte Financial Advisory Pty Ltd
Tej Gidda, Global Leader, Future Energy, GHD – Bioenergy in Australia’s Circular Economy
Dr Tej Gidda (Ph.D., M.Sc., BSc[Eng]) is an educator and engineer with over 20 years of experience in the energy and environmental fields. As GHD Global Leader – Future Energy, Tej is passionate about moving society along the path towards a future of secure, reliable and affordable low-carbon energy. He works with a diverse, globally connected team of technical experts to navigate the complex and rapidly accelerating energy transition to net zero emissions. His focus is on helping public and private sector clients to set and deliver on decarbonisation goals, to achieve long-lasting positive change for customers, communities and the climate. When he’s not busy working at the forefront of the Future Energy industry, Tej enjoys fostering the next generation of clean energy champions as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Waterloo Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Michael Hallam, Consulting Engineer, EnergyLink Services - Bridging the price gap for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Michael Hallam has been EnergyLink Services’ Consulting Engineer since 2018. He has formal qualifications in engineering and finance, with extensive experience consulting in areas such as renewable fuel policy, pathways for decarbonisation of industry and transport and associated economic modelling. Michael has specialised in energy modelling, energy auditing, renewable energy system feasibility and design, emissions quantification, reporting, and assurance auditing.
Sam Donaldson, Hub Sustainability Leader, Laing O'Rourke
Sam Donaldson is the national sustainability manager at Laing O’Rourke, an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and building projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia. Sam is an award-winning construction and accredited sustainability professional. Sam is helping operationalise Laing O’Rourke’s sustainability strategy to achieve ambitious targets such as net zero and supports various clients in delivering sustainable outcomes on major construction projects. Sam is passionate about helping transform the way we design and build projects to positively deliver social and environmental change.
Matt Walden, Transactions and Business Development at ARENA
Facilitator, Gabby Sycamore, General Manager Renewable Gas, Jemena
Gabrielle is the General Manager - Renewable Gas at Jemena, where she is leading the implementation of the gas networks long term decarbonisation strategy. Prior to joining Jemena, Gabrielle worked as a business analyst in Australia & overseas. Gabrielle holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Curtin University, a Masters of Business Administration from Deakin University and is a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Directors. She is also a member of the Bioenergy Australia Board, Energy Networks Australia Gas Committee, Australian Hydrogen Centre and the Future Fuels Cooperative Research Committee Board.