About the IX Decarb Forum
Australia’s electricity and energy sector is at the centre of the nation’s net zero transition — and the clock is ticking. With a 2050 target on the table and mounting pressure to decarbonise faster, the sector must accelerate action across generation, infrastructure, and integration.
The inaugural Decarb Forum for Electricity & Energy will bring together 150 leaders from across the energy ecosystem — including utilities, regulators, investors, and technical experts — to focus squarely on the biggest barriers to decarbonisation on the supply side. These include phasing out coal generation, scaling up renewables and firming capacity, modernising grid infrastructure, and overcoming regulatory, investment, and supply chain constraints.
The forum agenda is designed to drive practical solutions. Each session will be grounded in solving real-world challenges faced by electricity and energy companies as they work to meet their net zero commitments. Roundtable discussions, facilitated by national experts, will give participants the opportunity to collaboratively address roadblocks and develop actionable recommendations for government, associations and industry bringing solutions to scale.
A formal outcome report capturing these recommendations will be published and shared with government, industry groups, and national stakeholders to support a faster, more coordinated transition.
Join us in Sydney for a focused day of strategic, technical and collaborative work to help shape a decarbonised and resilient energy future for Australia.
Speakers
Liam Ryan
Executive Director
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water NSW
Katerina Kimmorley
Commissioner
NSW Net Zero Commission
Richie Merzia
Chief Executive Officer
Clean Energy Investor Group
Christiaan Zuur
General Manager – Market, Grid & Investment
Clean Energy Council
Mary Manning
Chief Investment Officer
National Reconstruction Fund
Mark Rowland
Chief Collaboration Officer
ROCeteer Inc.
Peta Ashworth
Director, Curtin Institute for Energy Transition
Curtin University
Stephen Craig
Director, National Energy Analysis Centre
CSIRO
Why Attend
Connect With Industry Leaders
Join 200+ senior decision-makers from utilities, generators, regulators, and clean energy innovators for high-value networking and collaboration across the energy ecosystem.
Shape National Recommendations
Contribute to roundtable discussions that feed directly into a formal outcome report for government and industry, helping shape the future of Australia’s net zero transition.
Tackle Sector Challenges
Each session is grounded in solving real-world challenges to decarbonisation, including phasing out coal generation, scaling up renewables and firming capacity, modernising grid infrastructure, and overcoming regulatory, investment, and supply chain constraints.
Discover Scalable Solutions
Explore cutting-edge technologies and services showcased by solution providers, designed to accelerate decarbonisation across generation, infrastructure, and integration.
Who will attend?
A multi-stakeholder event where leaders from energy, utilities, government and technology will come together to accelerate decarbonisation across Australia’s electricity and energy systems.
Business Decision Makers
Chief Sustainability Officers, Directors & Heads of Energy Transition, Climate Change, Clean Energy, Renewables, Decarbonisation.
C-Level & Executive Leadership
35%
Heads & Directors
40%
Managers & Senior Advisors
20%
Analysts & Technical Specialists
5%
Industry Sectors
Energy Operators & Utilities
20%
High Energy-Use Corporates
20%
Electricity Generators
15%
Renewable Project Developers & Operators
15%
Oil & Gas Companies
10%
Energy Retailers
10%
Regulators & Institutional Investors
5%
Hydrogen & Clean Fuels
5%
Agenda
8:00
Arrival and registration
8:45
Welcome to Country
8:50
Agenda setting and Introduction by Facilitator
Mark Rowland, Chief Collaboration Officer, ROCeteer Inc.
9:00
Keynote address: Guiding Australia's energy transformation: A blueprint for decarbonising the grid
Investment roadmap: Clear milestones from now to 2030 and 2050 that unlock private capital
Sequencing the build: Coordinating new renewable projects with coal plant closures to keep the lights on
Getting the rules right: Policy settings that accelerate private investment in clean energy infrastructure
TBA Senior Executive, Australian Energy Market Operator
TBA Commissioner, AEMC
9:15
Keynote address: Policy frameworks for accelerated decarbonisation: NSW's leadership in energy transition
Streamlining approvals: Fast-tracking clean energy projects through coordinated government processes
Investment certainty: Long-term policy settings that give business confidence to invest
Community partnerships: Building local support for major energy infrastructure projects
Liam Ryan, Executive Director, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water NSW
9:30
Panel discussion: What will it take to deliver net zero electricity by 2040 — or sooner?
System transformation: Modernising grid infrastructure while building national supply chains and technical capabilities
Investment acceleration: Policy settings and market design that align energy investment with whole-of-economy decarbonisation
First Nations and community partnerships: Essential collaboration for delivering culturally appropriate and nationally comprehensive net zero energy systems
Reshaping Australia’s industrial base around clean electricity
Moderator: Peta Ashworth, Director, Curtin Institute for Energy Transition, Curtin University
Katerina Kimmorley, Commissioner, NSW Net Zero Commission
Senior Executive, ARENA
10:10
In conversation: Delivering the net zero grid: Integrating clean energy at scale
Transmission backbone: Connecting renewable energy zones to major demand centres
Connection efficiency: Cutting red tape and timeframes for clean energy project approvals
Cost management: Balancing network investment with affordable power bills for consumers
Christiaan Zuur, General Manager – Market, Grid & Investment, Clean Energy Council
Fiona Orton, General Manager – Innovation & Energy Transition,Transgrid
10:30
Morning networking break
11:00
Accelerating the net zero transition: How energy organisations are driving system-wide transformation
Execution focus: Turning net zero commitments into measurable project delivery milestones
Leadership accountability: Governance structures that drive real progress beyond announcements
Collaboration models: Industry partnerships that accelerate deployment beyond business-as-usual
Moderator: Anna Skarbek, Chief Executive Officer, Climateworks Centre
Anne Pearson, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Essential Energy
Jane Butler, General Manager - Electrification and Innovation, AGL
John Titchen, Executive Director, Goldwind Australia
11:40
In conversation - Powering business: How large energy users are shaping Australia’s net zero energy system
Procurement strategies: How corporate renewable energy deals drive market development
Behind-the-meter solutions: On-site generation and storage reducing grid dependence
Supply chain pressure: Large companies driving decarbonisation requirements through value chains
Jackie McKeon, Director, Business Renewables Centre Australia
12:00
Keynote presentation – Decarbonising with data: The role of integrated energy analysis in driving the net zero transition
From Silos to Systems: Why Whole-of-Economy Energy Intelligence Matters
The Living Lab: Real-World Data to Ground Ambition in Reality
From Forecasting to Feedback: Building Adaptive and Accountable Net Zero Pathways
Stephen Craig, Director, National Energy Analysis Centre, CSIRO
12:15
Networking Session
In this fun, interactive session, you’ll meet fellow attendees and speakers in quick two-minute bursts to exchange contacts and lay the groundwork for deeper connections and collaboration throughout the rest of the event.
12:30
Lunch
1:30
Roundtable discussions: Breaking down challenges and scaling solutions to decarbonising the energy value chain
In this session, participants will have the opportunity to connect in small groups to unpack shared system barriers and co-develop practical, scalable solutions.
Dedicated tables to deep dive into solving priority decarbonisation challenges facing key sector stakeholder groups.
Energy producers - Balancing transition and reliability: Navigating the path to clean generation
Challenges
Transitioning core business models from fossil fuels to clean energy while maintaining financial viability and shareholder value
Securing capital for transformation in a competitive investment landscape with evolving regulatory frameworks
Richie Merzian, Chief Executive Officer, Clean Energy Investor Group
Electricity generators - Grid integration challenges: Scaling renewable generation for net zero
Challenges
Integrating variable renewable energy at scale while ensuring system stability and reliability
Deploying sufficient firming capacity (batteries, pumped hydro, hydrogen) to support intermittent renewables
Tim Buckley, Director, Climate Energy Finance
Network operators - Future-proofing the grid: Infrastructure adaptation for decentralised energy
Challenges
Accelerating transmission infrastructure development to connect remote renewable energy zones to load centres
Addressing connection bottlenecks that are currently delaying renewable project timelines and creating investor uncertainty
John Titchen, Executive Director, Goldwind Australia
Large energy users - Industrial decarbonisation: Cost-effective pathways for energy-intensive sectors
Challenges
Accessing viable renewable PPAs in a competitive market with limited project availability and complex contracting requirements
Managing scope 2 emissions through energy efficiency, on-site generation, and strategic procurement
Jackie McKeon, Director, Business Renewables Centre Australia
Retailers and energy traders - Market evolution: Navigating price volatility in the clean energy transition
Challenges
Developing new business models as energy shifts from commodity to service-based offerings
Managing price volatility risk in markets with high renewable penetration
Gregor Verbic, Director, Centre for Future Energy Network
2:30
Report back: Sharing insights ideas for action from Roundtable Discussions
3:00
Case study - Powering the Transition: Snowy Hydro’s Role in Australia’s Clean Energy Future
How Snowy 2.0 supports firmed renewables and grid reliability
The strategic value of pumped hydro storage in a net-zero energy system
Balancing decarbonisation, energy affordability, and security
Dennis Barnes, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Snowy Hydro
3:30
Afternoon networking break
4:10
Solving the grid bottleneck from the edge: Microgrids, embedded networks and the case for decentralisation
Discover fast, scalable alternatives to traditional transmission through real-world case studies on microgrids, embedded networks, and edge-of-grid systems
Understand the key barriers from regulatory blind spots to financing and integration challenge that are slowing decentralised energy deployment.
Gain insight into policy and investment shifts needed to unlock a wave of decentralised infrastructure and ease grid congestion during the transition.
Andrew Pearce, Head of Microgrids & Design, Alinta Energy
4:25
In conversation: Nature and energy transition: Environmental stewardship as a competitive advantage
Land use optimisation: Balancing renewable energy development with biodiversity conservation and agricultural productivity
Environmental risk management: Proactive habitat protection and restoration that reduces project delays and regulatory challenges
Nature-based opportunities: Integrating ecosystem services and carbon sequestration into energy infrastructure planning and financing
Rachel Lowry, Chief Executive Officer, Bush Heritage Australia
4:40
In conversation - What climate investors want from Australia’s energy sector
Investment criteria: Due diligence priorities for institutional capital in energy transition projects
Return expectations: Balancing risk and reward in long-term energy infrastructure investments
Policy settings: Regulatory frameworks that attract superannuation fund investment at scale
The next 5 years: What will unlock large-scale investment in grid decarbonisation?
Richie Merzian, Chief Executive Officer, Clean Energy Investor Group
5:00
Summary and action points
Mark Rowland, Chief Collaboration Officer, ROCeteer Inc.
Peta Ashworth, Director, Curtin Institute for Energy Transition, Curtin University
5:30
Networking drinks
What our Partners Say
"Owl Advisory by KWM is a repeat sponsor of Impact X events. We find them to be thoughtfully designed to ensure attendees can spend time discussing and problem solving, not just listening. The high level of audience engagement provided us with unique insights and valuable networking opportunities."
"Impact X is a unique gathering of industry leaders and has helped Polestar to raise awareness of sustainability in the automotive sector, to a qualified audience of key opinion leaders and decision makers."
"Schneider Electric has been involved with the Impact X summit for several years as we find the delegates, topics, and discussions impactful in supporting Australia's sustainability progress. Our presenters have been energised by the engaging questions and the round tables of years" past."