2025 Agenda

• Exploring the role of hybrid microgrids, localised storage, and renewables tailored to the unique needs and geographies of regional and remote Australia
• Examining practical strategies for reducing outages, improving maintenance response, and building community trust through transparent service delivery
• Learning how to co-design energy solutions with communities to ensure long-term social licence, cost equity, and energy justice beyond the major metros

• Interpreting major NEM reforms to stay ahead of regulatory and market shifts 
• Identifying investment and innovation opportunities linked to upcoming policy changes 
• Aligning business and leadership strategies with the future direction of Australia’s energy market 

• Turning the energy transformation into opportunity with innovative strategies that redefine how energy companies compete and win  
• Putting the consumer at the centre of the energy market to unlock opportunities and support equity, affordability, and long-term sustainability  
• Empowering customers at scale with the $2.3bn battery rebate, electric vehicles and electrification 

• Supporting customer participation and reducing peak demand through scalable, flexible connections 
• Unlocking new value streams and ensuring network readiness for high electrification scenarios 
• Managing variability and grid constraints through orchestration, storage and real-time insights 

• What are the most critical reforms currently underway in the National Energy Market and why do they matter? 
• How are policy changes like the Capacity Investment Scheme and Wholesale Market Settings Review impacting investment decisions? 
• What risks and opportunities do these reforms present for energy leaders? 
• How should energy and renewables companies adapt their strategies to remain competitive and compliant in a transforming market? 

• How do DEI strategies fall short in addressing the nuanced and intersecting barriers faced by women and minorities? 
• What deeper structural shifts are necessary to enable real, lasting & equitable career opportunities? 
• How can organisations recognise and dismantle unconscious bias in leadership selection, succession planning, and team dynamics? 
• What are some DEI initiatives that have created real impact & how can we scale or replicate those programs? 

• Cultivating your skills as a mentor to share your knowledge, help your team to build their network, and accelerate their career growth 
• Engaging in sponsorship to open doors and elevate emerging talent 
• Making intentional, long-term impact with your team to lead with purpose, impact, and long-term value 

• Modelling calmness, clarity, and accountability to inspire trust from your team in uncertain moments 
• Translating values into visible actions to influence internal culture and team behaviour 
• Showing up with consistency to build credibility and drive long-term respect from your team and management 

• Which leadership traits prove most valuable in today’s business world to drive sustainable success?  
• How can leaders cultivate influence beyond technical expertise or formal authority? 
• What role does adaptability, emotional intelligence, and curiosity play in building trust and credibility in your team and beyond? 
• How are influential leaders inspiring action and alignment across diverse teams and stakeholders? 

• Turning volatility into opportunity with innovative strategies to redefine how energy companies can thrive in an evolving sector 
• Inspiring agile, future-ready teams who can lead change, not just respond to it 
• Balancing long-term vision with short-term pressures to create lasting value 

This presentation will provide an overview of Synergy’s DER platform program including the adoption of CSIP-Aus as a standardised approach to DER management and innovations to extend the capabilities of this standard to not only create additional value for customers but also help to maintain system stability and reliability. Working collaboratively with the WA Government, stakeholders and industry partners, Synergy is exploring the innovative solutions required to manage distributed energy resources, such as harnessing the interoperability capabilities of new technology to provide energy reliability and support all customers through the transition.

• Focusing on ensuring energy reliability for our customers, whilst supporting the continued uptake of rooftop solar.
• Meeting the challenges presented by distributed energy resources (DER), Synergy is aligning with national standards for the orchestration of DER and exploring different technology solutions to provide energy reliability and maintain system stability.
• Working with the State Government and industry partners, including Western Power, AEMO and Energy Policy WA, to support all customers through the delivery of a reliable and sustainable energy transition.

• What’s driving momentum in storage technologies like batteries and pumped hydro?  
• What are the biggest barriers to large-scale deployment and who should lead the charge to overcome them?  
• How can leaders navigate regulatory, funding, and infrastructure challenges?  
• What role will storage play in enabling grid resilience and energy equity?  

• Converting organic waste into renewable energy to create new value and reduce reliance on fossil fuels 
• Producing biomethane to integrate with existing gas networks for faster deployment and lower emissions 
• Scaling biogas innovation to diversify Australia’s energy mix and support decarbonisation goals 

• Why culture had to change: Understanding the limitations of command-and-control leadership in preparing for a rapidly evolving energy landscape 
• Leading with values, not hierarchy: How embedding purpose, trust, and empowerment became the foundation for transformation 
• Preparing for the future: Aligning people, culture, and leadership capability to enable innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth. Key challenges and learnings in preparing a legacy business and our people for a dynamic future 

• What holds women back from progressing into senior leadership and how can today’s leaders remove those barriers? 
• How can male and female leaders work together to create a culture where emerging women leaders are seen, supported, and sponsored? 
• What practical steps can genuinely move the dial for emerging women leaders? 

• Exploring the issues behind complaints to EWON from landholders and community members in the REZ’s
• Understanding the importance of ‘boots on the ground’ community engagement and its role in building trust
• Future state - what needs to change to address the disconnect between industry and community feedback

• IEA and our female leaders
• Discussing relationships between Country, Indigenous Energy, Human Rights, and Economic Empowerment 
• The importance of recognising intersectionality and advocating for diverse, female leadership
• Elevating diverse leaders as part of the energy system transformation - with a focus on Indigenous voices.
• Current challenges and opportunities 

• Championing local ownership models to strengthen consumer trust, engagement, and long-term buy-in 
• Applying inclusive design principles to ensure fair access and shared benefits across communities 
• Empowering community leadership to deliver projects that are resilient, relevant, and widely supported 

• Engaging early and authentically to build trust, address concerns, and strengthen social licence 
• Embedding community benefit sharing to create tangible, long-term value for host regions 
• Safeguarding environmental and cultural heritage to align projects with community priorities and expectations 

Whether you're securing a high-stakes deal, advocating for a promotion, or navigating the complexities of cross-functional collaboration, negotiation is a fundamental business skill that can shape your career trajectory 

Through practical strategies, real-world scenarios, and expert facilitation, this highly interactive session will equip you with the tools to advocate for yourself and your ideas, unlock new opportunities, and drive better outcomes for your organisation and career. 

Learning Outcomes: 

• Learn the core principles of effective negotiation and how to apply them in both formal and informal settings 
• Explore proven techniques for managing nerves, overcoming imposter syndrome, and approaching negotiations with calm self-assurance 
• Develop strategies to handle pushback, conflict, and high-pressure discussions with professionalism and poise 
• Learn how to assess what you bring to the table, identify leverage points, and position your value to others persuasively 
• Discover how to achieve your goals while maintaining respect, trust, and collaboration with peers and stakeholders 
• Identify your personal negotiation style, adapt it to different scenarios, and build a flexible toolkit that works across contexts 

By the end of this Masterclass, you’ll walk away with a renewed sense of confidence, a clear set of actionable strategies, and a framework for approaching every negotiation, big or small, with purpose and skill. 

Don’t just be part of the conversation – learn how to shape it.