Three senior voices share the mistakes, mindsets, and must-have traits shaping the future of energy leadership.
As Australia’s energy transition accelerates, so too does the demand for bold, values-driven leadership. But what does it really take to lead in an era of uncertainty, complexity, and transformation?
Ahead of the 2nd Annual Women in Energy & Renewables Summit, we asked several of the industry’s senior voices to share the lessons they wish they’d learned earlier offering candid, practical advice for the next generation of energy leaders. Their reflections paint a picture not of perfection, but of persistence, self-awareness, and the courage to evolve.
Get Comfortable with the Discomfort
For Renae Gasmier, Head of Innovation and Strategy at AGL, the biggest lesson has been learning to lean into discomfort.
“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. That’s our challenge as we face the energy transition. That it’s going to take some really uncomfortable adjustments inside our companies. I have always liked to run and now I've taken up triathlons to test myself, and I now know that when my inner voice is telling me how difficult things are, I can push through.”
Leadership, she suggests, isn’t about eliminating difficulty. It’s about being ready to meet it with resilience and clarity of purpose. Especially now.
“Turning the energy transition from a series of policy goals into real outcomes for our customers is about being curious and open to what's possible, and these are areas where women naturally excel. If you can paint the picture of where you want to end up, in a way that people can easily grasp, along with a sprinkle of inspiration, then there are always people who will collaborate with you to overcome what seemed like insurmountable problems.”
Learn Fast, Fail Faster, and Own Your Path
Sharon Swift, Senior Manager at UNSW’s Digital Grid Futures Institute, offers a flurry of sharp-edged advice, each grounded in real-world experience:
“You learn more from failures than successes... It’s tempting to strive for perfection when you are trying to impress; but progress, velocity and momentum are much more important as things move so fast these days.”
She urges emerging leaders to ditch the illusion that they need all the answers and instead focus on honesty, mindfulness, and personal accountability.
“If you don’t have an answer – be honest rather than bluff your way through... YOU own your career, your employer owns the role. Invest in yourself, don’t rely on your employer.”
In a sector that’s constantly in flux, Swift argues that the ability to test, pivot, and evolve is more valuable than polished certainty.
“The best ideas need testing and are nothing without validation and effective execution – varied perspectives are key to winning ideas and having strong vision. Socialise and test ideas before committing to a plan. Pivot or change direction as soon as possible.”
And above all, she says, stay anchored to your principles:
“Proactively develop mindfulness and self-awareness to understand your core values and principles... There is so much overwhelm in today’s fast-paced world – having belief in these will help if you ever waver.”
It’s Not About You, Until It Is
For Philippa Minton, Market Development and Strategy Manager – Renewable Gas at Jemena, one of the most important mindset shifts was learning not to internalise every challenge.
“The biggest thing is that it’s not personal. Often when there is change, or your influence might feel like it’s falling on deaf ears, you can think that it’s about you. But I’ve realised now it’s often not. It’s often the other person or the situation or many things you can’t control. So largely just don’t take everything personally and know that as long as you’ve put your best foot forward, that’s all you can control.”
Earlier in her career, Minton admits she spread herself too thin driven by the need to prove her worth. But over time, she realised the power of focus.
“Success is as much about what you choose to do, as what you choose not to do... Trying to do everything and spreading yourself too thin does not always reflect hard work and great outcomes. However, prioritising tasks and sticking to the most important narrative will move the dial the most.”
Today, her message is one of adaptive leadership and humility in the face of the unknown:
“Be nimble. The energy transition is the greatest challenge the world has had to face... Be ready to change tact, admit when things aren’t going the way you intended them to, and be prepared to constantly evolve. Our kids are counting on us.”
Progress Over Perfection
A unifying theme across all three leaders’ reflections is the idea that leadership is less about having answers and more about the ability to move forward, bring others along, and adjust when needed.
Whether it's facing discomfort head-on, learning from missteps, or staying true to core values, the message to emerging leaders is clear:
You don’t have to be flawless. But you do have to be real, resilient, and ready.
If the energy sector succeeds in pairing bold policy with inclusive leadership, it won’t just reshape markets it will redefine what power looks like in the 21st century.
Hear from Renae, Sharon, Philippa and over 35 other inspirational leaders at the Women in Energy & Renewables Summit in Sydney from 9-11 September 2025. Learn more.
To access the detailed conference program, download the brochure here.
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