SPEAKERS & PROGRAM

We are delighted to announce the program for the 2024 State of Energy Research Conference! The conference will feature three days of outstanding speakers from research and industry, discussing the energy transition from all angles.

The program is available for download below. However, please note that this program is SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

DOWNLOAD 2024 PROGRAM

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

Click the buttons below to view the speakers confirmed for each day of the conference and their topics

VIPs

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

State of Energy Research conference (SoERC) 2024 speaker Ken Baldwin

CHAIR: Prof. Peta Ashworth (Curtin Institute for Energy Transition)

Professor Ken Baldwin

Chair of the ACOLA Australian Energy Transition Research Plan

KEYNOTE 1.1: Benchmarking research on the energy transition

Professor Ken Baldwin was the inaugural Director of the Australian National University’s Energy Change Institute, now part of the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions. He was also the founding Director of the ANU Grand Challenge: Zero-Carbon Energy for the Asia-Pacific. The main focus of his work is to help drive the energy transition, particularly for Australia’s future export industries based on renewable energy.

State of Energy Research conference (SoERC) 2024 speaker Pierluigi Mancarella

CHAIR: Prof. Ken Baldwin (Australian Energy Transition Research Plan)

Professor Pierluigi Mancarella

University of Melbourne

KEYNOTE 1.2 Energy systems integration

Pierluigi Mancarella is the Chair Professor of Electrical Power Systems at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and Professor of Smart Energy Systems at the University of Manchester, UK. His key research interests include techno-economic modelling and analysis of multi-energy systems, grid integration of renewables and distributed energy resources, energy infrastructure planning under uncertainty, and security, reliability, and resilience of low-carbon networks.

CHAIR: Prof. Peta Ashworth (Curtin University)

Chris Sounness

Wimmera Southern Mallee Development (WSM)

KEYNOTE 1.3 Enabling the renewable energy revolution in the regions

Chris Sounness brings over 30 years of experience in regional development as WSM CEO and with a background in agricultural research, crisis incident control and agricultural resilience development. Chris joined WDA, now WSM Development, in 2019, and actively participates in initiatives and boards, advocating for renewable energy, climate resilience, and community leadership. Chris highlights challenges and structural and social disadvantages rural communities face, and opportunities to lessen those compared to urban communities.

CHAIR: Prof. Eric May (University of Western Australia)

Audrey Zibelman

Zibelman Energy Advisors

KEYNOTE 2.1: Afterward - the innovations and practices that accelerated the energy transition

CHAIR: Prof. Eric May (University of Western Australia)

Dr Kate George

First Nations Clean Energy and Emissions Reductions Advisory Committee

KEYNOTE 2.2: Energy transition policy development and implementation, and the unique rights and aspirations of First Nations’ peoples

CHAIR: A/ Prof. Roger Dargaville (Monash University)

Professor Maria Forsyth

Deakin University

KEYNOTE 2.3: Energy storage technologies to support the transition

CHAIR: Prof. Ken Baldwin (Australian Energy Transition Research Plan)

Professor Bruce Mountain

Victoria University

KEYNOTE 2.4: Risks in integrated systems planning

Bruce Mountain is a well-known Australian energy economist and Director of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre. Challenges that arise from the transition to renewable electricity have drawn his focus for most of the last two decades. He is interested in economics, policy and institutions in the tradition of political economy.

State of Energy Research conference (SoERC) 2024 speaker Elizabeth Thurbon

CHAIR: A/ Prof. Roger Dargaville (Monash University)

Professor Elizabeth Thurbon

University of New South Wales

KEYNOTE 2.5: Turbocharging the energy transition with a new green energy statecraft

Elizabeth is Professor of International Political Economy in the School of Social Sciences at UNSW Sydney. Elizabeth's research examines the strategic role of the state in the green energy shift, with a special focus on the role of the state in Northeast Asia and Australia. Elizabeth is passionate about collaborating with policy and business leaders to turbocharge the transition to a green energy future.

CHAIR: Dani Alexander (University of New South Wales)

Anna Skarbek

Climateworks Centre

KEYNOTE 3.1

Anna Skarbek is CEO of Climateworks Centre, working to develop the low carbon economy. A former banker and green policy adviser, Anna has led Climateworks since its creation in 2009, analysing
emissions reduction opportunities, setting the ambition and unblocking barriers to implementation. Climateworks’ independent and non-partisan approach, co-founded by The Myer Foundation and Monash University, sees Anna working with multiple federal government departments as well as state governments and large corporations along with other stakeholders, including investors and
business, environment and civil society leaders.

State of Energy Research conference (SoERC) 2024 speaker Frank Jotzo

Professor Frank Jotzo

Australian National University [ANU]

KEYNOTE 3.2: Policy development to support the transition

Frank Jotzo is Professor of environmental economics and climate change economics at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, where he directs the Centre for Climate and Energy Policy. He is also Head of Energy with the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions and director of the ANU Zero-Carbon Energy for Asia-Pacific grand challenge initiative. He has been appointed to lead Australia’s Carbon Leakage Review.

CHAIR: Dani Alexander (University of New South Wales)

CHAIR: Prof. Paul Medwell (University of Adelaide)

Associate Professor Penelope Crossley

University of Sydney

KEYNOTE 3.3: Renewable energy and energy storage governance

Associate Professor Penelope Crossley specialises in the complex legal issues associated with the energy and resources sectors. In particular, her research focuses on the fields of comparative renewable energy and energy storage law, electricity market governance, and the intersection between tort law and the energy and resources sector. Penelope is the Senior Industry Advisor to the Australian Energy Storage Alliance on regulatory and policy issues and is the Chair of the Product Listing Review Panel for the Clean Energy Council.

Keynotes

VIP SPEAKERS

CHAIR: Prof. Eric May (University of Western Australia)

Hon. Reece Whitby MLA

WA Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Action

VIP ADDRESS: Policy development to support the transition

Minister Whitby has overseen government departments responsible for protecting Western Australia’s environment since December 2021 and gained the Energy portfolio in December 2023.

Reece is coordinating the State’s response to climate change while establishing a whole-of-government approach to reduce emissions. He is Western Australia’s first Minister to attend a United Nations Climate Change Conference, addressing audiences at COP27 and meeting Ministerial counterparts from across the globe. He followed that up by attending COP28 in December 2023.

CHAIR: Prof. Peta Ashworth (Curtin Institute for Energy Transition)

Professor Peter Klinken AC FAHMS FTSE CitWA

Chief Scientist of Western Australia

OPENING ADDRESS: Accelerating the energy transition

Professor Klinken is a leading Western Australian medical research scientist, highly regarded for his work in advancing the understanding of genes involved in leukemia, cancer and anaemia. Professor Klinken began his tenure on 10 June 2014, and is Western Australia’s third Chief Scientist. He has since been reappointed four times, with his tenure continuing to June 2025. He is passionate about issues for Indigenous people, and ensuring that the education system provides opportunities for everyone in a rapidly changing world.

PANELLISTS

1.1 HOW CAN RESEARCH ACCELERATE THE ENERGY TRANSITION?

MODERATOR: Prof. Peta Ashworth (Curtin Institute for Energy Transition)

State of Energy Research conference (SoERC) 2024 panellist Dietmar Tourbier

Dr Dietmar Tourbier

CSIRO

Sarah McNamara

Australian Energy Council

Kate Ryan

Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)

Professor Peter Klinken

WA Chief Scientist

Professor Michael Brear

Net Zero Australia Project

2.1 WA'S POTENTIAL TO FAST TRACK THE AUSTRALIAN TRANSITION

MODERATOR: Prof. Eric May (University of Western Australia)

Rachelle Doyle

RioTinto

Vi Garrood

Horizon Power

Justin Nash

BP

Jai Thomas

Energy Policy WA

Dom Watson

Synergy

2.2 DO WE NEED AN INTEGRATED ECONOMY-WIDE PLAN FOR AUSTRALIA'S ENERGY SYSTEM?

MODERATOR: Prof. Ken Baldwin (Australian Energy Transition Research Plan)

Prof. Peta Ashworth

Curtin Institue for Energy Transition

Rowan Hill

Mineral Resources

State of Energy Research conference (SoERC) 2024 panellist Tim Nelson

Assoc. Prof Tim Nelson

Ibredola, Griffith University

Monica Richter

WWF

Dean Sharifi

Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)

Panellists

ORAL PRESENTERS

CHAIR: Prof. Paul Medwell
(University of Adelaide)

Read the abstracts

CHAIR: Dr Charlie Hargrove
(Curtin University)

CHAIR: Prof. Peta Ashworth
(Curtin University)

Read the abstracts

Time	Resources, Systems and Tech (A)	Resources, Systems and Tech (B)	Markets, Policy and Regulations
15:40 - 16:00	H2LCA.org: An online tool for life cycle assessment of green hydrogen and ammonia production Dr Graham Palmer (Monash University)	Road mapping an equitable transition to EVs in Perth Sinead Thompson (Arup)	Australian Microgrids: Catalysing the Regional Energy Transition Dr Simon Wright (Charles Sturt University)
16:00 - 16:20	Comparing the Economics and Emissions of Grid-Connected vs. Off-Grid Hydrogen Production Dr Changlong Wang (Monash University)	Observed destination charging behaviour at Monash University A/Prof Roger Dargaville (Monash University)	Electricity tariffs and total cost of ownership of corporate electric vehicles A/Prof Alexandr Akimov (Griffith University)
16:20 - 16:40	Cost-competitiveness implications of misalignment in hydrogen certifications: a case study of exports from Australia to the EU Dr Reza Fazeli (Australian National University)	The future of hot water flexible demand in the age of rooftop solar Dr Baran Yildiz (School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE)/UNSW)	Are lands sufficient for solar and onshore wind in the Group of Twenty (G20) and Australia to supply 2050 electricity demands? Dr Saori Miyake (University of Technology Sydney)
16:40 - 17:00	Modelling sustainable hydrogen supply chain paths Prof Michael Johns (University of Western Australia)	Machine Learning Approach to Detecting Electric Vehicle Charging at both Meter-level and Feeder-Level Dr Hao Wang (Monash University)	Is Renewable Energy Sustainable? Relationships between renewable energy production and sustainable development goals Jing Tian (The University of Adelaide)
17:00 - 17:20	Export-domestic energy integration via industrial hydrogen storage Dr Bin Lu (Australian National University)	Lessons from the rEVolution: The first residential vehicle-to-grid instance in Australia Prof Stuart White (Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS)	Mapping Australia's home energy upgrade ecosystem and unpacking the elusive one-stop shop Dr Ed Langham (Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS)

MORNING SESSIONS

Time	Resources, Systems and Technologies	People, Societies and Institutions	Markets, Policy and Regulations
11:25 - 11:45	Incentivising agrivoltaics: a multidisciplinary perspective Dr Madeline Taylor (Macquarie University)	First Nations and clean energy: barriers, opportunities and actions to increase First Nations jobs in clean energy Dr Chris Briggs (University of Technology Sydney)	The roadmap to 100% renewables in WA Dean Sharafi (Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO))
11:45 - 12:05	The role of hydrogen blending in Australian natural gas networks Prof Paul Medwell (The University of Adelaide)	Emergent opportunities and barriers on the feasibility of microgrids in Australia Farzan Tahir (University of Technology Sydney)	Planning and governance decision making informed by sequential design of net zero greenfield energy hubs Dr Arian Zahedmanesh (The University of Sydney)
12:05 - 12:25	Effect of beta-phase fraction on hydrogen embrittlement in two-phase titanium alloys. Lucia Chen (CSIRO)	Visibility, meaning and power imbalances in a VPP pilot Dr Maureen Boyle (Australian National University)	Engaging with communities to plan transmission Alisa Toomey (Australian Energy Market Commission)
12:25 - 12:45	Transforming main roads into net zero boulevards Professor Peter Newman (Curtin University)	Accelerating a just transition? Human rights due diligence as a tool to ensure a social licence to operate for wind and solar projects in WA Rosie Rowe (Curtin University)	Modelling the dynamics of wind generation in the Australian national electricity market Jennifer Zhao (Macquarie Business School)
12:45 - 13:05	Leveraging consumer investment in the energy transition: A meta-analysis of the potential contribution and economic benefits of distributed energy resources in Australia Dr Gabrielle Kuiper (IEEFA)	Warm and safe? An exploration of householder practices and perceptions of heating in Victoria Dr Pabasara Wijeratne (RMIT University)	Research priorities for the rapid re-engineering of Australia's power systems Chris Davies (Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO))

AFTERNOON SESSIONS

CHAIR: Dr Maureen Boyle
(Australian National University)

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CHAIR: Peter Hansford
(Deakin University)

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CHAIR: Dr Tania Urmee
(Murdoch University)

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Time	Resources, Systems and Technologies	People, Societies and Institutions	Markets, Policy and Regulations
16:20 - 16:40	Driving toward tomorrow: cost dynamics of hydrogen-powered trucks and infrastructure in Australia Dr Pourandokht Naseri Hudson (Curtin University)	Social licence for offshore wind energy in Australia Dr Alaya Spencer-Cotton (The University of Western Australia)	CCS renaissance: why hub and cluster models matter for implementing low emissions infrastructure Dr Linda Stalker (CSIRO)
16:40 - 17:00	The energy transition and sustainability: are we disregarding intergenerational equity? Prof Tina Soliman-Hunter (Macquarie University)	Creating lasting and meaningful benefits from new energy projects: what communities in Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) expect for a social licence to operate. A/Prof Kathy Witt (University of Queensland)	System-level impacts of 24/7 Carbon-Free Electricity procurement in Australia Dr Dylan McConnell (UNSW Sydney)
17:00 - 17:20	Sharing learnings from Australia's only non-commercial Wave Energy demonstration project: the M4 in Albany, WA Prof Christophe Gaudin (University of Western Australia)	Accelerating corporate Australia's delivery and implementation of Net Zero by 2050 strategies Dr Ellen Tyquin (Queensland University of Technology)	The financial analysis of solar and battery power purchase agreements Professor Stefan Trueck (Macquarie Business School)
17:20 - 17:40	Enabling high PV penetration levels in low-voltage distribution networks using smart inverter control strategies Dr Ibrahim Ibrahim (University of Technology Sydney)	ESG risks in the supply chain: A blind spot in the energy transition Prof Nigar Sultana (Curtin University)	Collocating renewables and ore processing accelerates sustainable decarbonization of the metal industry Dr Bishal Bharadwaj (Curtin Institute for Energy Transition)

CHAIR: Dr Bishal Bharadwaj
(Curtin University)

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CHAIR: Peter Hansford
(Deakin University)

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CHAIR: Dr Chris Briggs
(University of Technology Sydney)

Read the abstracts

Time	Resources, Systems and Tech (A)	People, Societies and Institutions	Resources, Systems and Tech (B)
11:35 - 11:55	An electro-geothermal battery for large-scale ultra-supercritical energy storage based on Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) Prof Klaus Regenauer-Lieb (Curtin University)	Building a social license to operate for renewable gas: Reflections and lessons learnt since 2020 Dr Amrita Kambo (University of Queensland)	DEEPSyM-GriD: Digital Tool for Modelling Energy Demand, Supply, and Net-Zero Emissions Dr Gobinath Rajarathnam (The University of Sydney)
11:55 - 12:15	Geothermal/Ground source heat pumps - tapping the potential reduction in peak demand, urban heat island effect and embodied carbon Dr Tracey Colley (RACE for 2030 CRC)	The BioCultural Approach to Effective Clean Energy Projects Raquel Tardin Coelho (Curtin University)	Geotechnical research to unlock safe, cost-efficient foundations to underpin offshore wind in Australia Professor Fraser Bransby (The University of Western Australia)
12:15 - 12:35	Broken Hill Battery Energy Storage System: Supporting the Reliable Supply of Electricity in the NEM Dr. Georgios Konstantinou (UNSW)	Climate Contracts: A Swedish perspective on transdisciplinary partnerships for energy transitions Dr Giles Thomson (Curtin University / Blekinge Institute of Technology)	The optimal infrastructure design for smart charging system: a case study based on the Monash microgrid Soobok Yoon (Monash University)
12:35 - 12:55	Electrification of Mining Mobile Fleets and Machinery: The Role of Optimal Systematic Design Dr Hossein Ranjbar (University of Adelaide)	Realities of electric mobility transition in developing countries: the case of Nepal Monica Maharjan (Murdoch University)	Re-Designing the Energy Transition based on Circular Economy principles - Materials Constrained Optimisation Framework Professor Ali Abbas (The University of Sydney)

Orals

POSTER PRESENTERS

Title	Author	Affiliation
Path to Net Zero: Challenges & Opportunities �	Prof Deanna D'Alessandro	University of Sydney
Upconversion Fluorescence in Critical REE Minerals	Mr Thomas Slattery	The University of Adelaide
WATCH: Pioneering Digital Solutions for Circular Economy Metrics in Western Australia	Mr Pablo Vargas	Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute
The future GPG volatility risk - challenges for the gas and electricity sectors	Dr Joe Lane	The University of Queensland
Assessing Australia's practicable, long-term, prospects for CO2 geo-sequestration	Prof Andrew Garnett	The University of Queensland
Analysis of market, cost and locational factors for green iron and steel in Australia	Dr Reza Fazeli	Australian National University
Lab-scale demonstration of an integrated Power-to-Liquid process applying co-electrolysis for efficient syncrude production.	Michael Gallwitz	Fraunhofer IKTS
Experimental and model-based investigations of hydrogen-based direct reduction kinetics of iron ore	Dr Matthias Jahn	Fraunhofer IKTS
Developing a Sustainable Green IT Model in Australian Higher-educational Institutions	Mr Mahnaz Jafari	Curtin University

Posters

SPEAKERS & PROGRAM

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Sponsored by Rio Tinto

CHAIR: Prof. Peta Ashworth (Curtin Institute for Energy Transition)

Professor Ken Baldwin

Chair of the ACOLA Australian Energy Transition Research Plan

KEYNOTE 1.1: Benchmarking research on the energy transition

CHAIR: Prof. Ken Baldwin (Australian Energy Transition Research Plan)

Professor Pierluigi Mancarella

University of Melbourne

KEYNOTE 1.2 Energy systems integration

CHAIR: Prof. Peta Ashworth (Curtin University)

Chris Sounness

Wimmera Southern Mallee Development (WSM)

KEYNOTE 1.3 Enabling the renewable energy revolution in the regions

VIP SPEAKERS

CHAIR: Prof. Eric May (University of Western Australia)

Hon. Reece Whitby MLA

WA Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Action

VIP ADDRESS: Policy development to support the transition

PANELLISTS

1.1 HOW CAN RESEARCH ACCELERATE THE ENERGY TRANSITION?

MODERATOR: Prof. Peta Ashworth (Curtin Institute for Energy Transition)

Dr Dietmar Tourbier

CSIRO

Sarah McNamara

Australian Energy Council

Kate Ryan

Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)

Professor Peter Klinken

WA Chief Scientist

Professor Michael Brear

Net Zero Australia Project

ORAL PRESENTERS

CHAIR: Prof. Paul Medwell (University of Adelaide)

CHAIR: Dr Charlie Hargrove (Curtin University)

CHAIR: Prof. Peta Ashworth (Curtin University)

POSTER PRESENTERS

Sponsored by
Rio Tinto

CHAIR: Prof. Paul Medwell
(University of Adelaide)

CHAIR: Dr Charlie Hargrove
(Curtin University)

CHAIR: Prof. Peta Ashworth
(Curtin University)