Opening the door to new opportunities and funding for industry through partnerships will be the key focus of Session one, with an overview of the NSW government’s Net Zero Plan and the NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub. The session will highlight the challenges and opportunities for meeting emissions targets and adapting to climate change, while showcasing new initiatives in decarbonising NSW at a ground level.

Justin Koek
Office of Energy and Climate Change

Edward Jansson
Senior Manager, NSW Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer

Tony Westmore
Hub Manager, NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub

John Fletcher
Professor and Director, EESN Network, UNSW

Dr Cathy Waters
Principal Research Scientist and Leader, Climate Research, NSW Department of Primary Industries 

Hosted by Warwick Dawson
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Industry and Engagement, the University of Newcastle

A cleaner and more resilient future energy system with net-zero emissions will require a wide range of technologies. Session 2 will showcase new innovations in clean new energy technology and emerging renewable energy material including printed solar cells, microgrids, small modular reactors and hydrogen solutions as well as their implementation and use in the market.

Dr Ben Vaughan
ANFF Hub Manager, Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle

Michael Sharpe
Industry Specialist, LAVO

Robert Parker
Founder, Nuclear for Climate Australia

John O'Connor
Energy Research Officer, NSW Department of Primary Industries

James Hay
Chief Executive, Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo)

Matthew Hingerty
Deputy Chairman, Deputy CEO and Head of Business Development, Star Scientific

Hosted by Greg Lamont
Executive Officer, Association of Mining and Energy Related Councils (MERC) NSW

Managing Director, LarkinSykes Advisory

A round trip tour of the region starting at Tomingley Gold Operations to see the extension project and hear about their efforts in exploring renewable energy solutions to support power requirements, followed by a visit to the Parkes Special Activation Precinct, which focuses on the inland rail and national logistics hub.

The tour will continue to Wellington and visit Bodangora Wind Farm, a 113.2 MW wind farm featuring 33 turbines which power 49,000 homes annually, before returning to Dubbo to investigate innovative hydrogen energy storage systems at LAVO’s Blueridge site and the proposed Dubbo Firming Power Station, which will use waste water to create green hydrogen energy.

8:30 AM: Depart Dubbo Rhino Lodge

• Q&A: The Dubbo Project and ASMs Metalisation Strategy (Dale Josephson, ASM, Acting Project Director, The Dubbo Project and Wayne Dicinoski, Process Manager)
• Viewing Platform at Peak Hill: Tomingley Gold Extension Project, and then Ambient Noise Tomography (Alex Cherry, Alkane)
• Parkes SAP Tour (Azaria Dobson, Director Activation Precincts and Partnerships, Department of Regional NSW)
  
• Northern Molong Porphyry Project overview (Rodney Dean, Senior Exploration Geologist)
  
• Bodangora Wind Farm (Michael Bullock, Senior Exploration Geologist)
• LAVO site at Blueridge (Michael Sharpe, Industry Specialist)
• The Dubbo Firming Power Station (Tim Vesey, Energy Transition Solutions)

2:45 PM:  Return to Dubbo Rhino Lodge

Skills of the Future:
Identifying and anticipating skills needed for the green and low-carbon economy will be the focus of an afternoon panel discussion. Learn about initiatives to address the skills and workforce challenges of the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone and investigate the regional industry education partnership program and how it can promote career pathways for the renewable energy zone by connecting workforce requirements to schools. The session will also highlight the impacts of renewable energy projects from a cultural perspective taking into consideration social license in an indigenous context and what it means for connection to Country.

Warwick Dawson
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Industry and Engagement, the University of Newcastle

Dr Mark Apthorpe
Electricity Infrastructure Jobs Advocate

Jacqui Masters
Senior Project Officer, Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) Program, Training Services NSW, NSW Department of Education

John Allison
Head of Economic Development, Squadron Energy

Housing Solutions:
Will this focus on sustainable housing development, LGA planning, social housing. The panel will discuss impacts of projects, solutions and policy needs to support the accelerated provision of housing and accommodation for communities.

Brad Cam
Chair, Housing Plus

Murray Wood
CEO, Dubbo Regional Council

Cameron Crowley
North West Precinct Community

Laura Shooter
Managing Director, SJ Shooter Real Estate

Day 2 concludes with canapé dinner and drinks.

Welcome: Mayor Mathew Dickerson
Renewables from a Youth Perspective: Megan Jones, Co-Founder, Circular PV Alliance

Work through the challenges and expectations of a zero emissions environment in the future. Investigate the role of government initiatives in fostering innovation, investment and sustainable development in the natural resources sector of Regional NSW. The session will also delve into the opportunities of electrification. Why switching our fossil fuel machines to efficient electric versions and powering them with clean electricity will provide lasting change and benefit the community. How communities can drive change, what does investment in electrification look like and what are some of the barriers to overcome in electrifying our towns and suburbs?

Roy Butler MP
Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member for Barwon

The Hon. Penny Sharpe, MLC
Member of the Legislative Council
Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Heritage
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
Member of the Australian Labor Party

Brad Cam
Chair, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana

Councillor Kevin Duffy
Orange City Council,
Chair, Association of Mining and Energy Related Councils (MERC) NSW

Dugald Saunders, MP
Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member for Dubbo
Shadow Minister for Regional NSW, and Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources

Kate Minter
Managing Director, Rewiring Australia
Electrification and how we ensure the transition is equitable and accessible for all homes and communities

What does the future look like for the energy and resources sector in the short, medium and long term? Learn about the challenges and opportunities being found in the mining, exploration, gas and nuclear energy sectors. Explore the mining industry’s journey into sustainability, examine facts and fiction about the gas industry as well as current and future supply use and demand. Find out what role nuclear power plays in climate change and how small modular reactors can support mining, processing and remote communities.

Stephen Galilee
CEO, NSW Minerals Council

Robert Parker
Founder, Nuclear for Climate Australia

Andrew Grogan
Partner, ESG Partners

Yvette Lloyd
Mining, Exploration and Geoscience, Department of Regional NSW

Hosted by Greg Lamont
Executive Officer, Association of Mining and Energy Related Councils (MERC) NSW

Every project that comes into a region, brings with it significant opportunity. The challenge is to know how to leverage each opportunity. This session focuses on how communities and businesses can find leverage and take advantage of projects happening in their region.

Consider new circular economy opportunities through SMaRT technologies and microfactories creating sustainable materials and products, and manufacturing with renewable energy.

Investigate the development of the hydrogen supply chain and new hydrogen focused technologies. Investigate how pricing signals and technology are encouraging investors and end users to work together to accelerate decarbonisation and learn about power purchase agreements and the potential to provide price and supply security of clean electricity to local businesses and councils.

Professor Veena Sahajwalla
Scientia Professor and Founding Director, UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre

Michael Sharpe
Industry Specialist, LAVO

Grant Raja
General Manager Sales, Schneider Electric Sustainability Business

Clare Larkin-Sykes
Co-Lead, NewH2 - Hunter Hydrogen Technology Cluster

Dr Simon Wright
Research Principal, Energy Futures, Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS

Hosted by Prof Alan Broadfoot
Executive Director, NIER, University of Newcastle

The transition to a low emissions future will impact on the regions, this session will help identify the steps to build economic prosperity while also moving towards a lower carbon economy. The session will discuss regional workforce requirements, upskilling and creating a future workforce pipeline for the clean energy sector and take a closer look into communities, managing community pressure, how to build trust and engagement and the effects a low emission future will have on mining towns.

Professor Leanne Piggott
Director of Experience, UNSW

Martine Holberton
Senior Stakeholder Engagement Advisor, Tilt Renewables

Steve Loane
General Manager, Forbes Shire Council

Jason Hamling
Mayor, Orange City Council

Dennis Brady
Councillor, Lachlan Shire Council

Hosted by Brad Cam
Chair, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana

Observers are welcome free of charge!

Councils affected by mining and energy related matters in NSW need a voice:  a voice that understands the issues and a voice that is listened to. The Association of Mining & Energy Related Councils NSW Incorporated (MERC) is that voice. 

Our vision is to be the peak support body for councils impacted by mining and energy related activities in NSW by empowering, resourcing and advocating on behalf of member Councils and their communities. MERC is apolitical, meet quarterly and have Ministers, Shadow Ministers, Senior Government Executives and Industry leaders attend to address our delegates on relevant issues affecting communities.

If your Council is not yet a member of MERC it is missing out on being part of a dynamic and influential organisation where your concern can be taken to government to address. The recent change of State Government provides a real opportunity for your Council to be part of the MERC voice to make a difference. 

Membership enquiries to info@miningrelatedcouncils.asn.au or 

Executive Officer, Greg Lamont on 0407937636, http://miningrelatedcouncils.asn.au