emPOWER: Voices of the Regional Energy Shift
Episodes
Cutting through the transition complexity with Paul Binsted
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this thought-leaders episode of emPOWER, host Wendy Agar speaks with one of Australia’s most experienced energy leaders — Paul Binsted, Chair o...
Supporting Communities in Transition with David Shankey
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this thought-leaders episode of emPOWER, Wendy Agar speaks with David Shankey, CEO of the Net Zero Economy Authority, the national body helping Aus...
Walking the Tightrope – Community Leadership in the Energy Transition with Mayor Andrew Smith and Tracy Lefroy
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this thought-leaders episode of emPOWER, host Wendy Agar speaks with two passionate regional advocates — Mayor Andrew Smith from Western Downs Re...
Regional Renewable Partnerships with Andy Bray – Building Community Support for the Energy Transition
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Wendy Agar speaks with Andy Bray, CEO of RE-Alliance, about a critical question for Australia’s energy transition: how can we meet ...
Fair Outcomes for Farmers & Communities with Michael Katz
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this thought leaders episode of emPOWER, Wendy Agar speaks with Michael Katz, CEO of RELA, about one of the biggest questions in Australia’s ener...
Balancing the Energy Future – National Needs & Regional Realities with Chris O’Keefe
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this thought leaders episode of emPOWER, Wendy Agar speaks with Chris O’Keefe, National Spokesperson for the Clean Energy Council. With his broad...
Regional Voices: Shaping Place-Based Growth in the Energy Shift - Karen Cain
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of emPOWER, Wendy Agar sits down with Karen Cain—a Gippsland farmer, former CEO of the Latrobe Valley Authority, and now an internat...
Regional Voices: Lessons from Totally Renewable Yackandandah - Matthew Charles-Jones & Matt Grogan
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of emPOWER, Wendy Agar sits down with Matt Charles-Jones (MCJ) and Matt Grogan from Yackandandah, Victoria, to explore how a small reg...
Joanna Stevens – Meaningful Engagement in Regional Australia
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Wendy Agar sits down with strategic communications expert Joanna Stevens, founder of Premier Strategy, to unpack what it takes to ge...
From Coal to Clean: Latrobe Valley’s Energy Shift - Tony Wolfe
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does a just energy transition look like for coal communities? In this episode of the emPOWER Podcast, host Wendy Agar sits down with Tony Wolfe—...
Karin Stark & Andrew Bomm– Exploring Agrivoltaics
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Wendy Agar sits down with Karin Stark – farmer, renewable energy advocate, and founder of the Renewables in Agriculture Conferen...
Tony Mahar – A Fair, Coordinated, and Community-First Transition
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do we deliver the energy transition in a way that’s fair, coordinated, and genuinely benefits regional communities? In this episode of the emPO...
Sabiene Heindl and Tom Everitt – Empowering Social License in the Energy Transition
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to get the right energy projects done right—especially in regional Australia? In this episode, Wendy Agar sits down for a candid f...
Dr Amanda Cahill and Dr Gareth Edwards - Empowering Community-Led Change in a Just Energy Transition
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lighthouse series What does it take for communities to lead the renewable energy transition—not just be consulted? In this episode, Wendy Agar tal...
Jo Sheppard - Powering the Future: the intersection of Agriculture, Energy & Community
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The energy transition is reshaping regional Australia—but how do we ensure that agriculture and community are at the table, and truly benefiting fro...
Engaging Young People in the Energy Shift: Stephanie Sabrinskas
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Young people aren’t just the future—they’re a vital part of the now. So how do we ensure their voices are truly heard in the renewable energy t...
Global Insights: International Lessons from the Energy Transition - Nils Hay
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this Lighthouse Series episode of the emPOWER podcast, Wendy Agar is joined by Nils Hay, Winston Churchill Fellow and regional development leader f...
Beyond Netball Skirts & BBQs: How Miles Took Control with a Community Investment Plan with Deputy Mayor Kylie Bourne
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When big energy projects come to town, what lasting impact do they leave behind? Too often, regional communities receive a flood of short-term sponsor...
Dr Kieren Moffat- Why Are Communities Angry? The Social License Dilemma
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a question that keeps popping up in the energy shift across the country—and one that professionals across the industry struggle to answer. Wh...
First Nations Engagement - From Consultation to Empowered Collaboration with Mayor Bruce Simpson
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do we build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with communities that have been over-researched, over-consulted, and over-promised? Join ...
Brent Finlay & Maria Baker - Developing the Foundations for Coexistence: Lessons from McIntyre Windfarm
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you create lasting relationships between agriculture and the renewable energy industry? Join Wendy Agar as she explores this question with Bren...
Janine Young & Rod Stowe - Becoming a Welcome Guest: Regional Engagement during the Energy Transition (Lighthouse Series)
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Wendy Agar as she sits down with Rod Stowe, former Fair Trading Commissioner (NSW), and Janine Young, Ombudsman at Energy & Water Ombudsman N...
Building Bridges in Your Community: Insights on Local Engagement with John Carey
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The energy transition is reshaping local communities and businesses, bringing both exciting opportunities and complex challenges. For those living and...
“Discussion not Division” - Sharing the Blueprint of Hay’s Community-Led Process with Ali McLean and Kate Hook
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The phrase “If you are not at the table, you are probably on the menu” emphasizes the crucial role of community involvement in decision-making. Co...
Jamahl Waddington - The Critical Role of Land Agents in Building Social Licence During the Energy Transition
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Jamahl Waddington, Head of Infrastructure Advisory at JLL. With over 25 years of experience delivering land for la...
Cathy McGowan: Supporting grassroots community change & choices during the energy transition
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this inspiring episode, Wendy Agar sits down with Cathy McGowan for a candid conversation about the energy transition and how it’s impacting regi...
Agriculture Meets Energy Transition with Carly Burnham (Voices from the Regions Series)
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With the majority of clean energy infrastructure being built in regional Australia—largely on privately owned land—engaging with landholders prese...
Managing Outrage and Building Trust: Effective Communication for Controversial Projects with Kelly Parkinson (Lighthouse Series)
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In many regional Australian communities, the energy transition feels like something happening to them, not with them. When large-scale changes unfold ...
Navigating Change: Unlocking Shared Benefits in the Wimmera Region with Chris Sounness
15 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The energy transition is bringing significant changes to our regions, and like any unchosen change, it brings with it both opportunities and challenge...
Andrew Dyer – Better Practice Community Engagement in the Energy Transition
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Dyer is a highly respected and influential energy sector expert, who recently retired from the role of Australian Energy Infrastructure Commi...