Future Energy Forum sparks collaboration and connection

19/03/2024

As the energy transition accelerates, there’s never been a more exciting time to be part of Australian industry.

With our delivery track record and history of operating across Australia’s most critical economic and social infrastructure, Downer is well placed to support our customers as they navigate their net-zero goals.

Our Industrial & Energy Business Unit, in collaboration with Utilities, recently hosted the Future Energy Forum 2.0 (FEF), a one-day conference designed to spark collaboration and connections around the complex challenge of decarbonisation.

Held on Thursday, 14 March 2024 in Brisbane, over 120 leaders from across the power generation, industrial, energy transmission and distribution sectors (customers, technology providers, asset owners and industry experts) joined together to further the conversation on how to tackle the challenge presented by the energy transition.

An interactive single day event, the forum featured panel sessions from energy executives, breakout sessions showcasing Downer projects, and thought-provoking presentations from leaders across industry.

Speakers at the forum included Downer CEO Peter Tompkins and Chief Sustainability Officer, Jullie Wills, sessions from industry partners H2 Potential, Future Maintenance Technologies and Flexity, and an energy executive panel session featuring insights from executives at Powerlink, CS Energy, Aurecon and Downer.

MC'd by Pat Burke, Chief Operating Officer - Industrial & Energy and Aaron Wylie, General Manager, Future Energy Solutions, the FEF forms part of Downer’s strategy to support our clients with their own decarbonisation journey by sharing our insights and expertise, helping to develop networks amongst our like-minded customers, and creating a setting to spark opportunities for collaboration.

As Richard Bolt, Principal, Nous Group, Member of the Net Zero Australia steering committee and keynote speaker at the forum said:

“The energy transition is an enormous challenge – really complicated, very costly. It has enormous benefits associated with it, but it’s such a difficult thing to do well that you need lots of dialogue between the people who are at the front line of making it happen. Forums like this are vital to get the information exchange, and to get people lined up about how to go about it better.”

Click the image below to watch the highlights video.

While there are many pieces of the future energy puzzle that come together to address the net-zero challenge, the consensus from the day was clear – no single organisation, Government or policy will solve this.

The challenge of the energy transition is one that will only be solved in collaboration, and Downer is a key partner on that journey.

Aaron Wylie, co-MC for the day and General Manager Future Energy Solutions for Downer’s Industrial & Energy business unit reflects:

“None of us can address the challenge of decarbonisation alone, and we must walk that line of competition and collaboration to build a future we can all be proud of, while utilising the transformative technology available, and working in partnership with Governments and policymakers,” 

"We have an undiscovered level of capability at Downer, and a unique offering. We want to give people a better understanding of what we can do to help them, and different ways of doing things.”

To learn more about how Downer can support you in your future energy and decarbonisation journey, visit: https://www.downergroup.com/industrial-energy or email us at FEF2024@downergroup.com