emPOWER: Voices of the Regional Energy Shift

In this thought-leaders episode of emPOWER, Wendy Agar speaks with David Shankey, CEO of the Net Zero Economy Authority, the national body helping Australia’s regions and communities navigate the shift to a net zero emissions economy.

Before leading the Authority, David was Deputy Director-General at Queensland’s Department of Energy and Public Works, where he built a reputation for his deep expertise in energy and climate policy—a...

In this thought-leaders episode of emPOWER, host Wendy Agar speaks with two passionate regional advocates — Mayor Andrew Smith from Western Downs Regional Council in Queensland and Tracy Lefroy, former Shire President of Moora in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt — about what it takes to lead communities through change in Australia’s energy transition.

While their regions are at different stages of renewable energy development, both Co...

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 national energy needs while ensuring regional communities genuinely benefit?

Andy highlights that while the silent majority support renewable energy, this support is conditional—people want to understand what the transition means for their region.

Drawing on RE-Alliance’s work, he explo...

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 energy transition: how do we meet national energy needs without sidelining the farmers and communities who host the projects?

Michael doesn’t mince words. His vision is clear: landholders must be partners, not bystanders. As he puts it, “everyone benefits or loses together”—and the only way...

In this thought leaders episode of emPOWER, Wendy Agar speaks with Chris O’Keefe, National Spokesperson for the Clean Energy Council. With his broadcaster’s clarity, Chris explores how Australia can meet renewable energy targets while ensuring regional communities hosting projects experience lasting benefits.

From his role at the Clean Energy Council, Chris shares insights on:

• Why regional Australi...

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 international researcher and advisor on the energy transition. Karen’s career has been shaped by her commitment to helping regions navigate big change while building on their strengths.

From her vantage point in Gippsland—an energy-producing powerhouse for more than 130 years—Karen reflects on ...

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 regional town has taken charge of its energy future. Both deeply involved in the Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) movement, they share practical lessons on how communities can embrace renewable energy, drive local action, and create meaningful change.

Reflecting on Cathy McGowan’s wo...

In this episode, Wendy Agar sits down with strategic communications expert Joanna Stevens, founder of Premier Strategy, to unpack what it takes to genuinely work with—not just in—regional communities. With decades of experience across journalism, government communications, and corporate engagement in infrastructure and renewables, Jo and her team deliver engagement services across Australia. She brings sharp insight and practical s...

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—a lifelong Latrobe Valley local, former coal industry worker, local government councillor, and passionate advocate for community-led change.

With decades of lived experience, Tony shares deep insights into the real impacts of the energy transition on regional communities built around c...

In this episode, Wendy Agar sits down with Karin Stark – farmer, renewable energy advocate, and founder of the Renewables in Agriculture Conference – and Andrew Bomm – advisor and land management expert with hands-on experience in shared solar grazing – to explore how agriculture and solar can not only coexist but thrive together.

Drawing on their deep experience across farming, energy policy, and land management, as well as insigh...

How do we deliver the energy transition in a way that’s fair, coordinated, and genuinely benefits regional communities? In this episode of the emPOWER Podcast, Wendy Agar speaks with Tony Mahar, the new Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner, about what it really takes to build trust, strengthen accountability, and deliver lasting benefits in the regions driving our energy future. Tony brings a fresh and grounded perspective...

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 fireside chat with Sabiene Heindl, CEO of The Energy Charter (TEC), and Tom Everitt from TDC Services in Victoria. Together, they unpack what social license really means—and how to earn it one conversation, one person, and one community at a time.

Drawing on real-world experience, they e...

Lighthouse series

What does it take for communities to lead the renewable energy transition—not just be consulted? In this episode, Wendy Agar talks with Dr Amanda Cahill and Dr Gareth Edwards about empowering local leadership, supporting self-determination, and making engagement meaningful.

 They share real-world stories and insights from regional Australia and around the world, based on their book Regional Energy Transitions in A...

The energy transition is reshaping regional Australia—but how do we ensure that agriculture and community are at the table, and truly benefiting from it? In this episode Wendy Agar sits down with Jo Sheppard, CEO of the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), to tackle the big questions at the intersection of agriculture, energy, engagement, and regional leadership.

 

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 transition?

In this episode, Wendy Agar chats with Stephanie Sabrinskas—a passionate organiser, impact producer, and the creative mind behind Power Pops, a virtual reality youth engagement program with the Gippsland Climate Change Netw...

In this Lighthouse Series episode of the emPOWER podcast, Wendy Agar is joined by Nils Hay, Winston Churchill Fellow and regional development leader from Western Australia. Nils recently completed his international study tour, Regional Power Surge, exploring how large-scale renewable and low-carbon energy projects are impacting regional communities across the globe.

Together, Wendy and Nils explore the big question: How do we enab...

When big energy projects come to town, what lasting impact do they leave behind? Too often, regional communities receive a flood of short-term sponsorship dollars—but without a plan, the money disappears, leaving little more than a few BBQs and a set of netball skirts.

The community of Miles, QLD, refused to let that happen!

During the coal seam ...

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. Why do some communities push back harder than others? Why does trust seem so hard to build… and so easy to lose?

Join Wendy Agar, your host, as she unpacks  the deep drivers of community anger, social license and trust building with Dr Kieren Moffat, a global expert who has spent decades tu...

How do we build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with communities that have been over-researched, over-consulted, and over-promised?

Join Wendy Agar in this inspiring episode of the Voices from the Regions series as she explores this question with Mayor Bruce Simpson from the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council. A standout speaker from the 2024 Power Hour virtual ...