The Australian electricity sector is undergoing a transformation. Our energy demand is growing, and critical policy and investment decisions are needed to ensure our energy future is reliable, sustainable and affordable. With the 2025 federal election on the horizon, decisions made now will shape the nation’s economy, infrastructure and workforce for decades to come. They will also have budgetary outcomes for successive governments to come.
How can we ensure these decisions are guided by evidence and sound economic analysis?
About the Moderator and Speakers
Emma Richardson, Director Energy Transition Policy and Regulation, EY (Moderator). Emma is a public policy and energy transition specialist and Director of EY’s Energy Transition Policy team. Emma has advised Government and businesses on the net zero transition and the opportunities for the energy sector for 13 years. She has advised Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, businesses including in energy retail, generation, networks as well as the market operator and regulators. She is also an economist and WEN member.
Tony Wood, Director, Energy Program, Grattan Institute. Tony has been Director of the Energy Program since 2011 after 14 years working at Origin Energy in senior executive roles. From 2009 to 2014 he was also Program Director of Clean Energy Projects at the Clinton Foundation, advising governments in the Asia-Pacific region on effective deployment of large-scale, low-emission energy technologies. In 2008, he was seconded to provide an industry perspective to the first Garnaut climate change review. In January 2018, Tony was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his significant service to conservation and the environment, particularly in the areas of energy policy, climate change and sustainability. In October 2019, Tony was elected as a Fellow to the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.
Paul Graham, Chief Economist Energy, CSIRO. Paul Graham is Chief Economist at CSIRO’s Energy business unit and has been working in the field of energy economics for 29 years. His most well-known work is the GenCost project which provides projections on the cost of generation, storage and hydrogen technologies. More broadly, he is responsible for providing advice on the economic drivers and outcomes for the energy sector.
Rusty Langdon, Senior Research Consultant, UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures. Rusty is Senior Research Consultant at UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures. Rusty’s research interests lie in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and responsible supply chains. Rusty models employment projections for the Australian energy transition and uses this modelling to advocate for better workforce planning.