ESIA Seminar: NSW ESS+PDRS Insights, Sydney, 18 October 2024
Program | Register | Join us in-person with key stakeholders for this professional development opportunities-and-issues-packed ESIA seminar. We will unpack major developments for the NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) and Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS).
Why attend
- Find out what the current ESS and PDRS certificate market means for your business success.
- Get an update on the ESS-PDRS five-yearly review 2025, possible reforms and future directions.
- Hear the latest ESS Rule change considerations for 2024-25.
- Network with the policy makers and agile adapters driving energy savings, peak demand reduction, electrification, innovation and transformation throughout the supply-demand chain.
- Explore energy upgrade case study scenarios and new activity opportunities including batteries.
- Hear from the regulator about ACP and products accreditation, audit, compliance and enforcement, removal and data transparency.
- Unpack the latest analysis about certificates being created and traded and impacts on prices.
- Gain insights on the market from energy retailers and brokers.
Attend alongside policy makers and regulators, accredited certificate providers, energy retailers, brokers, product suppliers, installers, auditors and other service providers.
Principal Event Partner
NSW Government
Event Sponsors Exhibitor Showcase
EC Focus
Electric Future
Emerald Group
National Carbon Bank of Australia
Presenters
Jessica Lynch - ESIA Executive Director (Welcome)
Rod Woolley - ESIA President & Chairman, Cyanergy (Chair Session 1 - Part 1)
Matt Kean - Chair, Climate Change Authority
Cristien Hickey - Director Climate Change & Sustainability Policy, NSW DCCEEW
Ric Brazzale - Green Energy Trading, Chairman
Henry Adams - Director, Common Capital
Mahsa Sistani - Chief Operations Officer, Electric Future (Chair Session 1 - Part 2)
Leigh Burrell - Senior Delivery Manager – NSW Energy Security Safeguard, DCCEEW
Jens Mozer - Director and Principal Engineer, EC Focus
Sean Goodchild - Director – Regulation and Compliance, IPART
Jo Hoatson - Chief Executive Officer, Creditex (Chair Session 2 - Part 1)
Adam Bertino – General Manager Commercial, National Carbon Bank of Australia
Angus Taylor - Account Manager NSW, Ecovantage
Zac Edgley - General Manager, Emerald Group
Hamish McGovern - Group Managing Director, Northmore Gordon (Chair Session 2 - Part 2)
Ric Brazzale - Green Energy Markets, Chairman
Jose Aza, Manager – Renewable and Environmental Markets, Origin Energy
Marco Stella - Co-founder and Head of Environmental Markets, Core Markets
Presenter Bios
Rod Woolley
Rod has been ESIA President for the past six years. Rod Woolley is Chairman of Cyanergy, Solar Emporium and Smart Lifestyle Australia: AP, ACP and product supplier businesses, and Rod Managing Director of Yellow Door Consulting which primarily consults on energy savings schemes compliance. Rod has decades of of experience in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries and energy regulation, including five years as a senior manager in Canberra with the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission. Subsequently, Rod was a key member of the Victorian Essential Services commission management team that established and administered the VEU, with particular responsibility for administrative and legislative policy, approval of energy efficient products and stakeholder relations. In his early years, Rod worked as a journalist with the ABC, BBC and Financial Times of London. He studied law at the University of London, lectured in law and communications at the University of New England and University of Canberra, and has a Master of Professional Accounting and Bachelor of IT from the University of Canberra.
Matt Kean
Many of you will know the Honourable Matt Kean as the former NSW Treasurer and Minister for Energy and Environment. In those roles, Matt championed climate action in the best interests of households and businesses. He was the minister responsible for the NSW ESS+PDRS. During his time in these roles, he was a driving force in the extension and expansion of the ESS to 2050 and shepherded through the introduction of the PDRS which commenced in 2022, with both programs committed to 2050 in line with the NSW emissions reduction target. Throughout his 13-year political career, Matt also held ministries of Innovation and Better Regulation. On 15 August 2024, after leaving the NSW Parliament, Matt commenced in the role of Director, Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Partnerships at Wollemi Capital. Matt is a Chartered Accountant by profession and studied a Bachelor of Business at the University of Technology Sydney. Matt will present in his new role as Chair of the Climate Change Authority which commenced in August 2024 for a term of five years. The CCA provides independent advice to the Commonwealth government.
Cristien (Chris) Hickey
Cris Hickey is Director Climate Change and Sustainability Policy, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, NSW Government. Cris has more than 30 years of experience in the NSW public service across infrastructure planning, water quality, resource efficiency and climate change. Since 2019 Cris has led the delivery of the NSW Adaptation Strategy, the Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030, the NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy, the Energy Security Safeguard, the Net Zero Emissions and Clean Economy Board, the international Net Zero Policy Forum, the Climate Change (Net Zero Futures) Act 2023 and the Net Zero Commission. Cris has a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Hons) and was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2022.
Ric Brazzale
Ric is Chairman of the Green Energy Group and has more than 35 years’ experience in the energy sector. Green Energy Group includes Green Energy Trading, Green Energy Markets, National Carbon Bank of Australia, and Green Energy and Carbon Markets. The group supports renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses to roll out clean energy solution to customers. The Group creates and trades renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon credits across Australia including ESCs, PRCs, VEECs, STCs and ACCUs. Green Energy Markets provides market insights and analysis including Monthly ESC and VEEC snapshots, and is periodically commissioned by the ESIA to undertake schemes’ analysis. Prior to establishing the Green Energy Group in 2007, Ric headed the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, which has since become the Clean Energy Council. In his earlier days, Ric worked in several business development and finance roles with Fletcher Challenge Energy, John Holland and Woodside Petroleum. Ric has a Bachelor of Commerce including Economics and Accounting and an MBA from the University of Melbourne. Ric is an advocate for clean energy solutions to deal with climate change. Ric is President of the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Agents Association, President of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Association and a Board member of Solar Citizens and the ESIA.
Henry Adams
Henry is Co-founder and Director of Common Capital: an impact-focussed climate policy and economics consultancy. Since 2013, Henry has advised state and national government clients on the design and reform of a broad range of policy instruments across all sectors of the net zero transition. He maintains a deep interest and expertise in market-based demand side energy policy. This includes leading over three dozen modelling, evaluation and method development projects for the four state-based energy efficiency schemes and authoring an international best practice guide on scheme design and reform. Henry has worked in a range of roles in government and management consulting. Prior to Common Capital, while in a role within government, Henry was one of the original policy architects of the NSW Energy Savings Scheme since its conception in 2008, and helped establish the government interstate scheme harmonisation working group. Henry has been manager energy efficiency and renewable energy policy for the NSW government, policy advisor to the NSW Minister for Environment and Climate Change, regulatory reform adviser to the NSW EPA executive, business strategy consultant for IBM’s financial services and industrial products clients, and executive officer in the UK Government’s Neighbourhood Renewal Unit. Henry has a Bachelor of Economics with honours in Government and International Relations and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Sydney. Henry is also co-founder Director of the not-for-profit Climate Recovery Institute.
Masha Sistani
Mahsa is Chief Operating Officer of Electric Future Sustainability Services, an ARENA-supported Australia start-up that supports customers to transition to a low carbon economy. She previously held senior management positions at EcoVantage, most recently as national compliance and operations manager. As an employee of two ACP/AP ESIA member businesses since 2012, Mahsa has a deep knowledge of the ESS, REPS, VEU and SRES. Masha works closely with scheme administrators and policy makers representing the needs of our industry. Before her work in Australia, Mahsa spent 10 years in Iran designing hydro power projects as a civil engineer. Mahsa has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering-Water from Iran University of Science and Technology, is a Certified Measurement and Verification Professional, has completed training with Women and Leadership Australia and is a regular ESIA working group participant.
Leigh Burrell
Leigh Burrell is Senior Delivery Manager of the NSW Safeguard, NSW DCCEEW. In various roles within DCCEEW over the past 10 years, Leigh has worked on Rule changes since 2015. He has also designed and managed programs such as NSW Energy Rebates and NSW Manufacturing Efficiency Funding. He joined the department specialising in boilers and industrial process heat. He is part of the Safeguard Acceleration team and is well versed in how the NSW Climate Change Fund can fund targeted energy efficiency projects. Leigh has a Bachelor’s Degree in Japanese from Western Sydney University and a Master’s Degree, Applied Soil Science from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. He has published in multiple scientific journals from his time as a research associate where he specialised in the use of biochar to improve soil quality. Leigh has volunteered with the NSW State Emergency Services serving in several major disasters and been a member of the Army Reserves training as a combat engineer. Leigh is now committed to delivering the 2024-25 ESS and PDRS Rule changes with scientific rigour and military precision.
Jens Mozer
Jens Mozer is a Director and Principal Engineer at EC Focus also known as Energy Conservation. EC Focus provides energy and waste management services to commercial and industrial sectors across Australia. Jens is a qualified mechanical engineer, licensed air conditioning and refrigeration technician, approved Measurement & Verification Professional (MVP) under the ESS and VEU and an accredited NABERS assessor. Jens graduated from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and worked at Cummins Holland before moving to Australia in 2009 where he worked as an energy consultant from 2010 before joining EC Focus in 2013. As well as being on the EC Focus board, Jens is responsible for advisory and M&V activities and projects, delivering professional services including energy audits, ratings, energy management systems services, and is responsible for compliance of non-lighting activities in NSW. Jens is a member of the Institute of Engineers Australia, the US Association of Energy Engineers, the Efficiency Valuation Organization, an Associate Auditor IRCA member and is an ESIA Board member.
Sean Goodchild
Sean is Director – Regulation and Compliance, NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) which is the regulator and license administrator of the NSW ESS+PDRS. IPART is an independent, strategic agency of NSW Government, charged with regulating key markets and government services to ensure effective social, environmental and economic outcomes. IPART’s functions include statutory and commissioned roles across energy, water, local government, transport and other industries. Sean was worked with IPART for several years bringing his deep understanding of regulation across a range of sectors to the NSW Safeguard. Prior to joining IPART Sean held regulatory leadership roles in the liquor and gaming sectors and prior to that was a lawyer in private practice. Sean and his team have championed a contemporary risk-based and outcomes focussed approach to regulation with a focus on regulatory engagement for NSW Safeguard stakeholders including the ESIA in recent years. Sean has a bachelor’s degree in Law from Western Sydney University and Masters of Investigations from Charles Sturt University.
Jo Hoatson
Jo is Chief Executive Officer of Creditex, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Emerald Group. Creditex is an ACP under the NSW ESS+PDRS and AP under the VEU. Creditex focuses on certificate creation for heat pump technology for air conditioning and hot water in the homes and businesses. Jo previously founded and sold National Carbon Bank of Australia, is a board advisor to Northmore Gordon, and founder of Australian Sports for Climate which assists the sports sector in Australia to become carbon neutral. She has held a range of commercial enterprise positions including with Recall, Brambles and Hays Business Services with expertise in corporate governance, auditing, quality assurance and contract management. Jo has a Bachelor of Arts (Hon) and majored in Economics and Japanese and is a Climate Active Registered consultant. Jo has served as a Board member and Vice President of the ESIA.
Adam Bertino
Adam is General Manager – Commercial at NCBA and has been with the business for more than eight years working across all areas from the early start up days to now with NCBA one of the most established certificate creators under the NSW ESS+PDRS. Adam assists clients in maximising access to state and federal incentives available for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades. Adam is experienced in renewable energy, batteries, hot water heat pumps, HVAC+R, and commercial lighting. Adam has a Bachelor of Political, Economic and Social Science from the University of Sydney and studied Business Sustainability Management at the University of Cambridge. Adam is an active contributor to a range of ESIA member working groups.
Angus (Gus) Taylor
Angus is Account Manager NSW for Ecovantage, responsible for energy and carbon business development. Angus has held various roles in business development, sales and creative industries. This includes several years navigating NSW energy savings schemes and financial incentives in his current and prior roles. Before joining Ecovantage, Angus was Account Manager at the Australian Energy Foundation, an NFP which works with government, councils, businesses, households and communities to achieve their zero carbon goals. In that role, Angus engaged directly with the Australian Council for Social Services, ARENA and the Commonwealth Government Department of Energy and Water Supply and various NSW departments. As part of his AEF project work for NSW, Angus developed 15 council climate energy action plans. Research included engaging with ACPs to understand how best to access NSW ESS incentives for energy upgrades. Angus has a Bachelor of Music from JMC Academy including business management and Copyright law. Angus is no stranger to audiences: he was a professional musician, recently represented Australia in the Climbing World Cup and features in Australian Story on his journey as a para-athlete.
Zac Edgley
Zac is General Manager, Emerald. Zac has worked his way up in the Group over the past nine years from Logistics Coordinator to Business Development Manager and National Sales Manager. Zac has a Bachelor of Commerce, Business and Managerial Economics from Macquarie University and an MBA from the University of Sydney. Zac was bestowed the prestigious Beta Gamma Sigma Membership by the International Business Honor Society of the University of Sydney in 2024. Zac is a regular participant in ESIA member working groups.
Hamish McGovern
Hamish is Group Managing Director, Northmore Gordon and has led the group for more than 12 years. During that time Northmore Gordon has been one of the largest certificate creators under the NSW and Victorian schemes and creates ACCUs under the ERF energy efficiency methods. Prior to Northmore Gordon, Hamish spent 20 years building enterprise IT & ICT solutions working in software development, IT infrastructure, sales, marketing and product management for Australian and global brands. Hamish has a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Hons) and a Bachelor of Science (Pure Mathematics & Computer Science) from the University of Sydney, and an MBA from Monash University. Hamish is ESIA Vice President. Hamish has been especially active in the ESIA measurement and verification working groups.
Jose Aza
Jose is Manager Renewable and Environmental Markets for Origin Energy. Origin is the largest obligated retailer under the energy savings schemes in Australia. Jose has been with Origin for almost 14 years in various energy market roles including market analyst, trader and portfolio manager. Prior to Origin, Jose worked with Barclays Capital in London in commodities and prior to that as a financial planner and adviser. Jose has a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting and Finance and a Master of Applied Finance, Financial Mathematics from Macquarie University.
Marco Stella
Marco is Do-founder and Head of Environmental Markets at Australia’s largest Environmental commodities broker, CORE Markets. Marco is a specialist in the carbon and environmental markets having brokered hundreds of millions of units across a near 20-year career and is well known for his market commentary across a range of platforms. Prior to CORE Markets, Marco was a senior broker at TFS Green and was part of the Nextgen team that has won Environmental Finance Magazine's Best Broker Award on at least seven occasions since 2008. Marco has a Bachelor of Economics/Bachelor of Arts degree from La Trobe University.
Leigh Simpson
Leigh is a Director of Lakin Environmental. Lakin Environmental works with accredited certificate providers, scheme participants, and product manufacturers, providing consultancy and advisory services to support involvement in energy savings schemes across Australia. Lakin has also recently been appointed as an independent auditor to conduct both compliance and assurance audits under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program. Leigh has worked in the sector since the early days of the NSW and Victorian programs with experience in building technology focussed business models delivering genuine abatement and great customer outcomes. Leigh also specialises in developing technology tools and ecosystems enabling customers, suppliers and service providers to connect to deliver high quality, affordable, sustainable upgrades. Leigh has a Bachelor of Business from Charles Sturt University and is an ESIA Board member.
Jessica Lynch
Jessica Lynch is Executive Director of the Energy Savings Industry Association, responsible for general management of the Association. Jessica mobilises advocacy including policy and regulatory affairs, stakeholder engagement, member services and media. Jessica has decades of experience in communications and stakeholder engagement working as part of leadership and multi-disciplinary teams and diverse businesses. Jessica has worked with industry associations, blue chips, governments and authorities, small-to-medium enterprises, not-for-profits and start-up projects. She has worked with the ESIA Board since 2015 after the NSW ESS and VEU were expanded and has worked in energy, energy efficiency and sustainability periodically for more than 25 years. Jessica is the editor of the ESIA Bulletin and ESIA publications. She was founding editor of EcoGeneration Magazine (launched when the RET was legislated) while working with the Australian Cogeneration Association and Australian EcoGeneration Association, forerunners to the Business Council of Sustainable Energy and the Clean Energy Council. Jessica has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Communication from the Queensland University of Technology and is a Graduate of the Company Directors Course, Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Queries Email comns@esia.asn.au