Day one: Plenary session

Danny Kennedy Chief Executive Officer, New Energy Nexus

Danny Kennedy is the CEO of New Energy Nexus, a global platform organisation for funds and incubators, with chapters and partners in the USA, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, the Philippines, Uganda, Nigeria and India. He oversees the CalSEED.fund of USD $43m for very early-stage companies driving innovation and building equity in the California economy plus the USD $12m CalTestBed initiative with the University of California, Office of the President. He is an adviser to several companies and is Chair of the Board of Third Derivative, a joint venture with Rocky Mountain Institute building the world’s largest climate tech accelerator.

ABSTRACT: In 2022 the energy transition marathon turned the corner into the last stretch. Now a 15-year deployment phase of mostly known technology bundles is needed to electrify everything we can and power them with solar, wind and batteries. Danny will explore how the key agents of this effort are entrepreneurs and contractors, sole traders and SMEs of so-called developed as well as developing countries. It requires start-ups bringing reliable, low-cost electricity to the billions still without it – more so than some crop of climatetech unicorns. The role of academics and researchers will also be explored in making this mass deployment happen in time.

Chair

Megan Fisher Chief Executive Officer, EnergyLab

Megan is the CEO at EnergyLab – Australia and New Zealand’s largest climate tech start-up accelerator and innovation network dedicated to reaching net zero emissions. EnergyLab supports talented founders in clean energy and climate tech and connects them to the mentors, advisors, partners, peers, and investors they need to succeed. With a background in product development and innovation Megan has experience commercialising, developing, and scaling products plus driving novel technology initiatives from pilot to adoption. Megan has worked in several industries amid digital disruption as well as the enormous transition as the energy industry moves to renewables. Megan made the move from corporate to not for profit to have a positive impact on the climate tech start-up ecosystem in Australia after engaging in the more advanced international clean energy start-up ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: McKinsey states mature climate technologies could deliver 60% of emissions reduction needed to stabilise the climate by 2050. 25-30% would come from technologies that are demonstrated and another 10-15% from technologies that are still in R&D. This technology gap is driving the interest in climate focused startups with novel technologies and business models across the globe. Megan will discuss the state of the clean energy start-up innovation ecosystem in Australia, the key elements for a supportive entrepreneurial environment and share some of the successes of startups that have graduated through EnergyLab programs.

Stuart White Co-Chair, ERICA Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney

Professor Stuart White is Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures, where he leads a team of researchers who create change towards sustainable futures through independent, project-based research. With over 30 years’ experience in sustainability research, Stuart’s work focuses on achieving sustainability outcomes for a range of government, industry and community clients across Australia and internationally. This includes the design and assessment of programs for improving decision-making and resource use. Stuart has written and presented widely on sustainable futures and is a regular commentator on sustainability issues in the media.