GLADSTONE ENERGY FUTURES FORUM

Let's Talk: Transition to a stronger regional economy - emerging opportunities in the energy sector

The Next Economy is hosting a series of public forums to explore the impact that changes to the energy system are having on regional communities across Queensland. 

Join with others in your community to explore these questions and more:

• How are changes to the energy system being experienced in your area?
• What strategies can support the long-term wellbeing of workers, communities and local businesses?
• How are other regions across Australia managing the energy transition to create new jobs and business opportunities?
• What local initiatives are taking advantage of changes to the energy system to create a stronger regional economy?
• What are your ideas on how to diversify and strengthen the regional economy?

Your facilitator

Dr Amanda Cahill, The Next Economy

Amanda is the CEO of The Next Economy. She has spent over two decades
supporting communities to manage economic change across Asia, the Pacific and regional Australia. The focus of her work at The Next Economy is to support communities to develop more resilient, just and sustainable regional economies.

Most of this work involves supporting regional communities in Australia to manage the current energy transition. She has worked successfully to support all levels of government, industry, workers and community groups across Queensland, the Hunter Valley, and the Latrobe Valley. Amanda has a PhD in Human Geography from the Australian National University and is an Adjunct Lecturer at The University of Queensland and an Industry Fellow at the Sydney Policy Lab at the University of Sydney.

Presenters

Kristy Walters

Kristy is a facilitator, educator and environmental campaigner. Since 2006 she has worked and volunteered on campaigns including renewable energy, climate change and protecting prime agricultural farmland in Queensland, at Friends of the Earth Brisbane and most recently at Solar Citizens. While in Brisbane she led the education program at a permaculture farm, designed and facilitated activist education programs for students and was involved in the food sovereignty movement. Kristy is passionate about community inclusion, supporting volunteers and cycling. She holds a degree in Environmental Management (Sustainable Development focus) and has experience working in social enterprises, cooperatives and the private sector.

Dan Musil

Dan Musil is the Secretary of the Earthworker Cooperative and manages the Earthworker Energy Manufacturing Cooperative in the Latrobe Valley. Dan completed honours studies in Economics and Geography at the University of Melbourne, and is now undertaking PhD research into low-carbon transition and worker-ownership, focussed on the energy transition in the Latrobe Valley.

Verity Morgan-Schmidt

Verity is the Stakeholder Relations Director of Farmers for Climate Action and is passionate about supporting farmers to understand the opportunities for acting on climate change while strengthening the agricultural sector. Originally a farm girl from the sheep and wheat country of Western Australia, Verity is a former Executive Officer for Western Australian Farmers Federation.

Verity previously worked for Elders Ltd, including a stint at the National Wool Selling Centre in Victoria. She is the former Executive Officer for Country Noosa, an organisation linking hinterland producers to coastal communities in South East Queensland. Verity holds a Master of Arts (Politics) in Sustainability and Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Politics and Global Studies.

This is a free event and everyone is welcome!

Members of community, environment, union, Traditional Owner, student, social service and business groups are encouraged to attend.

Registrations essential.

Organised by The Next Economy