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Power Session

Friday, October 31, 2025
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Grand Ballroom 1

Details

Where will the power coming from? Is there enough? What can be done? How is government engaging with industry and updates on infrastructure and Regional V's Metro Rollouts.


Speaker

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Brett Jackson
National Underwriting Manager
Australian Bus & Coach - A 360 Group Company

Plenary Session Sponsor Address

8:35 AM - 8:40 AM

Biography

Brett Jackson is an experienced Insurance Professional with over 40 years of working in the insurance industry. He has worked in various markets around the world, London, Asian and Australia. His skill sets spans across insurance underwriting as well as insurance broking including sales and distribution. Whilst underwriting he has covered insurance products like Oil and gas, Marine, Transport Livestock/Bloodstock, Property, liability and Buses. His years in the industry has taught him that underwriters and brokers need to work closely with each other to understand the clients needs and requirements to get the best outcome for both client and their underwriter. His team at Australian Bus and Coach have over 100 years of experience in the insurance bus industry and are very passionate about what they do.
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Senator Tony Sheldon
Senator for NSW

Government Address

8:40 AM - 8:45 AM

Biography

Anthony Vincent (Tony) Sheldon is an Australian politician and trade unionist. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party and has served as a Senator for New South Wales since 2019. He was previously a senior figure in the Transport Workers Union, serving as state secretary and national secretary. Tony chairs the Education and Employment Legislation Committee which has reviewed the considerable industrial relations legislation introduced by the Government since their election in 2022.
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Gihan Perera
Futurist and AI Researcher
Guest Speaker

Fit for the Future

8:45 AM - 9:25 AM

Biography

Has disruption – from employee burnout, hybrid work, AI, global uncertainty, and more – shaken up your world? Are your people looking for clear leadership in this time of massive change? Do you want to be more confident in chaos and uncertainty? Gihan Perera is a business futurist, conference speaker, AI researcher, and author who shows you how to be fit for the future in a fast-changing world. For more than 30 years, he has worked with organisations and leaders throughout Australia and the world, helping them to lead in uncertainty and act with clarity and confidence. He was recognised as one of the Top 30 Global Futurists in 2025. He is the author of Disrupted, Disruption By Design, The Future of Leadership, and ten other books. Forbes magazine rated him the #5 social media influencer in the world (and #1 in Australia) in his area of expertise.
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Paul Gwynn
Business Development Director
INIT SE

AI in Public Transport - Efficiency & service quality boost

9:25 AM - 9:40 AM

Biography

Paul is Business Development Director at INIT SE, a leading global provider of modular planning, dispatching, fleet management and ticketing systems for over 1,200 customers. An electronic engineer with a background in military and civilian technology, Paul has spent 20 years driving public transport adoption through projects in cities including London, Dublin, Portland, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and across Australia and New Zealand. A UITP member for 18 years, he has chaired its Technology Committee, served on the Policy Board, and currently leads the Cyber Security Committee, shaping UITP’s cyber strategy and publishing industry guidance. Paul is a recognised international speaker on public transport technology, presenting at UITP, APTA, BIC, BCA (NZ), Asia-Pacific Rail, and other global forums.
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The Hon Catherine King MP
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Government Address

9:40 AM - 9:50 AM

Biography

The Hon Catherine King MP, is the Federal Member for Ballarat and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. She was first elected in 2001, Catherine King represents the electorate of Ballarat in the Australian Parliament. Following the 2022 Election, Catherine was sworn in as the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government – a key portfolio that reaches into the heart of every community across the country. Catherine held a similar portfolio in the previous term of opposition, as well as serving six years as Labor’s Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare. Catherine has previously held the Cabinet portfolio of Minister for Regional Australia, Local Government and Territories, as well as serving Minister for Regional Services, Local Communities and Territories, Minister for Road Safety, and before that as Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Parliamentary Secretary for Health. Catherine holds Bachelor Degrees in Social Work and Laws and a Masters’ in Public Policy. Prior to entering Parliament, Catherine was a senior manager at KPMG’s Consulting Practice. As a regional MP, Catherine is a strong advocate for the seven million Australians who live outside our capital cities.
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Prof. Peta Ashworth
Director, Curtin Institute for Energy Transition
Curtin University

Future power and current policy panellist

9:50 AM - 10:30 AM

Biography

Professor Peta Ashworth OAM is the Director of Curtin University’s Institute for Energy Transition. She is a renowned expert in energy, communication, stakeholder engagement, and technology assessment. Professor Ashworth has researched public attitudes towards climate and energy technologies, including wind, carbon capture and storage (CCS), solar photovoltaic, storage, geothermal and hydrogen, for almost two decades. An accomplished speaker and educator, she actively promotes energy literacy globally and contributes to policy briefings and educational events. Prior to joining Curtin University, Professor Ashworth was the Director of the Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership, and Chair in Sustainable Energy Futures at The University of Queensland (UQ). She was also Chair of the Queensland Hydrogen Taskforce and is a member of CSIRO Hydrogen Mission Advisory Board. Professor Ashworth brings over thirty years’ experience working in a range of senior management, consulting and research roles.
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Renan Grace
Director | Infrastructure, Assets & Places | KPMG Australia
KPMG

Future power and current policy panellist

9:50 AM - 10:30 AM

Biography

Renan is an infrastructure specialist with 16 years’ experience on business cases, strategies and funding submissions for major transport infrastructure projects and programs. Renan's areas of expertise include transport planning, demand forecasting and economic appraisal. Renan has contributed to project development for many of Australia’s highest profile transport projects and programs, including the east coast High Speed Rail, Suburban Rail Loop (VIC), the Metro Tunnel Project (VIC), Perth to Bunbury Faster Rail (WA), Westconnex (NSW) and Cross River Rail (QLD).
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Michael Gunner
Partner
KPMG

Future power and current policy panel facilitator

9:50 AM - 10:30 AM

Biography

Michael is a partner at KPMG, helping Governments deliver better services for complex problems. Michael has over 20 years of experience in Government, including 10 years in executive roles within the Government and Energy sectors. As Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, he has proven leadership in crisis management, social policy reform, fiscal discipline, and economic management. Michael led one of Australia’s most effective COVID-19 responses, implementing rapid border controls, remote community protections, and economic support measures. Diversified the Territory economy by funding and supporting new industries and opportunities– including renewable energy projects, record defence investment, terrestrial and subsea cables and data storage and the space industry with rocket launch facilities used by NASA. At Fortescue Future Industries led an Australian team to develop solar, wind and hydrogen projects, to establish market leadership in renewable energy supply and support Fortescue Metals decarbonise their metal operations.
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Jack Kotlyar
Head of Green Transport
EnergyAustralia

Future power and current policy panellist

9:50 AM - 10:30 AM

Biography

Jack Kotlyar is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the energy sector. As Head of Green Transport at EnergyAustralia, he is responsible for leading the company’s efforts to decarbonise the transport sector by identifying and scaling products and services for EnergyAustralia's Green Transport offerings. His team focuses on large-scale fleet and depot electrification, as well as expanding public charging networks to support the transition to electric mobility. Jack has a track record of driving strategic initiatives and has held various leadership roles at EnergyAustralia and at Siemens, as Head of Strategic Planning for Siemens Energy business

Panel Facilitator

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Michael Gunner
Partner
KPMG


Session Chair

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Varenya Mohan-Ram
Chief Executive Officer
Bus Industry Confederation (BIC)

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