MBA Energy Futures and Opportunities Panel

Australia is in the midst of an energy transformation, with Australia’s energy industry set to rapidly change more in the next ten years than in the past 100. Significant regulatory and policy reform, technology advances, private capital investment, and an overhaul of the network infrastructure that underpins the system pose both opportunities and challenges for those in business and those looking for their own career transition or transformation.

The MBA Careers and Professional Development Team invite our MBA community to join our panel of diverse and esteemed energy experts on Wednesday 31 May. Our panel will reflect on their personal career journeys, Australia's energy future and emerging areas and career opportunities as Australia moves through a historic energy transition. The session will conclude with networking over light refreshments. 

This event is open to members of the UQ MBA Community only (students and alum).

Our Panellists

Leeanne Bond

Leeanne Bond is an influential engineering industry leader, Independent Non-Executive Company Director, and Board Chair with more than 30 years of corporate experience.

Leeanne’s expertise in business strategy, energy and resources, technology and innovation, risk management, infrastructure and governance of major capital projects has helped shape many organisations over her 30-year career in engineering projects and professional services. Her executive career covers general management, engineering projects and professional services across a broad range of industrial sectors including leadership roles at board/senior management level in infrastructure, water, energy, power, oil and gas, minerals, and postgraduate education. Leeanne is a non-executive director of ASX-listed engineering and technology group Synertec Corporation Limited (SOP), Australian government owned Snowy Hydro Limited and Aurecon as well as an investor in new technology start-ups. She is the owner of Breakthrough Energy Pty Ltd and currently the independent non-executive chair of Mining3, an industry directed research and technology organisation formerly known as CRCMining and is a board member of CRC One Basin. She recently retired from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation board.

Leeanne is a dedicated and passionate advocate for women in engineering and was the first woman to be elected as the President of Engineers Australia (EA) Queensland Division. She was also the first woman recognised as Australian Professional Engineer of the Year. In 2022 Leeanne received the Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award for excellence in business and engineering and a deep commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Dan Brown

Dan Brown is super-passionate about the energy transformation. He is a Partner of global law firm, Ashurst and is the Global Co-Head of the International Projects Group and the Global Co-Head of the firm's Energy Industry.  Dan spends the majority of his time helping Ashurst's client's structure, develop, deliver and operate projects to create green electrons or molecules (including wind, solar, pumped hydro, battery storage or hydrogen) or buy and sell green electrons through innovative structures in order to meet their decarbonisation ambitions. He is fortunate to host the Queensland Energy Club's "Energy Talks" Podcast and is regularly asked to present or moderate discussions focused on our energy transformation and Net Zero. 

Dr Joel Gilmore

Dr Joel Gilmore is the General Manager Policy & Regional Energy at Iberdrola Australia, with over a decade of experience in market design, market modelling, and technical and economic analysis of integrating renewable energy into the grid. In addition to engaging on policy design, he coordinates the development of integrated solutions across large-scale renewables, transmission, green hydrogen, and new loads. He previously led Iberdrola’s long-term market modelling team, supporting business cases for both renewable and firming assets, and has previously worked in roles across consulting, government, and the market operator AEMO. Joel is also an Associate Professor at Griffith University Business School working on integrating renewable energy into the grid, and is a passionate science communicator across TV, radio, and stage.

Jane Roberts

Jane Roberts is an experienced social performance specialist with over 15 years working in the oil and gas, government, and rail sectors on major infrastructure projects, through all stages including development, approvals, construction, and operations.  By leveraging construction of these major projects through cross-sectoral partnerships, community projects and workforce and business development programs, Jane has created positive social licence and reputational benefit for proponents and tangible and sustainable outcomes for residents and businesses in impacted communities.  

Jane is currently delivering the social investment program for the ‘nation-building’ Inland Rail project, spanning many rural and regional communities across three states whilst also providing bespoke consultancy services for organisations interested in improving their social impact outcomes.

Moderator

Izakk Anand

Izakk Anand has extensive experience in energy sector having acted as lead electrical & control systems engineer and project manager on number of power and oil & gas projects. In his current role as Business Group Leader for Power at GHD, Izakk oversees the power portfolio of projects in Queensland which range from early development to construction & commissioning. Izakk is committed to acceleration of energy transition and passionate about development of renewable energy zones and associated generation, transmission, and distribution capability.