Empower Australia Forum 2024
Meeting our clean energy workforce challenge
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Held: Thursday 14 November 2024
Location: Zinc at Federation Square, Melbourne
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This Empower Australia Forum is Australian Renewables Academy's flagship event, bringing together key stakeholders, including policymakers, industry professionals, academics and community leaders, to develop and deliver innovative and collaborative solutions to Australia's clean energy workforce challenges.
Our 2024 Forum 2024 was a resounding success, bringing together key stakeholders from across Australia's clean energy sector to address the industry's workforce challenges. The event boasted a full house, with attendees eager to learn from industry leaders and collaborate on solutions.
The Forum featured an inspiring lineup of speakers who shared their insights and expertise on a range of topics critical to the clean energy transition. Presentations were delivered from the heart, provoking thought and sparking lively discussions throughout the day.
The Forum’s Action Accelerator Workshops provided attendees with a platform to discuss practical actions, tools and strategies for the three streams relating to ARA’s National Workforce Development Action Plan (link to plan) which aims to build a more skilled and inclusive clean energy workforce.
Attendees are already telling us that they found the Empower Australia Forum 2024 to be valuable platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and driving positive change within Australia's clean energy sector. We can only agree!
Workshop Streams
Attracting, retaining and skilling Australia’s New Energy Apprentices
Optimise social and economic futures by engaging an inclusive and diverse local workforce
2024 - 2028 National Workforce Action Plan
Highlights from our 2024 Forum
Thanks to our Speakers!
Hon Andrew Giles MP
Minister for Skills and Training
Andrew Giles is the Minister for Skills and Training and Federal Member for Scullin in Melbourne's north.
Prior to his election to Parliament in 2013, Andrew worked as a Principal Lawyer in employment law at Slater and Gordon and as a Senior Associate at Holding Redlich. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Law (Hons) from the University of Melbourne.
Since his election in 2013, Andrew has served as the Shadow Assistant Minister for Schools between 2016 and 2019, the Shadow Minister for Cities and Urban Infrastructure and Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs from 2019 to 2022. He previously served in the Albanese Government as the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Andrew is a keen reader and runner and an avid supporter of the Carlton Football Club. He lives in Melbourne with his wife and two children.
Tim Mawe
Ambassador of Ireland to Australia
H.E. Mr Tim Mawe currently holds the position of the Ambassador of Ireland to Australia, Papua New Guinea; Fiji; Solomon Islands and Nauru. He has previously served as Regional Director for Asia Pacific in Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, as Ambassador to Latvia and as Head of Finance and Head of Planning for Ireland’s last EU Presidency.
Bernadette O’Connor
Chair, Australian Renewables Academy (ARA)
In addition to chairing the ARA Board, Bernadette is Executive Director of Management Governance Australia (MGA) Pty Ltd, CEO of Workforce Plus Inc, Executive Chair, DEC Housing and Director, Enable Social Enterprises.
Bernadette’s qualifications include a Masters in Public Policy and Management, Graduate Diploma in Education (Mathematics), Bachelor of Applied Science (Mathematics), Associate Degree in Applied Science (Amenity Horticulture) and Associate Diploma in Therapy Radiography.
Bernadette understands the future challenges facing communities, business, and industry. She brings extensive experience in working at the highest level across a diverse range of sectors. Her strong practical approach, ability to engage deeply with stakeholders and skills in facilitating partnerships and collaboration enable her clients to focus on new thinking and new approaches to developing strategic solutions.
Anthony Clucas
Director, Australian Renewables Academy (ARA)
Anthony has over 25 years of experience in Corporate Transformation & Organizational Development throughout Asia Pacific for Fortune 500 companies.
A fluent Japanese speaker, he worked in Tokyo for close to 2 decades as Principal Strategist of Peak Balance. He served as the COO of H2X Global Ltd, a Gippsland based Zero emissions automotive company from 2020-2023. He became a Director of the Australian Renewables Academy as part of his ongoing commitment to stimulate and build upon initiatives for Regional Australia in the Circular Economy, Manufacturing & Education Sectors.
As an Executive Coach, he holds the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) status with the International Coaching Federation, He was also honoured to receive from the World HRD Congress the ""100 Best Global Coaching Leaders"" award in recognition of his contribution and experience to the Coaching Profession."
Joseph Mitchell
Assistant Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions
Joseph was re-elected as Assistant Secretary at the ACTU Congress in June 2024.
Joseph joined the ACTU in 2016, where he has been Political Director and a Policy Officer, as well as working with the Innovation and Growth Taskforces. Most recently he led the ACTU Centre for Workers’ Capital.Joseph grew up in Canberra and like many young Australians was a waiter through high school and university at local cafes and restaurants.
As ACTU Assistant Secretary, Joseph is passionate about winning a better future for working people and growing the union movement. Joseph has a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Arts from Australian National University and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance from the University of NSW.
Outside of work, Joseph is a proud father and a supporter of the Canberra Raiders "
Martin Schnoor Warming
Founder & Senior Instructor, Renewable Construction Academy (RECOA)
Martin is the leading founder of the RECOA and in addition to his background as Master Mariner & Marine engineer, has extensive Marine and Offshore construction experience for more than 15 years in maritime, oil & gas, and the renewable sector. Since 2008, he has been managing offshore wind/renewable projects, for cable installation contractors, survey companies, utility companies, and the market-leading offshore wind farm developers.
For the last 10 years, he has been acting as a senior consultant in the offshore renewable industry, primarily in subsea cable installation back in 2013; he started RECON MANAGEMENT, a supplier of management and consultancy services to the leading offshore wind developers and the insurance companies in offshore construction, subsea engineering, subsea cables, package, and project management.
To date, Martin has provided consultations and been involved in the design, engineering, construction, and survey of subsea power cable circuits supporting more than 10,800 MW offshore wind. "
Amy Boersma
Head of Pacific, Managing Director - JUM-BO Consulting Group
Amy Boersma, a dual-qualified lawyer admitted in Australia and the UK, boasts a rich professional journey spanning over 18 years. With a master’s degree in law from the Australian National University and a double degree from the University of Canberra, she embarked on her career in private practice in Canberra before making her mark in the energy sector. With a grounding in private practice and Commonwealth Government, Amy transitioned to in-house roles in the energy domain, refining her skills before embarking on an enriching 16-year tenure in the UK's energy sector. There, she dedicated her last 13 years to the offshore wind industry, contributing significantly to the development, construction, and operation of a number of offshore wind farms across the UK and Europe.
Amy relocated to Melbourne in 2021, bringing her wealth of expertise to work with various offshore wind developers to support the development of the first projects within the offshore wind industry in Australia, following the establishment of JUMBO CG’s Australian office. Her role has become integral within the renewable energy and legal domains.
Tom Everitt
Director, TDC Services
Tom is an experienced land access practitioner who has led and delivered complex landholder and community engagement programs on major linear infrastructure projects.
Tom has extensive experience in landholder engagement, compulsory and voluntary land acquisition, statutory land access, compensation negotiation, stakeholder engagement, program development and team management.
With an open and honest approach to landholders and stakeholders, Tom has overseen and negotiated hundreds of land access agreements for clients for various types of infrastructure.
Tom has recently created an accredited course in Landholder Liaison Officer and is currently delivering this program across Australia.