South Australia’s
Industry Climate Change Conference
8 – 9 May 2025
Adelaide Convention Centre
All Occasions Group
12 Stirling Street
Thebarton SA 5031
Contact Information
conference@aomevents.com
(08) 8125 2200
Hon Peter Malinauskas MP
Peter Malinauskas is the 47th Premier of South Australia.
Adelaide born-and-bred, Peter studied commerce at the University of Adelaide and has dedicated his working life to raising the standard of living for everyday South Australians.
He was elected to State Parliament in 2015, became Labor Leader in 2018 and was elected Premier of South Australia in 2022.
Peter is leading a government which is getting things done for South Australia, with a strong focus on the state’s prosperity for today and for the long term.
Beyond his official duties, the Premier’s greatest loves are his wife Annabel, their four young children and the mighty Port Adelaide Football Club and the Adelaide Uni Blacks.
Hon Susan Close MP
Susan Close is the Deputy Premier of South Australia and the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water; Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science; and Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy.
Susan has been the Member for Port Adelaide since 2012.
Before entering parliament, Susan was an executive in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and played a key role in the establishment of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary as a community advocate. She previously worked at the University of Adelaide managing student services and holds a PhD from Flinders University.
Martin Haese
As an entrepreneur, educator and former Lord Mayor, Martin Haese builds bridges between environmental and economic priorities.
Martin has Chaired the Premier’s Climate Change Council since 2018, providing independent advice to the Deputy Premier and State Cabinet on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating and adapting to climate change.
He has spoken at COP21 in Paris in 2015, the World Cities Summit in Singapore in 2018, COP28 in Dubai in 2023 and COP29 in Baku in December last year.
Martin is the Special Envoy to Singapore and Southeast Asia for Trade and Investment for the Government of South Australia where his work is focussed on investment attraction and trade support.
Martin is the also the Executive Chairman of Infinity Ventures, a private investment company based in South Australia.
Craig Reucassel
Craig Reucassel is an Australian writer and comedian who is best known for his
work with The Chaser and for going through your bins on The War on Waste.
He and some friends started the satirical newspaper The Chaser which went on to
TV shows like CNNNN and The Chaser’s War on Everything.
Craig has hosted two series of the award winning War on Waste documentary and
is currently making a third.
He has also hosted climate change documentaries Fight for Planet A and Big
Weather.
In 2020 he Directed the movie Big Deal, which looked into the issue of money in
politics in Australia.
Abigail Forsyth
Abigail is a leader in the global campaign to promote sustainability. Known worldwide for its bright, bold and instantly recognisable reusable cups, KeepCup is a global campaign for reuse. Since launching the world’s first baristastandard reusable cup in 2009, KeepCup is now embraced by reusers the world over, diverting millions of single-use cups daily.
KeepCup is in business for better – a certified B Corporation, living wage employer and member of 1% for the Planet, donating at least 1% of global revenue to environmental causes.
Following a successful career as a solicitor Abigail and her brother Jamie set up their own chain of cafes across the city. Alarmed by the amount of disposable packaging being wasted, Abigail started her search for a more sustainable and environmentally conscious way to serve food, and the concept of KeepCup soon became a reality.
Abigail has been honoured with an Order of Australia Medal in the General Division, for her years of outstanding service to sustainable design on the Queens Birthday list for 2021.
Abigail has opened offices and warehouses in Australia and the UK, and set up hub operations in the USA to service growing consumer demand in over 76 countries around the world, but the business has stayed loyal to its roots. KeepCup’s HQ is located in the Melbourne suburb of Clifton Hill, where Abigail lives with her family.
Matt Kean
Matt was appointed as Chair of the authority on 5 August 2024 for a term of 5 years. He was previously the Member for Hornsby in the NSW Parliament from 2011 until 2 August 2024.
Matt was most recently the NSW Shadow Minister for Health. He was Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberal party from August 2022 until March 2023. Throughout his 13-year political career, Matt also held ministries of Innovation and Better Regulation, Treasury, Energy and Environment.
As Treasurer and Energy Minister of NSW, Matt championed climate action that is in the best interests of households and businesses. In 2020, he delivered the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap: A 20-year plan for NSW’s energy infrastructure. The roadmap spurs private investment in renewable energy while reducing emissions and power bills for the people of NSW.
Matt commenced in the role of Director, Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Partnerships at Wollemi Capital on 15 August 2024.
Matt studied a Bachelor of Business at the University of Technology Sydney and is a Chartered Accountant by profession.
Tim Jarvis AM
Environmental scientist and adventurer Tim Jarvis has worked in sustainability for over 30 years and currently provides strategic and practical sustainability advice to government and a range of corporate organisations and advocacy groups.
Tim is founder of The Forktree Project, Global Ambassador and Governor of environmental NGO WWF, Southern Ocean Ambassador to Save Our Marine Life and a Vice President of Flora and Fauna International. He received the Order of Australia in 2010 for services to the environment, community and exploration and was South Australian of the Year 2024, and is Professor of Leadership Practice at Edith Cowan University.
Tim is passionate about finding pragmatic solutions to major environmental issues related to climate change and biodiversity loss and uses his expeditions, films, books and public speaking engagements to promote thinking in these areas.
Jon Dee
Jon Dee is an award-winning social entrepreneur, broadcaster and campaigner.
With 38 years experience, Jon is a high-profile expert in the field of business sustainability. In 2020, he was called “the leading Australian figure in sustainability and the environment” by Michael Liebreich, the founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
Jon started the Australian arm of the international RE100 renewable energy initiative. Between 2019-2023, he headed up all RE100 operations in Australia.
In his RE100 role, Jon recruited Australian companies with a then market cap of
$650 billion. Within Australia, 112 major companies are now members of RE100 –
all of them are going 100% renewable with their electricity use. As part of the RE100 push, Jon hosted the Energy Insights video series where he interviewed international business leaders about their push to go 100% renewable. His first video for this series featured Jon interviewing Apple global sustainability chief Lisa Jackson about Apple going 100% renewable. Click here to view this video.
Within Australia and overseas, Jon has given hundreds of keynote speeches. He also MC’s events and consults to companies on efficiency, sustainability and change management. Jon also runs the ‘Smarter Futures’ business sustainability channel on Twitter. The channel features sustainability solutions and a strong focus on clean energy and the electrification of transport and society.
Guy Debelle
Dr Guy Debelle is a board member of FundsSA, Tivan, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. He is also an adviser to the Investment Committee of Australian Retirement Trust, chair of the advisory board at Famille Capital and honorary professor of economics at Adelaide University.
Guy was the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia for six years. After leaving the RBA, Guy worked at Fortescue Future Industries as CFO. He graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the University of Adelaide and has a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Chris Daniels
Professor Christopher Daniels has been an incredible force in popularising nature and nature education in South Australia. The university academic and government scientist has communicated science for 4 decades. He started fortnightly backyard wildlife segments on ABC in 2003 and, since 2007, presented many community programs on urban environmental science.
Whilst having been an ecological physiologist of international standing for over 3 decades, his primary area of interest now is in citizen science, community outcome driven science and ecoliteracy. Chris also works with a large number of allied education delivery organisations including the Marine Discovery Centre, Cleland Wildlife Park, the SA Museum (Board member) the Junior Field Naturalists and Nature Play (ex-board chair) to improve community connection with nature.
Christopher was a driving force in Adelaide becoming a National Park City and also works with the Arts to promote conservation. Christopher has written 11 award winning books (and 1 DVD) including a children’s book, Koala, produced a musical theatre show on koalas, delivered comedy for the Adelaide Fringe with South Australia’s Science Media Centre, and advocates for numerous South Australian nature authors.
Now chair of the Green Adelaide Landscape Board, and a member of dozens of other Environmental Boards and committees, Christopher received a Doctor of Sciences from Adelaide University in 2019 and was a finalist for SA of the year (2022). He holds adjunct professorships at the University of South Australia and Adelaide University.
Kate McCabe
Kate has over 25 years of experience in finance, economics, and accounting across the wine, agricultural, and food industries. She has held key leadership roles, including Corporate Treasurer at Yalumba Winery, Finance Director at McCabe AgCo, and Accounting Project & Systems Manager at Alltech Lienert Australia, where she led the region in their “Planet of Plenty” sustainability initiative.
Currently, Kate manages the function for her family’s grain production properties in South Australia and New South Wales, integrating sustainability and natural capital management into their agricultural practices. She also consults for government and industry organisations, providing economic analysis for sustainable agriculture projects.
Kate holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a Certified Practising Accountant, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has also completed her Master of Global Food and Agricultural Business at the University of Adelaide, specialising in sustainable agriculture, resilience, and carbon accounting.
Committed to addressing the dual challenge of growing global demand for food while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change, Kate will share her insights on sustainability strategies, offering perspectives from both on-farm practices and industry-wide initiatives.
Julian Marchant
Julian has successfully supported some of Australia’s most recognised brands to plan, implement and execute emissions reduction initiatives.
At Wine Australia, Julian leads the delivery of projects that help the sector to reduce emissions, increase business profitability and prepare for emerging sustainability requirements.
With a background in agricultural research, environmental management and in-house sustainability and consulting roles, Julian has experience working across a range of sectors and organisations and applies this experience to guide change.
In 2022 and 2023, Julian spearheaded the Australian Wine Sector Emissions Reduction Roadmap, establishing an emissions reduction target of 43 percent by 2030.
Nick Palousis
Nick is an engineer, CEO, entrepreneur and proud father of three daughters.
As the Founder and CEO for 2XE, Nick has spent 20 years working with over 1,000 businesses and governments to help them pursue ESG and net zero emissions with the best possible holistic return on investment. He has worked with clients across almost every major industry and government sector, and currently works with some of Australia’s most recognised brands.
Nick has spearheaded 2XE’s rapid growth as a highly-regarded Australian ESG and net zero consulting firm, with an expanding footprint in New Zealand, Canada, US and Switzerland.
Nick is a recipient of a national British Council Eureka Prize, an ADC Australian Leadership Award and was an advisor to the World Economic Forum’s Driving Sustainable Consumption Project. Under Nick’s leadership, 2XE received a Climate Change Leadership Award from the Premier of South Australia, and was named the 2024 SA Telstra Business of Business Award Winner for Promoting Sustainability.
Nick was also selected as the 2024 Net Zero Business Advisor Ambassador for the National Net Zero Careers campaign, funded by Boundless Earth (Mike Cannon-Brookes’ philanthropic venture).
Brad Scott
Brad Scott, hailing from rural Queensland, embarked on a diverse career path that led him to become a prominent figure in sustainable innovation. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Brad served as a Captain in the Australian Regular Army and a corporate executive. Brad and his wife of 35 years, Narelle sold the family home and all their possessions in 2017 to travel Australia. Their travels led them to Robe, South Australia, where in 2018, Brad’s passion for environmental sustainability inspired him to establish a recycling and manufacturing business.
Drawing upon his degree in Chemistry and love of engineering he crafted machines from scrap metal, old ovens and car jacks to transform plastics into valuable products. Transmutation now produces a diverse range of products. This includes homewares from Breadtags and Wheelstops from Dulux powder coating waste and agricultural waste.
Brad is an innovator in the sustainable building, circular economy and recycled materials areas and he commercialises his innovations through impressive collaborations.
Brad also founded the Australian Micro Recyclers Association, fostering collaboration among small-scale recyclers to strengthen the circular economy domestically. His leadership has positioned Transmutation as a pioneering force in sustainable innovation, exemplifying how micro-recycling operations can be both viable and impactful.
Frances Carter
Frances is the Group Sustainability Advisor for Thomas Foods International. She is responsible for the strategic direction of the global entity’s sustainability across numerous areas, including GHG emission management, decarbonisation, circular economy, biodiversity and deforestation, modern slavery, and Australian and international reporting requirements.
Prior to TFI, Frances was Director of Asia Pacific for Conservation Capital where she engaged on numerous large-scale projects involving conservation area business planning, innovative natural capital financing and sustainable natural resource management in Asia, Africa and South America. She worked with a broad range of clients to create and protect resilient natural landscapes that support biodiversity, communities, and enterprise.
Frances is also an FCA who spent over ten years as a senior Chartered Accountant in auditing, agriculture, banking and funds management, and international development. In addition to her CA qualification, she has two international Masters’ degrees: Master of Science (Sustainability Management) from Columbia University in New York City, and a Master of International Business Administration from IE Business School in Madrid.
Louisa Rose
Louisa Rose is a leading figure in the Australian wine industry, known for her commitment to sustainability, innovation, and fine winemaking. Since joining the Hill-Smith family in 1992, she has played a pivotal role in shaping their winemaking philosophy, becoming Head of Winemaking in 2006 and now serving as Head of Sustainability and Brand Ambassador.
Renowned for her work with Yalumba and Pewsey Vale Vineyard, Louisa has championed natural yeast fermentation, low-input winemaking, and the exploration of new grape varieties and rootstocks. Her leadership has influenced industry-wide sustainability efforts, including her role in developing the national ‘Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (SWA)’ program. Under her guidance, all Hill-Smith Family Estates wineries and vineyards, as well as 99.5% of their growers, achieved SWA certification ahead of the 2023 vintage.
Louisa is a respected voice on industry boards, wine show panels, and climate action initiatives. She leads Hill-Smith Family Estates’ sustainability committee and is a board memeber of the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA). She is also the Australian and New Zealand Ambassador for IWCA. Passionate about reducing carbon emissions, she actively collaborates across the industry to ensure a sustainable future for wine. Her contributions have earned her multiple “Winemaker of the Year” accolades and global recognition, including being awarded the Degree of Doctor of the University of Adelaide (honoris causa) in 2024.
Ken Long
Ken is motivated to help facilitate a positive quality of life for human and ecological communities through sustainable and regenerative built environments.
Ken is the Regional Sustainability Manager South Australia and Victoria for Lendlease and a recognised advocate for sustainable built environments. With qualifications in Architecture, Sustainable Design and Ecologically Regenerative Design, Ken facilitates a holistic system thinking approach to design problems. Ken’s professional experience traverses organisational sustainability and net zero advisory and technical sustainable design consultancy for developments of all scales. This includes carbon accounting, business ESG strategy, project design optimisation, building performance simulation, biophilic design integration, green building ratings and life cycle analysis. Alongside his professional career advancement, Ken is very active in advocating for sustainable built environments within the South Australian development and design industry. As the Chairperson of the Adelaide Sustainable Building Network, Ken helps facilitate opportunities for professionals and general public to engage with concepts of sustainable design and be inspired to implement them.
Tina Hutchinson
I am a quality assurance specialist with over a decade of experience in the food and beverage industry. As a key figure in South Australia’s dairy sector, I have led initiatives to enhance environmental sustainability, streamline compliance, and reduce waste. My work has directly contributed to the elimination of over 265,000 plastic milk bottles through an innovative reuse model, advancing circular economy principles.
With a background in quality assurance, training, and regulatory compliance, I have successfully navigated complex legislative landscapes, securing export accreditations and implemented industry-leading standards. My expertise spans environmental, food safety, and work health and safety compliance, ensuring businesses meet both regulatory requirements and sustainability goals.
I am passionate about driving practical climate solutions, and am committed to bridging the gap between sustainability goals and real-world implementation.
Pavlo Smoliy
Pavlo is the CEO at Trellis Technologies, a Lot Fourteen based, pioneer and leading Software as a Service, driving the digital transformation of mixed format data, critical to underpinning organisations performance disclosures around environment, climate and broader sustainability performance.
With Trellis’s launch from Adelaide in 2018 and Pavlo’s subsequent joining in 2023, Trellis is scaling rapidly to now integrate, validate and interpret 1000’s of data forms for over 28,000 facilities across Australia and New Zealand.
Prior to Trellis Technologies, Pavlo has spent most of his career in Management Consulting at Big Four firms, working on large scale business transformations in Europe and Australia. He has a degree in Economics, Finance & Management from Queen Mary, University of London as well as a Chartered Accountancy qualification from ICAEW.
Pavlo leads a Apart from his role as a CEO, Pavlo is also a Non-Executive Director and a Board Member at Dnister Ukrainian Credit Co-operative
Mel Squire
Mel Squire is a qualified environmental and sustainability scientist with over 30 years’ experience, predominantly in the consulting, mining and chemical manufacturing sectors. Mel joined BAE Systems Australia in 2022 as Head of Sustainability & ESG and reports directly to BAE Systems Australia’s Chief Operating Officer, Darren Kirkby. Though relatively new to the Defence sector, the sustainability themes and skills requirements remain the same. Mel completed her Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science at Monash University in 1993.
Nick Hutchinson
Nick Hutchinson is the General Manager of Fleurieu Milk Company, bringing over 15 years of experience in the dairy industry. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a leading example of sustainable and ethical dairy production in South Australia. Nick has been instrumental in driving initiatives that reduce environmental impact, including the expansion of Fleurieu Milk’s glass bottle reuse program, which has eliminated over 265,000 plastic bottles to date.
With a deep understanding of business operations, supply chain management, and regional food production, Nick has successfully navigated the challenges of a competitive industry while staying committed to local sourcing and quality assurance. His expertise in stakeholder engagement, innovation, and strategic planning has helped Fleurieu Milk strengthen its position as a trusted brand known for its high-quality dairy products and sustainability efforts.
Passionate about the future of the dairy industry, Nick continues to advocate for practical solutions to reduce waste and improve environmental outcomes.
Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith
Dr Jane Lomax-Smith is a Pathologist with a career in research and clinical medicine. She trained in London and has worked in Boston and Adelaide where she gained a PhD in immunology.
Jane has run hospital departments and private practices including her own. She is a staunch supporter of conservation of heritage buildings and Adelaide Park Lands. She has held elected office as a City Councillor, Lord Mayor and as MP for the City when she was also Minister for Education and Tourism.
She has written Commonwealth and State Government reports on funding for universities and the future of Leigh Creek. She is Chair of the Don Dunstan Foundation, which researches and promotes ideas on a range of social justice issues and has previously been Chair of the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia and the South Australian Museum.
Stacey Lee
Stacey Lee is an award-winning journalist, and host of Afternoons on FIVEAA.
On her radio program she covers all things Adelaide and around the world from health, politics, property,the environment and cost-of-living to food, pets, the arts and local council matters.
Stacey has reported in various news rounds including politics, crime, sport and courts.
As well as hosting her own radio show, Stacey is the Vice President of the SA Press Club, and co-chair of the SA Mid-Winter Ball committee – which has raised more than $500,000 for South Australian charities.
She has previously worked at Channel 7, Sky News and the ABC and has reported from China, Korea, Canberra, Perth, Alice Springs and Hobart.
She has won various awards for her news coverage including the Max Fatchen Award for Best Young Journalist, Best Radio News Report and Best Business Reporting
Sanj de Silva
Sanj de Silva is Founding Partner & Director of The Impact Initiative, championing the integration of sustainability and impact reporting to build stronger socially conscious brands across South Australia. Through strategic and data-led storytelling and partnerships, The Impact Initiative empowers brands to leverage their forward-focused sustainability journey to differentiate, influence and grow.
Sanj also serves as the Director of Strategic Communications at Flinders University and is a member of the university’s Sustainability Advisory Group. With over 25 years of global sustainability experience across different industries, she has been at the forefront of embedding sustainability into corporate strategies, producing audited sustainability reports for multinational brands.
Her journey in sustainability and corporate affairs has seen her take on pivotal roles, including her most recent position as Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at ResourceCo in South Australia, establishing a comprehensive sustainability strategy, implementing a robust governance structure, and producing multiple detailed sustainability reports.
Sanj’s commitment to aligning business objectives with global sustainability goals is evident in her close work with corporates and governments since the launch of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) in 2015. Her efforts have consistently aimed to create a better world for future generations.
Penny Schulz
Penny runs a family sheep and cattle operation at Field in South Australia’s Limestone Coast region, with her husband Jason and their young family. She works off-farm as a Livestock Technical Specialist with the SA Drought Hub at the University of Adelaide, with her role focused on farmer adoption – an area of great passion for Penny.
Through her university roles and in her own consultancy business, Penny has delivered projects and lecturered in the fields of farmer decision making, agtech adoption, sustainable farming systems, livestock genetics and farm business management.
She also holds several board and advisory group roles including Chair of the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, Chair of the Landscape Board Presiding Member Forum, director on the NRM Regions Australia Board and a member of the Premier’s Climate Change Council.
Penny is passionate about having a positive influence on the next generation of agricultural professionals. This has included being actively engaged with PIRSA’s Stepping into Leadership Program for rural and regional women where she is a regular mentor, and also mentors students studying tertiary agricultural courses as they near graduation.
Susie Smith
Susie Smith is a leading Australian climate change executive. She is a board member of the Climate Change Authority, the independent statutory agency responsible for advising the Australian Government on climate change policy and emissions reduction targets, and the SA Premier’s Climate Change Council. Susie is also the Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Greenhouse Network – a leading forum for discussion on climate change, providing information in the consideration of national and international policy and the role industry can play in the urgent transition to net zero emissions. She has contributed to climate policy nationally and internationally as a member of the Australian expert panel examining low-cost abatement (King Report, 2020), the IGU’s group of experts on methane emissions, the IPCC taskforce meeting on fugitive emissions, the Global Reporting Initiative sustainability reporting guidelines for industry, the multinational leadership group for industry transition meetings, and the Clean Energy Regulator’s corporate emissions reduction transparency reporting reference panel.
Daniel Bennett
Daniel Bennett is an award-winning urban designer and landscape Architect, with 25 years’ of national experience leading projects and teams on complex city shaping precincts, places, and public infrastructure.
He has completed major city and transport urban design strategies across Australia, with the aim of ensuring strategies are designed to facilitate better outcomes for people and places. He writes the occasional opinion piece on cities and Adelaide for Indaily, and has authored many submissions on a range of city and design issues to local, state and the Australian Government.
He is the current Chair of South Australia’s peak walking body, WalkingSA and is a past national and state president of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. He a Fellow of AILA and a passionate member of the Premier’s Climate Change Council.
Jack Buckskin
Jack Buckskin is a proud Kaurna, Narrunga, and Wirangu man who has dedicated his life to the revitalization and promotion of Aboriginal culture and language. As the only person fluent in the Kaurna language—a language once thought to be extinct—Jack has played a pivotal role in its resurgence.
In 2008, he founded Kuma Kaaru, an organization that aims to educate both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people about the local language and culture. Jack and his team work with various organizations to strengthen relationships between Aboriginal people and the wider community, empowering young people to relearn their language and culture, fostering pride in their history, and inspiring others to do the same.
Kiera Kartanya Fitzgerald
Kiera Kartanya Fitzgerald is a proud Kaurna/Narungga woman who has grown up in the Adelaide Aboriginal community.
She is currently studying Early Education at Flinders University as she is passionate about education and looks forward to becoming a Primary school teacher in a few years.
She is very proud of her culture, she enjoys being in community connecting but equally loves sharing culture within the wider community. She is also part of a contemporary Aboriginal dance group called Of Desert and Sea.
