Energy In Transition webinar

The Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner's recent Community Engagement Review found that 71% of landholders and community members doubt the benefits of large-scale renewable energy projects for local communities. Concerns about housing availability, road damage, and overall community health emphasise the need for improved social impact management and the creation of long-term positive legacies by industry and government for host communities, developers, and asset owners.

In this webinar, our expert panel discussed the challenges and opportunities in developing benefit-sharing schemes and how to contribute to sustainable legacies, including:

• Putting communities at the core of energy transition to ensure that benefits endure beyond the construction phase and into the project lifecycle
• Ongoing challenges and gaps with community benefit programs on energy infrastructure projects and influencing factors
• Multidisciplinary industry learnings and a holistic view of projects to enable new and effective collaboration

Panellists

Martine Holberton
Director, Renewable Energy - The Energy Charter

Martine has 12+ years leading communications and engagement, with deep experience in the renewable energy sector. Ensuring community engagement is genuine, participatory, upfront and follows through is essential to the development of any renewable energy project, but Martine understands our future rests on our capacity to collaborate #BetterTogether.

We must also be creative and innovative, and deliver outcomes for people, communities and the environment that create a legacy beyond the immediate benefits of a renewable energy project. It is through a systems’ thinking lens that Martine is committed to delivering an energy transition that's not only essential but builds resilience and brings communities together. 

Kerry O’Brien
Community and Social Performance Team Lead - Powerlink Queensland

Kerry has over 10 years’ experience working for Powerlink in multiple roles supporting community relations, social performance, landholder relations, construction and operational teams, and transmission network functions supplemented with additional extensive experience in research and development, agricultural industries, regional development, recreation and environmental management.

Kerry now brings this combined experience to Powerlink’s approach to communities, investment and impact management through the recent establishment of the Community and Social Performance team within Powerlink’s Community and Delivery Services Group. She is passionate about community, resilience and participation, benefit sharing and the delivery of the new energy future.  

Carla Martinez
Principal, Communities and Social Performance - WSP

Carla is a Principal within WSP’s Communities and Social Performance team with 12+ years’ experience. She specialises in social impact assessment, social investment, stakeholder engagement, and social research.

Carla is a Social Performance Chartered professional at AusIMM and an Industry Fellow at the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining from The University of Queensland. Before joining WSP, Carla worked in the resource sector in remote locations with Indigenous communities in Chile and Australia.

Facilitator

Jennifer McDonnell
Principal, Communications and Engagement – WSP

Jennifer McDonnell brings over 20 years of experience in leading and managing stakeholder engagement and social outcomes programs across a wide range of projects throughout Australia. She is an expert in community engagement, consultation, facilitation, and conflict resolution.

Jennifer excels in handling stakeholder relationships, managing conflicts, and setting social outcomes and expectations for projects in diverse sectors. Her expertise spans renewable energy projects (including solar, wind, and hydro), hybrid off-grid power systems, Smart Grids, water, transport, mining, urban planning, and community recovery and resilience.