Over the past two years, Energy Networks Australia had to make the difficult decision to postpone EN2020/ EN2021/ EN2022 no less than four times. As hard as this was on the organising team, delegates and our sponsors and exhibitors, the vision and drive remained. ENA was committed to delivering an in-person conference and exhibition, full of networking opportunities, an exhibition hall that showcased the best our sector had to offer in Australia and abroad, a lineup of engaging and relevant keynote speakers and more transformers than you knew what to do with.

And from all reports, the event delivered.

“Everyone was thrilled to have the opportunity to network, catch up with long-term colleagues as well as meet people (only known to them via a Zoom connection!) for the first time.” Delegate.

Exhibition Hall

The Exhibition Hall contained more than one hundred exhibitors from across the energy sector. Highlights included the helicopter from Aeropower and the Hydrogen Zone displaying hydrogen cars from Hyundai and Toyota.

The CGI Central Lounge provided delegates the opportunity to chat and discuss the day’s goings on over a cup of coffee.

Missed out? Check out Day 1 & 2 of the Exhibition Hall and Delegate Tours.

Conference

Delivered over two days in Brisbane, the EN2022 conference included keynote speakers, plenary sessions and smaller more focused concurrent sessions. Delegates were able to use the EN2022 App to ask questions of the panelists, connect with the other delegates and exhibitors and follow the program.

“A huge thanks and congratulations to each of you – you nailed it!!”

You could hear a pin drop as futurist and Director of the School of Cybernetics Genevieve Bell delivered her keynote address on day one, sharing with the crowd seven stories from our past that should inform our energy future.

Dr Alan Finkel AC delivered his keynote address focusing on the transition to a net zero future.

“Climate is what we expect, whereas weather is what we get. We need to transform our energy systems to accommodate new fuels, new generation, and new ways in which energy is used, and modernise our energy networks.”

Missed a keynote? You can watch Energy Networks Australia CEO, Andrew Dillon, Professor Genevieve Bell and Dr Alan Finkel AC right here. 

International keynote Dermot Nolan, former head of UK regulator OFGEM, provided some fascinating insights into how the UK’s regulatory regime is adapting to the energy transformation and some of the learnings that are pertinent to Australia.

Political representation was also strong. The conference heard addresses from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor and Shadow Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni attended the conference gala dinner, where he presented awards to the winners of the 2021 ENA awards series – the ENA-Energy Consumers Australia Consumer Engagement Award, Innovation Award and Industry Contribution Award.

The four plenary sessions – Data to enable the energy transformation; Greening gas- challenges and opportunities; The energy future – who pays and Network report card: the customer journey – were well attended and sparked robust discussion and audience participation in Q&A via the app.

Missed it? You can watch the conference wrap up here.

Poster Series

The poster series comprised 26 posters from executives and PHD students and was well located in the Exhibition Hall. Visitors to the hall were able to peruse the posters at their leisure and poster presenters were given the opportunity share their research and projects in the conference breaks.

Networking functions

“Many thanks for the opportunity to participate in such a great event over the last few days.  EN2022 was certainly worthy of the memorable status of ‘the event’ at which we humans finally emerged from two years of hibernation – congrats!”

Each evening delegates, guests, visitors, exhibitors, and sponsors were given the opportunity to network and enjoy face-to-face interaction after two years of virtual meetings.

EN2022 kicked off with a welcome reception for the 937 delegates. The highlight of the social calendar was without doubt the gala dinner, and before saying goodbye to old connections and see-you-soon to new connections, delegates had one last chance to catch up at the farewell drinks.

From all of us at ENA, a big thank you to our members, delegates, sponsors and exhibitors for sticking with us on the journey to delivering EN2022 and for helping make this the best of our conferences so far.

The ENA team

See you in Adelaide?