The Festival of Electric Ideas
Masterclass Series
5 Masterclasses on how to electro-retrofit commercial buildings and precincts
Are your buildings ready for a net zero future?
If you own, manage or design commercial buildings you can’t miss this masterclass series
You’ll learn how to rise to the biggest challenge of our time – how to achieve net zero in our built environment – and how to remain competitive and thrive
- Pressure to electrify office, retail and industrial buildings and achieve net zero is already intense and rising
- It’s coming from the people who matter to your business: investors, tenants and stakeholders
- There’s never been a better time to act:
- Investors and stakeholders have created a strong and growing marketplace for clean green buildings
- There’s a new Net Zero Authority to send the right policy signals
- The National Energy Performance Strategy is a $15.2 million incentive that will accelerate the appetite for change
- The best experts in the built environment are keen to share their insights with you – thanks to the brilliant collaboration in the Australian property market that so many others envy
You will learn from Australia’s best minds in sustainability
- You’ll discover how to spot opportunities in existing buildings and turn them into green “gold” through clever and economically efficient solutions
- You’ll hear how this will attract the investors and tenants who now demand ESG solutions in their buildings
- You’ll get great take away learning that unpack this new and emerging market, and simplify the complexities
- You’ll be encouraged to ask questions: our experts are here to help!
- Free to attend live
#1 The Good Bones
Date: 05 July 2023
Time: 1-3.30pm
Place: Online
Learn how to find the good “bones” and patterns of opportunity in existing, neglected and heritage buildings. You’ll hear how to design well from the start of a project and hear from the specialists on the tips and tricks that work. Are heritage issues – help or hindrance?
But first, let’s set the policy landscape and hear what industry and government are each planning.
Panel
Claire Bowles
Regenerative Development Lead
i2C Architects
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Claire Bowles works as a regenerative development lead at i2C Architects, working organisationally and on projects with a strong focus on working on social and affordable housing. She has led i2C’s regenerative roadmap which includes our reconciliation action plan, as well as our carbon neutral and BCorp certifications. Claire leads the social housing market sector and drives local studio-based community activation projects. She sees buildings as a catalyst for cultural education, spiritual connection, social cohesion, and ecological awareness that can shift the way we live and come together.
Margo Black
General Manager – Corporate Sustainability
Investa
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Margot Black is the General Manager, Corporate Sustainability at Investa, integrating environmental, social and governance strategies across the office and build to rent platforms.
With 30 years’ experience in sustainability and urban and regional planning across the property industry, Margot has worked in on sustainability strategies in property companies including Charter Hall, Lendlease and Stockland, and as an urban and regional planner in private consulting, as well as in state and local government.
Margot is the Deputy Chair of the Property Council of Australia’s Sustainability Roundtable, a former co-chair of their Modern Slavery Working Group and sits on the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Policy Committee.
Joe Karten
Head of Sustainability and social impact
Built
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Joe Karten is a sustainable building specialist and corporate sustainability leader. He leads the evolution of sustainable operations within Built, a large construction company, by setting and implementing strategy that sets it apart from its peers in terms of vision and outcomes.
With international experience in sustainable design and construction methods as well as in teaching, Joe contributes to the proliferation of sustainability throughout the built environment. He envisages a world where buildings achieve symbiosis with their environment and local ecosystems. He works towards that vision in his professional and personal life, through a deep focus on decarbonisation and enabling a circular economy.
Francesca Muskovic
National Policy Director
The Property Council of Australia
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Frankie Muskovic is a senior sustainability and public policy leader passionate about diversity, ethics in leadership, championing social justice issues and advocating ambitious public policy to support the transition to a zero emissions economy. Her experience includes a diverse range of roles from technical engineering consulting and international development work, to government and industry roles focused on energy and climate change policy. Frankie is the National Policy Director at the Property Council of Australia and leads the national policy and advocacy agenda on sustainability, cities, housing and regulatory affairs for the property industry and is also a co-host of the popular climate and energy podcast Let Me Sum Up.
David Palin
National ESG Manager
Mirvac
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David Palin is a National ESG Manager for Mirvac, leading a team of highly skilled, in-house sustainability professionals. The team is responsible for the delivery of Mirvac’s This Changes Everything sustainability strategy across ~$35 billion of assets currently under management including office, industrial, retail and build-to-rent portfolios.
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#2 Kit & Fit
Date: 19 July 2023
Time: 1-3.30pm
Place: Online
The right technology and best design for awkward spaces and giant needs.
“borrow” the eyes and ears of experts to help you understand how to plan for buildings old and new so they are future ready. The experts and technical wizards will share insights on new kit coming to market; the best designs for electro-fits and retrofits. And what’s the real story on splicing in EV charging?
Panel
Andrew Bagnall
Leader – Technical Advice NSW/ACT
A.G. Coombs
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Andrew Bagnall is a mechanical engineer with 20 years of consulting experience. Driven strongly by environmental issues, Andrew’s career has been largely focussed around designing, maintaining and optimising the performance of the built environment.
In his role as the Technical Advice Leader for A.G. Coombs Advisory in NSW/ACT, he leads a multi-discipline team of like-minded building service specialists dedicated to optimising the operational performance of building assets across the state.
Primarily focussed on existing building stock, Andrew’s team regularly engage with facility managers and asset owners to discuss upgrade pathways and Carbon Roadmaps™ toward a net zero future, and the transition towards all electric buildings is forming a huge part of their work at present and likely for the next decade and beyond.
David Clark
Director
Positive Zero
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David Clark established Positive Zero after 18 years as a partner in Cundall. For over 30 years he has worked on a wide range of new and existing buildings and major transport projects in Australia and UK, as a sustainability adviser and as a chartered engineer (both structural and building services). He was the principal technical author of the first Green Star rating tool in 2003 and since 2016 has chaired the GBCA Green Star Technical Advisory Group, overseeing the development of next generation of Green Star rating tools. His book, What Colour Is Your Building, published in 2013, covered how to measure and reduce energy consumption and embodied carbon in buildings. In 2022 he wrote a series of practical guides on the electrification of buildings for the GBCA and the Better Building Partnership.
Steve Ford
Head of Sustainability and Energy
GPT Group
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Steve Ford is Head of Sustainability and Energy
He has 25 years experience in sustainability from research institutions through to the property industry.
– Developed GPTs Energy Master Plan as a foundation for its world leading Carbon Neutral Certification achievement in 2020
– instrumental in development of industry standards for waste reporting, biodiversity assessment, energy ratings and carbon neutral standards
– innovating to embed solutions in buildings as a contributor to the low carbon energy transition.
Dale O’Toole
Sustainability Innovation Delivery Manager
The GPT Group
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Dale O’Toole works with GPT’s operations and development teams across the country to deliver key innovation projects / programs, including demand-side flexibility, large-scale battery installations smart energy hubs, electrification and the company’s water master plan. He has a background in property risk and resource management, having worked in multi-disciplinary consulting roles on major commercial, industrial and healthcare sites across Australia. Prior to coming to GPT, Dale was engaged in national sustainability and facility management roles with a global real estate firm. He has a Grad Dip in Corporate Environmental & Sustainability Management and a Grad Dip in Disaster (Risk) Management to supplement his ‘hands-on’ experience.
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#3 The winners and the Finance
Date: 02 August 2023
Time: 1-3:30pm
Place: Online
The emerging market of property investors who are cleaning up on the clean energy transition and why they can’t get enough of the B and C grade opportunities. You’ll hear about the financial, reputational and social brand benefits of retrofits and why some tenants already say they want to move to an old retrofitted buildings to raise their ESG brand.
But first, you’ll take a hard nosed look at the finance landscape.
Panel
Heidi Aspinall
Sustainability Strategy Manager Suncorp Bank
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Heidi Aspinall is Sustainability Strategy Manager at Suncorp Bank. She develops, leads and coordinates the program of work and technical ESG team that delivers on the sustainability and wellbeing elements of the Bank’s strategy and ambition to deliver banking that’s good for customers and good for the world.
Shane Boyce
National Manager – Development Finance
Suncorp Bank
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Suncorp Bank My 20-year experience has been focused on real estate finance with a specialisation in development and construction from a banking perspective. Transitioning to a low-carbon economy creates many risks and opportunities for this industry. We want our contribution to be meaningful and forms part of our purpose to create a Brighter Future.
In 2017, he was awarded Engineers Australia’s Prestigious Victorian Young Engineer of the Year, while in 2018 and 2019 he was a judge for the Engineers Australia Engineer of the Year and Australian Engineering Excellence Awards.
More recently, Nick was appointed to the Board of the Australian Passive House Association in 2019, and in 2020 he achieved two additional Chartered areas, was awarded APEC and International Professional Engineer, and was recognized as a Fellow of Engineers Australia. He was also awarded the HVAC&R Leadership award for Innovator of the Year.
Michael Di Russo
Director – Head of Property
CEFC
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Adam Murchie
Director
Forza Capital
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Adam Murchie has worked in property since 2001 when he transitioned from being the CEO of a state sporting body into a strategic role within a fledgling private property business.
Since that move into property, Adam has been involved in the creation of two property funds management businesses which includes Forza Capital, a business he co-founded with Ashley Wain back in 2010.
Forza Capital was designed as the business we would invest with – total independence, a strong focus on value creation and performance, and disciplined governance.
Within Forza Capital, Adam’s core skills encompass capital sourcing, investment structuring, investment management and client engagement and Adam also has a strong interest in governance and sustainability. Adam is the former Vice President of the Property Funds Association of Australia (PFA) and was a founding member of its Sustainability Committee and he was also a founding Committee member of Gruppetto – a charitable body that helps raise money for disadvantaged children to participate in sport and the arts.
Nick Tassigiannakis
Managing Director
Bridgeford Group
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Nick Tassigiannakis is a hands-on executive engineering leader who works with large, market-dominating organisations to deliver leading edge performance outcomes. He has over twelve years of experience leading complex and industry renowned engineering, sustainability and advisory projects across public and private sectors, with over five years in a directorship capacity providing commercial, technical and sustainability advisory to some of Victoria’s largest organisations.
In 2017, he was awarded Engineers Australia’s Prestigious Victorian Young Engineer of the Year, while in 2018 and 2019 he was a judge for the Engineers Australia Engineer of the Year and Australian Engineering Excellence Awards.
More recently, Nick was appointed to the Board of the Australian Passive House Association in 2019, and in 2020 he achieved two additional Chartered areas, was awarded APEC and International Professional Engineer, and was recognized as a Fellow of Engineers Australia. He was also awarded the HVAC&R Leadership award for Innovator of the Year.
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#4 Precincts – Close To You
Date: 16 August 2023
Time: 1-3:30pm
Place: Online
You know this: working together makes sense. Energy, water and sewage treatment utilities also work so much better in sync – they’re the hungry invisibles of our net zero transition. You’ll hear about the rewards of the collective and why some of the smartest heads in town are investment in energy and utility precincts.
You’ll learn about our precinct future and why planning a controlled integrated solution can deliver so much value.
And a bit about the funding.
Panel
Philip Graham
Founder & CEO
CleanPeak Energy
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Philip Graham founded CleanPeak Energy in 2017 with Jon Hare. CleanPeak has raised over $400m and developed around 100MW of Solar, contracted 20 MWh of battery sites and owns 40 MWs of thermal plant. CleanPeak has become a licensed retailer and operates Embedded Networks operating energy infrastructure that serves more than 1,000,000 sqm of commercial buildings – including the Barangaroo, Central Park and Sydney Airport Precincts in NSW and the Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide.
Prior to CleanPeak, Philip spent more than 20 years as an Investment Banker in Sydney, New York and Asia. In his career as a Banker he completed over $50billion of financing and M&A transactions and worked with some of the largest companies participating in the Energy, Power, Mining and Infrastructure sectors. Before retiring from Banking, Philip was a member of Citi’s Investment Banking Operating Committee for the Asia Pacific Region.
Philip is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, holds an Economics degree from Sydney University and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance form the Securities Institute of Australia.
Virginia Jones
Australia Program Manager
Global Cooksafe Coalition
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Virginia Jones joined the Global Cooksafe Coalition (GCC) earlier this year as the Australia Program Manager. Sher is responsible for working with partners to develop and implement strategic policy goals to advance the electrification of cooking in Australia.
Prior to joining the GCC, Virginia was Head of Marketing and Communications at Fairtrade Australia New Zealand. She has also worked as a journalist and academic. Virginia believes deeply in the role of the not-for-profit sector in facilitating change through the promotion of socially responsible business, effective public policy and powerful communication.
Terry Leckie
CEO
Altogether Group
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Terry Leckie is an Australian leader in sustainable utility services.
He has extensive experience in the delivery of water and energy projects in Australia and New Zealand, pioneering new ways of providing local water and energy solutions to residential, commercial, retail and industrial developments for over a decade.
Terry is a thought leader in the utility services industry, advocating a greater role for innovation, private sector involvement and truly integrated systems.
Altogether is setting new benchmarks for sustainability and affordability through its work with developers in both housing supply and urban renewal.
Altogether is a leader in green infrastructure, helping communities to retain precious water and energy resources, create circular economies and establish resilience.
Jonathan Prendergast
Prendergast Projects
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Jonathan Prendergast is a consultant in the energy sector with a particular focus on solar power
and energy efficiency. He has consulted to Universities, Renewable Energy Project Developers, Councils and Property Developers, primarily in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. He works both as an external and in-house consultant, often on project based work. Jonathan’s deep understanding of energy markets, contracts and procurement enables him to unlock new business models to deliver projects. He has lead several innovative and market leading ‘Australian first’ energy projects (see below), and continues to update his knowledge through industry forums and
pilot projects.”
#5 Portfolio Transitions
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Date: 30 August 2023
Time: 4.30-6.00pm
Place: online
How to achieve net zero for commercial properties at scale
If you’re the sustainability or ESG manager of a large real estate investment trust right now, you will feel the pressure to deliver ever better performance accompanied by a multitude of disclosures. Required by your investors, stakeholders and by law.
This masterclass will focus on your needs: what are your peers in commercial buildings, shopping centres and industrial property doing to shape up to the new demands and how can this inform your actions?
You’ll discover how the Federal Government’s $15 million+ investment in the National Energy Performance Strategy helps you?
What’s keeping the ESG directors at the top end of town awake at night? How do they transition entire portfolios?
Who are the experts they call on to help? And what will make them go harder/faster?
Panel
Zoe Baker
Sector Lead
NABERS
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Zoe Baker is a Sector Lead in the NABERS team of NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change. Her role focuses on engaging business and property sectors on the growing range of building efficiency rating tools from the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS). NABERS is the world-leading simple, reliable, and comparable sustainability measurement you can trust. What gets measured gets managed – knowing how building perform so we can run them efficiently and optimally means happier healthier and more sustainable places to live, work and be.
Zoe has a social science research background and broad range of sustainability experience having spent her career working in social and sustainability strategy and programs. She enjoys bringing people into the networks where they can share learnings, find solutions, and reach collective goals toge
As one of Australia’s few social psychologists specialising in the built environment, Natalie has always been focused on the relationship between people and place. She deeply understands occupiers and the drivers of change for the future of workplace, place-making, cities, and innovation assets.
She has channelled her expertise towards winning and managing globally significant property developments, creating ground-breaking workplaces, and new precincts in Sydney, Singapore, Silicon Valley and London.
Until recently Natalie had several roles at Lendlease over the last 11 years, including Head of Workplace, Head of Customer, Digital & Place, and most recently, Head of Product Strategy Investment Management, which involves realising the creation and curation of new products and places for a new economy with their investment partners.
Prior to Lendlease she was a Director of Workplace Change Management at DEGW, Head of Workplace Strategy & Planning at Macquarie Bank, and Workplace Lead at Woods Bagot.
Danny De Sousa Vice President –ESG & Innovation
Brookfield Properties
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Danny De Sousa has worked for Brookfield Properties since 2012 and is responsible for the delivery of Brookfield Properties’ sustainability program across the Australian portfolio. This includes utilities procurement, performance improvement initiatives, reporting and tenant engagement. Danny is also involved in Brookfield Properties’ smart building work stream.
Steven Peters
Chief Sustainability Officer
ISPT
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Steven Peters is the Chief Sustainability Officer at ISPT. In this role, he has responsibility for the delivery of ISPT’s Environment, Social and Governance Strategy, including ambitious targets to drive positive change for all stakeholders.
Steven has over 20 years’ experience delivering green building performance and sustainability solutions within the built environment. He has led the development and delivery of key sustainability initiatives and green infrastructure opportunities at both a building and precinct scale.
Steven is a Non-executive Director on the Cleaning Accountability Framework (CAF) Board, is a member of the Property Council of Australia National Sustainability Roundtable, and has participated in working groups such as the Green Building Council of Australia Expert Reference Panel – Building Performance and the NABERS Advisory Panel.
Natalie Slessor
Executive Managing Director, Property Management
CBRE
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Natalie Slessor is Executive Managing Director of Property Management at CBRE for the Pacific region. The team specialises in delivering safe, sustainable, future-facing property management solutions at the highest standard for the region’s most progressive landlords and investors.
As one of Australia’s few social psychologists specialising in the built environment, Natalie has always been focused on the relationship between people and place. She deeply understands occupiers and the drivers of change for the future of workplace, place-making, cities, and innovation assets.
She has channelled her expertise towards winning and managing globally significant property developments, creating ground-breaking workplaces, and new precincts in Sydney, Singapore, Silicon Valley and London.
Until recently Natalie had several roles at Lendlease over the last 11 years, including Head of Workplace, Head of Customer, Digital & Place, and most recently, Head of Product Strategy Investment Management, which involves realising the creation and curation of new products and places for a new economy with their investment partners.
Prior to Lendlease she was a Director of Workplace Change Management at DEGW, Head of Workplace Strategy & Planning at Macquarie Bank, and Workplace Lead at Woods Bagot.
Supported by the Department of Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water