October 2020: Launch of the third edition of Navigating a dynamic energy landscape: A briefing for Australian businesses

The Energy Efficiency Council's flagship energy briefing engagement activities support Australian businesses with managing the risks and capturing of the opportunities of the energy transition. On Tuesday 20 October, the Energy Efficiency Council and viewers from across the country heard from leading energy experts on how businesses can successfully navigate Australia’s dynamic energy landscape.

Chair: Luke Menzel, CEO, Energy Efficiency Council

Panellists:

Bridgette Carter, Manager Energy Sourcing & Utilisation, BlueScope

Justin Merrell, Group Environment Director, Lion

Christina Tonkin, Managing Director - Corporate Finance, ANZ

Tony Wood, Energy Program Director, Grattan Institute

Speakers

Luke Menzel

CEO, Energy Efficiency Council

Luke Menzel is CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council, Australia's peak body for energy efficiency, energy management and demand response. Luke leads the Council’s work to make sensible, cost effective energy efficiency measures standard practice across the Australian economy.

Luke sits on a number of government and independent advisory committees, and is Vice President of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).

Bridgette Carter

Manager Energy Sourcing & Utilisation, BlueScope

Bridgette Carter is the Manager Energy Sourcing and Utilisation for BlueScope Steel. She manages the team responsible for procuring BlueScope’s Australian energy and utility needs, overseeing contracts worth in excess of $170 million per annum across more than 50 operational sites.

Bridgette has spent over 20 years in the manufacturing sector with significant experience in energy procurement, energy and carbon accounting, energy efficiency, energy regulation compliance and energy policy.

Bridgette is also the Deputy Chair of the Energy Users Association of Australia, which represents large electricity and gas users, acting as a trusted and relentless voice within the energy sector, seeking a competitive, reliable and sustainable energy supply for all energy users.

Tony Wood

Energy Program Director, Grattan Institute

Tony has been Director of the Energy Program since 2011 after 14 years working at Origin Energy in senior executive roles. From 2009 to 2014 he was also Program Director of Clean Energy Projects at the Clinton Foundation, advising governments in the Asia-Pacific region on effective deployment of large-scale, low-emission energy technologies. In 2008, he was seconded to provide an industry perspective to the first Garnaut Climate Change Review. In January 2018, Tony was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his significant service to conservation and the environment, particularly in the areas of energy policy, climate change and sustainability. In October 2019, Tony was elected as a Fellow to the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.

Christina Tonkin

Managing Director - Corporate Finance, ANZ

Christina Tonkin is the Managing Director, Corporate Finance for Institutional Banking. Corporate Finance comprises Corporate Advisory, Sustainable Finance, Project Finance, Export Finance, Asset Finance, Leveraged Finance, Loans Agency, and Loan Underwriting & Syndications. Corporate Finance also “houses” our relationship banking activities across the Resources, Energy & Infrastructure sector. Christina has over 25 years' experience in specialised finance and loan syndications, and joined ANZ from Westpac Banking Corporation in 2005. Since joining ANZ, Christina has held several roles within the Institutional Banking loans business. In addition to her current role, Christina is the Chairman of the Board of ANZ Vietnam. Christina holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Geology & Geophysics from Sydney University. She is Vice President on the Executive Committee for Women in Banking & Finance, a former Vice President and Director of the National Stroke Foundation and a member of Chief Executive Women.

Justin Merrell

Group Environment Director, Lion

Justin is the Group Environment Director at Lion, one of Australia’s largest brewers. He is responsible for setting Lion’s environment strategy that focuses on carbon, sustainable packaging, and water stewardship.

Prior to Lion, Justin held various roles in Qantas, but joined Qantas in 2012 as Group Environment Manager just in time to catch Australia’s first biofuel flight.

Prior to Qantas, he was Operations Manager at the Koppers chemical plant in Kurnell for 11 years which was the start of a stronger focus on environmental issues.

Justin has a Chemical Engineering Degree from the University of Newcastle and Master of Environmental Management from the University of New South Wales.