Community energy gives local towns and regions power over how they generate and consume electricity. Locally generated renewable energy will create local jobs, cleaner energy and allow the community to control where their energy comes from.

Renewable energy is changing the way we consume electricity. We are no longer reliant entirely on power from the big energy generators. As renewable energy keep getting cheaper we need to make sure communities benefit from this new form of energy. That includes initiatives that ensure everyone has access to clean energy.

Come find out how community energy can benefit Benalla and our region. Three great speakers who are leaders in this field will outline what community energy is and how we can benefit from it.

Speakers:

Simon Corbell, Victorian Renewable Energy Advocate

Nicky Ison, Co-founder of the Community Power Agency.

Alison Rowe, Chief Executive Officer of Moreland Energy Foundation.

Biographies.

Simon Corbell

Simon Corbell was appointed as the first Victorian Renewable Energy Advocate in December 2016 to promote the state's renewable energy sector. Mr Corbell was previously Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for the Environment and Climate Change of the ACT, where he drove the delivery of large scale solar and wind farms and oversaw the implementation of the ACT 100% renewable energy target.

Nicky Ison

Nicky Ison co-formed Community Power Agency to help grow a vibrant community energy sector in Australia. Through Community Power Agency, Nicky has worked with and visited over 40 community energy projects in Australia and Europe. Nicky is also the founder of the new Coalition for Community Energy, which is working to address the barriers to the development of a wider Australian community energy sector.

Alison Rowe

Alison was formerly the Global Executive Director Sustainability for Fujitsu, where she created and implemented the global strategy for sustainability. Alison is the Chair of the Future Business Council and she has held Non-Executive Director positions at the Infrastructure Sustainability Council Australia, Bioregional Australia, Climate Alliance and Environment Victoria. She completed the Business and Environment program through Cambridge University, holds an MBA and Post Graduate Diploma in Technology Management and is a Williamson Community Leadership Fellow. Alison was named Business Leader of the Year by Climate Alliance in 2013. She spent most of her childhood living in the North East of Victoria.