Author: RodSharples

The Ku-ring-gai Community and Business Energy Summit 2026, ‘Clean Energy,
Stronger Community, Thriving Business – understanding the energy transition
what it means for your business and community’, presented by EnergyZE North
Shore in partnership with the Ku-ring-gai Chamber of Commerce was held on 8 April
2026 at the Greengate Hotel in Killara.

The event focused on practical local action for the energy transition, targeting
business leaders and community members. It highlighted the energy transition as an
immediate issue affecting local investment, business and households, rather than a
distant policy goal.

Dr. Cathy Foley, former Australian Chief Scientist, delivered the keynote address on
energy strategy, risk management, and leadership in a changing economy.  She
referred to clean, green energy as a sovereign asset for Australia. To capitalise on
the opportunities, Australia needs appropriate policy settings, sustained investment
and community engagement to solve the challenging problems along the way. Every
business can play its part—by embracing the energy transition directly to reduce
costs and deliver environmental benefits, and by contributing to clean, green supply
chains.

With renewables now the lowest-cost energy source, continued investment
(including in technologies not expected to mature until around 2040) and faster-than-
expected progress in storage and electrification—such as EVs becoming the most
cost-effective personal transport by 2050—will shape how the transition unfolds.
She also noted the growing importance of mandatory climate reporting (including
Scope 1, 2 and, increasingly, Scope 3), and the need for strong measurement
integrity to avoid double counting of emissions data.

For business and the community, she emphasised practical steps: understand
energy costs and tariffs, measure carbon footprints, and develop a staged plan to
decarbonise while engaging customers, suppliers and local stakeholders.

Jenny Merkley, Acting Deputy Secretary, Energy, Climate Change and
Sustainability, NSW DCCEEW, gave an overview of the NSW Government’s
Decarbonisation Policy’s strategies and programs. It was interesting to learn more
about the Consumer Energy Strategy including the Home Energy Saver Program
and Energy Security Safeguard and its role in strengthening NSW’s energy
resilience and reliability.

Peter Vun, Ku-ring-gai Council’s Program Lead, Energy Management and Net Zero
Strategy spoke on ‘Our Energy Future now’ and provided insight into the role of LGA
leadership in advancing practical energy management and net zero outcomes. He
connected policy implementation and community benefit ( e.g. Ku-ring-gai’s
Council’s rebates and public EV charger roll-out) noting the ‘urgency yet opportunity’
in this energy transition.

Nicolette Boele, Federal Member for Bradfield, chaired the Panel discussion
“Powering Tomorrow Together – the local path to a clean energy future”, focusing on
community-led initiatives and accelerating renewable energy adoption.  A clean
energy expert herself, she chaired with humour and pragmatism the panel
comprising Dr Kate Wilson, Jenny Merkley, Tim Buckley and Rod Sharples. The
discussion and following Q and A aimed to provide actionable steps for businesses
to reduce energy costs and strengthen resilience.

EnergyZE member and Climate and Sustainability Advisor, Dr Kate Wilson spoke
on the link between science, policy and practical action at the community levels,
connecting broader sustainability challenges with achievable local outcomes.

EnergyZE member Rod Sharples brought a community focused perspective to the
discussion focusing on practical local action. He encouraged communities and
households to participate in the energy transition via small changes in behaviour and
choices such as installing a battery, solar or heat pump, or move from gas to
electricity when upgrading appliances.

Tim Buckley, Director, Clean Energy Finance, spoke on energy markets, risk and
the financial realities of energy tradition and referred to real case examples such as
China’s transition to renewables. He connected global trends with practical
implications for local businesses and communities.

The Energy Summit was supported by Ku-ring-gai Council’s Environmental Levy Net
Zero Grant and served as a forum for networking and developing a co-ordinated
local approach to the clean energy future.