PowerHour 2025 Series
Episode #1
May 22nd (9.30 - 10.30 am)
“Rethinking Renewables & Regional Development”
Calling all engagement practitioners working in the energy transition! The PowerHour Forum is back in 2025 with another six-episode line-up designed to support better engagement and help you create lasting legacy across your projects.
- Understand the regional development opportunities renewables can bring to regional communities
- Learn how to shift the narrative and highlight long-term benefits
- Explore ways to connect projects with regional economic growth
- Making global concepts resonate locally – messaging and framing – moving away from ideology to local benefits
- Take away top tips from each speaker to apply in your work
Why join this PowerHour?
Join the amazing lineup of expert guest speakers along with your fellow practitioners from around the country to better understand the development opportunities renewables can bring to regional communities and explore ways to connect projects with regional economic growth.
From the keynote presentation where Dr Amanda Cahill (Next Economy) will share her insights and strategies from their research and best practice international experience, through to the high calibre panellists Cr Andrew Smith (Mayor, Western Downs Regional Council) and Joanna Stevens (Premier Strategy) who will tease the topic out from a regioanl Community perspective, and an engagement expert lens – this in one forum you must not miss!!
This is the first of six interactive virtual forums that will explore issues relevant to engaging in Regional Australia, providing you with small bite-sized learning opportunities and exposure to key stakeholder perspectives.
You will leave the forum with fresh insights and understanding and have added some actionable strategies to add to your engagement toolkit.
Meet our speakers
Dr Amanda Cahill
Founder - Next Economy
Keynote speaker
Amanda Cahill is the founder and CEO of The Next Economy. Amanda is spearheading the movement for economic change in the energy sector in Australia.
She is an author, sought after media commentator, and trusted advisor to communities, government and industries navigating the complex transition to net zero emissions. She has over two decades experience working on economic development, public health, gender equality and climate adaptation across Australia, Asia and the Pacific.
Cr Andrew Smith
Mayor - Western Downs Regional Council (QLD)
Panel member
Mayor Andrew Smith is serving his fifth consecutive term on Council, having first been elected in 2008 and previously serving as Deputy Mayor from 2016 to 2024. A successful entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in small business, retail and agriculture, Cr Smith still maintains several business interests in the region.
In his role as Mayor, Cr Smith has a strong focus on investment attraction and regional economic advocacy with emphasis on long-term water security, telecommunications, and roads and infrastructure investment for the Western Downs. Cr Smith is passionate about growing communities, diversifying the economy and business prosperity on the Western Downs.
Joanna Stevens
Founder - Premier Strategy
Panel member
Prior to establishing Premier Strategy, Joanna was a journalist and a government communications advisor working in state and federal governments. With more than 20 years of hands-on experience, Joanna possesses extensive government relations, strategic communications, community engagement and issues management skills.
Joanna is the ‘go to’ person for regional engagement. Joanna was born and raised in the Ballarat region, where her family has lived for over five generations. She has a strong network of regional business, community and political contacts who helped foster and shape her ambition to create her own business.
Our proud partners for PowerHour 2025 are:
About the facilitator
Wendy Agar
Principal, Engaged Outcomes
Wendy grew up on her family’s Central Queensland beef and grain farm and spent 10 years as a partner in a sheep and cattle enterprise in Western QLD. She has 20 years of experience serving in leadership roles in multi-sectorial organisations in rural, regional, and remote Queensland. These experiences ensure Wendy brings finely honed facilitation and engagement skills, a deep practical understanding of adaptive leadership, and a lived experience understanding of the challenges and opportunities of engaging, building capacity, and leading change in rural, regional, and remote communities.
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