Energy In The Room

In this episode of Energy in the Room, Katie sits down with Stephen Panizza - Founding Partner and Head of Renewable Energy at Federation Asset Management and former Chief Investment Risk Officer at the CEFC - for a candid conversation about what it really takes to deliver the energy transition in Australia. Stephen shares why he believes “we need to make energy boring again”, unpacking the shift...

In this episode of Energy in the Room, Katie sits down with Jessica Johnston, Chief People Officer at Aula Energy, to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing the renewables sector: people. With a career spanning financial services, M&A, transformation, and workforce strategy, Jess shares how her unconventional journey into leadership shaped her perspective on scaling businesses, building r...

In this episode of Energy in the Room, Katie sits down with economist Tim Nelson, chair of the independent Nelson Review of Australia’s National Electricity Market. Tim cuts through the jargon to unpack what’s actually inside the report and what it means for renewables, storage and firming investment across the NEM. They explore how the review tackles “hidden” behind-the-meter resources, a more we...

In this episode of Energy in the Room, Katie sits down with Amy Kean, partner and co-founder at Stride Renewables.  The 2 unpack Amy's  25 years spent at the intersection of energy markets, policy and project delivery. Amy shares how a “light bulb moment” in the 1990s set her on a path in renewables, what she has learned working across government, industry and NGOs, and why collaboration between p...

Why the energy transition won’t succeed unless communities are treated as partners, not obstacles. In this episode of Energy in the Room, Katie is joined by Sarah Guilfoyle, Head of Stakeholder Relations at Voyager Renewables, to talk about the human side of the energy transition. Sarah shares her journey from regional Queensland through mining, agriculture and major infrastructure, and explains h...

From an engineer inspired by his grandfather’s toy‑fixing skills to leading one of Australia’s pioneering large‑scale battery developers, Nick Rose’s story is charged with energy, risk, and heart. In this episode of  Energy in the Room , host Katie sits down with Nick to explore Firm Power’s remarkable rise — from a bold idea in 2019 to its acquisition by AGL. Nick reflects on what it takes to bui...

General Manager of Energy Services at Lumea, Sabooh Whitelaw, joins Jill Ryder and Katie Nickless for a candid look at what it really takes to connect big batteries, wind and solar projects into Australia’s grid and drive the energy transition. She shares her unconventional journey from accounting and finance into renewables, the moment carbon policy made the sector “click” for her, and how she no...

In this episode of  Energy in the Room , host Katie sits down with Marc Barrington, General Manager of New Markets at Elinta Energy, to explore the realities behind the energy transition. With over 25 years of experience spanning renewables, carbon markets, retail, and decarbonization strategy, Marc shares candid insights from a career that’s navigated both the commercial and technical sides of th...

Welcome to the very first episode of Energy in the Room! Host Katie kicks things off with a no-holds-barred conversation featuring Shane Quinnell, Head of Development at Westwind Energy. Discover Shane’s unique journey from coal to renewables, hear behind-the-scenes stories of Australia’s massive energy transition, and get real about the controversy, politics, and risks facing the industry today....

Energy in the Room brings together trailblazers who are redefining our energy future. Hosted by Katie Nickless, this series shares honest insights, bold stories, and the challenges faced by those leading the transition. If you want conversations that go deeper than the headlines, this is your space to listen in and be inspired.