The Green Room - Energy Innovation & Renewables Industry Podcast

Ed Bennison - mechanical engineer, industrial designer, renewable-energy gun, and co-founder of Arigo: one of Australia’s most agile and forward-thinking engineering consultancies.  In this candid episode, we unpack everything from the collapse of Prana, to building a business from scratch, to the wild realities of grid applications, FCAS batteries, commercial solar design, large-scale constructio...

🎙️ Peppa’s journey is wild! In the best way.  From fearless horse-riding in rural Queensland to running a fast-moving creative agency that builds campaigns across solar, skincare, apparel and everything in between.  🎯  Greenwood Academy sits down with Peppa Priestly from Spark Marketing to learn about: - Why real, imperfect content is outperforming polished brand videos - The psychology behind fo...

🎙️ From Venezuela to Australia: Passion, Grit, and Solar Innovation ☀️ In this episode, we sit down with Andres Rastelli, Business Development Manager at Clenergy, whose energy could power a small city.  From his wild childhood in Venezuela to becoming one of Australia’s most passionate renewable energy advocates, Andreas brings stories that will make you laugh, think, and maybe even crave a good...

From backyard lemon trees to nuclear reactors and everything solar in between! In this episode, Veli sits down with George Phani, veteran of Australia’s solar industry and current Business Development Manager at Yingli Solar, for a no-nonsense, deeply personal, and occasionally hilarious journey through the evolution of photovoltaics. George shares: 👉 His early days tinkering with applied physics...

🎙️ The engineer’s edge: Sanna from Gamcorp unpacks structures, solar, and the art of doing things properly. In this episode, we sit down with Sanna Afshar, Director of Operations at Gamcorp, to dive deep into the engineering side of solar and renewable energy systems.  From his family’s incredible journey fleeing Iran in the 1980s to his rise as one of the industry’s most passionate and insightful...

Greenwood Academy partners with Sanna from Gamcorp to discuss best practice on one of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of the solar and renewable energy industry: structural safety.  Together, they break down what installers , designers , and engineers  should look for when assessing rooftops and structures before any solar installation. The conversation sheds light on key factors su...

Emily’s story is a powerful look at what it takes to lead in the fast-changing world of renewable energy.  From her early start in policy and trading to driving innovation in electrification and clean technology, Em has built a career defined by resilience, insight, and a commitment to real impact. In this episode, she shares her journey through the solar industry, the lessons learned from leaders...

Welcome to the world of advanced solar technology with Thomas Bywater, a multilingual solar and electrical engineer whose career spans cutting-edge cell manufacturing, large-scale renewable projects, and industry-shaping innovation.  From mastering Mandarin in high school to working alongside pioneers at the University of New South Wales, Thomas has been at the forefront of solar’s evolution — fro...

🎙️ In this episode of the GREENROOM, we sit down with Gil Rhodes – engineer, trainer, and founder of AGR Electrical – for one of the most technical yet practical conversations we’ve ever had. From the origins of PowerCAD software and why it’s essential for large-scale solar design, through to the real-world challenges of AC/DC cabling, derating, switchboards, and compliance, this podcast is packed...

THE GREEN ROOM - EPISODE 10! MATT MANSFIELD Learn the story of Mansfield’s Nursery, a third-generation horticultural business with over 75 years of experience.  Matt Mansfield shares his journey from working in landscaping and traveling abroad to returning home and taking on the challenges of the family business.  Hear insights into the realities of running a propagation nursery, from cuttings and...

In this candid, engaging podcast - THE GREENROOM EPISODE 9, Gerard McAllister opens up about his journey from growing up as one of eight brothers in the Latrobe Valley to founding Assertive Marketing.  Dive into stories of his European travels, love for history, lessons in leadership, and bold career pivots—from power stations and personal training to pioneering renewable energy marketing.  This e...

Meet Kevin Manion—Greenwood’s O&M lead and all-round top bloke.  From drag cars and judo to solar farms and boxing rings, Kevin’s journey is anything but ordinary. What shines through most, though, is his humility, curiosity, and genuine care for people. He talks leadership, renewables, and why listening is one of the most underrated skills in the industry.  Kevin is a straight-talking sparkie...

Veli is joined by special guest Mick Jojic from Clenergy to dive deep into the realities of the solar industry—from technical design challenges to the art of product management. Whether you're new to renewables or a seasoned professional, this conversation offers lessons, laughs, and the occasional hard truth.  Plug in for an unfiltered look at what it really takes to deliver solar at scale a...

When your neighborhood runs on sunshine and batteries— and the odd temperamental diesel genset — “energy” stops being an invoice and becomes your lifestyle.  In this wide-ranging chat, renewables expert-electrician Anne Wilson takes us from the mud-brick beginnings of her off-grid home to the cutting-edge software that now powers commercial design desks worldwide. Anne explains how life in Victori...

Raised in the cricket loving suburbs of Mumbai to now steering megawatt projects in Melbourne, Jayesh Satani unpacks the exact steps—from visa hurdles to solar accreditation—that turned a Gujarati electronics grad into one of Australia’s go-to product managers for GridSafe secondary protection.  Jayesh shows you how jugaad-level hustle, family values, and relentless up-skilling helped create his o...

What does real compliance look like on small-scale solar installs?  Seasoned sparkies Israel Vogel (New Energy Training) and Robbie Nicholls (Green Earth Electrical) bring decades of experience to the table as we unpack the practical side of solar compliance, safety, best practices, and the stuff that actually matters on-site.  Whether you're on the tools or overseeing projects, this chat is...

Curious about what it really takes to run a renewable energy project? In this episode of The Green Room , we sit down with Alana Simpkin to uncover the day-to-day challenges, key skills, and personal journey behind managing commercial green energy projects—perfect for anyone eyeing a future in the renewables space. Learn more about Greenwood Academy: www.greenwood.academy Youtube: @greenwoodsoluti...

Introducing "THE GREEN ROOM" - By Greenwood Academy.  In this episode of the Green Room , we deep dive into safety standards, common risks, and real-life lessons from the field in Australia’s energy sector. Whether you’re on rooftops, in switch rooms, or designing systems behind the scenes — safety is everything.