Welcome to the 2026 Griffith Energy Policy Summit.
Join us as we bring together some of Australia’s leading voices in energy economics, policy, and market reform. Featuring renowned experts including Professor Paul Simshauser, Hon Dan Tehan MP plus many more. The 2026 Griffith Energy Policy Summit will explore the challenges, opportunities, and future direction of today’s rapidly evolving energy sector. Expect thought-provoking discussions, industry insight, and forward-focused conversations shaping the future of energy policy.
What to Expect
The 2026 Griffith Energy Policy Summit will be a full-day ticketed event bringing together industry professionals, researchers, policymakers, and emerging leaders from across the energy sector. Guests will enjoy catering throughout the day, including networking opportunities and scheduled breaks.
The summit program will feature 4–6 expert presenters and panel discussions focused on the future of energy policy, market reform, sustainability, innovation, and Australia’s evolving energy landscape. Attendees will gain valuable insights from some of the sector’s leading voices, with opportunities to engage in meaningful conversation around the key challenges and opportunities shaping the industry today.
Save the date: Wednesday 18 November, 2026
Ticket Information
Cost: $170 per ticket
Members Fee: $85 per ticket
More event details, speaker announcements, and program information will be released soon.
Hear from industry experts
Dan Tehan MP
The Hon Dan Tehan MP has represented Wannon in Federal Parliament since 2010 and is currently Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction and Manager of Opposition Business. He has held senior portfolios including Trade, Tourism and Investment, Education, Social Services and Veterans’ Affairs. Before entering Parliament, he worked in agriculture, diplomacy and trade policy, including with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He holds Masters Degrees in International Relations and Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Professor Paul Simshauser AM
Paul Simshauser AM is a Professor of Economics at Griffith University where he specialises in Energy Economics and Energy Policy. He has more than two decades of experience in the energy sector. His prior roles include Director-General of the Department of Energy and Water Supply and Chief Economist with one of Australia’s largest utilities, AGL Energy and General Manager Energy Trading at Stanwell Corporation.
Paul McArdle
Paul has over 25 years of experience in the NEM through Global-Roam Pty Ltd, helping clients understand the complexities of the energy market. He is also involved with WattClarity.com.au, which shares widely used NEM insights. Prior to co-founding Global-Roam, he worked as a Mechanical Engineer in the Queensland Electricity Supply Industry and has gained international experience across several countries, including Japan, the USA, Canada, the UK, Argentina, and the Philippines.
Dr Sarah Lawley
Sarah is an independent energy consultant with extensive experience across Australia’s electricity sector, specialising in wholesale energy markets, project investment, data centre energy contracting and energy strategy. She has held senior leadership roles with EnergyAustralia, Meridian Energy Australia (Powershop), Blue NRG and CDC. Sarah advises government, industry and energy consumers on electricity markets, commercial strategy and energy policy, with a focus on reliability, affordability and decarbonisation. She holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Adelaide.
Andrew Murdoch
Andrew Murdoch’s unique blend of technical expertise, business acumen, creativity and curiosity make him a sought-after expert. He founded Arche Energy in 2017 to provide high-quality services to the infrastructure sector. He is an innovator and optimiser thriving in changing environments through the adaptation and integration of emerging and innovative technologies into business applications.
Perry Wilson
Perry Wilson is Head of Advisory for Australia and New Zealand at Rystad Energy, where he leads the firm’s consulting business. He advises governments, energy companies, miners, industrials and financial institutions on energy strategy, market development and the energy transition. Since the onset of the Middle East conflict, Perry and his team have advised state and federal governments extensively on fuel security. He is also a regular contributor to industry journals and national media, writing on energy security, gas, power, CCUS and the broader transition. His international consulting experience spans Oceania, the UK, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific.
Benn Barr
Benn Barr joined Energy Queensland in May 2025, bringing more than 25 years of experience in energy and climate change policy and a deep understanding of Australia’s energy market. Previously Chief Executive of the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), he has held senior leadership roles in both the Queensland and Australian Governments, including energy policy and intergovernmental affairs. Benn holds an Economics degree from James Cook University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Bill Lilley
Dr. William (Bill) Lilley, Chief Executive Officer joined RACE for 2030 in February 2023. Bill is a proven multi-disciplinary leader with over 25 years' experience in research, government and industry. Bill delivered CSIRO’s ‘Intelligent Grid’ research program, which showcased the value of distributed energy for Australia. He was a principal advisor on the federal government’s ‘Smart Grid Smart City’ initiative. Bill spent over a decade working for Aramco and the Ministry of Energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was instrumental in the development of a national energy strategy and led its implementation within the power and water sector.
Professor Chris Kellett
Prof Chris Kellett has previously been the Director of the School of Engineering at the Australian National University and the Associate Dean for Research for the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment at the University of Newcastle. Chris has held an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship and a Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Germany). With over 20 years' experience working in universities both in Australia and internationally, he has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and two books on the theory and application of mathematical systems theory. Chris is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), Engineers Australia, and the Australian Mathematical Society.
Professor Bruce Mountain
Bruce is the inaugural Director of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre. He is a well-known Australian energy economist whose research and advisory work has focussed on the economic regulation of network monopolies, the analysis of retail energy markets, and the design of emission reduction and renewable energy policies. Bruce has been a long-standing advisor to governments, regulators, market participants and interest groups in Australia and in other countries. His PhD from Victoria University was on the political economy of energy regulation in Australia, and he has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town and qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in England.
Rory Linehan
Rory Linehan is Director of Infrastructure Policy Advancement for Australia and New Zealand at Bentley Systems. With more than 15 years of experience across infrastructure, trade, investment and climate policy, he works with governments, industry and academia to advance digital infrastructure policy and accelerate technology adoption. Previously, he held senior leadership roles with the Inter-American Development Bank, G20 Global Infrastructure Hub, Jacobs and DFAT. Rory is also a guest lecturer in infrastructure policy at Cornell University and a former Wilson Center Global Fellow.