Central Queensland’s industrial and energy future will be outlined at the 2023 GEA Major Industry, Energy and Manufacturing Conference this 27 – 28 September 2023
The annual Gladstone Engineering Alliance (GEA) Major Industry, Energy & Manufacturing Conference, presented by Aestec Services is set to return this September 2023 over two action packed days, Wednesday the 27th and Thursday the 28th at the Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre.
Gladstone is the gateway to Central Queensland’s (CQ) and the states Industrial and renewable energy sector, the 2023 conference will provide an opportunity to gain insight into where industry, energy and manufacturing is heading and the available opportunities sprouting within the broader CQ Region as our Nation, State and Region progress through the renewables transition.
The Conference provides superior networking conditions to reinforce relationships and gathering information to get a head start at the evolving business opportunities in store for the future.
What to expect:
- Attendees will hear from a variety of influential guest speakers working in the heart of emerging industrial projects, the transition towards renewable energy and sustainable manufacturing.
- With Gladstone’s Industrial landscape forever evolving and in conjunction with some major project announcements, 2023 Conference delegates will have an exclusive opportunity to jump on-board the Gladstone Industry Bus Tour.
- Get involved with the conference early by joining the GEA on a sightseeing cruise of the Gladstone Harbour on the evening of Tuesday the 26th of September with drinks, tapas and live entertainment provided to set the scene for the exclusive Speaker/Sponsor Networking Drinks.
- Attend the Gladstone Engineering Alliance Industry Awards night and raise a glass to celebrate 20 years in business for the GEA team.
- Conclude the entire conference with a final corporate networking drink
2023 Conference partner
Aestec Services
AESTEC Services is an Australian owned Civil Construction and Maintenance company based in Gladstone, Queensland.Established in 2005, it rapidly emerged as one of the preferred providers and employers in the Gladstone region.
To provide comprehensive services to our clients, AESTEC Services expanded our head office to include a cutting-edge fabrication workshop and a mobile maintenance workshop. This expansion enabled us to establish their own service team dedicated to the upkeep of the AESTEC fleet of vehicles and machinery. At present, AESTEC Services takes pride in employing over 300 locals, encompassing a diverse range of trades and skill backgrounds. We have played a pivotal role in assisting 31 apprentices in completing their trade qualifications, including dual trades.
AESTEC Services also actively contributes to the local community by supporting various organisations, events, and initiatives. These include the Cosmos Art for Health, The Boyne Tannum Hook Up as well as numerous sporting groups and community events.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
Gain positive exposure for your business by becoming a sponsor
Want to build valuable relationships with Central Queensland industry leaders? Partner with us on our 2023 Major Industry , Energy & Manufacturing Conference.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
EVENT TICKETS
MAJOR INDUSTRY AND ENERGY CONFERENCE TICKETS
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE LOGGED IN TO THE GEA PORTAL TO AVAIL MEMBER PRICING.
If you are unable to login, please contact info@gea.asn.au or call 07 4972 9060.
2-day GEA
member entry
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MEMBER PRICE
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2-day entry
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Morning tea
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2 lunches & 4 drinks
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Tickets inclusive of GST
2-day Non-
member entry
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NON-MEMBER PRICE
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2-day entry
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Morning tea
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2 lunches & 4 drinks
-
Tickets inclusive of GST
1-day GEA
member entry
-
MEMBER PRICE
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1-day entry
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Either day 1 or 2
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Morning tea
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1 lunch & 2 drinks
-
Tickets inclusive of GST
1-day Non-
member entry
-
NON-MEMBER PRICE
-
1 day entry
-
Either day 1 or 2
-
Morning tea
-
1 lunch & 2 drinks
-
Tickets inclusive of GST
GEA INDUSTRY AWARDS & GALA DINNER only
Thursday 6 October 2022
| Time | Agenda |
|---|---|
| 07.30am | Registration opens |
| 8.30AM | Welcome from GEA & Aestec |
| 8:40AM | Welcome to Country |
| 8.55AM | Deputy Mayor Kahn Goodluck |
| 9.10AM | Shay Chalmers - MC |
| 09:20AM | Ian Macfarlane - Queensland Resource Council |
| 9.40AM | Hugh Barbour - Gladstone Area Water Board |
| 10:00AM | Minister Lance McCallum |
| 10:10AM | Morning Tea / Networking |
| 10:30AM | John Abbott - Inter-Port Global |
| 10:50AM | Tim McDougall - Rio Tinto |
| 11.10AM | Jacqui Bridge - Powerlink |
| 11.30AM | Everald Compton - G2G Railway |
| 12:00pm | Lunch / Networking |
| 12:45PM | Rob Williamson - Alpha HPA |
| 01.05PM | Robert Sobrya - Construction Skills Queensland |
| 01:25PM | Mike Everton - Oceania Biofuels |
| 01:45PM | Timothy Davies - Fortescue Future Industries |
| 02.05PM | Panel Discussion |
| 02.35PM | Prof. Grant Stanley - CQUniversity |
| 03.00PM | Close |
Friday 7 October 2022
| Time | Agenda |
|---|---|
| 07.30am | Registration opens |
| 8.30AM | Welcome from GEA & Aestec |
| 8:40AM | Paul Hodgson |
| 8.50AM | Minister Glenn Butcher |
| 9.10AM | Nathan Dunlop - Tritium |
| 09:30AM | Angela Heck - Next Economy |
| 09.50AM | Morning Tea / Networking |
| 10:20AM | Rajeev Bhambari - Acciona |
| 10:40AM | Richard Jeffery - Stanwell |
| 11:00AM | Leigh Kennedy - NERA |
| 11:20AM | Dan Raymond - Sunshine Hydro |
| 11:40AM | Maxime Forster - Neoen |
| 12:00pm | Lunch / Networking |
| 12:45PM | Andrew Bills - CS Energy |
| 01.05PM | Emma Roberts - CS Energy |
| 01:25PM | Panel Discussion |
| 01.55PM | Andrew Hird - Honeywell |
| 14.15pm | Kyle Russel - EDF |
| 14.35PM | Attilio Pigneri - H2U Hydrogen Utility |
| 03.00PM | Close |
Major Industry, Energy and
Manufacturing Conference Presenters
Wednesday Day 1 Presenters
MC - Shay Chalmers
Manufacturing Industry Leader, Engineer & Speaker
Shay is one of Australia’s most renowned manufacturing industry experts, engineering consultants and keynote speakers. With cross-sector and global experience, she is a leader, mentor and change-maker at the forefront of innovative manufacturing solutions for Australian organisations.
Shay owns and directs Strategic Engineering Australia, offering consulting expertise across a wide range of manufacturing applications. Shay now sits on several Boards and Committees across the Private, Not-For-Profit and Government sector, including representing the Gold Coast on the Regional Development Australia Committee. Through these roles Shay can actively promote empowering Women in STEM from school level to the highest level in government.
Shay’s official organisational affiliations across Australia:
Chair | Queensland Reference Group (Manufacturing and Engineering Skills)
Chair | ARM Hub Advisory and Research Committee (AHARC)
Director | Strategic Engineering Australia Pty Ltd
Director | Turbine Sunshine Coast
Non-Executive Director | Queensland Manufacturing Institute
Advisory Board Member | Aim Lab Automation Technologies Pty Ltd
Advisory Board Member | Australian Cobotics Centre
Committee Member | Manufacturing Ministerial Council, Queensland State Government
Committee Member | Regional Development Australia (Gold Coast), Australian Federal Government
Program Manager | Australian American Leadership Dialogue
Qld Sector Lead Advanced Manufacturing and Materials | Office of the Chief Scientist – Qld Government
Partner | Ontogo
Ian Macfarlane
Queensland Resources Council
Ian Macfarlane is the Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council, a non-executive director of Woodside Petroleum, Chairman of the Innovative Manufacturing Co-operative Research Centre, a board member of both CSIRO and of TSBE, a member of the UQ Rural Clinical School Toowoomba Community Advisory Committee, an Honorary Fellow of AusIMM Minerals Institute, and a Fellow of the AICD.
Ian was elected to Federal Parliament in 1998 and retired in 2016. He is Australia’s longest serving Federal Resources and Energy Minister and the Coalition’s longest serving Federal Industry and Innovation Minister.
Ian has farmed peanuts, sorghum and wheat, and ran cattle in Queensland's Burnett region. He was President of the Queensland Graingrowers Association, President of the Grains Council of Australia and held executive positions on the Queensland and National Farmers' Federations.
Ian is married to Karen with two adult daughters and resides in Toowoomba.
Darren Barlow
Gladstone Area Water Board
Darren joined GAWB as Chief Executive Officer in March 2018. Darren has extensive leadership and executive experience, having held senior roles in commercial, financial, strategic and business transformation areas across the public and private sectors. Darren was previously the Chief Executive Officer of the Residential Tenancies Authority and has held a range of senior executive positions at Aurizon, Master Builders Association of Queensland and Ergon Energy.
John Abbott AM
Inter-Port Global
Mr Abbott is an experienced Company Director of both Australian and Asian companies. He is currently the Chancellor of the University is Chair of the University Council. He has also the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Development Australia (Central and Western Queensland) board, A board member of the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Board, Chairman of Queensland Pacific Metals Pty Ltd, Chairman of Queensland Wool Processors Pty Ltd, and the Group Chairman of Inter-Port Global Group of Companies.
Mr Abbott is also an experienced executive with over 45 years of experience in all aspects of company management and governance in a wide range of industries. This experience includes Executive roles in operations and maintenance; project development (including Government negotiations and approvals); engineering design and executing large capital projects. He has been extensively involved in both the energy sector and the Mineral processing industry in Australia and South East Asia.
Hugh Barbour
Gladstone Area Water Board
Derek Bogaert
Alpha HPA
Jarrod Irving
Australian Gas Infrastructure Group
Jane Wilson
Australian Gas Infrastructure Group
Tim McDougall
Rio Tinto
Craig Haymes
Gladstone Ports Corporation
Leisa Dowling
Gladstone Regional Council
Matthew Cooke
FNCCI (First Nations Chamber of Commerce & Industry)
Minister Butcher
Glenn Butcher MP
Kim Hetherington
Construction Skills Queensland
Jacqui Bridge
Powerlink
Geoff Kerr
CQH2
Lance McCallum
Assistant Minister for Hydrogen Development and the 50% Renewable Energy Target by 2030
Lance is the Member for Bundamba in the Queensland Parliament, where he is proud to be one of three serving First Nations Members.
He is also proud to the Assistant Minister for Hydrogen Development and the 50% Renewable Energy Target by 2030.
Lance is a committed advocate for social justice and equity of opportunity for secure jobs, health, education, essential services and public services as part of a sustainable future for all.
He holds a master’s degree in Climate Policy and Sustainability.
Tim McDougall
Rio Tinto
Tim McDougall recently joined Rio Tinto’s Pacific Operations as General Manager, Gladstone Refinery Decarbonisation. His role focuses on decarbonising our supply chain and reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions from our Gladstone refineries. Tim is leading a new Gladstone Refinery Decarbonisation team, overseeing our Tier 1 decarbonisation initiatives including implementation of hydrogen calcination technology at Yarwun.
A born and bred Queenslander, Tim has most recently worked in Iron Ore in Western Australia, as General Manager, Dampier Ports and Marine Operations. He brings extensive experience to Pacific Operations, having started with Rio Tinto in 2002 as a graduate mechanical engineer.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical qualification, with First Class Honors and Post Graduate qualifications in Maintenance Management and Frontline Management. He is also a graduate of AICD and Non-Executive Director on the board of Rightship.
Jacqui Bridge
Powerlink Queensland
Jacqui is a strategic energy sector leader and has a detailed understanding of the electricity supply chain, regulation and energy markets to drive the development of Queensland’s energy transformation. As Executive General Manager Energy Futures, at Powerlink Queensland, Jacqui is responsible for Powerlink’s corporate strategy, network regulation, energy markets and energy policy functions.
During her career Jacqui has held senior leadership roles in electricity distribution and transmission network and global consulting businesses. Jacqui has worked with electricity, gas and water utilities throughout the Australia Pacific region across mergers and acquisitions, strategic advisory, renewable energy, asset management, regulation, governance and compliance practice areas.
Jacqui engages with a range of stakeholders to understand customer needs and influence the development of policy and regulatory frameworks to drive the transformation to a renewable energy future.
Everald Compton
Gladstone to Goondiwindi Railway
EVERALD COMPTON AO
Chair, Gladstone Goondiwindi Railway Pty Ltd
Founder of Inland Railway, Melbourne/Darwin.
Founder of National Seniors Australia
Adjunct Professor, University of Queensland
Senior Fellow, University of Sunshine Coast
Certified Practicing Accountant
Certified Practicing Marketer
Officer of the Order of Australia AO
Lifetime Elder, Uniting Church in Australia
Author, The Man on the Twenty Dollar Notes, Dinner with the Founding Fathers, A Beautiful Sunset
Robert Sobyra
Construction Skills Queensland
Robert Sobyra is Director, Research & Digital with Construction Skills Queensland. Responsible for driving CSQ’s research agenda, Robert is a leading thinker at the intersection of construction and skills.
He writes and talks regularly on all things economic, construction and workforce. Robert is also a postgraduate researcher at the University of Queensland with a special interest in regional economic growth.
Rob Williams
Alpha HPA
Rob is Chief Operating Officer for Alpha HPA Limited, an ASX listed company, bringing High Purity Aluminium chemicals technology to Gladstone for commercialisation.
As a Mechanical Engineer, Rob brings a wealth of experience in mining/ smelting/ refining and plant operations to the HPA project in Gladstone.
Michael Everton
Oceania Biofuels
Michael Everton, Chief Executive Officer Oceania Biofuels has 25+ Years’ experience in the biofuels industry in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Developed and constructed biofuels plants worldwide. Experienced executive with over a decade in the procurement of low carbon feedstock and the sales of biofuels.
Timothy Davies
Fortesque Future Industries
Tim joined Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) in 2022, to develop a pipeline of green energy projects in Central Queensland.
Tim previously held roles in the oil and gas industry, including the design, commissioning, and operation of large gas plants, water treatment plants and pipelines. During his time in oil and gas, Tim transitioned into the commercial team managing business performance involved in capital allocation, strategy, treasury, and joint venture management. FFI is a global green energy company committed to producing zero-carbon green hydrogen from 100 per cent renewable sources.
Prof. Grant Stanley
CQUniversity
Professor Stanley arrived at CQUniversity Australia in 2010 as the Dean of Medical and Applied Sciences and is currently the Vice-President, Research. Grant holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of Melbourne and has a background in Applied Microbiology/Biochemical Engineering, with research interests in biofuels, especially the production of second generation bioethanol.
He has experience in researching and teaching microbial metabolism, fermentation systems, bioreactor design and bioremediation. He has published more than 110 refereed and non-refereed papers, one international patent, has received a number of Category 1 funding grants and supervised 16 PhD students to completion.
Professor Stanley has been on the organising committee of a number of national and international conferences, an Associate Editor of the journal 'Biotechnology for Biofuels', has been a Director on the Rail Manufacturing CRC Board and a member of the Queensland Expert Advisory Panel.
Prof. Grant Stanley
CQUniversity
Professor Stanley arrived at CQUniversity Australia in 2010 as the Dean of Medical and Applied Sciences and is currently the Vice-President, Research. Grant holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of Melbourne and has a background in Applied Microbiology/Biochemical Engineering, with research interests in biofuels, especially the production of second generation bioethanol.
He has experience in researching and teaching microbial metabolism, fermentation systems, bioreactor design and bioremediation. He has published more than 110 refereed and non-refereed papers, one international patent, has received a number of Category 1 funding grants and supervised 16 PhD students to completion.
Professor Stanley has been on the organising committee of a number of national and international conferences, an Associate Editor of the journal 'Biotechnology for Biofuels', has been a Director on the Rail Manufacturing CRC Board and a member of the Queensland Expert Advisory Panel.
Major Industry, Energy
and Manufacturing Conference Presenters
Thursday Day 2 Presenters
Alana Barlow
Sumitomo
Peter Woodall
Stanwell Corporation
Steve Clark
Stanwell Corporation
Emma Roberts
CS Energy
Maxime Forster
Neoen
Ian Macfarlane
Queensland Resources Council
Mike Kilcullen
Fortescue Future Industries
David Voss
Gladstone Industry Leadership Group
Tom Metcalfe
CleanCo
Amanda Rebar
Central Queensland University
Colin Langton
Powerlink
Brian Inglis
Inglis Puckeridge
SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
Proudly Presented by
Following the GEA Major Industry, Energy and Manufacturing Conference will be the 20th GEA Industry Awards and Gala Dinner and 20 year celebration, Central Queensland’s industry supply chain’s night of nights, presented by Aestec Services.
We invite business leaders and partners to come together to recognise and celebrate the spirit of excellence that is fostered in our highly-skilled industry supply chain.
What delegates said
2022 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
The nineteenth annual GEA Major Industry and Energy Conference, presented by Aestec Services delivered on expectations. Providing connections, conversations and planning opportunities in the region.
Held in Gladstone, the gateway to Central Queensland’s Industrial and renewable energy sector, the conference provided an opportunity to gain an insight into where industry is heading and the available opportunities in the renewables transition.
Day one started with, Assistant Minister for Hydrogen Development and the 50% Renewable Energy Target by 2030, Lance McCallum announcing publicly owned CS Energy is partnering with the GEA on an innovative project to map the capability of local suppliers to work on new wind energy developments in CQ. This set the pace for the day, with a stellar line up of presenters that followed including Rio Tinto, Gladstone Area Water Board, Powerlink, Inter-Port Global, Alpha HPA and Fortescue Future Industries. All presenting on their current projects and showcasing the promising future in new and existing industry for the region. Informative presentations from Queensland Resource Council, Gladstone Goondiwindi Railway, Construction Skills Queensland and CQU talked skilling and the journey that will need to be undertaken to support the projects ahead.
On day two delegates were welcomed by Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water, Hon. Glenn Butcher. Minister Butcher discussed the newly released Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and the exciting developments that will flow from that plan, including the large percentage of manufacturing that will take place directly in Queensland. Updates were also provided from a consortium of developed industries in the energy sector; Tritium discussed their developments in electric fast charges, Honeywell as process automation leaders, Neon discussed renewable energy and storage projects and Sunshine Hydro presented their operational technology for the proposed Miriam Vale development. H2U Hydrogen Utility, Stanwell, Nera and so many more took the stage and completed the information download on energy for day two.
GEA thanks all those that attended and contributed via presentations, sponsorships or conversations over the two-days of conference connectivity, we hope to see you at the next one, if not before!
Looking for 2023 Industry Awards information?